Programme at a glance: IGNOU's semester-based MA in Sociology
MASO is IGNOU's Master of Arts (Sociology) programme, offered in ODL mode by the School of Social Sciences. It is listed among IGNOU's newly launched programmes and follows a 4-credit-per-course structure.
Programme overview
MASO replaces the earlier year-wise MSO programme with a semester structure in which each course carries 4 credits. Course codes now run from MSO-101 onwards. Students admitted before the change generally continue under the earlier MSO scheme, so check which one applies to you.
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💬 GET NOTES ON WHATSAPPEligibility, duration and fees
- Eligibility: a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Confirm the exact wording on the official programme page.
- Duration: minimum 24 months, maximum 48 months.
- Medium: English and Hindi.
- Not offered to international students, as per the official page.
Course structure and syllabus
IGNOU's MASO page confirms the 4-credit pattern (for example MSO-101). The semester-wise allocation below is compiled from education portals and should be checked against the official programme guide.
Semester 1
| Course code | Course title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSO-101 | Sociological Concepts and Theories-I | 4 |
| MSO-102 | Sociological Concepts and Theories-II | 4 |
| MSO-103 | Sociology in India-I | 4 |
| MSO-104 | Sociology in India-II | 4 |
| MSOE-105 | Introduction to Urban Sociology (elective) | 4 |
| Total | 20 | |
Semester 2
| Course code | Course title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSO-106 | Rural Sociology | 4 |
| MSO-107 | Foundations of Social Science Research | 4 |
| MSO-108 | Research Methods | 4 |
| MSO-109 | Analysis and Presentation of Data | 4 |
| MSOE-110 | Urbanisation and Urban Development (elective) | 4 |
| Total | 20 | |
Semester 3
| Course code | Course title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSO-111 | Sociology of Development | 4 |
| MSOE-113/114/115 | Sociology of Religion / Sociology of Diaspora / Globalisation and Transnational Communities (electives) | 4 each |
| Open elective | Political science or media course, as offered | 4 |
| Total | 20 | |
Semester 4
| Course code | Course title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSO-116 | Sociology of Education-I | 4 |
| MSO-117 | Sociology of Education-II | 4 |
| MSOE-118 / MAN-107 | Sociology of Food or Environmental Anthropology | 4 |
| MSOE-119 / MAN-105 | Sociology of Health or Tribes in India | 4 |
| Open elective | Gender studies or sustainable development, as offered | 4 |
| Total | 20 | |
Assignments, exams and passing requirements
- Evaluation at IGNOU combines continuous assessment through assignments with a Term-End Examination (TEE). Assignment submission rules and last dates are announced by IGNOU each session, so always check the latest notice.
- Under the commonly followed IGNOU pattern, assignments carry about 30% weightage and the TEE about 70%, and a minimum of 40% is generally required in each. Confirm the exact scheme in your Programme Guide before relying on it.
- Assignments must be your own handwritten work, submitted to your Study Centre as per the current instructions.
- Exam fees are not included in the programme fee and are paid separately as decided by the university.
Study tips for students
- Download the study blocks from eGyanKosh early and read the unit objectives first.
- Match each course code with the latest programme structure; older codes are no longer used for fresh admissions.
- Plan assignment writing course by course instead of leaving it for the last week.
- Revise using short notes and previous question papers for the course code you are appearing for.
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💬 GET NOTES ON WHATSAPPCareer and future prospects
Sociology graduates commonly move into research, teaching, NGOs, policy and development work, or prepare for competitive examinations. Eligibility for NET or other exams should be checked against the latest official rules.
Useful official resources
- Official IGNOU programme page (MASO)
- IGNOU admission portal (Samarth)
- eGyanKosh – IGNOU study material
Frequently asked questions
What is MASO at IGNOU?
MASO is the programme code for IGNOU's Master of Arts (Sociology) offered in ODL mode.
What is the difference between MSO and MASO?
MSO was the earlier year-wise code. MASO is the newer semester-based programme with 4-credit courses.
What is the duration of MASO?
Minimum 24 months and maximum 48 months.
What is the fee?
IGNOU's page lists ₹8,200 per year, with exam fees charged separately.
Which languages are available?
English and Hindi.
📚 Need Notes for MASO – Master of Arts (Sociology)?
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💬 GET NOTES ON WHATSAPPThis is an independent educational support website and is not the official website of IGNOU. Students should verify important academic information through official IGNOU sources.