Sociology (BA honours)

Are you excited about conducting your own research? Are you thinking about continuing your studies in sociology? If so, the honours program is for you!

Students in the honours thesis program engage in original, innovative research. They research social issues ranging from policing and crime control to food production and the healthcare system.

The honours program is designed to enrich your learning experience in sociology by providing opportunities to conduct research in a specialized area.

The program is recommended for anyone planning to pursue a graduate degree or seeking answers to sociological problems.

Benefits

• move from studying to doing sociology
• work one-on-one with a faculty supervisor
• acquire skills (analytical, writing, research) that give you a competitive advantage in an increasingly knowledge-based economy
• be eligible for the Cecilia Benoit Sociology Honours Essay Award

How to apply

Students typically apply for entry into the honours program at the end of their third year, but you can apply any time until the start of your fourth year. Applications should be submitted no later than May of your third year.

Entry requirements

You need to have:

• a declared major in sociology
• a GPA of at least 6.00 in all sociology courses numbered at or above the 200 level, including in at least 1 required methods course

You don’t need to have a supervisor in place before applying. The SOCI 499 seminar covers finding a supervisor.

Check out what types of research our faculty members conduct to get some ideas of potential topics. Visit their research websites to learn about their work.

Honours research project

The honours program is designed to enrich your learning experience in sociology by providing opportunities to conduct research in a specialized area. Students are encouraged to consider all types of projects including quantitative, qualitative, and theoretical.

The SOCI 499 seminar will support you through the following stages of completing your essay:

• selecting a supervisor
• identifying a topic
• developing a proposal
• establishing a timeline and plan of action
• completing the research
• reporting the results

Course requirements

Honours students must satisfy course requirements for a BSc major in sociology plus SOCI 499 (honours thesis seminar, 3.0 units). Overall course requirements:

• SOCI 100A
• SOCI 100B
• SOCI 210
• SOCI 211
• SOCI 271
• SOCI 309
• SOCI 374
• SOCI 376
• two of: 430A, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439A, 439B
• SOCI 499
• Plus 7.5 additional units in Sociology numbered 300 and above (SOSC 300 can be substituted for 1.5 units)

To graduate with an honours degree you’ll need:

• a minimum grade of B+ in SOCI 499
• a minimum GPA of 6.0 in all upper-level courses