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Bachelor of Arts, Majors and Minors

Sociology

General Description

Sociologists seek to understand human behaviour and attitudes by examining how these are shaped by history, culture and a society’s political and economic arrangements. Sociologists examine how ‘macro’ issues such as race, class and gender, environmental destruction, and technological innovation are linked to the constraints and opportunities faced by individuals. Of central concern to sociology is the study of social inequality at the local, national and global levels. Sociologists also study how societies change and how such changes affect the life chances of individuals and groups. Sociological research spans a very wide range of subject areas including family, gender, aging, social movements, health, religion, population, science and technology, community development and the natural environment.

The B.A. Major in Sociology is a well-rounded program that provides students with a solid grounding in research methods, sociological theory and the core areas of sociological inquiry including inequality, gender, social change, political economy, family and the self in society.

The B.A. Minor in Sociology can be combined with a Minor in another discipline to fulfil the requirements for the B.A. degree. This is a flexible option that allows students to tailor a program best suited to their educational goals and career aspirations.

Requirements for a Major

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2 *

Credits

SOCI 111 - (Introduction to Sociology)

3

SOCI 112 - (Intro to Sociology: Canadian Society in the Contemporary World)

3

SOCI 209 - (Social Inequality)

3

SOCI 250 - (Intro to Sociological Research Methods)

3

Plus one additional lower-level SOCI course

3

* All required Year 1 & 2 courses must have a minimum average grade of “C+” with no grade lower than “C” in each course.

Note: Students taking SOCI 351 in Years 3 or 4 must complete the pre–requisite course MATH 161, or an equivalent statistics course.

Years 3 and 4 *

Credits

SOCI 310 - (Foundations of Social Theory)

3

SOCI 312 - (Contemporary Sociological Theory)

3

SOCI 350 ** - (Sociological Research Methods I) or,
CRIM 350 - (Qualitative Research Methods)

3

SOCI 351 *** - (Sociological Research Methods II) or,
CRIM 351 - (Quantitative Research Methods)

3

Note: The above courses require a minimum grade of “C” in each course.

A minimum of 18 additional credits of Sociology courses numbered 300 and above including INTD 494 - (Integrated Seminar in Natural and Cultural Resource Management).
Note: Up to 9 of the required 18 minimum credits may be taken from the following courses, or other suitable courses within these areas:
ANTH 304 - (Technology in Culture)
ANTH 334 - (Anthropology of Ritual and Belief)
ANTH 335 - (Canadian Ethnic Groups)
ANTH 415 - (Human Social Organization: An Applied Approach)
ANTH 419 - (Globalizing Culture: A Critical Perspective)
PSYC 331 - (Social Psychology)
PSYC 340 - (Interpersonal Communication)
PSYC 431 - (Social Cognition)
GEOG 340 - (Urban Systems)
GEOG 344 - (Urban Social Geography)
GLST 390 - (Globalization: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry)
GLST 391 - (Responses to Globalization)
GLST 490 - (Selected Topics in Global Studies)
GLST 491 - (Applied Seminar in Global Studies)

18

* Many upper-level Sociology courses are offered on a three–year rotation. Students are encouraged to review the Sociology Department's course scheduling page for information on expected course dates.
** Students who have completed PSYC 304 are exempted from SOCI 350.
*** Students who have completed PSYC 300A or PSYC 300B are exempted from SOCI 351.

Note: Equivalent-to-Sociology courses from Anthropology, Psychology and Geography noted above cannot be counted as credit in both Sociology and the above disciplines.

Requirements for a Minor

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2 *

Credits

SOCI 111 - (Introduction to Sociology)

3

SOCI 112 - (Intro to Sociology: Canadian Society in the Contemporary World)

3

SOCI 209 - (Social Inequality)

3

SOCI 250 - (Intro to Sociological Research Methods)

3

Plus one additional lower-level SOCI course

3

* All Years 1 & 2 required courses must be completed with a minimum average grade of “C+” and no grade lower than “C” in each course.

Years 3 and 4

Credits

Select one of the following:
SOCI 310 - (Foundations of Social Theory) or,
SOCI 312 - (Contemporary Social Theory)

3

A minimum of 15 additional credits of Sociology courses numbered 300* and above.
Note: Up to three of the required 15 minimum credits may be taken from the following courses, or other suitable courses within these areas:
ANTH 304 - (Technology in Culture)
ANTH 334 - (Anthropology of Ritual and Belief)
ANTH 335 - (Canadian Ethnic Groups)
ANTH 415 - (Human Social Organization: An Applied Approach)
ANTH 419 - (Globalizing Culture: A Critical Perspective)
PSYC 331 - (Social Psychology)
PSYC 340 - (Interpersonal Communication)
PSYC 431 - (Social Cognition)
GEOG 340 - (Urban Systems)
GEOG 344 - (Urban Social Geography)
GLST 390 - (Globalization: An Interdisciplinary Inquiry)
GLST 391 - (Responses to Globalization)
GLST 490 - (Selected Topics in Global Studies)
GLST 491 - (Applied Seminar in Global Studies)

15

* Many upper-level Sociology courses are offered on a three–year rotation. Students are encouraged to review the Sociology Department's course scheduling page for information on expected course dates.

Recommended Electives

Electives from any Social Sciences discipline and from History are directly supportive of Sociology. Students planning a Major or Minor in Sociology should seek advice from the B.A. Degree Advisors.

Updated February 12, 2010