Tackle serious social questions
How does society handle inequality, poverty, and crime? How do social groups interact? How can we improve health care, criminal justice, religion, the economy, and our relationships to one another?
This is a program where you’ll wrestle with pressing questions — and develop the tools to create solutions to local and global challenges.
You’ll explore topics such as age, class, ethnicity, religion, gender, criminality, education, work, social change, and politics. And when you study Sociology at Waterloo, you’ll learn from leading experts committed to creating an outstanding classroom experience, ranked in the top 75 in the world (Academic Rankings of World Universities 2023).
As a sociologist, you’ll find career opportunities in a wide range of fields, including government, the financial sector, health, policy and research, law, academia, policing, and non-profit organizations. Want to explore them early? You can start by enrolling in the co-op stream and gaining up to two years of work experience prior to graduating.
Program highlights
Sociology major = flexibility. Our flexible curriculum leaves plenty of room to explore your interests through minors or double majors, while co-op opportunities are also available.
Academic and social support. The student-led Sociology Society coordinates movie nights, student and prof mixers, academic help sessions, special lectures, and more.
- Available as a regular or co-op program
- Available as a major and minor
- Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
- Offered by the Faculty of Arts
What will I learn?
First-year courses
During your first year, you'll take two Sociology courses. Plus, you'll have electives to explore an additional major of your choosing. In upper years, 40% of the classes you'll take will be Sociology courses.
Learn about courses you'll take for your Sociology degree.
Customize your degree
You can add additional areas of expertise by including one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students.
Popular minors for Sociology students include Legal Studies, Political Science, and History.
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Admissions
Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Sociology as your major at the end of first year.
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%)
Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
Connect with us
Questions about courses, programs, requirements, careers?
Please contact our Faculty of Arts recruitment team who can answer any questions you have.
