Sociology Subjects 2025: Semester Subjects, Electives, Books and Specializations

Updated on May 20, 2025 05:58 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

A bachelor’s degree in Sociology is a 3-year undergraduate program, and a master’s in Sociology is a 2-year post-graduate program. This course deals with the theoretical aspects of social life, the changes in social life, human behavior to social causes, and consequences that shape the social structure and cultural factors. This course offers jobs in fields like Journalism, Survey Researching, Rehabilitation Counseling, Human Resources, Social Working, Family Counseling, Media Planning, etc. Students looking forward to building a career in the field of Sociology could take up this course. Those who would like to engage themselves in social activities and work towards the betterment of society or change society with their thoughts and ideologies are well suited for this course.

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List of Subjects in Sociology -Typical Core Subjects for Sociology

Subject Title

Subject Details

Sociology of India

This subject provides an overview of the images and ideas of India from a sociological perspective. It also looks into sociological concepts in the Indian context.

Introduction to Sociology

This subject provides an introduction to sociological thoughts and focuses on the concepts of sociological thinkers over some time. This course also offers an understanding of various sociologists' original works and transcriptions.

Political Sociology

This subject provides an overview of the concepts of sociology with the theoretical and practical aspects of the political aspects. The changes in the political situation and its growth are examined to have an analytical perspective of the same.

Sociology of Religion

This subject provides an overview of the distinctiveness of the sociological approach in studying religion. The religious phenomenon and the customs, rituals, beliefs, etc., are examined from a much closer point of view.

Sociology of Gender

This subject provides an overview of the sociological aspects of gender as a critical relation with categories of gender and sexuality. This subject tries to understand concepts such as gender and their common notions.

Economic Sociology

Economic Sociology provides an overview of the economy and the socio-cultural environment involving various complexes—understanding the elements of economy and its production, distribution, exchange, and consumption perspectives.

Typical Elective Subjects for Sociology

Subject Title

Subject Details

Agrarian Sociology

This subject provides an overview of the formation of the sociological collectives and the South Asian societies Agrarian buildings. It helps students understand the agrarian past and present, along with necessary theories and practical aspects.

Environmental Sociology

This subject provides an overview of the reflection of sociology in the environment as an objective approach. These concepts enable the students to understand the issues of the environment and the environmental developments and movements in India. The sociological perspective of the relationship between nature and social perspectives is also considered.

Visual Culture

This subject provides an overview of the concepts of visualising everyday culture within the boundaries of politics, identity, and resistance. It also enables the students to understand the potential representations involving sociological interest.

Reading Ethnographies

This subject enables the students to learn ethnographic textual and conceptual formats. Reading ethnographies help students understand the critical and analytical concepts of sociology.

Family and Intimacy

This subject enables the students to learn the sociological perspectives involved in the relationship between family members and their history, culture, and social contexts that can impact the relationships from misunderstandings. It also enables the students to have a clear view of the diversity of the cultural and societal norms towards which the family members should showcase empathy.

Detailed Syllabus for Sociology

The semesters and the respective subjects of the sociology course vary from one college or institution to the other. This is an overview of the subjects and their details that form part of the curriculum of sociology syllabus.

Semester

Core/Elective

Subject Title

Subject Details

1

Core

Sociology of India

This subject provides an overview of British and American Social Anthropology but takes a different view on Western culture and Social Culture.

 

Core

Political Sociology

This subject provides an overview of the concepts of sociology with the theoretical and practical aspects per the political aspects. Analysing the changes in the political situation and its growth is part of this subject.

2

Core

Sociology of Religion

This subject provides an overview of the distinctiveness of the sociological approach in studying religion. The religious phenomenon and the customs, rituals, beliefs, etc., are analysed from a much closer point of view.

 

Core

Sociology of Gender

This subject provides an overview of the sociological aspects of gender as a critical relation with categories of gender and sexuality. The understanding of concepts such as gender and their common notions of gender.

3

Core

Social Stratification

This subject provides an overview of the society's categorization of its people based on gender, income, wealth, education, family background, and power.

 

Core

Sociological Thinkers - I

This subject provides an overview to give the students a basic understanding of Sociology and apply the said theories in their daily, real-time life experiences.

4

Core

Sociological Research Methods - I

This subject provides an overview to equip students with the required knowledge and skillset to design social research, thus improving Social, Environmental, and Agricultural Systems.

 

Core

Research Methods

This subject provides an overview of the various methods that can be incorporated while employing Research Methodology in the field of Sociology.

 

Elective

Environmental Sociology

This subject provides an overview of the relationship between the societies and their natural environments and emphasises more on the Social Factors that influence Environmental Resource Management.

Specialisations offered in Sociology

Specialisation

Specialisation Subjects

Subject Details

General Elective

Rethinking Development

This subject provides an overview of the concepts of rethinking the development of the key ideas and the animating forces of the societies and lives of people living in the communities. The students understand the different ideas, approaches, policies, developmental theories, and approaches, which conclude with the consequences and the experiences of development.

Discipline-Specific Elective

Urban Sociology

This subject provides an overview of the concepts and key ideas of the sociological perspectives of the urban phenomenon in both historical and sociological concepts relating to urban sociology. The course also involves the evolution of critical thinking in urban political policy.

Generic Elective

Sociology of Media

This subject provides an overview of the major themes and outlines the correlations between media and society. It also familiarises the students with various concepts and theories in media sociology. The media's production, control, and reception are represented in a sociological perspective.

Core Course

Sociology of Kinship

This subject enables the students to study the concepts of relevant understanding in the family, marriage, and kinship perspectives. It enables the students to look beyond the surface of issues to innovate how and why the issues of kinship arise irrespective of the various perspectives for understanding kinship. This subject also acknowledges the historical evolution of the kinship theories and the reproductive technologies recasting the kinship ideologies.

Books and Authors Related to Sociology

Great scholars recommend many books for students who are aspiring to pursue Sociology. These books are a reliable source of knowledge, and the content provided would be genuine and informative. These books could provide an insight into the subjects and their basic outline in a much more engaging way. Many of these books would be available in libraries, or the online versions of these books could also be downloaded and accessed by any student.

Subject

Book Title

Author

Introduction to Sociology

Sociology

Horton, Paul B., Chester L. Hunt,

Tata McGraw Hill

Political Sociology

Para-Political Systems

Bailey, F.G., University of London Press

Sociology of Religion

Religion as a Subject for Sociology

Beteille, Andre, 2002, Oxford University Press

Sociology of Gender

Doing Gender

Candace West and Don H. Zimmerman

Table of contents
  • Popular Sociology Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Sociology Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Popular Sociology Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Sociology UG Courses
  • Popular Sociology PG Courses
View More

Popular Sociology Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Sociology Colleges in India. Learn more about these Sociology colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
86.01 K
9.5 LPA

#1 NIRF

2 Courses
19.01 K - 19.09 K
7 LPA

#2 NIRF

5.9 K

#7 NIRF

77 K - 6.82 L
5.5 - 6.22 LPA

#8 NIRF

30 K
3.5 LPA

#10 NIRF

2 Courses
65.56 K
6 LPA

#11 NIRF

Popular Private Sociology Colleges in India

2.76 L - 5.52 L
3.5

#75 India Today

Sociology Applications open. Apply Now

60 K
1.67 L - 2.75 L
3.37 LPA

#111 India Today

5 Courses
70 K - 4 L
3.0

Sociology Applications open. Apply Now

2.03 L - 5.23 L
3.5 LPA
2 L - 3 L

Sociology Applications open. Apply Now

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Sociology. Students interested in pursuing a career on Sociology, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

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3 Jan ' 26 - 30 Jan ' 26

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11 May ' 26 - 31 May ' 26

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Popular Sociology Specializations

Following are the most popular Sociology Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Popular Sociology UG Courses

Following are the most popular Sociology UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Sociology PG Courses

Following are the most popular Sociology PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a month ago

Of course, some of my favorites from the Sociology subject are -

  • Contemporary Sociology by J. P. Singh. 
  • Sociology: Looking Through the Window of the World by Lynda I Dodgen and Adrian M Rapp.
  • Radical Environmentalism by J. Cianchi.
  • Controlology: Beyond the New Criminology by J.R. Ditton.
  • Social Concepts

...Read more

R

Rashmi Srivastava

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

I believe they are and especially when you're a working person looking for some short-term or flexible courses to give your career new heights. There are so many online courses for Criminology, like UG, PG-degree, diploma, certification, and even PhD. So that you can decide according to your career

...Read more

R

Rashmi Thakur

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Of course, they do. Here are some top Criminology colleges in India you can consider for great placement options.

Best Criminology CollegesAverage Package Offered
Srinivas University PlacementsINR 10 LPA
University of Lucknow PlacementsINR 7.46 LPA
Kristu Jayanti University PlacementsINR 6.5 LPA
Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya PlacementsINR 5.11 LPA

Note - The information is taken from the official sites of the college.

Know more about -

Criminology Colleges in India

S

Shikha Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Of course you can. A few learning platforms, like Old Dominion University, offer a PhD in Criminology. Though it's a university abroad, you can get admission to its online PhD program, i.e., PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice. It's a 24-month degree course and the average fee is INR 24.79 Lakh.

...Read more

M

Mohit Datta

Contributor-Level 9

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