Sociology Major and Minors

The Sociology Program is organized around the opportunity to learn about the many aspects of social relations, ranging from face-to-face intimate and family relationships, to those among such social groups as households, genders, classes, movements, race and ethnic groups, unions, corporations and governments as well as industrial and developing societies. A degree in Sociology offers a wide range of knowledge about domestic and global issues of social relations. The faculty have particular strengths in researching social justice issues concerning AIDS, crime, occupational health, decline of family farms, First Nations, third world development, health care, employment equity, prison reform, sex work, gay and lesbian communities, immigrant workers, and Latin America and the Middle East.

Introductory courses focus on the basic sociological theories and methods used by sociologists when applied to specific social institutions. A degree in Sociology also allows students to specialize in areas of study that include criminology, family-sex and gender areas, international development, race and ethnic relations or social planning.

In general these programs provide students with the opportunity to fulfil the requirements for high school teaching certificates, to become more proficient in dealing with social research, and in specializing for further post-graduate work.