For current contact information and a list of faculty and administration related to this program, please visit https://brocku.ca/social-sciences/sociology/people/. To reach your academic advisor, please visit https://brocku.ca/academic-advising/find-your-advisor/.
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 the following programs: an Honours BA program in Sociology with co-op, 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.
Students with a minimum 70 percent Sociology average may declare the BA Honours or combined Honours program as well as a Concentration in Applied Social Research and Data Analysis, Criminology or Critical Animal Studies before June 1 of any study year. The Honours program provides students with the opportunity for a more intensive examination of issues in the field. Request for admission to Year 4 (Honours) is by application through a Year 4 Studies form and requires a minimum 70 percent major average and completion of a minimum of 13.5 overall credits. Submit honours applications to the Department Administrative Advisor.
Students with a minimum 60 percent Sociology average may declare the BA with Major (single or combined), BA Pass (single or combined) major, Africana Studies, Critical Animal Studies or Sociology Minor before June 1 of any study year. Submit Declaration of Major form to the Department Administrative Advisor.
Students declaring a major in Sociology (Honours, BA with Major, Pass) are responsible for ensuring that their programs satisfy the departmental requirements. The Department Administrative Advisor provides academic advising to Sociology and Critical Criminology students upon request. Students book advising online. To declare a major, minor, or concentration in Sociology, normally at the completion of SOCI 1P90 and SOCI 1P91 (1F90) with a minimum average requirement, a Declare or Change Major form must be completed and submitted for approval to the Department Administrative Coordinator by June 1.
The requirements for graduation with a BA (Honours) are a minimum 70 percent major average, a minimum 60 percent non-major average, and a minimum 60 percent overall average. The requirements for a BA with Major and a Pass BA are a minimum 60 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent overall average.
Program Notes
- SOCI 4F01 and SOCI 4F90 are restricted to students with a minimum 80 percent (single or combined) major average and permission of the Department Administrator.
- Courses given outside the Department may be given SOCI credit provided that they are part of an integrated program and written approval is obtained from the Department Administrative Coordinator.
- With permission of the Department Administrative Coordinator, courses in related disciplines numbered 3(alpha)90 or above may be considered for SOCI credit.
- In 20 credit honours degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.