Sociologists are professionals, who study the society and the social behaviour by critically examining various groups, organizations and institutions that are formed or build by the process of coexisting and interacting. Sociologists are mainly responsible for collecting data by conducting various surveys and interviews and later on analysing them for a better understanding of the social structure and the innumerable issues that comes along with it.
More than 2,000 Colleges in India like Loyola College, Chennai, St Xavier’s College Mumbai, Fergusson College, Pune, Christ University Bangalore and Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, etc offer UG and PG courses such as BA Sociology and MA Sociology. After successfully completing a Postgraduate degree one can also choose to pursue PhD in Sociology.
Also Read: BA Sociology
The average course fees of these colleges range from INR 10,000-INR 50,000 per annum. Post completing the course students can get an average salary of INR 3,50,000 – 5,00,000 LPA.
- Career as a Sociologist: Quick Facts
- What does a Sociologist do
- Steps to become a Sociologist
- Types of Sociologists
- How to Become a Sociologist in India
- How to become a Sociologist after 12th
- Sociology Courses
7.1 BA Sociology
8.1 Certificate
8.2 Masters
8.3 PhD
9.1 USA
9.2 Australia
9.3 UK
9.4 Canada
12.2 Specialisation Wise
12.3 Experience Wise
Career as a Sociologist: Quick Facts
| Industry | Universities, Colleges and Professional Schools |
| Eligibility | UG/PG in Sociology |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,00,000-INR 4,00,000 per annum |
| Job Opportunity | Social Worker, Family Counsellor, Administrative Support, and Survey Researcher. |
What does a Sociologist do?
Sociologists study a variety of social topics such as Human behaviour, interaction and organizations. Social topics include Health, Gender, Poverty, Education, Ethnic Relations etc.
- Sociologists design various research projects to test theories about social issues by collecting data through surveys, observation and theories.
- Post analysing data, sociologists give presentations in a detailed manner while preparing articles and reports.
- Sociologists are also incharge of examining the effects on groups of people and individuals of social influences by following it’s growth and origin.
- Sociologists also collaborate with other social scientists and consult on the various research findings and other social issues.
- Sociologists are responsible for preparing reports, articles and various presentations that discusses they findings
- Sociologists consults other clients and policy makers about the conclusions of their reserach findings.
Steps to pursue a Career as a Sociologist
To become a Sociologist, students need to prepare from the high school level. Students should be mentally prepared and concentrate on those subjects that help them to become a sociologist. Few important steps to follow for becoming a Sociologist are the following:
- Decision Making: Students, who wish to pursue Sociology courses must decide it at an early stage preferably during school level. They should engage themselves in participating in discussion/argument over an issue.
- Subject Choices: Students from arts and humanities backgrounds are preferred and can pursue a Sociology course in the future. The required subject combination for pursuing Sociology courses are, English language, History, Mathematics, Economics, Political Science, and a trade subject, etc.
- Entrance Exam Preparation: Most of the colleges/ universities conduct a merit-based admission process. Few universities that conduct entrance examinations are- DUET, JMI, and CUCET etc.
- In the entrance examinations, both subjective and objective type questions are asked. Various sections that are included in the entrance examination sections include Quantitative Aptitude, Analytical Reasoning, English Comprehension, Computer Awareness, and Data Interpretation sections.
- Selecting Correct Colleges: Select your college based on the below points:
- Check the NIRF ranking of the colleges that offer Sociology courses in your city.
- Select a college based on previous student’s reviews.
- Select a college based on the teacher’s educational qualifications and experience.
- After Qualifying Exam: After qualifying in the entrance exams, some colleges/ universities conduct personal interview rounds while some other colleges conduct admission based on the scores obtained in the entrance examination.
Types of Sociologist
Sociologists study human behavior, their interaction, and organization. Sociology as a discipline can be broadly divided into 2 broad sections, they are qualitative sociology and quantitative sociology. Some of the major job profiles that can be taken up after successfully completing a degree in Sociology are listed below,
- Social Worker: A child and family social worker involved in protecting vulnerable children and supporting the families, who need assistance. They try to solve problems that occur in their everyday life. A clinical social worker diagnoses and offers treatment of mental and emotional issues of an individual.
- Social Researcher: Social Researchers are types of sociologists who are responsible for undertaking various research projects for investigating several social issues and their underlying causes post which they submit a report of the investigation.
- Welfare Rights Adviser: Welfare Rights Advisers are sociologists who generally provide information and advice about social security and its benefits to regular citizens.
- Criminology and Criminal Justice: A Sociologist dealing with criminology means he deals with the crimes that happen in a society and when society responds to crime then it can be called criminal justice.
How to Become a Sociologist in India?
To become a Sociologist, you need mental preparation from your school level. Students who are involved in various social activities from their school life can become a sociologist in future. Students need to study arts and humanities at school and college level to become Sociologists.
School Level Preparation: To become a sociologist, students need to keep themselves well prepared from the school level. They should give more importance to Arts and Social Science subjects. They should also make good reading and writing habits. It is essential to score more than 60% at the school level for further study of the Sociology course in the higher secondary level.
How to become a Sociologist after 12th?
Students must choose subjects wisely if they want to be a sociologist in the future. Mental readiness is required from the school level. And after completing 12th, must take sociology as a primary subject.
- UG Preparation: For UG preparation, the student should take Sociology as a major subject along with other subjects of humanity. Students should get ready to read and write. They also must be ready to face uncomfortable topics. It is essential to carry a small notebook, with you all the time.
- PG Preparation: For PG courses, students must complete UG in Sociology securing a minimum of 60% of marks from any recognized university.PG students also need to do research on a specialized area of sociology and then publish it in academic books and papers. The various subject specializations that a student can opt-in PG level is, political sociology, urban sociology, criminology, and social anthropology, etc.
Courses to become a Sociologist
In almost all the Indian colleges/ universities Sociology courses are offered. Students can easily pursue UG, PG, and Ph.D. courses in Sociology. We have mentioned below the details of UG, PG, Certificate, and Ph.D. courses of sociology.
BA Sociology
BA in Sociology is a three-year full-time undergraduate course. In this course, students need to study social interaction, social stratification, culture, and social relations, etc. 46% of the Sociologists have a Bachelor’s degree, the highest among the education qualifications.
Admission Process
In few colleges, where Sociology courses are offered the admission process is conducted based on merit. But the University of Delhi conducts an entrance-based admission process for pursuing Sociology courses.
Entrance Exam
Admission to BA Sociology courses are generally merit-based. Colleges release their cut-offs before the admission process starts. Entrance exams are usually conducted for BA Hons. in Sociology and MA Sociology.
DUET 2023: This entrance test is conducted for admission to a BA program along with other courses in Delhi University.
The details of this exam are as follows:
| Particulars | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Date | April 2023 – June 2023 |
| Admit Card Release Date | July, 2023 |
| Date of Exam | July, 2023 |
| Date of Result | August, 2023 |
Also Check:
Eligibility criteria
In order to be eligible for the BA Sociology course, candidates will have to fulfill the following admission criteria:
- The students need to pass their 10+2 examination from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate of 50%. A 5% relaxation will be given to the SC/ ST/ PwD/ OBC candidates.
- The candidates must also English as one of their main subjects in 10+2. Apart from this. In some cases, you may also have to clear the cut-off of the entrance test to be eligible.
How to prepare for the entrance exam?
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 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.
Tips for entrance exam
- Early preparations are very important as the admissions are very competitive now-a-days and scoring good marks in class 12th is very essential.
- You can keep a track of cut-off marks by visiting the websites or through the advertisements of various institutes.
- Know the pattern of exam you wish to attempt.
- Make a schedule and follow it religiously so that you are able to finish the entire syllabus and understand it thoroughly.
- Solve previous year question papers and sample papers.
- Attempt mock tests every weekend.
- Make a handy short note which will be helpful during the revision.
Related Courses tobe a Sociologist
Beside having a Bachelor’s degree to pursue a career as a Sociologist, students can also opt for various other courses to study sociology.
Certificate Courses in Sociology
These are short-term courses. Students can pursue certificate courses in Sociology in various specializations such as Applied Sociology, Comparative Sociology, Collective Behaviour, and Cultural Sociology, etc. The duration of these certificate courses is six months to one year.
Admission Process
Students can pursue this course from Delhi University or Central University. The admission process is conducted online and students do not need to appear in the entrance examination before pursuing this course. The admission process for these courses is conducted on a merit basis.
Eligibility for the Course
Students must complete graduation with 50% of marks in the Science or Arts stream with Sociology as one of the important subjects.
MA Sociology
MA in Sociology or Social Researcher is a 2-year full-time postgraduate course that emphasizes the wide study of society and its mechanisms. 35% of the Sociologists have a Master’s degree as their qualification.
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.
Check the full list of Top MA Sociology colleges in India.
Entrance Exam
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.
Eligibility for the Exam
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.
PhD in Sociology
After completing a post graduation in Sociology, a sociologist can pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology. This is an advanced course in research methods. Sociologists can choose various areas for specializations such as social movements, race, and ethnicity, culture and politics, urban sociology, clinical sociology, etc.
See also: PhD Social Science
Admission Process
Based on the scores obtained in the entrance examination and the marks secured in post-graduation, students get admission to the universities. Jawaharlal Nehru University conducts an entrance examination for pursuing admission in Ph.D.in Sociology courses.
Quick Look into Top Ph.D. in Sociology Colleges
Eligibility criteria for the exam
- Candidates should have passed a Master’s Degree in Sociology or have sociology has a subject with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognized university/institution.
- Candidates should have an MPhil Degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognized university/institution.
- In the case of reserved category SC / ST / OBC / PH candidates relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade is given as per UGC guidelines.
- Experience of senior level for five years of teaching/industry/administration/ professional.
How to Become a Sociologist Abroad?
Sociology is a fascinating and broad course and one can pursue this course from Indian and also from abroad. To lead your life for a predetermined career path, students choose to become sociologists. The Indian and abroad procedures for pursuing Sociology courses are different in terms of eligibility and syllabus.
How to become a Sociologist in USA
The universities of the USA offer both full-time and part-time Sociology courses. The minimum duration of this course is 6 months and the maximum duration is 3 years. After completing the course, students get good job opportunities.
Admission Process
The admission process to pursue Sociology courses in the USA, based on the scores obtained in graduation and the entrance examination.
- Educational Requirements: To pursue Sociology courses in the USA, students need to have a prior bachelor's degree in Sociology or any other similar field. Students from the Arts and Humanities stream are eligible to pursue a Psychology course.
- Other Requirements: A minimum GPA of 3.0 -3.5 on a scale of 4.0 or equivalent is required. Minimum two reference letters from academic professors and valid score in entry requirement tests like TOEFL and IELTS etc, valid student visa and citizenship certificate, etc.
Top Universities
The top Universities offering Sociology courses in the USA are the following:
| Top Universities | University Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Stanford University | 13,15,000 p/a |
| University of California-Los Angeles | 11,00,000 p/a |
| University of California-Berkeley | 8,76,000 p/a |
| Yale University | 14,60,000 p/a |
| University of Illinois-Urbana -Champaign | 9,50,000 p/a |
| Princeton University | 8,34,000 p/a |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 11,00,000 p/a |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 10,25,000 p/a |
| University of Michigan- Ann Arbor | 9,50,000 p/a |
| Harvard University | 10,20,000 p/a |
Courses Offered
| Courses Offered | Course Fees(INR) |
|---|---|
| MA Economic Sociology | 8,00,000 p/a |
| MA Sex and Gender | 7,30,000 p/a |
| MA Historical Sociology | 8,03,000 p/a |
How to Become a Sociologist in Australia
Many primary universities in Australia offer Sociology courses. Aspirants to become a sociologist pursue Doctoral degrees from the top Australian Universities. The admission details of top universities of Australia are mentioned below:
Admission Process
The admission process to pursue Sociology courses in Australia is based on the scores obtained in graduation and the entrance examination.
- Educational Requirements: To pursue Sociology courses in Australia, students need to have a prior bachelor's degree in Sociology or any other similar field. Students from Arts and Humanities streams are eligible to pursue a Psychology course.
- Other Requirements: Minimum two reference letters from academic professors and valid score in entry requirement tests like TOEFL and IELTS etc, valid student visa and citizenship certificate, etc.
Top Universities
The top Universities offering Sociology courses in Australia are the following:
| Top Universities | University Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of New South Wales | 6,30,000 p/a |
| University of Sydney | 6,30,000 p/a |
| University of Queensland Australia | 6,80,000 p/a |
| Western Sydney University. | 6,83,000 p/a |
| Monash University | 5,12,000 p/a |
| The University of Western Australia | 9,10,000 p/a |
| Macquarie University | 6,70,000 p/a |
| Australian National University | 6,80,000 p/a |
| Deakin University. | 6,83,000 p/a |
Courses Offered
| Courses Offered | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| MA Social Research Method | 7,40,000 p/a |
| MA Historical Sociology | 5,12,000 p/a |
| MA Sociology | 5,70,000 p/a |
How to Become a Sociologist in UK
Many Indian and International students studied sociology courses in the UK. Future career prospects are very good for the students who studied from the top UK universities. The details of admission and eligibility are given below:
Admission Process
The admission process to pursue Sociology courses in the UK, based on the scores obtained in graduation and the entrance examination.
- Educational Requirements: To pursue Sociology courses in the UK, students need to have a prior bachelor's degree in Sociology or any other similar field. Students from Arts and Humanities streams are eligible to pursue a Psychology course.
- Other Requirements: Minimum two reference letters from academic professors and valid score in entry requirement tests like TOEFL and IELTS etc, valid student visa and citizenship certificate, etc.
Top Universities
The top Universities offering Sociology courses in the UK are the following:
| Top Universities | University Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | 16,60,000 p/a |
| UCL (University College London) | 10,36,000 p/a |
| King’s College London | 12,45,000 p/a |
| The University of Sussex | 8,81,000 p/a |
| University of Edinburgh | 12,44,000 p/a |
| Cardiff University. | 12,44,000 p/a |
| The University of Kent | 13,47,000 p/a |
| The University of Manchester | 14,51,000 p/a |
| London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | 16,60,000 p/a |
| University of Bristol | 16,60,000 p/a |
Courses Offered
| Courses Offered | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| MA in Social Innovation | 9,33,000 p/a |
| MA Media Ethics and Social Change | 10,36,000 p/a |
| Ph.D.in Sociology | 18,66,000 p/a |
How to Become a Sociologist in Canada
Many top universities offer UG, PG, and Doctoral degree courses in sociology in Canada. Students should have a valid visa to pursue any course from a Canadian university. Other essential admission details are given below:
Admission Process
The admission process to pursue Sociology courses in Canada is based on the scores obtained in graduation and the entrance examination.
- Educational Requirements: To pursue Sociology courses in Canada, students need to have a prior bachelor's degree with 75% to 80% in Sociology or any other similar field.
- Other Requirements: Minimum two reference letters from academic professors and valid score in entry requirement tests like TOEFL and IELTS etc, valid student visa and citizenship certificate, etc.
Top Universities
The top Universities offering Sociology courses in Canada are the following:
| Top Universities | University Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 13,90,000 p/a |
| University of British Columbia | 13,95,000 p/a |
| McGill University | 13,95,000 p/a |
| The University of Calgary | 10,00,000 p/a |
| University of Ottawa | 15,00,000 p/a |
| Dalhousie University | 13,90,000 p/a |
| Western University | 14,30,000 p/a |
| McMaster University | 14,50,000 p/a |
| Queen's University | 14,56,000 p/a |
| University of Montreal | 16,38,000 p/a |
Courses Offered
| Courses Offered | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| MA Sociology | 7,90,000 p/a |
| MA Work and Organization | 6,00,000 p/a |
| MA Sociology-Cultural, Social and Political Thought | 10,00,000 p/a |
Benefit of Career as a Sociologist
In the Sociologist field, students can explore many specializations. Future job opportunities are also very good for the students. Studying Sociology helps a student to understand their own life better.
- Salary: A Sociologist can earn a handsome salary per month. The average starting salary of a Sociologist after completing their degree range INR 4,00,000-INR 6,00,000 per annum.
- Job Security: A Sociologist can explore various job opportunities such as Journalist, Social Worker, Family Counsellor, Administrative Support, and Survey Researcher. These jobs are generally hasle free and are secured in terms of any financial risk and likewise.
- Positive Impact of the Career: The Sociology course can develop your critical thinking ability and also polish your marketable skills.
- Higher Studies: Once completing UG and PG courses in Sociology, students can further pursue M.Phil. and a Ph.D. degree in Sociology in various specializations.
- Unique Experience: After pursuing a Sociology course, students can explore the systematic nature of various dynamics and phenomena. Sociology is a very important course in areas like education, healthcare, public policy, and marketing.
Skills Required to be a Sociologist
A Psychologist needs to have some specific skills. These skills are essential to have in a sociologist. These skills are shown in the below table:
| Communication Skill | Analytical Skill |
| Problem Solving Skill | Critical thinking skills |
| Writing Skill | Patience |
Salary of a Sociologist
The starting salary range of a Sociologist is between INR 4,00,000-INR 6,00,000 per annum. The Government Organization’s salary is slightly higher than private organizations.
The salary range of Government organization and Private organization are the following:
Average Annual Salary
The average annual salary of a Sociologist working in a Public administration and Private sector is mentioned below.
| Name of the Organization | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Government | INR 6,00,000-INR 6,500,000 |
| Private | INR 4,00,000-INR 5,50,000 |
Specialization Wise
Students can opt for various specializations in the Sociology course. The starting salary is different in every specialization. The salary range of various specializations of sociology courses are the following:
| Specializations | Salary (Per Annum) |
|---|---|
| Social Worker | INR 4,10,000-INR 4,50,000 |
| Family Counsellor | INR 5,40,000-INR 5,50,000 |
| Welfare Rights Adviser. | INR 5,00,000-INR 5,80,000 |
| Survey Researcher | INR 3,00,000-INR 4,10,000 |
Experience Wise Salary
In every sector, experienced professionals’ salary is higher than a fresher. In the sociology course also, it is the same. Below, we have shown the salary of freshers and experienced professionals.
| Experience | Salary (Per Annum) |
|---|---|
| Fresher | INR 4,50,000-INR 5,00,000 |
| Experienced | INR 6,00,000-INR 6,30,000 |
Career as a Sociologist: FAQs
Ques. What is the total duration of the BA in Sociology course?
Ans. The total duration of the BA in Sociology course is 3 years.
Ques. Does distance education for a master’s degree in Sociology course available in India?
Ans. Yes, distance education for a master’s degree in Sociology course available in India.
Ques. Can I pursue a Ph.D. course in Sociology?
Ans. Yes, you can pursue a Ph.D. course in Sociology.
Ques. What is the average salary of a Family Counsellor?
Ans. The average salary of a Family Counsellor ranges between INR 5,40,000-INR 5,50,000 per annum.
Ques. What is the minimum percentage required to pursue a PG in Sociology course at Delhi University?
Ans. Students need to get a minimum of 60% of marks in a UG degree to pursue PG in a Sociology course.
Ques. What skill is most essential to being a Sociologist?
Ans. The most essential skill of a Sociologist is to have excellent communication skills.
Ques. What are the entrance exams, conducted for pursuing PG in the Sociology course?
Ans. The common entrance exams that are conducted for pursuing PG in Sociology course are, DUET, JMI, and CUCET, etc.
Ques. How does a social worker help an individual?
Ans. A social worker helps those individuals who are suffering and fighting for social injustices and try to improve their lives.
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility required to become a Sociologist?
Ans. To become a Sociologist, a student must complete PG in a Sociology course.
Ques. What are the various job prospects after MA in the Sociology course?
Ans. The various job prospects after MA in Sociology course are Social Worker, Family Counsellor, Administrative Support and Survey Researcher, etc.
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