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Courses

For a complete listing of sociology courses, see the .

For a listing of courses offered this year, see the timetable.


Program advisor

Erin Steuter 
esteuter@mta.ca


Programs

The Department of Sociology offers a minor, a major, and an honours program in sociology. There are also two certificate programs.

First-year courses Provide an overview of the discipline and an introduction to core concepts in sociology.
Second-year courses

Designed for minor, major, and honours students to gain a firm grounding in the general approaches taken in sociology and promote the critical thinking, methodological, and writing skills necessary for advanced work.

Third-year courses Emphasize theoretical approaches, analytical methods, and their application to major substantive areas of sociological interest. The areas covered reflect the strengths and interests of the faculty, and are designed to give students exposure to a broad range of material.
Fourth-year courses Allow students to work with greater independence, and in more depth, on a range of topics.
  • For the courses required for each program and their prerequisites see the .
  • When advice is needed on the sociology program, students can contact the program advisor, Erin Steuter at esteuter@mta.ca
  • To keep track of the courses you have taken, it is useful to fill in a degree audit form.

Honours

How to decide if you should do honours:

  • Doing well (GPA 3.0 on courses above first year)
  • Want to be immersed in sociology
  • Thinking of graduate school

Honours replaces a major and is the most specialized degree we offer.

All students intending to do an honours degree should, if at all possible, make this decision by the end of the second year. If you have decided on a thesis-based honours, you should have chosen a topic by the middle of the third year and should begin work on it during the summer before your final year, after consultation with a faculty member who has agreed to act as a thesis advisor.

To apply to do an honours,  please complete the declaration to pursue honours form.

Types of honours
TYPE OF HONOURS WILL APPEAL TO YOU IF

Coursework option

Must take two extra fourth-year sociology courses

 

Interested in advanced classes in sociology

Have done the course rotation properly so can take the extra fourth-year courses

Like the structure of classes

Thesis option

Conduct research and write a thesis under the supervision of one of the sociology professors

 

Interested in advanced issues in sociology

Interested in doing a thesis-based MA or a PhD

Want to investigate a topic in depth

Want to write a lot

Can balance working and researching (either in the summer before fourth year or during your fourth year)

Your topic fits with one of the professors’ areas and he or she agrees to supervise you

 

Applied Honours

Concentrate on specialized courses that teach you to apply your knowledge to real world problems


Sociology certificates

Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Certificate Overview. The Department of Sociology's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate provides students with the opportunity to develop valuable knowledge, methodologies, and applied skills about the important issue of building an inclusive society free from barriers to full participation and engagement.

Students develop their cultural competence by exploring the wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society including dimensions of diversity such as ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexuality, and socio-economic status.

Courses examine the principles of equity in polices and practices to assess and improve their effectiveness in achieving fair, inclusive, and respectful treatment of all people.

Course material reviews historical and contemporary injustices and disadvantages faced by particular groups. Students examine how to create opportunities and reduce disparities in opportunities and outcomes for diverse communities and to assist institutions and organizations in identifying and tackling barriers to create safer environments for marginalized people.

Applied projects allow students to develop strategies that facilitate individuals' and communities' social inclusion in economic, social, cultural, and political dimensions.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate is 18 credits earned as follows:

9 credits from SOCI 2111, 2121, 2211, 2221, 2231, 2401, 2501, 2611
3 credits from SOCI 3101, 3511, 3551, 4551, 4561
3 credits from SOCI 3701, 3711, 3731, 3781
3 credits from SOCI 3771, 4701
Certificate in Social Research Methodologies

Certificate Overview. The courses included in this certificate focus on the understanding and application of the social science research methods commonly used in the public and private sectors.

Skills in social research methods are highly transferable and marketable, and graduates with these skills are increasingly sought by employers across all sectors — academia, government, charities and business.

The Certificate in Social Research Methodologies is 18 credits earned as follows:

6 credits from Psych 2001, 2011
6 credits from SOCI 3301, 3311
6 credits from COMM 3401, ECON 1701, 3401, GENV 3701, PSYC 3001, 3021, SOCI 3731,4311, WGST 3121

Sociology Teaching Assistant Certificate

Sociology Teaching Assistant Certificates are awarded to students who have worked as Teaching Assistants in the department each year during Convocation Weekend. A record of recipients is kept on file and with the student's permission may be used in letters of reference written on the student's behalf.

The application form should be completed and submitted to the department head by the last day of classes in the student's graduating year.

» Sociology Teaching Assistant Certificate application form