Sociology in Iran By Ali Akbar Mahdi and Abdolali Lahsaeizadeh. Bethesda, MD: Jahan Book Co., 1992, 141 pp.

Abstract

The book, with the help of empirical data, provides valuable information
about the development of sociology as a discipline in Iran. It explains how
the discipline was introduced in one of the colleges of Tehran in 1946 and
gradually, over a span of twenty-five years, became a popular subject of
teaching and research. The number of qualified students and staff is also
steadily increasing. But more importantly, Iran now has a unifonn B.A.
degree program consisting of 144 credit hours in eight 17-week semesters.
Five categories of courses related to different areas and subareas are provided:
general, base, main, elective, and specialized courses. In all of these courses,
sociology and its various branches are mentioned.
The M.A. degree program has been developed with the intention of preparing
a competent cadre of future teachers for the higher centers of learning.
The program is similar to that found in European and American universities,
with the exception of courses on the social thought of Muslim thinkers and
the social ideas of Muslim philosophers, theologians, intellectuals, and historians.
A doctoral program has also been introduced for training university
faculty and researchers. The program requires thirty credit hours over a period
of seven semesters. Out of these credit hours, twenty-two are required courses ...