Sociology

Sociology involves the study of people as they interact with one another in varied social, structural, cultural and historical contexts. Sociology provides information on the social world, introduces students to different perspectives on social life, and offers training in specific research skills. It expands our horizons, challenges us to think critically about the world around us, and prepares us to participate in that world First and second year sociology courses provide an overview of the discipline and an introduction to sociological analysis. Third year courses emphasize theoretical approaches, analytical methods, and their application to major substantive areas of sociological interest. Fourth year courses allow students to work with greater interdependence and in more depth on a range of sociological topics.

Disciplinary B.A. Programmes

MINOR in Sociology is 24 credits earned as follows:

3	from Sociology 1001
3	from Sociology 2001
6	from Social Science at the 1/2000 level
12	from Sociology at the 3/4000 levels, chosen in consultation with the Programme Advisor.

MAJOR AREA OF STUDY in Sociology is 60 credits earned as follows:

3	from Sociology 1001
6	from Social Science at the 1/2000 level
3	from Sociology 2001
3	from Sociology 3301
6	from Sociology 3001, 3011
12	from Sociology at the 3/4000 levels
6	from Sociology at the 4000 level
3	further credits in Sociology
18	credits from complementary courses in Social Science, Humanities, Arts and Letters, and Psychology or Math 2311, 2321, 3311, 3321 chosen in consultation with the Programme Advisor.

HONOURS in Sociology (Thesis Option) is 66 credits earned as follows:

42	credits as in the eight lines of the Major, plus:
18	from Sociology at the 3/4000 levels chosen in consultation with the Programme Advisor
6	from Sociology 4990

HONOURS in Sociology (Course Option) is 66 credits earned as follows:

42	credits as in the eight lines of the Major, plus:
24	from Sociology at the 3/4000 level, including 6 from the 4000 level, chosen in consultation with the Programme Advisor.

Note: The Honours Average will be calculated on all courses required for Honours that have been taken above the 1000 level.

Note: The listing of a course in the calendar is not a guarantee that the course is offered every year.

Note: Students must obtain a grade of at least C- in all courses used to fulfill prerequisite requirements. Otherwise, written permission of the appropriate Department or Programme Coordinator must be obtained.

SOCIOLOGY COURSES

SOCI 1001 (3CR)
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
The course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of sociology. These concepts include social structure, culture, socialization, deviance, social control, social organization, structured social inequality, and social change. Extensive use is made of examples from the Canadian context.
Exclusion: SOAN 1001

SOCI 2001 (3CR)
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL ANALYSIS
A study of the fundamental elements of social analysis from the sociological perspective. The aim is to give students a firm grounding in the general approaches taken in sociology and to promote the particular critical thinking, reading, methodological, and writing skills essential to advanced work in the discipline. This course is a prerequisite for entry into SOCI 3001, 3011 and 3301.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 3 credits in Social Science; or permission of the Department

SOCI 3001 (3CR)
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY
A critical review of the perspectives developed in the first and second generations of sociology in Europe, with special emphasis on the ideas of Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim.
Prereq: SOCI 1001, 2001 and 6 credits in Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3001

SOCI 3011 (3CR)
CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
An overview of concepts, theoretical issues, and debates in recent sociological theory. The course examines the nature of functionalism and conflict theory, the rise of micro-sociological analysis, the challenges of feminism, the debate over post-modernism, and other contemporary theoretical developments.
Prereq: SOCI 1001, 2001, 3001 and 6 credits in Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3011

SOCI 3111 (3CR)
INEQUALITY IN CANADIAN SOCIETY
An analysis of social inequality in Canada, past and present. Such topics as the development of the Canadian class structure, income distribution, social mobility, educational opportunity, life chance differentials, gender inequality, ethnic inequality and class consciousness will be discussed.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3111

SOCI 3121 (3CR)
LANGUAGE AND ETHNICITY IN CANADA
An analysis of the official linguistic duality and ethnic plurality of Canadian society. Focus will fall on the nature of these two fundamental features of the society, and on their cause and consequence. Consideration will also be given to regional variations within Canada as well as to comparisons with other societies. Particular attention will be paid to understanding the social-psychological, structural, and cultural consequences of linguistic and ethnic diversity within Canadian society.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3121

SOCI 3201 (3CR)
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOCIALIZATION
This course centres on the relationship between the individual and society. This fundamental sociological theme is considered, mainly using the symbolic interactionist perspective on socialization as a life-long process of learning, with continual implications for identity. The differences between primary and secondary socialization will be a theme recurring throughout the course.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN/SOCI 2201

SOCI 3211 (3CR)
GENDER RELATIONS
An introduction to the study of gender through an examination of the nature of gender relations. Major theories of the origin and consequences of gender inequality will also be considered. Issues such as reproduction, work, law, violence, and racism are addressed, using cross-cultural examples.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN/SOCI 2211

SOCI 3301 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS
This is a course in sociological research methodology, including a consideration of questions of social epistemology and research design. Students will gain practical experience in doing social research through the conducting of surveys, participant observation, content analysis, case studies, and other techniques.
Prereq: SOCI 1001, 2001 and 6 credits in Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3301

SOCI 3331 (3CR)
FIELD COURSE IN SOCIOLOGY
This course is designed to provide students with an intensive field experience, during which they pursue research on a topic to be chosen by the Instructor. As such, the course is not designed to be offered during normal term time, but is available to students through Continuing Education. Completion of SOCI 3301 (Sociological Research Methods) is recommended before registering for this course.
Prereq: Permission of the Department.

SOCI 3431 (3CR)
CRITICAL MEDIA ANALYSIS
An advanced research course on the media-based control of information and dissemination of ideologies in modern society. The course will examine issues of ownership and control of the media and the social construction of news. Students will examine in detail current theoretical debates in cultural studies and media analysis.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3431

SOCI 3441 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE
This course focuses on the relationship between ideas and their social and cultural contexts. The course will critically examine various forms of knowledge, including common sense, scientific knowledge, and feminist epistemology.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3441

SOCI 3451 (3CR)
DYNAMICS OF POPULAR CULTURE
An investigation of the process and forms of contemporary popular culture. Students will be introduced to the major theoretical debates in the field of popular culture. In addition, the course will examine the development of popular cultural expression.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3451, 2421

SOCI 3521 (3CR)
COMMUNITIES
A review of the sociological literature on rural, small-town, and urban social organization with special emphasis on the notion of "community" in Canadian society.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3521

SOCI 3601 (3CR)
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
An analysis of the social processes associated with science and technology. The course will consider such topics as: the social dynamics of scientific and technical communities; the social processes of technical invention, diffusion, and control; and the role of technology in the work-place and the household.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits from PHIL 1651, PHIL 2511, 3511, RELG 1651, Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3601

SOCI 3611 (3CR)
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROVERSIES
A course in the sociology of environmental controversies with particular attention to the social processes involved in the genesis, development, maintenance, containment, and decay of environmental controversies. This includes a consideration of the role of a range of social factors in controversies, including: science, technology, the media, public constituencies, the law, public hearings, environmental assessments, and bureaucracies.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3611

SOCI 3631 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGY OF CYBERSPACE
A course in the sociology of cyberspace, considering the social, structural, cultural, and interactional dimensions of cyberspace and the information society. Cyberspace will be treated in the broader context of the role of information in society, and the theories of the relationship between communication technologies and social structures. The usefulness of the term cyberspace as well as its commercial hype and pop cultural status will be examined.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3631

SOCI 3701 (3CR)
LAW IN CANADIAN SOCIETY
This course examines the structure and variation of law in its social context in general and with particular reference to Canadian society. The differences and similarities in legal systems in societies and the major trends in the development of law in western society are a focus of the course. The relationship between the structure of law and social order is discussed in relation to a range of topics which may include crime, conflict resolution, social change, administration and economic change.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3701

SOCI 3911 (3CR)
INTERMEDIATE SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY
An intermediate course which focuses on topics not covered by current course offerings in Sociology, or topics not covered in depth in the courses offered.
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 levels; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3911

SOCI 4001 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
An advanced discussion of sociological theory based on major works of selected sociologists.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3011,3301 or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4001

SOCI 4031 (3CR)
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES
This advanced seminar course examines the nature of feminist methodological approaches and theoretical analyses. Students will explore feminist contributions on a variety of issues.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3011, 3301; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4031

SOCI 4101 (3CR)
CLASS, STATUS AND PARTY
An advanced discussion of the economic, social and political dimensions of structured social inequality. Canadian content will be used where appropriate.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4101

SOCI 4201 (3CR)
SOCIAL INTERACTION
This advanced course examines the theoretical underpinnings of approaches taken to under-standing social interaction and critically evaluates such approaches as symbolic interactionism, phenomenology and behaviourism.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4201

SOCI 4511 (3CR)
SOCIAL ORDER AND SOCIAL CHANGE
An advanced seminar on the nature and maintenance of social order in society. The course examines the way in which the combination of coercion and consent leads to the maintenance of power on the part of elite groups, and the suppression of dissent from other groups. In addition, strategies for social change are assessed sociologically.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4511

SOCI 4531 (3CR)
EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
A research seminar in the sociology of education in Canada. Topics covered include educational credentialism; education and social mobility; access to post-secondary education; the increasing significance of professionalism; educational institutions; and educational subcultures.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4531

SOCI 4601 (3CR)
THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
An advanced course in science and technology studies.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301; or 9 credits from 3601, 3611, GEOG 3211, PHIL 2511, 3511; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4601

SOCI 4901 (3CR)
ISSUES IN SOCIOLOGY
A study of specific issues in Sociology.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4901

SOCI 4911 (3CR)
ADVANCED SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY
An advanced course which focuses on topics not covered by current course offerings in Sociology, or topics not covered in depth in the courses offered.
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of the Department.
Exclusion: SOAN 4911

SOCI 4990 (6CR)
HONOURS THESIS

Prereq: Permission of the Department.

SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY

Note: Interdisciplinary Major Area of Study and Honours in Sociology/Anthropology are also available. See Sociology/Anthropology.