What is Applied Sociology?
Applied Sociology is a term that describes practitioners who use sociological theories and methods outside of academic settings with the aim to produce positive social change through active intervention. More specifically applied sociology might be seen as the translation of sociological theory into practice for specific clients.
Applied Sociologists work in various industries, including private business, government agencies and non-profit organisations. The work of applied sociologists is especially concerned with changing the current state of social life for the better.
Few lines about MA Applied Sociology
MA Applied Sociology is a 2-years post graduate course that is divided into 4-semesters. The course revolves around the detailed study of society and different related mechanisms. The course includes topics like religion and society, political sociology, sociology of India, Economic Sociology, Sociology of Development, Methods of Sociological Research.
The course trains the students about the society in which they belong. They will be aware of the different elements of society in which they belong. The course imparts the knowledge of understanding of the different communities around them and they can take necessary measures for the improvement of the community.
Eligibility for MA Applied Sociology
The students who have completed their undergraduate degree in any stream with 50% aggregate from recognised university are eligible to apply for MA Applied Sociology.
Admission Procedures
The students with relevant qualifications can join the MA Applied Sociology course by two modes. The first one is Merit based admission and the second one is direct admission. Let’s discuss in detail
1. Merit Admission
There are some reputed educational institutes that conduct entrance exams for the MA Applied Sociology course. This mode is called merit admission mode. The entrance exams are conducted to select the serious and hardworking students from the group of non-serious candidates to a limited number of seats in the colleges. The qualified students are allotted the merit seats and are given admission, the fees are fairly nominal for merit admissions.
2. Direct Admission
The students have another option of getting admission to MA Applied Sociology course by direct admission process. Under this mode of admission, the students are given direct admission to their desired colleges under management quota. The main advantage of direct admissions is that the students are not required to appear for any entrance exams for getting admissions. Another advantage is that they can choose their desired colleges and book their seats in advance even before the starting of the academic year. The students who are interested in direct admissions are required to contact Educational Advisory centres for more details.
Course Curriculum for MA Applied Sociology
The students of MA Applied Sociology will be studying the following subjects during their course duration.
| Sl. No. | Subjects of Study |
|---|---|
| 1 | Holistic Education |
| 2 | Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology |
| 3 | Gender and Society |
| 4 | Social Research Methods |
| 5 | Dynamics of Indian Society |
| 6 | Social Issues in India |
| 7 | Modern Sociological Perspectives |
| 8 | Social Statistics |
| 9 | Qualitative Research Methods |
| 10 | Organisational Behaviour |
| 11 | Sociology of Change and Development |
| 12 | Social Psychology |
| 13 | Corporate Social Responsibility |
| 14 | Human Resource Management |
| 15 | Social Movements and Social Change |
| 16 | Public Relations |
| 17 | Social Welfare Administration |
| 18 | Social Demography |
| 19 | Public Health |
| 20 | Social Demography |
| 21 | Sociology of Media |
Career and Scope
The MA Applied Sociology students are usually hired in NGOs and non-profit organisations. They are responsible to bring a social change in the society by using socialistic principles. They can take up research by joining a PhD course. They can even join as lecturers in various colleges to take up teaching of applied sociology subjects.
Job Roles
Some of the job roles available are:
- Social Workers
- Community Workers
- PR Executives
- Career Advisor
Salary and Emoluments
The fresh MA Applied Sociology students will be earning around 4 lakhs to 6 lakhs per annum. The experienced professionals will be earning around 5 lakhs to 7 lakhs per annum. The salary depends upon the location and recruiter.
Top Organisations hiring MA Applied Sociology students
Some of the organisations hiring MA Applied Sociology students are:
- HelpAge India
- CRY
- Reliance Foundation
- Infosys Foundation
- Wipro Foundation
Final Lines
There is a good amount of demand for MA Applied Sociology students. Today, more and more people are joining the Applied Sociology course because of its demand in the sector. The MA Applied Sociology students are also paid with decent salaries and are also given an opportunity to grow in their careers. The students with a passion to serve the society can join the MA Applied Sociology course.