Program Description The Department of Sociology offers students a unique opportunity to cultivate their intellectual curiosity and social awareness, and to develop their capacity to engage in a critical, informed and self-reflective way with the key social institutions, relationships and processes shaping the world in which they live.
Sociology, by its very nature, encompasses all spheres of social life. Accordingly, it allows students to delve into a rich variety of fascinating topics of the greatest historical and contemporary relevance: animal studies; gender; sexism; family life; sexuality; race and racism; cultural identity; globalization; imperialism and colonialism; immigration; poverty and class inequality; work and the economy; education; religion; the environment; crime, prisons and social repression and social movements. Underlying the wide range of issues taken up in the department's teaching and research activities is a shared commitment to analyzing inequality, oppression and exploitation in all of their varied manifestations and exploring the forms of resistance and struggle to which they give rise.
Students of Sociology develop useful skills that they can carry forward into many areas of their future lives. They learn the basic principles and techniques of social research and are given the opportunity to develop more advanced skills in both qualitative and statistical analysis. They expand their critical thinking, theory-construction and problem-solving abilities and sharpen their skills in oral and written expression. Finally, by learning to develop and to support their ideas while remaining responsive to contending opinions and perspectives, they greatly enhance their ability to work constructively with others, to think outside the narrow confines of ingrained cultural prejudices and habitual forms of "common sense," and to respond creatively and proactively to a wide range of personal, social and political challenges.
Students declaring a major in Sociology can pursue one of six programs: an Honours BA program either in Sociology alone or as a combined major, a BA with Major (either single or combined) and a 3-year Pass BA program (either single or combined). In addition to combined major programs in other academic departments, Sociology students may co-major in interdisciplinary Centres such as Canadian Studies, Labour Studies or Women's and Gender Studies.
