COURSES

M.A. SOCIOLOGY (HONOURS) 

The Department of Sociology, University of Mumbai offers Master of Arts in Sociology based on Credit and Semester system. The course is named Master of Arts (Honours) in Sociology and was initiated in the academic year 2008-2009.  

Structure 

It is a two year programme consisting of Four Semesters with many optional courses on offer. The Syllabus is divided into Core and Elective courses. Each Course carries six credits. Core Courses are compulsory for all the students in a given Semester and the Elective Courses are optional as specified for each Semester.  

The Course is designed to provide the students an exhaustive understanding of the contemporary developments and debates in Sociology and Anthropology with specific focus on issues pertaining to South Asia. It is compatible with the patterns followed in distinguished universities in India and abroad. It is a rigorous programme based on innovative pedagogical practices.  

Consequently, the department of Sociology no longer offers the older programme of Master of Arts in Sociology with annual exams. Such a course is still available to students through the Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) of the University of Mumbai as well as a few colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai.  

Duration of the Course 

M.A. (Honours) in Sociology is a TWO YEAR programme, consisting of FOUR semesters with many course options. The duration of each semester is FIFTEEN weeks, with TWELVE weeks of classes, one week each for the mid semester and end semester exams and one week kept in reserve for viva-voce exams and other allied activities. The semesters follow the academic year of the University of Mumbai and run between June/July and March/April, with three breaks during Diwali, Christmas and the summer vacation in the month of May.  

The lectures for the courses in First Semester commence on July 15. In case the results of the BA exams conducted by the University of Mumbai are delayed, classes will commence for the courses in Semester One within the ten days of the declaration of BA results at the University of Mumbai. The lectures for Semester Three begin on the first day of the new academic year in June.  

Students will have to opt for a combination of courses totalling 96 credits over two years. Of these 48 credits are from the core courses and the rest 48 credits from electives. The courses which are actually offered for each semester will be announced two weeks prior to the commencement of the semester.  

Assessment 

The end semester examination for each course will be for a maximum of sixty marks for the duration of two hours.  

A student must secure a minimum of 40% marks (internal assessment and end semester examination put together) in a course (both core courses and electives) to obtain the number of credits assigned to the particular course. A student failing a course will be allowed to keep terms and proceed to the next semester provided she/he has failed in not more than two courses in that semester.  

A student who has passed all the courses (core as well as elective) and obtained not less than 96 credits shall be deemed to have obtained the Master’s (Honours) Degree in Sociology. The total performance within a semester and the continuous performance from the second semester onwards shall be indicated by a Grade Point Average (GPA), Weighted Average Marks, Cumulative Grade Point Average and overall Weighted Percentage Marks and the Overall Percentage Marks respectively, calculated as per standard practice. 

Grading System 

As per Circular No. UG/18 of 2012 of University of Mumbai the Grading System for the course is as follows:

The Details 

Total Number of Courses                                : 16 (08 Core Courses + 08 Electives)

Credits per course                                          : 06

Total Credits                                                   : 96 (16 X 06 = 96)

Teaching Hours                                               : 04 teaching hours weekly for each course, for 15 weeks, in each Semester.

Scheme of Assessment                                   : 60 Marks (End semester exam of 02 Hours’ Duration)

                                                                    : 40 Marks (Internal Assessment)

Pattern of End Semester Examination              : 04 questions of 15 marks each with internal choice. (15 X 4 = 60 marks)

Internal Assessment                                      : Assignment on a topic related to the course, word limit: between 3000 – 4000 words. : Maximum of 20 marks for the written assignment, 10 marks for viva voce examination on the assignment and maximum of 10 marks for class participation, regularity of attendance and interest shown in the course (20 + 10 + 10 = 40 Marks).

Criteria for Admission and Fee Structure for MA (Honours) in Sociology

Who Can Apply?

All graduates (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com, BMS, BMM, etc.) of recognized universities may apply. Those who have appeared for the final examination and are awaiting the results may also apply. Forms can be collected from the Accounts Section of the University of Mumbai, 2^nd Floor, Mahatma Jotirao Phule Bhavan, Kalina Campus for a sum of '100/- or downloaded from the website of the University of Mumbai. Forms, duly filled in with all the necessary details, may be submitted to the Department of Sociology in person/by post/by email. The option of submitting the form by email is available only to those who have downloaded the form from the website. Along with it a Crossed Demand Draft for '100 favouring The Finance and Accounts Officer, University of Mumbai needs also be submitted. The last date for submission of applications is June 25^th each year.  

An entrance test will be held for all those students who have a graduate degree in any subject other than Sociology. Marks obtained by the candidate at the entrance test as well as the marks obtained at the Bachelor Degree examination will be together considered for deciding on the admissions.  

Fee Structure 

Regular Fee and other Activities Charges for M.A. Part - I and M.A.Part - II implemented from Academic Year 2010-2011.

• Tuition Fee for M.A. Part I foreign students is '5,000/-

• Enrolment fee for students belonging to Universities other than Mumbai University is '220/-

THE COURSES 

SEMESTER ONE

Course Code                                        Title of the Course

Core Courses (two):

501                                                      Classical Sociological Theory

502                                                      Perspectives on Indian Society

Electives (any two)

503                                                      Gender and Society

504                                                      Population and Society

505                                                      Religion and Society

506                                                      Sociology of Urbanization

507                                                      Sociology of the Informal Sector 

SEMESTER TWO

Core Courses (two):

601                                                      Classical Perspectives in Cultural Anthropology

602                                                      Methodologies of Social Research 

Electives (any two):

603                                                      Industry, labour and globalization

604                                                      Family and Kinship

605                                                      Media and Society

606                                                      Social Movements 

SEMESTER THREE

Core Courses (two):

701                                                      Contemporary Sociological Theories

702                                                      Sociology of Development 

Electives (any two):

703                                                      Environment and Society

704                                                      Agrarian Society: Structure and Change

705                                                      Caste, Tribe and Marginalization

706                                                      Indian Social Thinkers

707                                                      Sociology of Megacities

708                                                      Contemporary Feminist Theory

709                                                      Plural Society: Issues and Challenges

710                                                      Dissertation 

SEMESTER FOUR

Core Courses (two):

801                                                      Contemporary Perspectives in Cultural Anthropology

802                                                      Sociology of Globalization 

Electives (any two):                                                    

803                                                      Science, Technology and Society

804                                                      Theorizing Caste: Advanced Sociological Analysis of Caste in Contemporary India.

805                                                      Theoretical Perspectives on Kinship

806                                                      Sociology of Tourism

807                                                      Indian Diaspora Studies

808                                                      The Making of Mumbai: Structures and Processes

809                                                      Tribes in India

810                                                      Popular Culture in India 

(For a comprehensive understanding of the rules and regulations pertaining to Master of Arts (Honours) in Sociology, kindly see Circular No. UG/18 of 2012 of University of Mumbai available at http://www.mu.ac.in/ug18.pdf)

M.Phil. PROGRAMME 

The department of Sociology is introducing a newly designed M.Phil. course during the academic year 2013 – 2014. The proposed course will be of three semesters, two semesters of course work and one semester for the M.Phil. dissertation. The course work would involve three papers; two compulsory papers on Methodology of the Social Sciences and Research Methods in Sociology along with a third paper on Contemporary Debates in India, for which the student may choose any one of the electives on offer. Semester Three is earmarked for the M.Phil. dissertation. More updates on the M.Phil. programme will be available at http://mu.ac.in/arts/social_science/Sociology/courses.html 

Ph.D. PROGRAMME 

Since the inception of the department of sociology in 1919 about 250 PhD and MA dissertations have been completed. The doctoral dissertations completed in the department cover such wide and varied themes as well as all the sub disciplines in Sociology and Anthropology.  

Procedures for Admission and Fee Structure 

In general a candidate for the PhD programme must have secured 55% or CGPA of B Plus at the Masters Level.  

Most the rules and regulations regarding admission to PhD are framed by the University of Mumbai from time to time in line with the framework provided by University Grants Commission.  

The candidate applying for the PhD programme needs to pass the PhD Entrance Test (PET) conducted by the University of Mumbai. This examination is held twice in a year. The validity period for those who clear PET examination is three years. The candidates with any one or more of the following qualifications are exempted from appearing for PET.

Those who are NET, SET, JRF qualified and teacher fellowship holders from apex bodies such as UGC.

Those who have completed MPhil degree from University of Mumbai or any other recognised Universities as per extant UGC guidelines.

c)      Approved teachers affiliated to the University Department or affiliated colleges having not less than FIVE years of full time continuous teaching experience after the date of the first approval of appointment of the University of Mumbai.

A candidate who fulfils the conditions for eligibility as laid out above, shall make an application to the Department of Sociology in the prescribed form seeking admission to the PhD programme, along with a Demand Draft/cash for '100/-. The shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews to be held by a PhD Interview Committee constituted by the Head of the Department of Sociology. The said committee decides on selection of candidates for the PhD programme as well as allocation of PhD supervisors for the eligible candidates.

The eligible candidates who have been allotted PhD supervisors are required to submit an outline of their research proposal to the Department of Sociology to be forwarded to the Research and Recognition Committee (RRC) for consideration. After the approval of the RRC, the candidates shall submit their application for registration for PhD programme to the Thesis Section of the University of Mumbai.  

Every candidate is to complete a six month long PhD course work conducted at the Department of Sociology. Those who have completed MPhil from the University of Mumbai or any other University recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and whose date of registration for the same was before 11^th July 2009, are exempted from PhD course work (See No. 2.10 of Circular No. Exam/COE/Thesis/2891 of 2011, http://www.mu.ac.in/Ph.D_Circular_2891_21-04-2011.pdf) 

All research students are required to renew their admission each term within a week of the opening of the term by submitting the prescribed form along with the term fees. Such applications for renewal are to be countersigned by the Guiding teacher and the Head of the Department.  

Submission of Synopsis 

Two months prior to the submitting of the PhD dissertation the student is to submit 25 copies of the synopsis of the dissertation countersigned by the guiding teacher, along with examination fees of '5010/-. In case the student fails to submit the dissertation within six months of the submission of the synopsis the examination fees are to be paid again.  

Submission of the thesis 

Upon the approval of the thesis by the guiding teacher, the student is required to submit 3 copies of the thesis to the Department of Sociology. It will be examined by two external examiners to determine whether the student can be conferred the degree of PhD based on the said thesis. If both the examiners accept the thesis, the student will be asked to defend it at a viva voce in the presence of the guiding teacher as well as one of the external examiners. However, if any one of the examiners rejects the thesis, it will be sent to a third external examiner whose decision on the matter shall be deemed final. If both the external examiners reject the thesis, the student is required to modify the thesis based on the recommendations of the external examiners and re-submit it for consideration.  

As per University Ordinances 770 and 771 a declaration by the student is required to be attached to the thesis stating that the work embodied in the said thesis is the result of original research conducted by the student and that the work has not been submitted for a degree in any university. It further states that wherever the student has used material from other sources and authors, they are duly cited and acknowledged.  

The PhD programme is for the minimum duration of two academic years. The maximum period for the completion of PhD is five academic years.  

Fee Structure 

Revised Fee Structure for Ph. D. For First Year

*Tuition Fee for Foreign Students is '30,000/- & P. G. Registration Fee of '5000/-

*Enrolment Fee for student belonging to University other than Mumbai University is '220/-

Revised Fee Structure for Ph. D. Renewal

*Tuition Fee for Foreign Students is '30,000/- 

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, FREESHIPS AND PRIZES 

According to circular number BCC/257 of 2001 of the University of Mumbai no tuition fees and examination fees are to be charged by University Departments of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and DT/NT categories at the time of admission to a course/examination. It may be noted that a bond in a suitable form will  be taken from the candidate concerned to the effect that if his/her claim for freeship is not accepted by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Maharashtra, he/she shall pay the amount towards the tuition fees and examination fees to the University Department in which he/she is admitted and sent for examination.  Any further clarification on this matter can be obtained from the Director of Social Welfare Department, Pune 1, Government of Maharashtra. 

The Department provides a limited number of scholarships and fellowships for M.A. students. The details regarding these are provided below:

a)      Scholarships:  Merit Scholarships of '1500/- per annum are offered to students of the Department registered for the M.A. degree by papers.  These scholarships are awarded on merit as indicated by the B.A. examination results of the candidates or by the M.A. (Part I) examinations results of the University.

b)      Government of India Post-Matric Scholarships to Backward Class Students:  The scheme of grant of the Government of India (GOI) Scholarship for Backward Class students (SCs/STs/NTs/VJs and STs outside Specified Area in Vidharba) for post SSC course is implemented by the Director of Social Welfare, Pune.  All Backward Class students undertaking approved post SSC courses, and who satisfy the requisite criteria, are considered eligible for the GOI Scholarship.  Students who are eligible for the GOI Scholarship will not be required to pay tuition fees to the University.

(Further details regarding eligibility and the procedure for applying for these scholarships can be obtained from the Superintendent, Department of Sociology).

PRIZES 

The following Prizes are awarded at the M.A. Degree Examination:

Sir Patrick Geddes Prize         …  '620/-

(Awarded to a candidate who secures the highest marks in the paper on Urban Sociology).

Professor Kanaiyalal M. Kapadia Prize         … '280/-

(Awarded to a candidate offering eight papers in Sociology and securing the highest marks on the aggregate in the subject

Professor K.M. Kapadia Prize            …'620/-

(Awarded to a candidate offering eight papers in Sociology and securing the highest marks on the aggregate in the subject

Dr. N.A. Thoothi Prize            …'620/-

(Awarded to a candidate who secures the highest marks in the paper on the Methodologies of Social Research).

G. Mamata Memorial Scholarship     …'2125/-

(Awarded to a candidate who secures the highest marks in the paper on the Theoretical Anthropology).

Smt. Shanti Rajendra Shah Prize        … '1800/-

(Awarded to a candidate securing the highest marks in Sociology in the M.A. examination of the University of Mumbai).

Sir William Wedderburn Scholarship …'450/-

(Awarded to a candidate, by rotation, who scores the highest marks in Sociology).