MA Sociology Jobs, Syllabus, IGNOU Admission, Colleges, Fees 2023

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Master of Arts in Sociology or MA Sociology is a postgraduate course in Sociology which has a total duration of 2 years, divided into 4 semesters. This course revolves around the detailed study of society and different related mechanisms.

MA Sociology syllabus includes topics like Religion and Society, Political Sociology, Sociology of India, Economic Sociology, Sociology of Development, Methods of Sociological Research, etc.

Check the full list of Top MA Sociology colleges in India.

In order to be eligible for a MA Sociology course, you must complete your graduation from a recognized college or university. The candidates must attain minimum 50% marks to be eligible for this course.

Key Highlights of MA Sociology

Full-Form: Master of Arts in Sociology
Duration: 2 years
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in Sociology with minimum 50% aggregate score.
Admission Process: Mostly Merit-based but few colleges also take entrance exams.
Top Entrance Exam: IPU CET, PUCET, TISSNET
Top Colleges: Loyola College Chennai, St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, Nizam College Hyderabad.
Average course fees: INR 5,000 to INR 2,00,000.
Distance Education: Available
Distance Education Institute: IGNOU New Delhi, School of Open Learning University of Delhi.
Job Options: Counselor, Administrator, Consultant, Researcher, etc.
Average Salary Package: INR 3,50,000 - INR 6,50,000
Higher Study Options: PhD in Sociology

The admission process is either merit-based or on the basis of the marks acquired by the candidates in the entrance test. The shortlisted candidates will be called for Personal Interview and Document Verification. The selected candidates will be granted admission to the course.

Alert: Most of the entrance exams for MA Sociology course have been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The dates of IPU-CET have been postponed. Check the latest dates of IPU-CET

Some of the subjects that are taught to the students in the MA Sociology course are Sociological Theories, Methods of Sociological Research, Sociology of Kinship, Sociology of Development, Sociology of Symbolism. The choice of the subject generally differs from institute to institute.

MA Sociology is quite a prosperous course in India. The course is offered by various institutes. Here we have listed some of the top colleges/ universities to study MA Sociology :

The Week Rank 2020	College Name	Admission Process	Average Course Fee	Average Salary
4	Loyola College, Chennai	Merit Based Admission	INR 40,000	INR 3,50,000
9	St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata	Merit Based Admission	INR 60,000	INR 3,50,000
20	Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi	Merit Based Admission	INR 34,000	INR 3,80,000
30	Nizam College, Hyderabad	Merit Based Admission	INR 54,000	INR 3,00,000
50	St. Mira’s College for Girls, Pune	Merit Based Admission	INR 30,000	INR 3,50,000

The average tuition fee for completing MA Sociology course ranges between INR 5,000 to INR 2,00,000.

The main recruiting areas are public relation firms, international organizations, law firms, etc. Some of the common job profiles are counselor, administrator, consultant, researcher, etc.

The average MA Sociology salary offered to the candidates lies between INR 3,50,000 to INR 6,50,000.

After completing the MA Sociology course, the students may go for higher studies and pursue an M.Phil or Ph.D. in Sociology.

MA Sociology Admission Process

The admission is done in two ways. It can either be on the basis of the performance of the candidates in the entrance test or on the basis of their performance in graduation.

The application forms are generally released in the month of June.
The list of shortlisted candidates are mostly displayed on the website of the college.

Here, we have mentioned the various steps of admission for both the ways:

Merit Based Admission

Step 1: Fill the application form

The candidates will have to fill the application forms of the colleges in which they would like to apply for the MA Sociology course.

Step 2: Admission to the college

The candidates are shortlisted on the basis of the marks acquired by them in their graduation courses. The shortlisted candidates will be called for the final step of admission.

Entrance Based Admission

Step 1: Fill the application form

The application forms are released mostly in the month of May or June. The application forms can be filled and submitted online.

Step 2: Appear for the entrance test

After you have successfully submitted the application form, you will have to appear for the entrance test. The date for the entrance test is declared in advance.

Step 3: Admission to the college

The candidates who clear the admission test will be selected. They will then be called to take admission to the college.

Check the full list of MA entrance exams in India.

MA Sociology Eligibility

The eligibility criteria vary from college to college. Here, we have listed some of the common MA Sociology eligibility criteria that must be fulfilled by the candidates:

The students must complete his/her graduation in any undergraduate course. The students from Humanities background will have an advantage over others.
The minimum graduation percentage may vary from 45% to 50%. The percentage differs from college to college.
Some colleges also conduct their entrance test. The students need to clear the entrance test in order to be eligible for the course.
A certain relaxation of percentage is given to the SC /ST / OBC/ PwD candidates.

MA Sociology Entrance Exams

Appearing for the entrance test is mandatory for a few colleges and universities. The application forms are released a few months before the date of the examination. However, all dates for the current academic year have been postponed due to COVID-19 crisis. Here, we have listed some of the common entrance tests for the MA Sociology course

IPUCET 2020: IPUCET is the entrance test conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University for admission to the various UG and PG courses. The application forms are available in the online mode from March.
TISSNET 2020: TISSNET is the online examination conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The examination is conducted one every year and it is held in January.
PU CET 2020: PU CET is the Punjab University Combined Entrance Test. It is a state-level entrance test for admission to the different colleges under Punjab University. The application forms are released in March.
MGU CAT 2020: MGU CAT is the University level admission test for admission to the postgraduate courses. The examination is held in the month of April and the application forms are released in February.
AUAT 2020: AUAT is the admission test for admission to Aliah University. The application forms are released in March and the examination is generally held in the month of June.

Some of the important dates related to these exams are tabulated in the table below.

Entrance Exam	Mode of Examination	Total Time	Date of Application	Date of Examination
IPU CET	Online	2 hours 30 minutes	Till July 20, 2020	To be notified
TISSNET	Online	1 hour 40 minutes	October 2019	January 04, 2020
PUCET	Online	1 hour 10 minutes (each section)	Till September 27, 2020	October 10-11, 2020
MGU CAT	Online	1 hour 30 minutes	Till June 15, 2020	To be notified
AUAT	Online	2 hours	May 15 to June 15, 2020	June 25-26, 2020

How to Prepare for the MA Sociology Entrance Exams?

If you wish to score well in the entrance test, then you must be well prepared in advance as preparation is very important for your examination. Here are a few important preparation tips for you.

Know your syllabus thoroughly. Some of the important topics from which questions are generally asked in the entrance test are Indian Society, Concepts and Theories in Sociology, Current Affairs and Methods of Sociological Enquiry.
Time management is really important. You should properly divide the syllabus into different parts and complete each part within a definite span of time. This will help you to complete your syllabus in an organized way.
Practising previous year’s question papers is also important. The examination will be of 1 to 2 hours. So, you must try to complete an entire paper within that time.
Make sure that you revise all the important sections properly before the date of the examination. Revision constitutes an important part of preparation. Until and unless you revise well, you will never be able to score well in the entrance test.
You must know the pattern of questions asked in the entrance test so that you can prepare accordingly and acquire a really good score.
Get hold of all the important books for that particular entrance test and read them thoroughly. You must also have a very good grasp of your graduation syllabus.

Check the TISSNET Cutoff 2020.

How to Get Admission in a Good MA Sociology College?

Getting admitted to a top-notch MA Sociology college isn’t an easy task. Here, we have shortlisted a few important points that you must keep in mind if you wish to get admitted to a good college.

Try to acquire a good score in graduation. Your graduation marks will help you to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the college. You would require at least 50% marks in graduation to get admitted to a good college.
In case there is an entrance test, be well prepared for it. Know the syllabus properly and read all the important sections thoroughly. Practice the previous year’s questions and also get a proper idea about the type of questions that are frequently asked in the examination.
You must be well aware of all the important dates related to the admission process like date of admission, date of entrance test, etc. Make a note of all the important dates so that none of the dates skip out of your mind accidentally.
Get to know about the quality of education offered by the institute where you wish to get admitted. You can do so by researching information on the internet. You should also know about the educational qualifications of the faculties who are currently teaching at that institution.
You must also know the type of placements offered to the students by that particular institute.It is of extreme importance that you get to know about the placement scenario of the institution. Otherwise, you may have to regret later.
Make a list of all the colleges around you that offers a Master in a Sociology course. Study their rankings properly. Also, read the ratings and reviews from the ex-students. Thus will help you to know the college better.

Top MA Sociology colleges in Maharashtra	Top MA Sociology colleges in West Bengal

MA Sociology: What is it about?

Sociology is all about the study of society and its various aspects. An MA Sociology teaches the students about the different elements of society and their interactions with each other.
The students will get to know human society, its origin, its evolutionary stages, and the various problems associated with it. This will, in turn, help the students to discover ways of overcoming those problems.
The course will prepare the students for a better understanding of the societies and the different communities across the world.
The course has a number of specializations in disciplines like Religion and Society, Sociology of India, Political Sociology, Economic Sociology, etc. You can go for any of the courses depending on your interest.
The MA Sociology course helps the students to develop better written and oral communication skills. They will be able to understand complex techniques and apply them in various real-life situations.

MA Sociology Course Highlights

Course Level	Postgraduate
Full-form	Master of Arts in Sociology
Duration	2 years
Eligibility	Completed graduation in any discipline with a minimum of 45% to 50% marks.
Admission Process	Direct Admission or on the basis of Entrance test.
Course Fee	INR 5,000- INR 2,00,000
Average Salary	INR 3.5 LPA - INR 6.5 LPA
Job Positions	Counselor, Administrator, Consultant, Journalist, Researcher
Top Recruiters	Monsanto India, Bayer Crop Science, Coromandel Fertilizers, Buhler India

Why Study MA Sociology?

MA Sociology has always been a very popular course, especially in India. It is offered by a number of renowned organizations. Here are a few reasons as to why should you pursue an MA Sociology :

The students will get to know about the society in which they belong. They will become aware of the different elements of society and how they interact with one another. The students will also get to know about the different hierarchies of the society.
The students will have a better understanding of the different communities around them and they can take necessary measures for the improvement of the community. They will get to know how societies function in this contemporary world.
The students will receive excellent job offers from health organizations, international companies, and law firms at the end of their course. The academic career option is also open to them. They may also teach at educational institutes.
The average salary earned by a fresher is around 3.5 LPA - 6.5 LPA. The salary will largely depend upon your job profile and your designation. With time and experience, the salary will definitely increase.
The students may also pursue research in various fields. They can go for a Ph.D. or an M.Phil in Sociology. A number of universities in India offer Ph.D. courses in Sociology.

MA Sociology vs MA Social Work

There are various courses that are similar to the MA Sociology course. One such course is MA Social Work. Let us see how these courses differ from one another.

Parameters	MA Sociology	MA Social Work
Qualification	Master of Arts in Sociology	Master of Arts in Social Work
Course Overview	Master of Arts in Sociology mainly centres around society, its various important segments and their interaction with one another.	Master of Arts Social Work deals with the different ways in which society can be benefitted by human beings. It involves social work practices in hospitals, communities, etc.
Eligibility	Graduation in any stream with a minimum of 45% to 50% marks.	Minimum 50% score in graduation in any stream
Admission Process	Direct admission or entrance test	Direct Admission or Entrance test.
Average Fee	INR 5,000- INR 2,00,000	INR 20,000- INR 2,00,000
Average Salary	INR 3,50,000 - 6,50,000	INR 2,00,000 - 3,00,000
Colleges	Loyola College, Chennai St. Xavier's College, Kolkata Nizam College, Hyderabad	TATA Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai Delhi University, Delhi Christ University, Bangalore Loyola College, Chennai
Recruiting Areas	Law firms, international organizations, human resource departments, health and welfare organizations.	Healthcare, social services, international NGOs and human rights departments.
Top Job Profiles	Lecturer, Professor, Counselor, Administrator,	Social Activist, Program Manager, Program Coordinator, Social Counselor.

Source: College Websites

Also, go through the full list of top MA Social Work Colleges in India.

MA Sociology Top Colleges

MA Sociology is taught at various institutes across India. Here, we have mentioned some of the top MA Sociology Colleges of India:

The Week 2019 Rank	College Name	City	Average Course Fee	Average Salary
4	Loyola College	Chennai	INR 40,000	INR 3,50,000
9	St. Xavier’s College	Kolkata	INR 60,000	INR 3,50,000
20	Jesus and Mary College	New Delhi	INR 34,000	INR 2,50,000
22	Jamia Millia Islamia University	New Delhi	INR 20,000	INR 8,00,000
30	Nizam College	Hyderabad	INR 54,000	INR 3,00,000
41	Sacred Heart College	Ernakulam	INR 87,000	INR 3,00,000
43	Mehr Chand Mahajan Dayanand Anglo Vedic College for Women	Chandigarh	INR 40,000	INR 5,50,000
46	Post Graduate Government College for Girls	Chandigarh	INR 44,000	INR 3,00,000
50	St. Mira’s College for Girls	Pune	INR 30,000	INR 3,50,000

Source: College Websites

College Comparison

Out of all the top colleges offering an MA in a Sociology course, we have compared 3 colleges based on various important factors. Let us have a look at the comparison table given below:

College Name	Loyola College, Chennai	St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata	Nizam College, Hyderabad
Overview	Loyola College was established in 1925 and it functions under the University of Madras. It offers a number of UG, PG and Doctorate courses in different streams.	St. Xavier's College is a very prestigious college in India. The college offers a huge number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses to the eligible students. It is an autonomous college established in 1860.	Nizam College is an AICTE approved public institution of Hyderabad that offers a wide range of courses to the students.
Location	Chennai	Kolkata	Hyderabad
The Week 2019 Ranking	4	9	30
Average Fees	INR 40,000	INR 60,000	INR 54,000
Eligibility	Minimum 50% in graduation	Minimum 50% in graduation	Minimum 50% in graduation
Admission Process	Merit-based	Merit-based	Merit-based
Average CTC	INR 3,50,000	INR 3,50,000	INR 3,00,000
Top Recruiting Company	HCL, Akshar Arbol Schools, Cactus, Real Foundations, Sutherland, etc.	Cognizant, IBM, Genpact, Wipro, Collegedunia, Google, etc.	Google, Infosys, Cognizant, Accenture, Amazon, Wipro

Source: College Websites

MA Sociology Distance Education

This mode of education is especially useful for those candidates who are not able to attend the classes regularly. The total duration of the MA Sociology distance course is a maximum of 5 years. Some of the popular colleges/universities which offer a distance learning programme in Sociology are given below:

Name of the institute	Location	Admission Process	Duration	Average Total Fee
Indira Gandhi National Open University	New Delhi	Merit-based	2 years	INR 12,000
Center for Distance and Open Learning, Jamia Millia Islamia University	New Delhi	Merit-based	2 years	INR 20,000
School of Open Learning, University of Delhi	New Delhi	Entrance Test	2 years	INR 10,000
Annamalai University	Tamil Nadu	Merit-Based	2 years	INR 10,000
Karnataka State Open University	Karnataka	Merit-based	2 years	INR 13,500

In open universities like IGNOU, the admission process is generally merit based. IGNOU will provide materials which the candidates will have to study themselves. At the end of the course, the candidate will have to go to any one of the IGNOU study centres to appear for the final examination. Check the complete list of IGNOU Study Centres in India.

MA Sociology Syllabus

Here, we have given the semester-wise syllabus for the Masters in a Sociology course. The syllabus may slightly differ from college to college.

Semester 1	Semester 2
Sociology of Kinship	Sociology of India
Religion and Society	Economic Sociology
Sociological Theories	Sociology of Development
Political Sociology	Methods of Sociological Research
Semester 3	Semester 4
Industry and Society	Urban Sociology
Sociology of Symbolism	Populations and Society
Gender and Society	Sociology of Science
Sociology of Organizations	Sociology of Media
Sociology of Education	Agrarian Structure

Important Books for MA Sociology Course

Books constitute an important part of every course. Here, we have enlisted some of the important books for the MA Sociology course:

Book Name	Author Name
Sociology	C. N. Shankar Rao
Sociology	Haralambus
Indian Sociological Thought	B. K. Nagla
Sociological Theory	George Ritzer
Indian Society	M. Senthil Kumar, S Rijesh

Some colleges like IGNOU provide their own study material for preparation.

MA Sociology Job and Career Prospects

MA Sociology Job Prospects and Career Prospects

The professional career path is also wide open for the MA Sociology students. They may acquire jobs in human resource departments, law firms and international organizations. Some of the common job profiles include researcher, consultant, administrator, etc.

The students may apply for jobs in various government sectors. They may teach at government schools and colleges. Various government offices also require MA Sociology students. However, an additional examination may be required.

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Annual Salary
Educator	An educator teaches at various schools and universities in India	INR 4,00,000
Counselors	Sociology students can become excellent counselors as they know how communities work.	INR 2,40,000
PR Executives	The Sociology students can become PR Executives because of their knowledge in civilizations.	INR 2,90,000
Marketing Research Executive	MA Sociology graduates can work as good marketing executives as they have a good grasp of cultural themes and symbols.	INR 4,80,000
Researcher	MA Sociology students can also carry out research activities in various organizations.	INR 4,00,000
Journalist	MA Sociology students can also establish a career in journalism. This career path is also open to them.,	INR 3,00,000

Salary Trends

Here, we have represented the salary trend of some of the popular job profiles of MA Sociology :

Source: Payscale

MA Sociology Future Scope

MA Sociology course has a very good future scope. The students have a lot of opportunities to become successful in this field.

MA Sociology students can opt for higher studies. They may go for a Ph.D. or an M.Phil in Sociology if they wish to remain in the academic field. After that, they may either opt for research activities or teach at various academic organizations.
The students may look for jobs in various health and welfare organizations, international organizations, law firms, etc. Some of the most popular job profiles for the MA Sociology students administrator, counselor, researcher, etc.
Jobs are available for the MA Sociology students in various banking sectors as well as government sectors. In that case, they may have to qualify an additional examination.
Some of the top recruiting areas for the MA Sociology students are Public Health and Welfare Organization, Law Firms, International Organizations, Advertising Firms and many more.

Check the full list of PhD Sociology Colleges in India.

MA Sociology FAQs

Ques. What is the scope for MA Sociology?

Ans. You may go for higher studies and pursue a Ph.D. You can also look for jobs in various sectors like law firms, health and welfare organizations, etc.

Ques. What should be my job profile after I complete my MA Sociology course?

Ans. The common job profiles are Counselor, Consultant, Administrator, Researcher, Lecturer/Professor, etc.

Ques. Does an MA Sociology from Ignou hold any value?

Ans. Nowadays, most PSUs and other organizations are declining students with a degree from IGNOU. However, there are a lot of organizations that accept distance learning program degrees.

Ques. Is an entrance test necessary for MA Sociology admission?

Ans. A number of popular Universities like JNU and DU conduct entrance tests for admission to the MA Sociology course. So, you will have to find out whether the college where you wish to study conducts an entrance test or not.

Ques. What is the best MA Sociology course?

Ans. MA Sociology has a number of specializations. You may choose your specializations according to your interest.

Ques. Can I do an MA Sociology after engineering?

Ans. Yes, graduate students from any discipline can apply for a MA Sociology course.

Ques. What is the eligibility criteria for an MA Sociology course?

Ans. You require a minimum of 45% to 50% in your graduation course.

Ques. What are the best colleges for a MA Sociology in India?

Ans. Some of the best colleges/ universities are Loyola University, Chennai, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, Nizam College, Hyderabad and many more.

Ques. What is the average tuition fee for the MA Sociology course?

Ans. The average tuition fee is between INR 5,000 to INR 2,00,000

Ques. What are the placements after MA Sociology from JNU?

Ans. The placement scenario is quite good and over90% students get placed every year.

Ques. What should be my salary after completing my MA Sociology ?

Ans. Your expected salary should be between INR 3.5 LPA -INR 6.5 LPA.

Ques. Has the entrance test dates for the MSc in Agriculture courses been deferred due to COVID-19?

Ans. Yes, all examination dates have been deferred due to the present situation of the country. You can check the official website for the latest updates.