Sociology

students leaving graduate house

Life is profoundly social. Our department cultivates a critical understanding of the diversity of perspectives, social divisions, and institutions that shape societies. We provide students with a solid foundation in the theories and methods of sociology (e.g., classical and contemporary sociological theory, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies) and expose them to the study of social phenomena in the areas of crime, law, and security; knowledge, education, and digital culture; migration, borders, and transnational; and, social inequality and public policy.  The expertise of our faculty members allows students to explore a wide variety of issues, sites, and social problems in-depth.

As sociologists we study all aspects of human group life. We study the various ways that societies attempt to address all aspects of human activity and interaction.

Academic Plans

Once you meet the requirements for the plans below, you need to fill out and email a plan modification to the Undergraduate Coordinator and Advisor. If you qualify for the requested plan, it will appear on your Quest account a few business days after it has been approved.

Plan checklists are available to help you keep track of your requirements.

Please see the Sociology plan requirements below.

Courses

We offer a wide variety of undergraduate Sociology courses, with topics on:

  • Children and adolescents
  • Gender and sexuality
  • Social and public policy
  • Migration
  • Terrorism
  • Ethnic and racial relations
  • Education
  • Health
  • Religion
  • Security and surveillance

Primary resources for course offering information

Course offerings processes

Course enrolment begins with course selection, which happens early in the term before the term of study (so Sept for the Winter term, January for the Spring term and May for the Fall term). Course selection is your "wish list". The courses you prioritize for your program. The University takes everyone's wish list and tries to create a conflict-free schedule for as many students as possible. Although asynchronous online courses do not pose an issue for conflicts, they are highly desired and therefore getting on the course selection list for an online course is mandatory to obtain a seat. 

After course selection, students are pre-slotted into courses on their "wish list." The next stage is open enrolment; this is where anyone who hasn't participated in course selection can register for courses. This stage is also called the add/drop. While you can wait until 2 weeks into term to drop a course, you may not get a full refund if you miss the deadline, so it is important to pay attention to the drop-with-full-refund deadlines. 

Tip: We strongly encourage you to participate in the Course Selection process if you want to obtain a seat in online courses or other popular courses.

Highly Employable

A major in Sociology is for those students who want a competitive and modern degree that will make them valuable in todays changing job market. A Sociology major gives a strong foundation for a wide variety of occupations and professions, as well as for graduate school.

Sociology majors are educated and learn skills that employers are looking for such as:

  • problem solving skills
  • research skills
  • critical thinking skills
  • communications skills both written and oral
  • global awareness

Careers

Over the years, our Sociology graduates have been successful in pursuing careers in the following areas, just to name a few:

  • government departments
  • policy and research institutes
  • universities
  • legal professions
  • policing
  • non-profit organizations

You can also visit our Alumni profiles page to read more about what a degree in Sociology can do for you!