Sociology

The Department Sociology was established in 2021 G.C/2012 E.C.  There were three teachers and 43 students. From those 21 females and the remaining 22 males students from two successive batches. The Department of Sociology has its own well defined missions, visions and educational goals. In line with the mission of INU, our department aspired to be one of the leading centers of production and dissemination of scientific knowledge, skills, and behaviors that have significant contribution to the socio-cultural, political, and economic development of the country through teaching and research implementations. Also as part of public higher educational institution, our Department orients itself to advance problem solving and development-oriented research that best supports the fulfillment of the local communities’ demands and the primary national priorities of development programs in the social, cultural, economic, and political areas.

The program of sociology was supposed to deal with the transformations of modern societies, induced by social and intellectual forces though later it has become one of the sciences which have universal applications throughout the world. For the last several decades, sociology has created experts on various social issues and produced pertinent theoretical perspectives as well as efficient methodological tools to offer a better understanding of contemporary social phenomena. Through empirical researches, and academic teaching, sociology treats various and complex social situation. Nowadays, sociology produces professional’s /experts/ on various social issues like identity, urban/rural development, religion, health and medicine, crime, and education. By mobilizing specific theories and methods, sociology offers its own approaches as one field of social sciences.

Being the scientific study of society, since its inception as a discipline in the nineteenth century, sociology has been dealing with ways of promoting socioeconomic development, technology transfer, and explains growth as well as alleviation of ways of various problems in this modern society. It enables us to understand the structure and dynamics of society, and its intricate connections to patterns of human behavior and individual life changes. It studies about general

Social structure of society, and social arrangement of parts of society (groups, organizations, communities). Sociology also gives especial emphasis to how social categories such as (class, sex, age, or race), and various social institutions like (kinship, economic, political, and/or religious) affect human attitudes, actions, and opportunities. Sociology principally concerned with how both individuals and collective construct, maintain, and alter social organization in various ways. Sociology as academic discipline studies human conditions using methods that are primarily scientific, analytic, critical, or speculative as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of natural science disciplines.

Sociology asks about the sources and consequences of change in social arrangements and institutions, and about the satisfactions and difficulties of planning, accomplishing, and adapting to such change. Among others, areas studied in examining social dynamics include: cultural transformation, urban and rural issues, societal values and identity, cooperation and coexistence, conflict and power, inequality, deviance, social control, industrialization and globalization, and socio-economic transformation and development. Consequently, it comes up with various theoretical models to understand and speculate on societal challenges and tenders societal, which are relevant and inter- disciplinary research and problem-solving mechanisms. Through its use of scientific methods and systematic theories, sociology is the study of diverse social groups as they emerge, persist, and change over time and of human behavior in social settings. Sociologists seek to identify and explain the underlying patterns of social relations.

More specifically, in this programs, the Department has set clearly defined goals. Among those:

• produce qualified professional sociologists who are knowledgeable in sociological theories and methods so as to carry out research in the field for the purpose of building a body of data on the diverse social and cultural systems of Ethiopia;
• produce Sociology graduates who are capable of integrating social theory, research, and practice;
• produce manpower knowledgeable of the objective conditions of the country and capable of contributing to further understanding of those conditions;
• produce sociology graduates who are capable of participating in research aimed at the identification of the causes and consequences of poverty and related social problems and generate data as inputs to the process of formulation of appropriate social policies;
• Produce graduates who will have the basic preparation for participating in the formulation of appropriate social policies and programs designed to expedite the process of social and economic development in both rural and urban areas;
• Equip graduates with knowledge, professional skills and ethics necessary for the purpose of mobilizing individuals, groups and communities from diverse cultures and multiple perspectives, for purposes of social development;
• Enhance the capacity of graduates for independent or collaborative and multi-disciplinary research, and cross-cultural understanding to promote processes of economic and social development of the country. And also encourage students to develop and apply a “sociological imagination” the systematic analysis of all things social. The department advances the use of the sociological approach in interpreting the causes and consequences of human social behavior, facilitating critical appraisal of social structures and cultures, and assessing public policy;
• Program Rationale (Justification)

The development of this program can be justified with the following points.

In the context of the undergoing massive Socioeconomic development process, there is a need for trained manpower skilled with Sociological knowledge, approaches and theories; those who can inform and usefully guide Societal development endeavors. The dynamics and complexity of human social behavior, group structure, social institutions and organizations, patterns of intra- and inter-personal, group and community relationships are crucial in human development processes. The current development environment and societal discourse would be unsuccessful if it neglects the Sociological investigation and understanding of these issues.

In this age of globalization, which manifests itself in Social, cultural, economic, political and spiritual transformation arena, the role of Sociological insights becomes more important. Sociological knowledge enables us to critically question, analyze, interpret and evaluate the dynamics and complexities of Social processes and interactions. We can capitalize on this advantage of Sociology to tap the opportunities and potentials of globalization for the benefit of our national Socio-economic development endeavors.

For an integrated economic, social and political development of a nation, educated man power is a key in several ways. It is one of the key factors for alleviating poverty, technological advancement, cultural progression and political competency of a nation. Thus, it can be viewed as a key predicator for a secure and sustainable development. Understanding this, the government Ethiopia gives due attention to the education sector and currently has developed and implement new educational roadmap implementing nationwide with the aim of fulfilling the needed educated man power in rapidly growing market.

Urbanization and rapid population growth intensify the existing social pathologies and generate new ones. In the context in which the present world is experiencing rapid urbanization and population growth, we need professionals equipped with Sociological knowledge and approaches to better understand, analyze, interpret and address problems emanating from these situations. Thus, various governmental and non-governmental actors working in the spheres of human development, community empowerment, and rehabilitation programs need qualified professionals armed with Sociological knowledge and skills.

The undergraduate program in Sociology has importance in meeting national development goals. It specifically contributes to the national programs, policies and plans in solving political, cultural, socio-economic and other developmental problems. The program also helps to understand social and cultural basis of social institutions, organizations and groups of diversified ways of life, thinking and practices. Such understanding in turn enables to effectively manage structural problems and to appreciate heterogeneity as well as to use opportunities induced by these situations. The degree program in Sociology equips students with strong general backgrounds to understand our diverse societies and to engage in problem solving processes. By doing so, the program has greater importance in producing generalist professionals in social service areas.

Above all, the country’s current intricate and multifaceted socio-cultural and socio-economic problems demand organized intervention from professionals including sociologists. There is a pressing need and an ever-increasing demand for well-qualified sociologists in the country to assume different professional responsibilities which calls for relentless effort by the universities of the country to produce more and more sociologists over time. Department of Sociology can play its own immense role in alleviating the problem of lack of sociologists to address the multifaceted and complicated social, economic, political and cultural problems of the country. It was in recognition of the importance of the discipline that the government authorized the opening of sociology departments in several universities of the country.

This program is meant to produce Sociology professionals who are proficient and, skillfully dealing with practical Societal matters through research, community mobilization, project formulation, policy analysis. The professionals also adeptly utilize Sociological theories as analytical tools in proper understanding of Social phenomena and promoting such enlightened understandings.

This program makes a drastic shift in course selection and inclusion. Courses are included not just for the sake of generating theoretical knowledge, or because of intrinsic need for a course. They are included with a view to aiding the students to be able to understand, analyze and address Social phenomena within the objective contexts of their Societies

Generally, the following are the major rationales for establishing this program

• A knowledge and skill of Sociology is tremendously important for a nation like Ethiopia, where there are numerous social problems and cultural diversity.
• Critical knowledge of sociological theories will enable the graduates to understand the pragmatic conditions of Ethiopia and the rest of the world.
• Social problems are becoming complex from time to time at local level in general and Ethiopia in particular. This fact necessitates sociological knowledge. Sociology graduates will contribute their share in reducing the ever-growing social problems and this go in line with current regional, national, continental, and global development priorities and policies.
• The program is designed in the way that enable the graduates to be critical thinker, and provides them an opportunity of applying sociological theories and methodologies in undertaking successful research on societal issues and to intervene to the social problems.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

This program is designed to achieve the following general and specific objectives:

General Objective

The general objective of the sociology BA program is to produce well-educated and qualified professionals who can effectively serve their country assuming different professional responsibilities, and play rightful role in development processes and enable the discipline to make significant contributions to nation building efforts.

Specific Objectives:

Specifically, this program intended to:

• Produce qualified professional sociologists who are knowledgeable in sociological theories and methods so as to carry out research in the field for the purpose of building a body of data on the diverse social and cultural systems of Ethiopia;
• produce Sociology graduates who are capable of integrating social theory, research, and practice;
• produce manpower knowledgeable of the objective conditions of the country and capable of contributing to further understanding of those conditions;
• produce sociology graduates who are capable of participating in research aimed at the identification of the causes and consequences of poverty and related social problems and generate data as inputs to the process of formulation of appropriate social policies;
• Produce graduates who will have the basic preparation for participating in the formulation of appropriate social policies and programs designed to expedite the process of social and economic development in both rural and urban areas;
• Equip graduates with knowledge, professional skills and ethics necessary for the purpose of mobilizing individuals, groups and communities from diverse cultures and multiple perspectives, for purposes of social development;
• Enhance the capacity of graduates for independent or collaborative and multi-disciplinary research, and cross-cultural understanding to promote processes of economic and social development of the country. And also encourage students to develop and apply a “sociological imagination” the systematic analysis of all things social.
• The department advances the use of the sociological approach in interpreting the causes and consequences of human social behavior, facilitating critical appraisal of social structures and cultures, and assessing public policy;

Admission Requirements

Students admitted directly from preparatory (Grade 11 and 12 complete) school are required to meet the national higher education enrolment criteria of that year. And students who have successfully completed the fresh man courses according to the new Educational Road Map can join the program on competitive base.

Graduation Requirements

Students registered in the Department of Sociology must take a total of 257 ECTS/149 Credit Hours. Students with visual impairments will be exempted from Statistical Methods Module (9 ECTS/ 5Credit Hours): (Statistics for Sociologists I introduction/ Basic Statistics (SOCI3011) 5 ECTS/ 3 Credit Hours) and Statistics for Sociologists II: Statistical Application in Sociology (SOCI3012) 4 ECTS/2 Credit Hours.) Hence, they will take a total of 248 ECTS/144 Credit Hours. A student is required to have a minimum CGPA of 2.00 upon graduation without any F grade in any of the modules/courses.

Degree Nomenclature

Upon graduation, students shall be offered a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Degree in Sociology. The degree nomenclature in Amharic shall be “የአርትባቸለር ድግሪ በሶሲዮሎጂ”.

1. Staff of Sociology departement

No	Name	Field of Specialization	Academic Rank
1	Abeba Tadesse Nana	Development policy	Lecturer
2	Tesfaye Muluye Biyabil	Sociology	Lecturer
3	Antehunegn Berhanu Bishaw	Sociology	Lecturer

Click the links Below to see all Details about the Staff:-

• Staff