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.
SOCI 1001 (3CR)
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Exclusion: SOAN 1001
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.
SOCI 2001 (3CR)
PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL ANALYSIS
Format: lecture/discussion/group projects/tutorial 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 3 credits in Social Sciences; or permission of the
Department
Exclusion: SOAN 2001
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.
SOCI 3001 (3CR)
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001, 2001 and 6 credits in Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3001
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.
SOCI 3011 (3CR)
CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
Format: lecture/discussion/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001, 2001, 3001 and 6 credits in Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3011
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.
SOCI 3111 (3CR)
INEQUALITY IN CANADIAN SOCIETY
Format: lecture/discussion/student presentations 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3111
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.
SOCI 3121 (3CR)
LANGUAGE AND ETHNICITY IN CANADA
Format: lecture/discussion/student presentations 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3121
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.
SOCI 3201 (3CR)
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOCIALIZATION
Format: lecture/discussion/student presentations 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000
level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN/SOCI 2201
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.
SOCI 3211 (3CR)
GENDER RELATIONS
Format: lecture/discussion/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000
level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN/SOCI 2211
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.
SOCI 3221 (3CR)
WORK AND SOCIETY
Format: lecture/discussion/group work/student presentations 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000
level; or permission of the Department
In this course, the nature and meaning of work in relation to changes in the position
of the professions, unions, government, women and minority groups, in industrial and post-industrial societies
will be examined. The course will also include consideration of topics such as the relations between work and
the family, work and gender, and work and politics. While focusing on work in Canada, this examination will be located
in broader international trends and processes.
SOCI 3301 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS
Format: lecture /discussion/group projects/laboratory 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001, 2001 and 6 credits in Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3301
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.
SOCI 3331 (3CR)
FIELD COURSE IN SOCIOLOGY
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Prereq: Permission of the Department
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 Continuous Learning. Completion of SOCI 3301 (Sociological Research
Methods) is recommended before registering for this course.
SOCI 3431 (3CR)
CRITICAL MEDIA ANALYSIS
Format: lecture/discussion/case studies/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3431
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.
SOCI 3441 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE
Format: lecture/discussion/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3441
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.
SOCI 3451 (3CR)
DYNAMICS OF POPULAR CULTURE
Format: lecture/discussion/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3451, 2421
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.
SOCI 3501 (3CR)
POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY
Format: lecture/discussion/group work/student presentations 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000
level; or permission of the Department
This course examines the relationship between society and politics, the interactions between
individuals and governments. Processes of nationalism, trans-nationalism and civil society are investigated from a social constructionist
perspective and with an awareness of agency and structure. The major dimensions to be explored include: power, state and nationhood;
globalization and civil society; and political discourse, rhetoric and rituals. The course will draw on a variety of theoretical perspectives and use
Canadian and international examples.
SOCI 3521 (3CR)
COMMUNITIES
Format: lecture/discussion/student presentations 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3521
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.
SOCI 3601 (3CR)
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits from PHIL 1651, PHIL 2511, 3511,
RELG 1651, Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3601
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.
SOCI 3611 (3CR)
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROVERSIES
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3611
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.
SOCI 3631 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGY OF CYBERSPACE
Format: lecture/discussion 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3631
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.
SOCI 3911 (3CR)
INTERMEDIATE SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY
Format: lecture/discussion, seminar or independent study
Prereq: SOCI 1001 and 9 credits in the Social Sciences at the 1/2000 level; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 3911
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.
SOCI 4001 (3CR)
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
Format: seminar 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3011,3301; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4001
An advanced discussion of sociological theory based on major works of selected
sociologists.
SOCI 4031 (3CR)
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES
Format: lecture/discussion/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3011, 3301; or permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4031
This advanced seminar course examines the nature of feminist methodological
approaches and theoretical analyses. Students will explore feminist contributions on a
variety of issues.
SOCI 4101 (3CR)
CLASS, STATUS AND PARTY
Format: seminar 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of
the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4101
An advanced discussion of the economic, social and political dimensions of
structured social inequality. Canadian content will be used where appropriate.
SOCI 4511 (3CR)
SOCIAL ORDER AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Format: lecture/discussion/case studies/group projects 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission
of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4511
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.
SOCI 4531 (3CR)
EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
Format: seminar 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission
of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4531
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.
SOCI 4601 (3CR)
THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Format: seminar 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301; or 9 credits from 3601, 3611, GEOG 3211, PHIL 2511, 3511; or
permission of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4601
An advanced course in science and technology studies.
SOCI 4901 (3CR)
ISSUES IN SOCIOLOGY
Format: seminar 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission of
the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4901
A study of specific issues in Sociology.
SOCI 4911 (3CR)
ADVANCED SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY
Format: seminar 3 hours
Prereq: SOCI 3001, 3301 and 3 additional 3000 level credits in Sociology; or permission
of the Department
Exclusion: SOAN 4911
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.
SOCI 4990 (6CR)
HONOURS THESIS
Format: thesis
Prereq: Permission of the Department