Welcome to the Department of Sociology

Vision

To provide a high-quality and robust educational program for the undergraduate and graduate students. It also seeks to equip students with a wide-range of knowledge and skills advantageous to their future career and prepares them to question critically, think logically, communicate clearly, and live ethically.

Mission

Promote scientific understanding of social life through teaching, and learning.

Goals

• To apply sociological concepts and theories to real-life conditions.
• To provide methodological and theoretical insights to enable students to analyze society and its dynamics.
• To create and shape students as empirical as well applied researchers.

Sociology as a separate unit was under the Department of Social Sciences until 2017and was offering courses for both General and Special Degree Programs in Tamil medium till 2015. From 2016 onwards, the Sociology unit commenced offering courses in English as a medium of instruction for special degree students of Sociology, which was considered as a milestone in the history of Sociology as a discipline at Faculty of Arts and Culture, SEUSL. It was on 16-10-2017 that the Department of Sociology was established as a Separate Department based on the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No: 2038/75 issued on 2017/09/29 by the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways. Prof. (Dr.). A. Rameez, Professor in Sociology (former Vice Chancellor) was appointed as the founder Head, Department of Sociology with effect from 16- 10-2017. Prof. (Dr.). SM. Ayoob, Professor in Sociology, has served as the Head of the Department of Sociology from July 2019 to 2025 July. Dr. M. Riswan, Senior Lecturer (Gr.I) in Sociology has now been serving as the Head, Department of Sociology. Presently, the Department has more than five hundred students following courses of general as well as special degree programmes in both Tamil and English medium. The year, 2020, marked a turning point in the history of the Department of Sociology with the commencement of the Post-Graduate Degree Programmes (MPhil & PhD) by research.

Moreover, three types of courses are offered by the Department of Sociology: (a) theory-oriented, (b) research-oriented, and (c) applied oriented courses. Moreover, interdisciplinary courses and optional courses are also offered within the main course of studies by the department, which can be considered as a positive step in equipping knowledge and skills towards students offering sociology related courses. By providing rigorous training in disciplinary methods and theories, coupled with a diversity of substantive concentrations and educational experiences, the department develops robust sociological imagination and critical thinking in its students.

The Department of Sociology currently has two Professors, two PhD holders, and a permanent staff member with post-graduate qualifications completed in well-reputed universities. All these staff members who are young and dynamic in their early 30s and 40s are considered a pillar of strength to the Department. Similarly, the department has rich infrastructure facilities like department library, multimedia facilities, and free internet, etc. Furthermore, the courses that are offered by the Department of Sociology are mostly related to the demands and needs of the job markets. It can be noted that the students who are graduated by doing their special degree programmes in Sociology from the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka can easily obtain job opportunities from various sectors like government and non-government sectors both locally and globally in the world of work. At the same time, the new curriculum also has been designed and updated based on the demands in the current job markets and the available opportunities. The department expects to attract more of the best and brightest students as it prepares them for their future career opportunities and as engaged citizens.

Department Activity

Lecture Talk on “Ibn Khaldun and the Dawn of Sociology: A Historical Perspective”, conducted by the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka

A special Lecture Talk on "Ibn Khaldun and the Dawn of Sociology: A Historical Perspective" was held on 4th August 2025 from 01.30 PM to 4.00 PM at the Arts Theater of the Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. This program was organized by the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Head of the Department of Sociology, Dr. M. Riswan, chaired the session and delivered the welcome address. The program was moderated by Prof. (Dr.). A. Rameez, Professor in Sociology, Department of Sociology. The moderator introduced the Resource Person Prof. Dheen Mohamed, Professor of the Contemporary Quranic Studies and Religions, College of Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. Prof. Dheen Mohamed elaborated on the contributions of Ibn Khaldun as an Islamic scholar and a pioneer in historical and social studies. Further, he emphasized on the various discourse and contribution of Ibn Khaldun and his major role in the emergence of sociology as a unique discipline within the family of Social Sciences.

Around 170 participants including staff and students were gathered in this program and gained insights on how Ibn Khaldun's thoughts have made a huge contribution in the field of Sociology and other major disciplines. Finally, Prof. (Dr.). S.M. Ayoob, Professor in Sociology, Department of Sociology presented an observation-note on the program and proposed vote of thanks.