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Chapter - 4 An Introduction To Social Sciences 4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview
Chapter - 4 An Introduction To Social Sciences 4.1 Social Sciences: An Overview
CHAPTER - 4
1
Social Sciences. (2008). In International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (p.614). New York:
Macmillan.
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Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences
prominence and it persisted for centuries. One should not ignore the efforts of
Auguste Comte, who for the first time put life to the concept of Social Sciences with
its separate disciplines, by coining the term Sociology. His social scheme was based
on a Philosophy called Positivism, which gave impetus to the shift from Social
Philosophy to Social Sciences. Last, of all, it was the nineteenth century when
scientific attitude began to predominate and competitive Social Sciences were to be
found (Duverger, 1964).
Social Science field has lot of significance to the human life than the other
ones. It emerged purposely in the beginning of 19th century having “positivist
Philosophy of Science” as did many other branches of knowledge (Hunt & Colander,
2017). The man was said to be a Political animal because of its political capacities
resulted from the organized state in contrast to the wild life of savages. Later on, the
observation that man was a political animal was broadened into the view that he was a
Social Animal (Ogburn & Nimkoff, 1968). From all the definitions and concepts it
can be stated that, Social Sciences are concerned with the man as a social being, it is
all about the study of society and the people’s approach they exhibit and persuade the
world around them. It seeks to “objectify the sentiments, ideas, and values which on
the subjective side are the subject matter of the humanities, and it strives to
communicate an understanding of the interpersonal relations that constitute the
foundations of any community”(Naftalin, 1952).
4.3 Definitions
Collins dictionary typifies Social Science as “the study of society and of the
relationship of individual members within society, including Economics, History,
Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology” (“Social Science,”
2
Social Science. (1966). In Webster’s third International Dictionary of the English language
unabridged (Vol. 2, p.2162). Springfield, MA: Marriam Webster.
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Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences
Last but not least, the Investopedia define Social Sciences as “A group of
academic disciplines that examine society and how people interact and develop as a
culture. Social Science as a field of study is separate from the Natural Sciences, which
cover topics such as Physics and Chemistry. Economics, Political Science, History,
Law, and Geography can be considered Social Sciences” (“Social Sciences,” n.d.).5
3
Social Science. (n.d.). In Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved January 7, 2016, from
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/social-science
4
Social Science (1996). In The New Encyclopedia Britannica (15th ed.)(Vol. 27, pp. 316-320).
Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.
5
Social Sciences. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2016, from
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-Science.asp
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Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences
In this period Social Philosophy rather than Social Science was practiced and
it persisted for centuries and has not entirely disappeared. Until the 18th century there
where only a few authors in whose work a scientific rather than a Philosophical
attitude predominated and the number increased considerably and it was the 19th
century when the scientific attitude began to predominate.
1. The predominance of the philosophical and moral point of view. It was a mass
of normative considerations of a moral or philosophical nature in which Social
Science was embedded in its original form. Depending on the author the
proposition of scientific observation relative to normative considerations
varied. The dominance of normative point of view was found in every case it
was it, which guided the activities of the researcher and in turns, the moral and
metaphysical doctrines laid their reflection in the form of first scientific
theories.
2. The importance of collected observations. As far as the contribution of this
early period to the development of Social Science is concerned it in itself is of
greater importance. This period witnessed many writers which were acute and
energetic observers. Two intellectual temperaments were nearly always
present: one inclined to reflect on information already available, the other to
seek new information. It were the writers of this period who left profuse
observations which were often more valuable than their general theories these
theories sometimes created obstacles to the development of the Social
Sciences.
Discussing main stages of this period, let we put it into limit by pointing out to
some essential landmarks, one is the link with Metaphysical doctrine and the other is
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This period results in the disruption of the old intellectual framework by the
Renaissance and Reformation, and the great voyages of discovery made new societies
known to western European men thus favoring the experimental tendencies. In the
same period originally, the “Statistics” and predecessor of the “Political Science”
made its appearance in Italy, and further in 1615, Antoine de Montchretien published
the first treatise on Political Economy. In the second half of the 16th and 17th century,
the writings of Gentilis, Althusius, Grotius, and Pufendorf witnessed the beginning of
the theory of ‘natural right’ and a juridical social Philosophy. These were the
foundations on which Locke developed the doctrine of Political Liberalism.
The works of the 16th and 17th centuries became more frequent in the 18th
century which leads the idea of a rigorous separation between Science and
Philosophy. In this period the Philosophical approach still predominated and also the
idea of the social law, the notion of an autonomous Social Science had not been
generally accepted. The authors of this period were not able to clearly delimit the field
of Social Science and also were failed to define its purpose. It is the Auguste Comte
whose contribution is of importance in this respect and Karl Marx in his way also
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added the same importance by establishing the objective and relative character of
social phenomena, which was essential to the constitution of Sociology as a Science.
In 1820’s Auguste Comte (a French thinker) for the first time, describes the
scientific study of human society, and coined the term “Sociology,” his Sociological
system was having a base of a viewpoint called “Positivism” he put an argument
about the ideas, that they generally pass through 3 rising stages, “Theological,
Philosophical and Scientific” among which the third one he called “Positive stage”
subjugated by scientific consideration. This framework however was rejected by
many and fails to extend different fields within the Social Sciences. In the beginning
of the development, the approach that was opted by the parts of “United States and
Europe” was the rise of social research by conducting large statistical surveys. This
was followed by Emile Durkheim by initiating the other way of investigating “Social
facts.” Furthermore in the way of development the 3rd approach was championed by
information as Max Weber, developed identifying the collective phenomena, this was
followed by increasingly common efforts to make affect of equations with the
proclamations concerning human behavior. The primary was the "Laws of philology,”
that endeavored to plot revolutionize over point of sounds in a language (Hoerl,
2017). Comte along with others like Bentham, Marx, and Spencer perceive the study
of the social order as an amalgamated endeavor (Nisbet, 2017).6 At times they may
perhaps have mocked at some conception of distinct fields of Economics, with the
Political Science, the Sociology and many more (“Social sciences,” n.d.).7
It was however in the end of 19th century when the opposite tendency of
single master Social Science won as some, separate Social Sciences are brought into
being. Now in the 20th century, no one talks about Social Science as a singular but of
the Social Sciences. Sociology as a Science of synthesis covers the various specialist
sociologies. For the same, in late 19th century Auguste Comte and other French
Sociologist were much opposed to this and hence they affirmed the unity of Social
Science, but they have not been followed.
6
Nisbet, R. A. (2017). Social Science. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved on March 21, 2017 from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-science
7
Social Sciences. (n.d.). Retrieved January 9, 2016 from
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Social_Sciences
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Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences
In the 19th century, the then founders of Sociology reacted against the tendency
of the division of the Social Sciences; they criticized the separate development of
political economy. Even Marx whose Sociology is based on the assumption of the
strict interdependence of all social phenomena laid stress even more strongly on the
unity of Social Science: none could be validly analyzed in isolation. Economic
phenomena being a burst with the fundamental character seems to permit the
development of Political Economy in isolation. Political economy cannot be isolated
from the Sociology because those economic facts are subjected to the influence of
other elements of social reality. History is social reality and thus social reality does
not exist outside History, this interpretation of History in Sociology is a fundamental
principle of Marxism.
In this modern time same as the other disciplines, Social Science has also gone
for contemporary multiplication and has been broken into more specialist disciplines.
It was the necessity of the day, the complexity of social facts and the diversity of
techniques made specialization be anticipated. It is not the unification which leads to
progressive social research. Even in Marxist countries which are known and are
having the great concern for unity has their experts in a sector of social research but
the point to be drawn out here is that they don’t lose sight of the general connections
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Chapter 4 An Introduction to Social Sciences
On one hand, there was a specialization of Social Science and on the other the
absence of a general theory of the Social Sciences. One can say that the unity of the
Social Sciences is guaranteed by the specialists in the USSR and the other socialist
countries. It is much more difficult to maintain the unity of Social Science if an
acceptance and a belief of Marxist cosmogony do not exist. There is no generally
accepted cosmogony in western countries with the result of which social scientist are
reduced to constructing partial theories within the framework of each discipline hence
resulting in the lost sight of the connection between all social phenomena. As far as
departmentalization in the Universities is concerned not only the departments but the
other formative training in the Social Sciences has further aggravated the tendency
towards division. There is not only one way or option to enter to the Social Sciences
but many routes e.g. Statistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Medicine, etc. besides all this
multiplication and departmentalization at the times one could not ignore the reactions
against the splitting up of the Social Sciences. One has never doubted the coherence
of the social phenomena as well as the profound unity of the Social Sciences thus
there has been a search to remedy the Proliferation of the specialists’ discipline.
It is difficult to discern the Social Science’s way on the brink of the 21st
century. Instead of increasing attacks from postmodernist thinkers, there are internal
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divisions confronting the Social Sciences which provide the reason for concern. One
of the reasons that create some level of worry for future directions is the absence of
grandly accepted theory. Despite such kind of apprehension still, some branches of
Social Sciences like Economics and Psychology are gaining stature in present days.
The weight-age given to Economics is because the place of importance given in the
business place as forecaster of several parts of human conduct; and to Psychology is
because of its increasing attachments with the field of “Biological Sciences.”
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Hallaya has also defined the scope of Social Sciences like comparative
religion, Politics, Economics, Criminology, Ethics, Anthropology, History, Social
Geography etc. (Halayya, 1961).
Social Science is concerned about the Society, hence has direct influence on
socio-cultural facets of person conduct. It covers an extensive spectrum of knowledge,
having a number of fields in its domain. An assortment of branches of the Social
Sciences is highlighted, from which the prominent fields of the time are discussed
below.
4.6.1 Anthropology
Anthropology is nothing but the study about the origin of humans, their
behavior including physical set up, and all about their social development, or it can be
put forth that it is the connection among “biological traits and socially acquired
characteristics.” Anthropology is the extensive field with various studies under its
domain that can be classified into broader fields: “Cultural Anthropology, Physical
Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Archaeology” (Kelly, 1970).
4.6.2 Economics
Economics is the study of the economic system i.e. the research about
“production, distribution, and consumption” of the material commodities and services
supposed to fulfill basic needs of persons with groups in human societies
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(“Economics,” 1996). Economics, in other words, aims to explain, guide and foresee
social arrangements by which people satisfy economic needs. According to “Adam
Smith” Economics is “the Science of wealth,” while as, “Alfred Marshall” stated
Economics as “the study of men in the ordinary business of life,” and American
economist other than others believed “that Economics is what economists do”
(Hoseltiz, 1972). Economics is categorized into two broader subfields: Macro
Economics and Micro Economics. Macro Economics is of broader spectrum and
highlights “national-scale” economies with their connections, whereas Micro
Economics is narrower in scope as it leans to concentrate on relations among
“agencies, corporations, and individuals.” Some of the topics that Economics includes
are supply and demand, Monetary and fiscal policy, Costs, Inflation, and
unemployment.
Economics was, however, the first subject that was distinguished as a particular
Science. The 18th century witnessed the surfacing of the concept of independency
associated in the “developments of wealth, operations of prices, rents, interest, and
wages” of ‘Physiocrats and Adam Smiths’ which acted as a concrete base of distinct
Economics (“Economics,” 1996). In Society which is “an organized group of persons
associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or
other purposes” (“Society,” n.d.), and which needs to be first-rate in all aspects,
Economics plays a great role. So being the Science of wealth Economics is important
for many areas of society as it helps to improve the living standards by providing a
means for analyzing government policies as well as to understand interactions in a
market driven society and also helps to manage the finite resources such as time and
money that affect the whole being of humans thus in turn make society a better place
to live (Economics help, 2017).
4.6.3 Education
The term Education is comes out of two Latin words “Educere and
Educatum.” In which Educere is to teach and Educatum signifies the art of training.
Education since from the times of Plato to the modern times of John Dewey and
Gandhi has been defined in various ways by different Educationists. T. Raymon is
one among those Educationists, according to whom “Education is that process of
development which consists the passage of a human being from infancy to maturity,
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the process whereby he adapts himself gradually in various ways to his physical and
spiritual environment.” In addition to this Drever defined “Education as a process in
which and by which knowledge, character, and behavior of the young are shaped and
moulded” (Saxena, 2008). In general perspective, Education is so vast and varied and
is utilized in three senses: knowledge, Subject, and a process. It can be drafted out of
the fact that Education is used as a process more than the subject or knowledge. As far
as the emergence of Education as a discipline is concerned, it is considered as an
extension solely for teacher Education and having no scope beyond it. However, there
are two different areas with different objectives and scope; one is teacher Education
which is directly involved in inculcating and improving teaching skills while other is
Education developed from teacher Education which now a day has been developed as
a wide field of study (Arti, 2014). In present times its scope is beyond our imagination
and encompasses not only teacher Education but also another field of study which
include: study like “woman Education, special Education, environmental Education
etc.”
4.6.4 Geography
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4.6.5 History
It is not only the first record of human existence where from the beginning of
History comes but can be witnessed from a footprint of a first creature, from the first
trace. History has a great role to play in our daily life; it gives us the “today” by which
one is able to use it for profit and prosperity. We are living in the contemporary
society, where almost everyone faces problems or dangers these days. To encounter
such kind of circumstances everyone tries to shield or find out the solutions, in this
regard the History plays a great role in providing a frame of references that enables
one to recognize dangers to our society and make available a possible guidance to
come upon those dangers on their rise. If we have a closer look to the events that have
happened and which we consider History helps us to learn about the past which
sequentially facilitates the intellectual growth and development of an individual. For
the prosperity and well-being of the society, History can be considered as one of the
most important assets that we have. It has a direct impact on the present time society,
“something new is fairly forgotten old” (Benson, n.d.) or according to George
Santayana's famous aphorism “Those who do not remember the past are condemned
to repeat it” (Carter, 1992).
Library and Information Science is quite recent field, but its genesis may be
traced with the development of the Libraries. The term Library may be different for
different people, for some it is merely the collection of Documents, to some it is just
the place utilized for reading and studying (Issa, 2009). But only few people consider
it as the organized collection of documented knowledge available for use. At the
beginning the library science focused on the history and bibliography (description and
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4.6.7 Philosophy
Philosophy being study regarding the life has had enormous influence on our
everyday life; it helps us to find whatever is essential for us and most importantly the
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wisdom for shaping our lives. It would not be wide of the mark if it can be said that
every sector of society is having base of philosophic ideas whether that is the “law,
government, religion, the life, marriage, business or Education.” “All human beings
by nature desire to understand” these lines by Aristotle has answered the question of
asking what the use of understanding is and has put light on the very fact that human
being is always perplexed by essential inquiries about the being and all concerning to
it (Joad, 1975). In today’s era, it is important that what kind of philosophical ideas
people are having, are they having the democratic type or they are occupying the non-
democratic type The prosperity and success of society are all about the values and
skills taught to the people thus reflecting the society’s philosophical ideas.
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have sound knowledge of Political Science so that can perform their jobs to the best
of their ability. On the other hand what we witness now days is quite different,
political leaders are unable to manage the state of affairs and in due course they find it
difficult to make best possible decisions for their constituents which can be well
understood with the fact that political scientists may be often found advising
politicians or sometimes running political office themselves. To cope up with the
change that is going on in the contemporary society, the study of Political Science is
needed, not only for building peaceful and prosperous society but for most important
to form a concrete base for the development of the future of an individual too.
4.6.9 Psychology
In order to define the Psychology, let us trace its origin. It stems from the most
inexplicable and philosophical concept, the soul. Etymologically, Psychology the
Science of the mind is the study of the human soul on account of its derivation from
the two Greek words psyche which means breathe, spirit, self, and logia mean maxim
or general truth (Reitman, 1972). It is an offspring of the subject Philosophy which
aims to give us a better understanding of human complexity and development
potential. Along with, it also is related with the mentality and character of a person,
and has a tendency to explore the mind’s operation. Even though being the disciplines
of Social Sciences, it has undergone a change from one of sheer speculation to that of
scientific procedure; the subfields within Psychology are more of the same kind as
Natural Sciences (“Psychology,” 1996).
Psychology is of very much importance; it is applied in our daily lives and has
many implications in lots of things of life as well. It is the subject by which we are
able to learn about ourselves and by so we are able to learn about other people and
their differences. In the scenario where every being is surrounded by unending
anxiety or stress, Psychology helps of understanding how the mind and body work
and thus make one able to counter the complicated things, such as stress or any other
worst thing related to our body (Morris, 1996). As far as the importance of
Psychology in the present times is concerned, the fact of its importance can’t be put
out of sight within society as it has significantly grown over the years. One of the
reasons behind its importance may be because of the work which is already done or
still in progress on many life-risking diseases such as, “Parkinson's disease,
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Alzheimer's disease, and many other neurological diseases.” It is because of its virtue,
today we know more about these diseases in comparison to the past and scientists too
are now able to produce the effective medicines for the treatment of these diseases.
Some other importance’s that can be penned down includes the building of
relationships, improving communication, building self-confidence, and enriching
careers (Silverman, 1985). Overall, it can be deduced from the fact, that Psychology
being the study of the human soul has a direct impact on the human brain and in turn
to the society as well.
4.6.10 Sociology
Prior the emergence of Sociology, the society was not even in the eyes of any
Sciences alike its study. It was Auguste Comte whom to the credit of being the first
who coined the word Sociology in France in his Positive Philosophy published in
1838 is given. Sociology is organized research of associations amongst people and
involves scientific investigation of how social relationships and common normative
orientations influence patterns of conduct, and how social conduct under various
conditions, in turn, leads to modification of the social structure. Outlined from the
above lines, it is clear that Sociology in one way or the other deals with the social life
and because of its relationship with the society; it is often called the study of society
or of social life (Blau, 1969).
The Sociology plays an unprecedented role in the present day society, as its
study helps in the development of the individual and also enables them to serve them
better by suggesting suitable measures for restrengthening them. Despite being a
complex phenomenon, its study is essential for understanding and setting up of
society. In this present arena where suffering problems have become common man's
routine, Sociology as a light of hope counters the public troubles and helps to control
the social life for the improvement. It can be concluded that Sociology has an overall
impact on Human life as it keeps well known about the contemporary conditions.
Please Note: As the present research on KMS has been conducted at Aligarh
Muslim University (AMU), with its focus on the Social Scientists including Faculty
and Researchers, it is worthwhile at this juncture to deal with the AMU and its
Faculty of Social Sciences in general and the Social Scientists working in different
capacities in particular. The later will form the target users for the design and
development of KMS in Social Sciences.
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The Aligarh Muslim University one of the leading Universities of India has
an extended and well known past. The credit for its development goes to Sir Syed
Ahmad Khan, a dynamic Scholar, a great visionary, Progressive, Social reformer and
a messenger of a peace and communal harmony. Along with his other distinguished
companions during 1875 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan put life to his dream of formation of a
Muslim university when an establishment of a small school was put forth. This school
later in 1877 became Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College and was regarded
as an antecedent of future university. Initially, the MAO College was affiliated to
Calcutta University and in 1888 its affiliation was shifted to the University of
Allahabad. Although, it was in 1898 when Sir Syed Ahmad Khan breathed his last,
but in 1920, MAO College finally emerged as university, called the Aligarh Muslim
University, by an Act of Parliament, becoming tenth University of the Indian
subcontinent.
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The Social Sciences faculty at AMU came into existence when Faculty of Arts
was separated in 1969. Most of the departments under the faculty of social sciences
have nationally and internationally put on their importance in terms of high standard
of teaching and research. Department of History is considered as one among those
disciplines that have accorded the highest status of excellence in research and
learning, it can be witnessed from the fact that the department has maintained the
status of Centre of Advanced Study and Research, followed by the Department of
Library and Information Science and Mass Communication who have been assisted
with foremost research projects financially assisted by Department of Science and
Technology, Govt. of India. As on July, 2018, the Faculty of Social Sciences offers 08
undergraduate and 20 postgraduate programs and also several Diploma and Certificate
courses. The teaching faculty comprises of almost 179 highly qualified and research
oriented teachers who have contributed a number of publications both in national and
international journals. Above and beyond all the achievements by different
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The genesis of the Economics department goes back to 1920s. The department
creates a center of attention to the leading count of students not only from India but
also outside the country, as it provides an opportunity for the students to get admitted
in different courses offered from bachelors to Ph.D.
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The department is currently running B.ED, M.ED, M.Phil, & Ph.D. Programs.
At present, the department is having 21 well trained and high-quality educated faculty
members. The Department provides excellent infrastructure facilities its departmental
Library is having a collection of around sixteen thousand books and can claim to be
one of the biggest reference libraries in education. There are four laboratories which
include: Science Lab, Home Science Lab, Computer Lab, and Technology and
Psychology Lab.
Among all the other departments, the Department of History has got the status
of being the successor to the institution developed by the founder, Sir Syed Ahmad
Khan. It was teaching of the history subject which in the M.A.O. College was paid
careful attention. In the history department of MAO College Sardar K.M. Panikkar,
were appointed as Professor even when college was converted to Aligarh Muslim
University.
In the year 1968 it was Mammoth achievement for the Department as it was
promoted as a “Centre of Advanced Study in History by the University Grants
Commission (UGC) under its Special Assistance Programme (SAP).” Presently the
department is having 39 faculty members and more than 200 research scholars
including M.Phil students working on different research areas which are prolific for
the nation and for the university as well.
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In 1950-51 Late Prof. S. Bashiruddin the then University Librarian laid the
foundation of department by starting a 'Certificate Course in Library Science.’ Later
in 1958-59, after witnessing the success of certificate course, a ‘Bachelor Course of
Library Science' (B. Lib. Sc) was introduced for the first time as a bachelors degree
course in the country. After successful running of bachelor’s course, Certificate
course was withdrawn from the curriculum in the year 1968-1969. And later, 'Master
of Library Science' (M. Lib. Sc.) was introduced in the year 1970-1971, keeping the
importance of the subject into consideration, the department also introduced Library
Science as a subsidiary subject at B.A. level in the Faculties of Arts and Social
Sciences in 1986-87. After the success of these courses, further M.Phil /PhD
programmes were also started. The department has many achievements on its cards
one of which is to have the first fully automated library in the University, developed
by Prof. Shabahat Husain.
In the year 2014, the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the
proposal of Prof. Shabahat Husain for the award of SAP (DRS-I) to the Department
for 05 years on the theme ‘Knowledge Management in Libraries’. The Research
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project accorded by the UGC added the quality of excellence to the department. As
far as the other research projects are concerned, the department has completed five
main Research Projects and three Minor Research Projects by the faculty members &
research scholars till date.
The department has carried out study in different areas such as “Applied
Personality and Social Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology,
Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology.” Moreover, the department has reached
its heights also in terms of research publications; both the teachers and research
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scholars of the Department and has completed 8 research projects as well. Presently
the department is having 14 well qualified and more competent faculty members and
has the strength of about 107 research scholars including M.Phil students. Till date, as
on records the department has awarded a total number of 200 Ph.D. and 100 M.Phil
Degrees.
The Department emerged in 1988 and the course of physical education was
introduced in the 1990-91. The Master’s and doctorate courses were in progress
during the years 1994-95 and 1999-2000 respectively and currently over 100 bonafide
students are admitted for different courses.
Vested with latest instrument and facilities provided to the students the
department has 9 faculty members pursuing the research activities, as a result of
which it has a growing research program within the fields of “sports biomechanics,
exercise physiology, motor skills & sports psychology, physical activity and health,
sports management and sports sociology.”
Department has completed several major as well as minor projects accorded
by University Grants Commission and still single UGC-SAP (DRS-I) Programme is
in progress.
In the year 1922, the Department of History and Politics was established. Later
in 1948, it became separate and independent Department. Presently it is having
strength of 23 faculty members and 122 research scholars. The department is
currently running bachelors and masters programme in Political Science. In addition
to this, the department is also offering “two specialized Master's Programmes - M.A.
in Public Administration and M.A. in Human Rights.” The department is one of its
kinds in research as well as teachings activities. The department since 1967 is
publishing “Indian Journal of Politics, [ISSN: 0303 - 9957] indexed in the Current
Contents and also abstracted in the International Political Science Abstracts (Paris).”
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The Department of Sociology came into emergence in the year 1967 with
undergraduate teaching program. Later in 1970, the Postgraduate programme along
with research facilities was initiated in the department. In 1986 Sociology was
introduced at the undergraduate level in the Women's College. Later in 1994-1995 the
department of sociology introduced a 2 year Master of Social Work (MSW) course,
by doing so the department became Department of Sociology and Social Work.
However, from January 2013, both the disciplines were separated giving birth to the
individual Departments one Sociology and other Department of Social Work in the
Faculty of Social Sciences. At present the Department offers Under Graduate (Honors
as well as Subsidiary Courses), Post Graduate, M. Phil. and Ph. D. Courses to the
Students from all over the country and from abroad as well.
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References:
Aligarh Muslim University. (2017). History. Retrieved January 18, 2016 from
https://www.amu.ac.in/amuhistory.jsp
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016). Faculty of Social Sciences. Retrieved July 21,
2016 from https://www.amu.ac.in/deansoffaculty.jsp?did=8008&lid=00
Aligarh Muslim University. (2016). Department of History. Retrieved July 23, 2016
from https://www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=77
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