Categories
First Semester

BPA 103: Sociology

The main objective of this course is to impart students to basic concepts and theoretical understanding of sociology so that students will be able to understand the social issues and their impacts on governance.

Contents
  1. Introduction
    • Concept of sociology
    • Evolution of sociology
    • Similarities and differences between sociology and anthropology
    • Relationship of sociology with history, political science, economics, social psychology, and biological sciences
    • Use of sociological knowledge in public administration
  2. Society, culture and social groups
    • Status and role
    • Norms and values
    • Social stratification: Class, caste, and ethnicity
    • Organizations: Formal and informal
    • Social interaction: Cooperation, conflict, coercion and social exchange
  3. Social institutions
    • Family, marriage, and religious institutions
    • Political institutions
    • Economic institutions
  4. Socialization
    • Necessity of nurture
    • Difference between humans and animals
    • Acculturation and assimilation
    • Process, stages and agents of socialization
  5. Social theories
    • Concept of theory and meta-theory
    • Theoretical perspective: Functionalism, conflict paradigm, and interactionism
    • Positivism, constructivism and modernism
    • World system theory, structuralism and feminism
References
  • Abraham M. F. (2006). Contemporary sociology: An introduction to concept and theories. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  • Adhikari, G. P. (2054 BS.). An introduction to sociology and anthropology (Text in Nepali). Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
  • Anden, J. W. V. (1990). The social experience: An introduction to sociology (2nd ed) USA: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.
  • Charon, J. M., Ed. (1999). The meaning of sociology: A reader (6th Ed.) New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
  • Inkeles, A. (1982). What is sociology? An introduction to discipline and profession. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall pvt.ltd.
  • Ritzer, G. (1992). Sociological theory (5th Ed.). New Delhi: McGraw-Hill.
  • Shepard, J.M. (1984). Sociology (2nd Ed.). New York: West Publishing Company