Department of Sociology University of Colombo

Calling for Applications

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Sociology and Master of Arts Degree in Sociology 2010/2011

Medium of Instruction:
For MA - Sinhala/English
For PGDAS - English

Application forms for the above courses will be available at the Academic & Publications Branch, University of Colombo after 01 August 2010.

For both courses, application forms and course brochures can be obtained in person or by sending a self- addressed stamped (Rs. 15/=) envelope to the Senior Asst. Registrar, Academic & Publications Branch, University of Colombo, 94, Cumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha, Colombo 03. Name of the course should be written on the top left hand corner of the envelope.

Duly completed application forms must be accompanied with the paying-in-voucher for the application fee of Rs. 1,000/= and should be submitted on or before 27 August 2010 to the Senior Asst. Registrar, Academic & Publications Branch, University of Colombo, 94, Cumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha, Colombo 03. The payment of non refundable fee can be made at any branch of the People’s Bank to credit of the University of Colombo account number 086-100-121189662 by the paying-in-voucher issued by the University

For more details please refer to 'Postgraduate Courses' under the page, 'Courses'.

Closing Date: 27th August 2010.

History and Present Status

Teaching of sociology was initially introduced at the University of Colombo within the Department of Sociology and Social Welfare in the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1969. The department enrolled 12 students for the academic year commencing from October 1969 with two Assistant Lecturers and a Professor. Tamil medium instruction began in 1970. Students were given the opportunity to follow a three-year B.A. degree program majoring in sociology, with an additional year leading to a B.Phil Degree.

With the university reforms of 1972, the Department suffered a major setback. In the period that followed, sociology was taught only as a subsidiary subject within the two degree programs, Development Studies and Bachelor of Education.

Educational reforms in 1977 brought about further changes in the University system, and the Department regained its original status. In 1978, a four-year special degree program in sociology was offered initially to five students. This program continues to the present with some structural changes.

Today, on average, more than 1000 students follow courses in sociology at both undergraduate and graduate levels as well as at special degree and general degree levels within the undergraduate program. At present, the department offers two post graduate courses. These are the Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Sociology (duration: one year) that commenced in 1995 and the Masters in Sociology (duration: two years) that commenced in 1978.

Vision, Mission and Expectations of the Department

Vision
The vision of the Department of Sociology is to be a focal point in a critical intellectual tradition in sociology and related disciplines.

Mission
The mission of the Department of Sociology is to promote intellectual development of its students and faculty in a vibrant academic environment where classical and modern sociological theory is harmonized with methodological and theoretical knowledge derived from cognate disciplines like social anthropology and psychology, and contribute to the development of knowledge and skills of undergraduate and graduate students.

Expectations
We believe that the sociological imagination is an essential prerequisite for studying and understanding society and culture. Nevertheless, the Department does not restrict itself to sociology in the conventional sense as we believe that the social anthropological and psychological perspectives are critical for a broader and deeper understanding of social and cultural phenomena. This perspective has been further broadened with the introduction of the social work study stream in 2008. This is the rationale for the wide range of course units offered by the Department at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

One of the enduring strengths of the Department since its inception is its heavy emphasis on fieldwork which manifests in the closely guided dissertation work program at the undergraduate level as well as the training program in field techniques and methods that has been in place since the late 1970s.

Medium of Instruction

At present, all special and general degree courses in sociology are offered in the Sinhala language while some general degree courses are also offered in Tamil depending on the demand and availability of staff.

However, students are also encouraged and permitted to undertake their studies in the English medium in the sense that they have the option to answer examinations and write assignments and dissertations in the English language while discussion classes for some courses with extensive enrollments are offered in English if there is an adequate demand.

All postgraduate courses are conducted in English.

Lecture and Workshop on Documentary Film-Making and Photography

The Department of Sociology organized a lecture for its final year students and young lecturers on the Ethics, Practices and Genres of Documentary Film-making on 23rd June 2010. Consequent to the lecture, young lecturers in the Department requested that a special workshop be organized to discuss and practice technical and practical aspects of photography, which was organized on 30th June 2010. The workshop covered issues ranging from framing images to lighting. The lecture and workshop were conducted by Aaron Burton, an independent filmmaker from Sydney, Australia. The following images contextualizes some of the moments in the workshop on June 30th June 2010. For images of the events, please visit the page ‘Public Lectures, Workshops and Training Programs.’

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Colors and Lines Art Festival – 2010

The ‘Colors and Lines Art Festival – 2010’ organized by the University of Colombo Sociology Students’ Association is scheduled for the 2nd of September 2010 at the Green Tables Study Hall, Faculty of Arts from o9.00 AM to )2.00 pm. According to the UCSSA, the event has been organized to create a ‘colorful’ opportunity for everyone to have fun expressing themselves on paper.

Participants will be provided with an A3 size paper for drawing and painting. They are urged to bring their own paint, brushes, pencils etc. First, second and third place winners chosen by votes will receive exciting prizes. All participants will be awarded certificates of participation.

Those who wish to participate in the Art Festival are requested register at the Department of Sociology on or before the 30th of August.

All Faculty of Arts students and staff (academic and non-academic) are welcome!

For further details please contact:

Prakash (President) – 0777348822

Krishan (Vice-President) – 0775134076

Nirosha (Junior Treasurer) – 0711798897out

UCSSA can also be reached via e-mail:
socioscopeblog@gmail.com

For further information, please visit their blog:
http://socioscope.wordpress.com/

Image courtesy of Chandraguptha Thenuwara

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Upcoming Lecture in August

Undocumented Immigrants in New York,

Counterfeit Documents and the Upcoming Immigration Debate

By Bernardo Brown
PhD Candidate
Department of Anthropology
Cornell University
New York

Date and Time:
Tuesday, 03rd August 2010;
04.30 PM

Medium:

English

Please have your mobile phones switched off during lecture and discussion.

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