Sociology - St Aloysius (Deemed To Be University)

VISION

The Department of Sociology seeks to equip students with a sound academic foundation that helps them to question critically, think logically, communicate clearly, act resourcefully, live ethically and develop an aptitude for research and analysis.

MISSION

The Department of Sociology at St Aloysius College (Autonomous) strives to cultivate the sociological imagination that involves the ability to understand how individual and group behaviour is shaped by society's historical and industrial development; how personal problems are connected to public issues of social structure; and how to work with others to improve the existing social conditions using scientific techniques of social research. The department moves forward with the hope that the graduates will be well equipped to become engaged responsible Indian citizens in the future in an increasingly knowledge-intensive and diverse world. This would in turn promote effective participation in professional, personal and public affairs.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Sociology has always been an exciting and illuminating field of study that strives to analyze and explain important matters – be it our personal lives, our communities or the world. At the personal level, sociology investigates the social causes and consequences of concepts such as romantic love, racial and gender identity, family conflict, deviant behaviour, aging and religious faith. At the societal level, sociology examines and explains subjects such as crime and law, poverty and wealth, prejudice and discrimination, schools and education, business firms, urban community and social movements. At the global level, the subject of sociology studies phenomena as population growth and migration, disaster and its management, war and peace and economic development. Unifying the study of these diverse topics of study is the purpose of sociology. In other words, it understands how human action and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social structures.

Sociology also helps people liberate themselves. As Peter Berger rightly stated that “sociology can help people to take charge of their lives by making them aware of their situation in society and the forces acting upon them…By discovering the workings of society, they gain an understanding of how this process takes place.

"The wisdom of sociology is the discovery and realization that things are not what they seem to be. Generally, when people see things, they ask what they are. But a sociologist asks what they are not."

Very few fields have such a broad and exciting scope!

Sociology as a major discipline is taught at St Aloysius (deemed to be University) in combination with other subjects such as Psychology, Political Science, Economics, Social Work and English Major. Along with the regular major course in Sociology, the department also offers a certificate course titled “Handloom Trails of India” which is open to all.

The programme in Sociology is conducted keeping the following objectives in mind:

·       To introduce the students to the basic concepts and processes in sociology to understand the social life.

·       To equip the students with updated sociological knowledge pertaining to various subfields within the discipline of sociology.

·       To orient the students for comprehending sociological perspectives.

·       To analyze and critically assess the social reality.

·       Prepare students for various competitive examinations.

·       To inculcate the research aptitude and relevant skills in the students useful for their professional life.

·       To prepare the students for undertaking research, jobs in Colleges/Universities/ Research Institutions, various Government Departments and Non-governmental organizations.

·       To prepare the students for undertaking income earning jobs in organizations and agencies.

·       Continuous education in various special fields of Sociology.

·       Need based curricula and teaching to develop aptitude and skills.

A degree in Sociology opens up career avenues in the following fields:

·       Research institutes

·       Public Health and Welfare Organizations

·       Educational Institutions [Teacher(with B.Ed), Lecturer With PG Degree]

·       Survey And Polling Organizations

·       Media (Journalists)

·       Social Anthropology

·       Urban Planning

·       Data Analysis

The Department of Sociology at St Aloysius (deemed to be University) was established in 1977 under the able leadership of Rev Dr Alphonsus B D’Souza SJ.

Currently the department is headed by Ms Joan Rita O’Brien.

The department has kept pace with evolving methods of teaching and incorporates that in the teaching and learning methods adopted. Some the following are the teaching methods adopted:

·       Photojournalism

·       Screening  and Review of Movies & documentaries

·       Book Reviews

·       Screening of TED Talks

·       Role plays

·       Field visits

·       Primary research

·       Charts and paper presentations

·       Group discussions and PowerPoint presentations

·       Interpersonal and leadership skills

Additionally remedial classes are conducted regularly and peer learning method is constantly encouraged and monitored.