Sociology

Principles of Sociology introduces students to the study of society, social structures, and human interactions. Covering the origins of sociology, major theoretical perspectives, and key concepts, the course explores socialization, control, change, and the dynamics of stability and transformation. Students learn qualitative research methods and engage with global and contemporary examples. Through discussions, case studies, and multimedia resources, the course develops analytical, observational, and critical thinking skills, enabling students to understand, evaluate, and interpret societal structures and social processes.

Classical Sociological Theory introduces students to foundational sociological thinkers and their contributions, focusing on the Eurocentric origins of the discipline. The course examines Karl Marx’s conflict theory, Emile Durkheim’s structural functionalism, and Max Weber’s interpretive sociology, emphasizing historical materialism, social solidarity, rationalization, and methodological individualism. Students explore critiques of classical theory, including race, caste, and gender perspectives, while engaging with decolonizing approaches to sociological thought. Through interactive discussions, multimedia resources, and analysis of texts, students develop critical reasoning, global perspectives, and analytical skills, enabling them to understand modern social dynamics and question taken-for-granted assumptions about society and social interaction.

Sociology of India: Themes and Perspectives introduces students to the major ideas, debates, and approaches that have shaped the sociological understanding of Indian society. The course examines the impact of colonialism, democracy, nation-building, and globalization on social structures and institutions in India. It familiarizes students with key sociological perspectives—Indological, structural-functional, Marxist, subaltern, feminist, and non-Brahmin—and applies them to themes such as pluralism, inequality, caste, class, tribe, and gender. Through interactive discussions and diverse learning resources, the course develops critical sociological thinking and enables students to relate classical perspectives to contemporary social issues in India.

Sociology of Gender and Sexuality introduces students to key concepts, theories, and debates surrounding gender and sexualities within sociological thought. The course examines feminist perspectives, queer theory, and the social construction of gender and sexuality, with a strong focus on Indian society. It explores how gender and sexualities intersect with institutions such as family, caste, religion, state, media, and work. Through interactive discussions, readings, and contemporary examples, students develop critical understanding of how power, identity, and inequality shape social practices, cultural norms, and political processes related to gender and sexuality.

This course explores popular culture, media, and everyday life, examining how culture, politics, and society intersect. Students study theories of media, representation, and cultural sociology while analyzing Indian and global examples, including cinema, television, music, and sports. Topics include gender, identity, hegemony, and the politics of performance and visual media. Through interactive discussions, multimedia analysis, and critical debates, students develop the ability to interpret cultural texts and understand the links between power, ideology, and popular culture. Evaluation includes class participation, presentations, and assignments, enabling students to apply theoretical insights to real-world media and cultural practices.

This course examines the complex relationship between environment, ecology, and society, with a focus on Indian and global contexts. Students explore ecological perspectives in sociology, diverse environmental movements, and the social, caste, gender, and regional dimensions of environmental issues. Key topics include sustainable development, industrial pollution, water distribution, and eco-feminism, alongside the cultural and religious impacts on the environment. Through interactive discussions, case studies, articles, and multimedia resources, students critically analyze the environmental question and its connection to development. The course equips students to understand, interpret, and propose informed perspectives on ecological and societal challenges.

The course Contemporary Sociological Theories introduces students to major sociological perspectives and contemporary theoretical debates shaping modern society. It examines key thinkers such as Claude Levi-Strauss, Talcott Parsons, Michel Foucault, Jürgen Habermas, and Pierre Bourdieu, focusing on theories including structuralism, functionalism, conflict theory, phenomenology, and reflexive sociology. The course enables students to critically analyze social realities, law, culture, and institutions from global and Indian perspectives. Through discussions, case studies, and contemporary examples, learners develop analytical and critical thinking skills essential for understanding the relationship between society and law.

The course Sociology of Globalisation: Global Culture, Economy, Emerging Issues explores globalization as a complex and contested social process shaping contemporary societies. It examines the historical evolution, dimensions, and agencies of globalization, including the role of the state, multinational corporations, media, and international institutions. The course engages with perspectives of major thinkers such as Anthony Giddens and Immanuel Wallerstein while critically analyzing issues such as poverty, migration, environmental crises, gender, and cultural nationalism. Students develop a critical understanding of globalization’s impact on marginalized communities and explore various forms of resistance, civil society initiatives, and emerging global challenges.

The course Analysis and Research in Sociology: Dissertation provides students with practical training in sociological research and academic writing. It enables learners to design and conduct independent research on contemporary social issues through proposal writing, research methodology, fieldwork, and dissertation preparation. The course emphasizes critical inquiry, data collection, analysis, and scholarly presentation of findings. Through classroom discussions, visual materials, and field engagement, students develop analytical and research skills essential for higher studies and professional practice. The dissertation encourages students to produce original research that contributes to sociological understanding and may serve as a foundation for future academic work, publication, and policy-oriented research initiatives.

To explain the political theories that have shaped the development of democracy and capitalism in the west, and the fundamental linkage between these two. To classify different types of democracies and capitalisms, as well as the socialist criticism of classical free-market liberalism. To explain the role of civil society, as a space for people's action, with specific reference to the women's movements and Marxist and Socialist feminist criticism of capitalism. To classify civil society organisations as belonging to people-based movements and as co-opted within the broader capitalist democratic power structure. To explain and outline sociologically the strategic choices that individuals make as both political and economic agents for their upward mobility.

The course Society and Science explores the dynamic relationship between science, technology, and society from a multidisciplinary perspective. Designed in the spirit of liberal education, the course encourages students to critically examine the historical development of science, its social nature, and its impact on issues such as development, war, caste, gender, religion, and inequality. Through discussions, seminars, documentaries, field interactions, and reflective writing, students develop analytical and scientific temper while questioning dominant models of progress and exploring alternative perspectives. The course also emphasizes ethical and responsible engagement with science and technology, enabling learners to understand how scientific knowledge shapes society and everyday life.

The course Knowledge: Contested, Contextualized, Confirmed encourages students to critically examine how knowledge is created, validated, and applied across cultures, disciplines, and historical periods. It explores major debates surrounding science, religion, rationality, tradition, objectivity, and ethics through interdisciplinary perspectives and comparative paradigms. By engaging with concepts such as holistic versus atomistic thinking, revelation versus reason, and qualitative versus quantitative approaches, students develop a deeper understanding of the social and cultural construction of knowledge. Through discussions, case studies, reflective writing, and analysis of contemporary issues, the course fosters critical thinking, intellectual self-awareness, ethical responsibility, and appreciation for diverse ways of knowing.

The course From Marxism to Post-Marxism: Critical Discourses examines the evolution of Marxist thought and its engagement with contemporary philosophical, political, historical, and cultural debates. Building on foundational concepts of Marxism, the course explores themes such as class consciousness, historical materialism, critical theory, structuralism, post-structuralism, and literary criticism. Students engage with influential thinkers including Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, and Ernesto Laclau to critically analyze socio-political transformations and hegemonic systems. Through discussions, research activities, and written assessments, the course develops critical thinking and encourages students to explore alternative social and political possibilities.

The course Labour in India: Past and Present introduces students to the historical and contemporary dimensions of labour in India. It examines the evolution of industrial labour from the colonial period to post-independence and globalised India, focusing on migration, industrialization, labour organization, legal frameworks, and labour reforms. Drawing from labour history, sociology, and anthropology, the course critically explores issues related to work, class, caste, gender, and informal labour. Through engagement with archival materials, policy documents, ethnographies, and media sources, students develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of labour and its central role in shaping India’s social, economic, and political development.

The course Understanding Urbanity: Classical and Contemporary Approaches introduces students to major theories and debates in urban studies by examining the city as a social, political, and cultural phenomenon. Drawing on classical thinkers such as Max Weber, Georg Simmel, Karl Marx, and contemporary scholars like David Harvey and Manuel Castells, the course explores urban experiences across global and Indian contexts. Through interdisciplinary approaches, students engage with themes such as urbanization, migration, colonialism, everyday life, and urban politics, developing critical perspectives on the diversity and complexity of contemporary urban life.

The course Religion and Rebellion: Roots of Resistance in the Ground of Tradition critically examines the relationship between religion, power, and resistance across political, social, and ecological contexts. It explores how religious ideas, philosophies, and practices within traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and indigenous belief systems have inspired ethical reflection, social reform, non-violence, and resistance to oppression. Through comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives, students analyze themes including caste, gender, ecology, war, justice, and modernity while engaging with both religious and secular-humanist frameworks. The course encourages critical thinking, nuanced understanding of religious traditions, and informed reflection on contemporary debates surrounding religion and society.

The course Politics of Ecology and Environment in Developing Countries examines the complex relationship between environmental issues, political processes, and development in the Global South. It explores how ecological concerns intersect with questions of power, inequality, resource distribution, sustainability, and social justice. The course analyzes themes such as climate change, environmental movements, displacement, industrialization, conservation policies, and the impact of globalization on vulnerable communities. Through interdisciplinary perspectives and case studies from developing countries, students critically engage with debates on development and environmental governance. The course encourages learners to understand the political dimensions of ecological crises and explore sustainable and equitable approaches to environmental management.

The course Class, Caste, Race and Patriarchy introduces students to major structures of social stratification and their impact on everyday life. It critically examines the concepts of class, caste, gender, and race, with particular emphasis on the Indian social context and the ways these structures shape access to power, resources, and opportunities. The course explores the interconnected nature of caste, class, gender, and race within institutions such as family, marriage, and education. Through discussions, readings, and visual materials, students develop a deeper understanding of inequality, discrimination, and social justice while learning to analyze the complex relationship between social identities and systems of oppression.

The course Sociology of Inequality examines the nature, causes, and consequences of social inequality in contemporary society. It explores how inequalities based on class, caste, race, ethnicity, and gender shape individual and collective experiences across historical and social contexts. Through theoretical perspectives and case studies, students analyze the structural, cultural, and institutional dimensions of inequality and their impact on everyday life. The course also engages with social movements, struggles for rights, and debates on equality and justice. Using discussions, field research, visual media, and critical readings, students develop analytical skills to understand and propose responses to persistent forms of social inequality.

The course Politics of Social Justice explores major philosophical and political debates surrounding justice, equality, and rights in both global and Indian contexts. It examines key theories of justice through the works of thinkers such as John Rawls, Amartya Sen, Robert Nozick, and B. R. Ambedkar. The course critically engages with issues of caste, race, gender, multiculturalism, democracy, and social movements to understand claims for justice and equality. Through discussions, films, and critical readings, students develop analytical perspectives on morality, power, social exclusion, and the creation of a more just and democratic society.

"Human societies are characterised with the ‘roving instinct’ and many scholar have put forth that migration is natural to humanity since this is what led to the population of the world. The ‘Out of Africa theory’ and various waves of movement into the continents along with the displacement of the Neanderthal cousins by the Anatomically Modern Humans suggests a constantly mobile community often engaged in interactions and conflicts for resources and benefits. In the contemporary and the modern world approximately 3% of the world population live away from the region that they were born in and contribute to the migratory population engaged in economic pursuits for a ‘better life’ away from their homeland. This course aims at engaging in a multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary understanding of Migration often understood and closely associated as a ‘problem’ (Castles, 2010) (in both its cause and effect) leading to conflict, violence, social transformation and change throughout history. This course will engage in analysing the phenomena of mobility within and without (international) political and territorial borders through legal and illegal forms due to the classical push and pull factors of climate and culture to the concept of migration not as a sedentary bias but as a normal component of social relations including the determinants, assimilation and conflicts involved."

The course Sociology of Science and Technology critically examines the relationship between scientific knowledge, technology and society. It explores how social, political, colonial and economic structures shape the production and circulation of science and technology, while also analysing how science and technology influence modern institutions, development and everyday life. The course engages with themes such as colonialism, nationalism, gender, postcolonial and postmodern critiques of science, as well as people’s science movements and democratization of knowledge. Through interdisciplinary readings, discussions and case studies, students develop analytical skills to understand science and technology as deeply social, political and cultural processes.