Course contents
Unit I: Introduction to sociology 6 hours
Meaning of sociology; nature of sociology; subject matter of sociology; emergence of sociology and methods of sociology along with brief description on the contribution of founders of sociology; Relationship of sociology with economics, psychology, political science and business-management.
Unit II: Theoretical perspective in sociology 8 hours
What is perspective?
Functionalism: Meaning, context, basic tenets or key assumptions: Functionalism of Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons (Basic ideas with criticism).
Interactionism: Meaning, context, basic tenets or key assumptions : Interactionism of George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer (Basic ideas and criticism).
Conflict theory: Meaning, context, basic tenets or key assumptions: Conflict theory of Karl Marx and Max Weber (basic ideas and criticism).
Post modernism: meaning, context, basic tenets or key assumptions: Post Modernism of Fredric Jameson and Jean Baudrillard (basic ideas and criticism).
Unit III: The foundations of society 14 hours
Society: Meaning, Definition, nature and types (Industrial and pre-industrial).
Culture: Meaning, definition, features and functions; types (material and non-material); sub-culture (youth, ethnic and age sub culture vis-a-vis society and organization, e.g. Consumer behavior, organizational culture)
Norms, values, status and role: meaning, definition and types; linkage to business and management
Socialization: Meaning, definition and function of socialization; agents of socialization; types of socialization (primary and secondary socialization); theories of primary socialization; personality and socialization
Group and organization: Group- meaning, definition and features; types (various types with focusing on primary and secondary groups). Organization- meaning, definition (view from founding fathers of sociology); formal and informal organization; Max Weber’s Bureaucracy; sociology of organization; work and leisure; group dynamics; dynamics of social capital
Sexuality: understanding sexuality; sexual issues (pornography, teen pregnancy, prostitution and sexual violence, sexual abuse)
Crime and deviance: Meaning, definition and difference between them
Conformity and sanction: meaning and definition
Unit IV: Social stratification 7 hours
Meaning, definition and features; Functional and conflict approach to social stratification; Stratification and inequality; Class, caste, ethnicity and gender as various aspects of social stratification- Meaning, definition, features and Nepalese context.
Unit V: Social Institution 7 hours
Meaning, definition ,features, function and types (as required by subject matter): family, marriage, polity, economic institution, religion ( along with dysfunction), educational institution; Conflict and functional approach to religion and education; Nepalese context.
Unit VI: Social change 6 hours
Meaning, definition and features; Factors of social change; Conflict approach to social change; Application and experiences in Nepalese society.