MA in Sociology

Programme Overview

Master's programme in Sociology covering classical and contemporary social theory, research methodology, Indian society, and applied sociology with fieldwork in Varanasi's communities.

The Master of Arts in Sociology at BITE is a two-year programme that combines grounded engagement with Indian society — caste, family, village, urban communities — with systematic exposure to classical and contemporary social theory. Affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, the curriculum opens with Durkheim, Weber, and Marx, progresses through contemporary theorists (Foucault, Bourdieu, Amartya Sen), and grounds theory in M.N. Srinivas, Andre Beteille, Verrier Elwin, and Yogendra Singh's readings of Indian social structure. Fieldwork is central: students conduct studies in the Babatpur rural belt, Varanasi urban slum settlements, and the living temple-economy communities along the Ganga ghats. Research methodology is a serious, multi-semester component — ethnography, survey design, statistical analysis, qualitative interviewing — culminating in a dissertation that often forms the foundation for publication or Ph.D. proposals. The curriculum is mapped to the UGC-NET Sociology Paper II syllabus; BITE runs dedicated NET workshops, peer study groups, and past-paper analyses during the final year. 60 sanctioned seats per year, open to applicants with BA in Sociology, Social Work, Political Science, or Anthropology (50% aggregate minimum). MA Sociology graduates progress to Ph.D. research, UGC-NET/JRF-qualified Assistant Professor positions, social-researcher roles in NGOs and government departments, urban-planning consultancy, policy-analyst jobs, UPSC/UPPSC preparation (Sociology is a popular optional), and welfare-administration roles.

Eligibility

• BA with Sociology (or equivalent) from a recognized university
• Minimum 50% aggregate

• ₹UP State Scholarship (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/General categories)
• ₹National Scholarship Portal (central schemes)
• ₹BITE Merit Scholarship — applicants scoring 60%+ in the qualifying exam
• ₹BITE Need-Based Aid — up to 20% fee concession, subject to PET approval

Eligibility for each scheme depends on category, income, and merit criteria. Visit scholarships for application details.