What are the 13 Branches of Sociology?

Sociology is the study of how society works and how it can affect people. It is a social science that studies human interaction, how societies function, how power is distributed, and how people in society interact with each other. Sociology is a way to understand the world we live in and to make sense of the world. This article will discuss the 13 branches of sociology as well as sociology itself.

What are the 13 Branches of Sociology?

The 13 branches of Sociology are the following:

• Theoretical Sociology
• Historical Sociology
• Sociology Of Knowledge
• Sociology Of Religion
• Economic Sociology
• Rural Sociology
• Urban Sociology
• Political Sociology
• Demographic Sociology
• Industrial Sociology
• Family Sociology
• Sociology Of Education
• Legal Sociology

What is Sociology?

Sociology is the study of society and human behavior. It is the scientific study of social relationships. Sociology is a social science that uses a combination of methods from the social and natural sciences to explain how individuals, groups, organizations, and societies function. 

In the past, the study of sociology was largely focused on the structure of society and the interactions between groups. Early sociologists were more concerned with how humans behaved and how they were able to form society. 

The study of sociology has evolved from the idea that humans are bound together by society and culture, to the understanding that humans are not just bound by society and culture but also by social relationships and institutions. 

It has since become more focused on how society affects individuals and their relationships. Sociology can also be described as the study of society. Some of the topics studied in sociology include: 

• Culture
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Family
• Socialization
• Social Institutions
• Social Change
• Social Structure
• Social Interaction
• Society 

The 13 branches of sociology are further explained below

Theoretical Sociology

Theoretical sociology, also known as social theory, is a branch of sociology that analyzes social phenomena and social change from a rational perspective. 

Theoretical sociology is primarily focused on the development of social theory and its application to research and practice by using the scientific method.

Historical Sociology

Historical sociology is the study of how historical events, processes, and structures are shaped by social forces. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws on the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. 

Historical sociology is a rapidly growing field with a broad range of applications in a variety of fields, including anthropology, history, political science, economics, and law.

Sociology Of Knowledge

Sociology of knowledge is the study of how society shapes the production, distribution, and consumption of knowledge. It is a sub-field of sociology that looks at how knowledge is created, distributed, and used in society. 

It studies how people understand the world around them and how they make sense of it through symbols and signs. Sociology of knowledge also examines how people are able to make sense of the world.

Sociology Of Religion

Sociology of religion is the study of how religious beliefs, practices, organizations, and institutions are shaped by social forces.  The sociology of religion is often used as a tool to understand the role of religion in society. 

The sociology of religion is not a single discipline but rather a field of study that encompasses several different disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, political science, history, and philosophy.

Economic Sociology

Economic sociology is the study of how social, economic, and political forces shape society. It is the study of how society’s economic system and institutions affect the distribution of power, wealth, and status. 

This is a broad field that covers many different aspects of society. Economic sociology is an interdisciplinary field that draws on methods from economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, history, and other fields.

Rural Sociology

Rural sociology is the study of the social, economic, and cultural life of rural communities. Sociologists study rural life to understand how people in rural areas make decisions, what resources they have available, and how they are affected by those resources. 

Sociologists study rural life to understand the different aspects of a community that may not be seen from the outside. It’s important to note that the term “rural” is not limited to the countryside or farmlands. There are many cities that are considered rural because they have a population of fewer than 50,000 people.

Urban Sociology

Urban sociology is the study of society in the context of urban areas. Urban sociology is a social science that uses different methods of research to answer questions about the relationships between people, organizations, and institutions in urban settings. 

Urban sociology is often studied in order to understand how and why people live in cities. Urban sociology also studies the different ways that urban areas are organized and the different types of places that exist within urban areas.

Urban sociology may also be used to understand the effects of urbanization on society and culture because it studies cities as they grow and develop, which can be a challenge because urbanization is a complex process that involves many different factors.

Political Sociology

Political Sociology? It is the study of the institutions, practices, and beliefs that make up the political system. Political sociology is a sub-field of sociology that studies the political system and its influence on society and vice versa. 

There are many different ways to approach the field, from examining how political ideas have shaped society to understanding how social movements have shaped the political system.

Demographic Sociology

Demographic sociology is the study of the social and demographic characteristics of a population. It is a field of sociology that studies the patterns of human populations in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and other social and demographic variables.

Demographic sociologists may also study migration, fertility, mortality,  education, economic opportunities, and other aspects of population change.

Industrial Sociology

Industrial sociology is the study of the social effects of industry on society. This includes the study of how industrialization has changed the way we think about work, employment, and leisure time. Industrial sociology is sometimes referred to as “industrial social science.”

Family Sociology

Family sociology is the study of the nature of family life and the family as a social institution. It is concerned with the relationship between the family, family members, and society, and with the ways in which the family relates to other institutions such as education, law, and politics. 

It is also concerned with how society’s views of the family change over time. It is a relatively new field of study, but one that has been growing and gaining recognition.

Sociology Of Education

Sociology of education is the study of the social institutions, social practices, and social contexts that shape and are shaped by education. 

It includes research on the educational system, institutional practices, the educational environment, and the relationships between education and society.

Legal Sociology

Legal sociology is the study of how law, social structure, and social relations are shaped by the legal system. Legal sociologists study the relationships between law and society.

The study includes the law’s impact on the family, individual rights, race, gender, sexuality, class, and ethnicity. Legal sociologists often work in law schools or in government agencies.

Conclusion

Sociology is the study of how society works and how it can affect people. It is a social science that studies human interaction, how societies function, how power is distributed, and how people in society interact with each other. Sociology is a way to understand the world we live in and to make sense of the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What are the 13 Branches of Sociology?

What are the 5 Career Paths in the Sociology Field

The 5 Career Paths in the Sociology Field

• Sociologist
• Sociology Professor
• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Market Research Analyst

What are the 4 types of sociology?

Sociology is the study of social relationships and social interaction. Sociology can be divided into four main types: micro, meso, macro, and global. Micro sociology studies individual interactions, meso sociology focuses on how societies are organized and function, macro sociology studies how societies are related to each other, and global sociology looks at the connections between societies in the world.

What is functionalism?

Functionalism is a theory in sociology that views society as a system of parts that are all connected and interact with one another. It is also known as structural-functionalism. Functionalism views society as a cohesive whole that is based on the principles of natural selection. Functionalism was first proposed by sociologist Talcott Parsons in the 1930s.

Reference

Giddens, A., & Griffiths, S. (2006). Sociology. Polity.

Spencer, H. (1873). The study of sociology (Vol. 5). Henry S. King.

Fulcher, J., & Scott, J. (2011). Sociology. Oxford University Press.

13 Major Branches of Sociology – Ratta.pk. Retrieved from https://www.ratta.pk/2017/02/13-major-branches-of-sociology.html

What are the branches of Sociology/Theoretical/historical – EngloPedia. Retrieved from  https://englopedia.com/what-are-the-branches-of-sociology/