Staff

Department Head: J.F. Conway, Ph.D.

Professors: J.F. Conway, Ph.D.; H.P. Diaz, Ph.D.; A.M. Hayford, Ph.D.; K.M. Knuttila, Ph.D.; W.A. Stahl, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: H.Chow, Ph.D.; J. Jaffe, Ph.D.; C. Polster, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: S. Alfaro, Doctorado; M.A. Hurlbert, LL.M.; R. Jurdi, Ph.D.; A. Magnan, Ph.D.

Instructor: R. Biezenski, Ph.D.

Lecturer: R. Jurdi, M.Sc.;

Adjunct Professors: P. Gingrich, M.A.; R. M. Stirling, Ph.D.

Department Description

The department has particular strengths in the following general areas: political economy; Marxist and critical theory; political sociology; sociology of environment, development and sustainability; social justice; sociology of knowledge, science and technology; social science methodology and quantitative social research techniques; Canadian studies; social history; gender and women's studies; and rural sociology. As well, the department maintains a commitment to a strong interdisciplinary social science program which can draw on the resources of other departments and academic areas.

The department offers a graduate program leading to the M.A. degree in Sociology or in Social Studies. Successful applicants for entrance to the Master's program will be advised and supervised in their work by a committee of faculty.

M.A. Program in Sociology

Successful candidates for admission may pursue the M.A. degree in Sociology if they have a B.A. Honours degree or equivalent in Sociology.

M.A. Program in Social Studies

The M.A. program in Social Studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides the candidate with the opportunity to develop a program bridging two or three social science disciplines. Students with a variety of social science backgrounds may be eligible for this program. Students interested in this program should write to the Head of the department.

M.A. Program Description

In addition to theory and methods courses, the graduate program of Sociology and Social Studies offers students the possibility of taking courses in three areas of concentration: environment and development, social justice, and knowledge, science and technology. Students will be allowed to mix and match, or follow just one stream according to their interests and goals.

All M.A. candidates in Sociology and Social Studies are required to take 4 three credit hour courses and to take SOC 800 twice. For M.A. candidates in Sociology, two of these courses must be SOC 802 and SOC 804. The balance of the program consists of at least 18 credit hours of thesis research.

M.A. (Sociology and Social Studies)

Course Descriptions

SOC 800 (400/401) Graduate Seminar (0)
A weekly seminar devoted to discussion of special issues in Sociology, reports of research projects, and the presentation of papers by students and faculty. Students are expected to register in the graduate seminar in two semesters.

SOC 802 (480) Advanced Sociological Theory I (3)
An advanced theory course with special consideration given to modern sociological theory.

SOC 803 Advanced Sociological Theory II (3)
An advanced theory course with special consideration given to classical sociological theory.

SOC 804 (404) Advanced Research Methods I (3)
An advanced research methods course with special focus on controversies in social science methodology.

SOC 805 Advanced Research Methods II (3)
Research design and the application of statistical techniques in social science research.

SOC 806 Advanced Studies in Canadian Social Theory (3)
An examination of Canadian contributions to the development of sociological theory.

SOC 808 Seminar on Class and Political Economy (3)
Development of and changes in the class structure of Canadian society and relations between class, class conflict and socio-economic growth, development and depression.

SOC 830 Seminar on Development and the Environment (3)
This seminar investigates relationships between environmental issues and development processes. Drawing upon theories such as political ecology, discourse analysis and eco-feminism, it provides a foundation for discussions of social, political and economic factors in environmental change and conflict. Issues explored may include water, agriculture, common property, and climate change.

SOC 831 Seminar on Development and Underdevelopment (3)
This seminar provides a critical examination of theory and case studies of development and underdevelopment throughout the world. A comparative, historical perspective will be emphasized. Topics may include modernization/neo-liberalism, dependent development, world-systems theory, the developmental state, global commodity chains, globalization, development discourses, gender and development, culture, and new social movements.

SOC 840 Seminar on Knowledge, Science, and Technology (3)
This seminar discusses works of major figures in the sociology of knowledge, science, and technology. Issues covered will include the nature of scientific work, the organization of science, drawing boundaries between science and non-science, gender and science, social relations of technology, and the epistemological and political authority of science.

SOC 841 Sociological Issues in Knowledge Production (3)
This course examines issues in the production, transmission, and use of knowledge. Topics may include debates in the sociology of knowledge, the evolution of knowledge institutions and/or knowledge work, case studies of knowledge production, and the implications of various regimes governing knowledge production and dissemination and their alternatives.

SOC 850 Social Justice Issues in Gender, Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
This course analyses social justice issues in gender, race and ethnicity. It provides an advanced perspective on such topics as construction of difference, discrimination, racialization, assimilation and the interplay of gender, ethnicity, race, and other social factors.

SOC 851 Social Justice Issues in Crime, Deviance, and Normalization (3)
This course examines explanation, theory construction, measurement procedures, and techniques for data collection and analysis within the sociology of crime and deviance.

SOC 880AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Sociology (3)
Selected topics in sociology to be offered as required.

SOC 890AA-ZZ Directed Readings (3)
Directed readings in selected topics.

SOC 901 Research (Variable credit 3-15)
Thesis research.

Course Descriptions: Social Studies

SOST 811 Social Research Projects (3)
A research project to be supervised by faculty. The project could involve research within the University or be done in cooperation with government agencies or other groups outside the University.

SOST 880AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Social Studies (3)
Selected topics in social studies to be offered as required.

SOST 890AA-ZZ Directed Readings (3)
Directed readings in selected topics with an interdisciplinary focus.

SOST 901 Research (Variable credit 3-15)
Thesis research