SOCI – Sociology
SOCI 100
Introductory Sociology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course consists of an analysis of the nature of society, the interrelationships of its component groups, and the processes by which society persists and changes. Society is analyzed in terms of its structure and culture, interrelationships between various institutions (e.g. family, religion, school, government) and the process whereby an individual is socialized into society.
SOCI 201
Canadian Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course analyzes major dimensions of Canadian Society including ethnic diversity (through historical immigration), Indigenous rights, the evolution of Quebec nationalism, the economic, political and cultural dominance of the USA, multinational/transnational corporate control, and globalization. Regional differences within the country are also discussed (e.g. state policy, uneven development, and elite control) as well as the sustainability of Canadian nationalism. Note: Credit can only be obtained for one of SOCI 101 and 201.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 215
Introduction to Social Research Methods
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course is an introduction to social science research. Social research methods are techniques used to obtain information that answers questions about the social world. This course covers different ideas of how we know (epistemology) and different approaches to research (methodology). Key ethical considerations in social science research will be explored. This course introduces both quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting data. Students can only receive credit for one of SOCI 215 or SOCI 315.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 224
Deviance and Conformity
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course is an introduction to the study of deviance, conformity, and social control. The course will explore processes and factors which influence the definition of deviance and conformity. Theory and research on a wide range of specific topics will be analyzed, and may include topics such as sexuality, addiction, religion, youth, mental disorder, and physical appearance.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 225
Criminology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
Criminology is the search for and explanation of general patterns or regularities characterizing the law-breaking behaviour of individuals. The course is an introduction to the sociological study of crime and a critical appraisal of theoretical explanations and methods of conducting research. Students can only receive credit for one of SOCI 225 or CORR 110.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 227
The Canadian Criminal Justice System
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course emphasizes the three components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. Specifically, the course examines the roles and functions of the police, the evolution of law and public policy, models and templates of justice, the procedural court processes, as well as research dedicated to reforming our community and institutional based correctional system. Note: This course was previously numbered SOCI 327. Students can receive credit for only one of SOCI 327 or SOCI 227.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 232
Classical Sociological Theory
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course provides an in-depth analysis of the emergence and development of classical perspectives on society and human nature, as well as on the social changes brought by modernity. Emphasis is placed on the sociological theories of important figures such as Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber, although the contributions of others may be discussed. Social theories are compared and assessed in terms of issues such as the following: the individual versus society; idealism versus materialism; and conflict versus consensus. Note: Credit can only be obtained for one of SOCI 232 and SOCI 332.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 237
Media and Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course addresses the multidimensional relationship between changing media technologies and society. Students critically examine the ways that legacy media, digital media, and information technologies are intertwined with other social institutions and processes. Students analyze the many facets of media such as their roles in interpersonal relationships and understandings of self; their embeddedness in the everyday workings of education, family, government, healthcare and the economy; the way they are used to reproduce dominant ideologies and social inequality; and the way they facilitate social change and resistance.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 241
Social Psychology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course provides an introduction to the study of a variety of individual and group behaviours observed in social processes. In addition to addressing the nature of social psychological research, this course covers an array of topics including social cognition, social perception and the power of social influence. Furthermore, the course explores the development and processes of self-knowledge, self-evaluation, attitude formation, deindividuation, groupthink as well as other facets of social psychology. Note: SOCI 241 and PSYC 241 may not both be taken for credit.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100 or PSYC 104 or PSYC 105.
SOCI 251
Population and Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines population trends and problems in Canada and the rest of the world; social and cultural factors underlying fertility, mortality, and migration patterns, urbanization, population explosion, population theory, and policy concerns.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 261
Social Inequality
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course explores the structures and institutions within which people reside and which determine systems of social inequality. Students examine the ways in which people in particular social groups have power over those in other social groups. Issues of racism, sexism, sexuality and income inequality among other social inequalities are central to this course. The emphasis will be on Canada, but literature from other countries may be included. Students cannot receive credit for SOCI 261 and SOCI 361.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 269
Globalization and Canadian Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course introduces students to the processes and implications of globalization within a Canadian and international context. It emphasizes the key organizations and institutions at the centre of contemporary globalization, the implications of globalization in relation to political, economic, socio-cultural, ecological and ideological relations, and the role of globalization in the opportunities and constraints felt by individuals in society.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 271
Introduction to the Family
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course is a survey of sociological perspectives on, and research into families. While the emphasis is on current trends and institutional characteristics in Canada, marriage and families are examined in the context of cross-cultural and historical elements.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 290
Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course addresses sociological approaches to the study of health and illness, including relevant theoretical frameworks. Specifically, it details the social determinants that affect a person’s ability to create and sustain health, and examines the social inequalities of health, illness, and healthcare in Canada. This course also examines contemporary issues in the sociology of health and illness, including medicalization, the framing of health as a personal responsibility, and the corporate influences of illness. Moreover, it critiques the biomedical frameworks that underpin contemporary western notions of health and illness.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 100.
SOCI 301
Sociology of Gender and Sexuality
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course analyzes some of the social constructs of gender and sexuality in Canadian society. It looks historically at changing beliefs and practices regarding gender and sexuality as well as cross-culturally to analyze differences and similarities among cultural groups. The course pays particular attention to agents of gender and sexual socialization including but not limited to work, sport, health, and the media.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in at least one 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 302
Current Issues in Sociology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines a substantive topic or topics of relevance to contemporary sociology. The topic for the course varies and is announced prior to registration. This course may be taken up to three times provided the course topic is different.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in any 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 303
Contemporary Issues in Criminology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines a substantive topic or topics of relevance to contemporary criminology. The topic for the course varies and is announced prior to registration. Students can take this course up to three times, provided the topic is different.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 304
Current Issues in Family, Youth and Diversity
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines a substantive topic or topics of relevance to contemporary sociology, particularly focused on issues pertaining to family, youth, or diversity. The topic for the course varies and is announced prior to registration. This course may be taken up to three times provided the course topic is different.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 271, SOCI 261, or SOCI 361; course instructors may have additional prerequisite requirements.
SOCI 310
Introduction to Social Statistics
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course introduces students to the varied applications of statistics in sociological research. The key principles behind statistical techniques and the rationales for choosing between them are addressed. In this course, students learn the basic statistical concepts associated with both descriptive and inferential statistics including the following: central tendency, dispersion, frequency distributions, bar charts, group mean differences, correlation and regression. Interpretation of statistical results is an integral component of the course.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 215 or SOCI 315.
SOCI 318
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
In this course, students learn to investigate the social world using a variety of qualitative research approaches. Students explore the principles underlying qualitative inquiry and acquire a general understanding of the theoretical positions that underlie qualitative methodologies. Students explore the strengths and limitations of various approaches, develop the skills to design a qualitative research project, gather qualitative data, and begin to analyze qualitative research.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 215.
SOCI 320
Crimes of Power
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
Crimes of power encompasses the role of individuals and/or groups that work collaboratively to exert power and/or attain monetary benefits. This course builds on the premise that crime evolves and flourishes under the appropriate economic, political and social conditions which may cross borders. This course uilizes a comparative and international approach to defining and recognizing the scope of crimes of power. Discussions may include how gang activity, cybercrime, political activism/terrorism, arms/drug/human trafficking evolve within both a local and global context.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 321
Youth, Crime and Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course is a survey of the understanding and treatment of youth in the Canadian criminal justice system. It examines the nature, extent and regulation of youth crime in Canada as well as historical and contemporary youth justice. Students can only receive credit for one of SOCI 321 or CORR 218.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and one of SOCI 227 or PSSC 121.
SOCI 323
Critical Criminology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
Critical criminology is a broad umbrella term for a wide variety of scholars, theories, and topics. The unifying feature of this branch of criminology is the attention paid to power, social inequality and social justice. Critical criminologists argue that we live in a society marked by numerous inequalities, including class, race, and gender. They examine how the criminal justice system and criminology itself reflect, reinforce, and compound these inequalities. This course covers critical criminology theory and research, with a particular focus on contemporary work being done by Canadian scholars.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 325
Restorative Justice
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course is an introduction to the practice of restorative justice. It describes the theory and history of restorative justice as well as the challenges restorative justice poses to conventional forms of justice. The course uses a sociological lens to examine both the strengths and weakness of this approach.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 326
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
The rights contained in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are violated daily, especially for members of minority and marginalized communities. Nonetheless, Canada is consistently viewed as a world leader in human rights protection domestically and globally. This contradiction rightly calls for socio-legal analyses of the Charter’s impact on the criminal justice system in Canada. This course critically appraises how the Charter protects and/or constrains both individual members of society as well as the agencies of criminal justice (police, courts, corrections). The operation of the Charter since its inception is placed in historical and social context using a case study approach. Supreme Court decisions and academic articles on topical societal issues (free speech, sex work, abortion, etc.) allow for critical discussions about the difference between rights in theory and rights in practice under the Charter.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 328
Victimology
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
The course takes a comprehensive look at the incidence and prevalence of victimization in Canada. This includes examining the evolution of legislation and public policy that advocate for the protection of victims of crime. In particular, the course will use an interdisciplinary framework to introduce students to the criminal event with a priority and focus on the victim, rather than the offender.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 329
Sociology of Law
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines conceptual, practical and philosophical relationships between law and society. The key emphasis is on processes by which legal rules are created, maintained and changed, and law as an instrument of social control and change.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and SOCI 227.
SOCI 333
Contemporary Sociological Theory
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course follows the continued development of sociological theorizing since the mid-20th century. Theoretical perspectives to be analyzed may include symbolic interactionism, dramaturgy, neo-functionalism, critical theory, world systems theory, feminist theories, poststructuralism, postmodernism, cultural theory, post-colonial and anti-racist theories, and more. The application of these theories to contemporary critical debates and societal issues is emphasized.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 232.
SOCI 362
Organization of Work
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course explores the meaning and organization of work, with a specific focus on Canada. Areas covered include properties of work organization (division of labour and specialization), technology and working knowledge, and social inequality that results from a polarized labour force.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in at least one 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 363
Mental Health and Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course offers a sociological approach to the study of mental health and illness. Topics may include: sociological theories of mental health and illness, the organization of the Canadian mental health system, medicalization, power and the medical model, the pharmaceutical industry, and mental health social movements. Topics are examined through historical, legal and theoretical approaches and students are encouraged to work beyond the conceptualization and treatment of mental illness in the fields of psychology and psychiatry.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in any 200-level course in SOCI.
SOCI 368
Race and Ethnic Relations
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines the social construction of race and ethnicity, and the causes and effects of racial and ethnic inequalities in Canada and other nation-states. The historical, political, and social impacts of race and ethnic relations are explored in a global context, with an emphasis placed on how these relations impact national identities. Topics that are covered in this course may include the following: formation of ethnic and racial identities, theories of racialization, racism and white privilege, immigration trends and policies, multiculturalism, and national identity formations.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in any 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 375
Citizenship and Identity
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
Society has been confronted with questions relating to citizenship and identity either as a response to or a product of contemporary globalization. This course examines the history of citizenship and identity and their contemporary manifestations in both the Global North and South. Of particular importance is the theoretical and practical contestations as well as consequences of citizenship and identity for specific ethnic groups in an era of globalization.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in a 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 377
Youth, Culture and Identity
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course focuses on the comparative analysis of youth in various types of societies, with special emphasis on Canada. Analysis includes investigation of the ways in which youth experiences and identities are embedded within a network of social structures, social interactions, and cultural characteristics.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in a 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 387
Religion, Culture and Society
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines the relationships between religion, culture and society from a number of sociological, historical and comparative perspectives. The course addresses a variety of topics including the following: defining religion, individual and collective meanings, identity, conversion, religious authority and leadership, religious pluralism, alternative religions, apocalypticism, religious fundamentalism and secularism.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in a 200-level SOCI course.
SOCI 393
Politics and Social Change
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course explores the process of social change, focusing on how institutions shape and are shaped by collective organization in an effort to bring about social change. Social change is broadly defined to include economic, political, environmental, and technological change. Students examine a variety of groups pursuing social change and their relationship to key social institutions, such as the media and the state.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in a 200-level course in SOCI.
SOCI 395
Sociological Field School
6 Credits Total (15-0-75)
Using sociological theories, concepts and research methods, students study a social issue of global relevance in a country other than Canada. Over the course of the field school, students meet and collaborate with Canadian agencies and institutions as well as agencies, institutions, faculty and students in another country. The course provides students with the opportunity to travel to another country and compare its laws, policies, culture and social practices with Canada. Note: This course combines lectures with experiential learning opportunities in an international setting. Students are expected to attend and participate in pre-departure lectures at MacEwan University as well as travel to and attend lectures delivered in another country. Acceptance into the field school is competitive and subject to an application process.
Prerequisites: Third year or more standing and consent of the Department; Students with a minimum grade of C- in at least one 300 level Sociology course will be given preference.
SOCI 398
Independent Study
3 Credits Total (0-0-45)
This course offers an intermediate-level student the opportunity to work with an instructor to explore a specific topic in depth through research or directed reading in primary and secondary sources. The student plans, executes and reports the results of their independent research or study project under the direction of a faculty supervisor. To be granted enrollment in the course, the student must have made prior arrangements with a faculty member willing to supervise his or her project. This course can be taken twice for credit.
Prerequisites: Consent of the Department.
SOCI 400
Senior Seminar
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
A capstone course is one in which students synthesize and apply the knowledge they have acquired in theory, methodology, and substantive subject-matter, in preparation for advanced education or entry into professional careers. In Sociology, this synthesis of knowledge reflects the "sociological imagination" (C. Wright-Mills, 1959) - the ability to recognize the interplay between individual experiences and public issues. In this course, students use their sociological imaginations in self-directed analyses of current societal issues, social problems, or controversies, building a body of diverse work that illustrates the knowledge and skills they will be carrying into their future educational, professional, and/or individual roles within a dynamic, multicultural society.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in a 300-level SOCI course and consent of the department (Note: Preference will be given to students in the SOCI major and the Honours program).
SOCI 402
Special Topics in Sociology
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of a selected topic in sociology. The topic for the course varies from year to year and is announced prior to registration. Possible topics include the following: sport and gender, sociology of aging, sociology of religion, sociology of health and illness, critical media studies, race and racism, and sociology of globalization.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in a 300-level SOCI course; individual instructors may require specific prerequisites.
SOCI 403
Special Topics in Criminology and Criminal Justice
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of a selected topic in criminology. The topic varies and is announced prior to registration. Possible topics include youth and crime, comparative criminology, substance use, issues around mental illness, and the effects of race/ethnicity within the context of the Canadian criminal justice system. Students can take this course up to three times so long as the topic is different.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 227 or SOCI 327 and one of SOCI 303, SOCI 320, SOCI 321, SOCI 323, SOCI 325, SOCI 328 or SOCI 329.
SOCI 416
Quantitative Research Methods
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines quantitative research methods in Sociology. Topics covered include: advanced measurement and design issues, probability sampling issues, ethical issues, systematic observation, survey construction, experimental design, secondary analysis of existing information, and unobtrusive measures. Restricted to Sociology Majors or with the consent of the Sociology Department.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 310 and SOCI 315.
SOCI 418
Qualitative Research Methods
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
This course examines qualitative research methods in Sociology. Topics covered may include: designing qualitative research, ethical issues, interviews, focus groups, ethnography, action research, unobtrusive measures, case studies, content analyses, and the use of triangulation in research.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in SOCI 315 or (with consent of the instructor) PSYC 212.
SOCI 421
Sociology of Punishment
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course is an examination and explanation of the historical and contemporary social underpinnings of punishment and the criminal justice system. Topics may include: the social and historical context of punishment; the rationale, principles and goals of sentencing; and current trends in Canadian corrections.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 227 or SOCI 327 and one of SOCI 303, SOCI 320, SOCI 321, SOCI 323, SOCI 325, SOCI 328 or SOCI 329.
SOCI 422
Indigenous Peoples and Justice
3 Credits Weekly (3-0-0)
The course is a survey of the involvement of Indigenous peoples as offenders, victims and service providers in the Canadian criminal justice system at a variety of levels, including policing, courts, corrections, and aftercare. Special attention is given to the ways that Canadian law and the criminal justice system are established through settler-colonial governing practices and how this shapes the ways in which justice and inequality are experienced by Indigenous peoples.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 227 or SOCI 327 and one of SOCI 303, SOCI 320, SOCI 321, SOCI 323, SOCI 325, SOCI 328 or SOCI 329.
SOCI 424
Advanced Topics in Deviance, Normality and Social Control
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of a specific topic or current issue related to deviance, normality and social control. The topic for the course varies year to year and is announced prior to registration. Possible topics include the following: sociology of alcohol; youth subcultures; medicalization of deviance; mass media and social control; sexuality; power and popular music; cults; alternative beliefs; and genetic science, deviance, and social control.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 224 and a 300-level SOCI course or consent of the department.
SOCI 428
Police and the Community
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course examines current issues impacting police services and the citizens they serve. This includes the situational aspects of police-citizen interactions which explain how discretion leads to disparities and potential discrimination.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 227 or SOCI 327 and one of SOCI 303, SOCI 320, SOCI 321, SOCI 323, SOCI 325, SOCI 328 or SOCI 329.
SOCI 429
Criminal Law and Sentencing
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
The seminar explores the practice of jurisprudence within the Canadian criminal courts highlighting the subsequent disparities of charging and sentencing. Practitioners’ ethics and evidentiary rules of law will provide a context to the decision-making factors within criminal court cases. Utilizing the various forms of legal interpretation as paradigms within the course will provide clarity on the evolution of legislation and public policy.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 227 or SOCI 327 and one of SOCI 303, SOCI 320, SOCI 321, SOCI 323, SOCI 325, SOCI 328 or SOCI 329.
SOCI 430
Gender, Crime, and Social Justice
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course critically examines key concepts, issues, and debates regarding gender, crime, and social justice. The key focus is on the study of women, crime, and criminalization and exploring the implications of crime as a gendered phenomenon. Topics include theories and approaches to female crime, the treatment of women as offenders and victims by the criminal justice system, imprisonment, and intersectional inequalities.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 225 and either SOCI 301 or GEND 219.
SOCI 449
Advanced Topics in Social Psychology
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of two or three central topics in social psychology. The theoretical, methodological and applied issues in the selected areas are emphasized. The topics for the course vary from year to year and are announced prior to registration. Possible topics include social cognition, social perception, interpersonal attraction, social psychology and health, and social psychology and the environment.
Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in at least one 300-level SOCI course and a minimum grade of C- in SOCI 241 or PSYC 241 or consent of the department.
SOCI 461
Advanced Topics in Social Inequalities
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of a selected topic in sociology, pertaining to social inequalities. The topic for the course varies from year to year and is announced prior to registration. Possible topics include theories of racism; migration, borders, and citizenship; education and social inequalities; poverty and wealth; food precarity; gender and identities; etc.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in one of SOCI 301, SOCI 261, SOCI 361, or SOCI 368.
SOCI 463
Advanced Topics in Canadian Society
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of a topic in Canadian Society. The topic for the course varies from year to year and will be announced prior to registration. Possible topics include colonialism and the historical development of Canada, regionalism, ethnicity and gender inequities, free trade issues, multinationals and globalization, capitalism, government policy, and/or issues relating to Canadian identity. This course can be taken up to three times provided the topic is different.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in at least one 300-level SOCI course.
SOCI 470
Advanced Topics in the Sociology of Families
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of selected topics in the sociology of families. The topic for the course varies from year to year and is announced prior to registration. Possible topics include the following: gender and family, comparative family systems, intimate family relationships, deviance and family, and family policy.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 271 and a 300-level SOCI course or consent of the department.
SOCI 477
Advanced Topics in Youth
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of a specific topic or current issue related to the sociology of youth. The topic for the course varies year to year and is announced prior to registration. Possible topics include the following: youth subcultures; comparative youth systems; youth and inequality; youth substance use; music and youth culture; and youth, media, and information technologies.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 377 or consent of the department.
SOCI 490
Sociology of Food and Nutrition
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-3)
This course provides an in-depth study of the sociology of food and nutrition. It analyzes socio-cultural, political, economic and philosophical factors that influence contemporary food production, distribution, and consumption. This course explores topics including but not limited to world hunger, environmental and ecological sustainability, government-issued dietary advice, food labelling, and eating disorders. An intersectional approach will be used to examine forms of social marginalization as it relates to cultural constructions of healthful eating. Conceptualizations between food and health will be moved outside of biochemical and nutricentric understandings of nutrition towards those framed within the macro structures of colonialism, patriarchy, neoliberalism, and capitalism. Food-related social movements will also be explored.
Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C- in SOCI 290 and a 300-level SOCI, or consent of the department.
SOCI 496
Independent Research Proposal
3 Credits Total (0-0-45)
This course offers senior-level students the opportunity to work with an instructor to design an empirical research project in an applied or non-applied setting, and prepare a research proposal for that project. Students learn to formulate research questions, select an appropriate methodology, plan specific procedures for data collection and analysis, prepare a research proposal, and if required, submit a research ethics proposal. To be granted enrollment in the course, the student must have made prior arrangements with a faculty member willing to supervise the project.
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 315 and consent of the department.
SOCI 497
Independent Research Project
3 Credits Total (0-0-45)
This course offers senior-level students the opportunity to work with an instructor to conduct an empirical research project in an applied or non-applied setting. To be granted enrollment in the course, the student must have made prior arrangements with a faculty member willing to supervise the project.
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in SOCI 315 and consent of the department.
SOCI 498
Advanced Independent Study
3 Credits Weekly (0-0-0)
This course offers a senior-level student the opportunity to work with an instructor to conduct a critical or theoretical analysis of the existing literature on a specific topic. The student plans, executes and reports the results of the critical or theoretical analysis under the direction of a faculty supervisor. To be granted enrollment in the course, the student must have made prior arrangements with a faculty member willing to supervise the project.
SOCI 499A
Honours Thesis I
3 Credits Total (0-0-45)
Under the direction of a faculty member, students conduct an empirical or theoretical research project culminating in the Honours Thesis and formal presentation of research findings. Note: This course is restricted to, and required of, students in the final year of the Honours Sociology program. Students must complete both 499A and 499B in consecutive terms in order to receive a credit in this course.
Prerequisites: Consent of department.
SOCI 499B
Honours Thesis II
3 Credits Total (0-0-45)
Under the direction of a faculty member, students conduct an empirical or theoretical research project culminating in the Honours Thesis and formal presentation of research findings. Note: This course is restricted to, and required of, students in the final year of the Honours Sociology program. Students must complete both 499A and 499B in consecutive terms in order to receive a credit in this course.
Prerequisites: Consent of department.