Sociology

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses, including Grade 12 U English. Notes:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
2. A grade of 70 percent or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English.
3. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

Everything we do and say is shaped by the social world in which we live - our cultures, organizations, beliefs and values. In turn, we shape the world. Understanding our social structures and actions is an essential tool for those who wish to strengthen Canadian society or initiate progressive changes. We are constantly promised ideals contradicted by reality. Why does the media hype youthfulness while social institutions routinely ignore kids? In our so-called leisure society, why are people working harder than ever? Why do we rave about multiculturalism while minority populations suffer higher rates of unemployment, crime and poverty? Why does our culture celebrate happiness and love as the media bombards us with images of violence? If you want to understand our society, this is the program for you.

This program helps students to become more analytical and better equipped to address a wide range of social issues.  Graduates will better understand Canadian society and its place in the world by exploring the hidden working behind the familiar everyday world – from pop culture to the workplace and from the street to the boardroom. You will learn about structures of power, communication, influence and policy in communities and neighborhoods. Because our campus is in the heart of downtown Toronto, we can take our intellectual inquiries into the real world. The Program focuses on social change and cultural issues, practical research methods, and provides an opportunity for experiential learning and for a professionally-related minor.

Semesters One and Two: The first year of the Sociology program is shared with Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, and Psychology. You'll also be introduced to a variety of points of view from other disciplines in the Faculty of Arts and will take courses to strengthen critical thinking and academic writing. Over the four years, students will learn Sociology through courses about large organizations, individuals' socialization, power and class, diversity, gender, and everyday Canadian life.

Semesters Three and Four: Second year students will be invited to focus on city life in Toronto as an environment to explore intellectually, and will be introduced to research and design and applied research methods as well as social theory. Students will also learn more about diversity – how and why we classify people by sex/gender, race/ethnicity, social class, disability and sexuality, why it makes a difference, and how the media portrays these differences.  

Semesters Five through Eight: In the final two years, students develop a sharper focus on theoretical ideas that are useful to describe and analyze society and the research methods that social scientists use to test their ideas, including the use of statistics. In these senior years students will be able to explore a broad range of topics such as the global economy, work relationships, the entertainment industry, and the lives of children and youth. Students will also have the opportunity to put theories and research methods into practice by involvement in research projects seeking to discover something new about the world. Students have the opportunity to take professionally related courses such as human resources, communication, and marketing, and to earn a minor. In your fourth year, students will have the opportunity to consider their studies in relation to future goals and plans.

Sociologists are people who try to make sense of the complexities of the social world in the past, present and future. A degree in Sociology prepares one to work in any field where people, communities, cultures or institutions are important. Upon graduation, students have practical research and analytical skills that are important in many types of employment. Many people with a background in Sociology work in government, business, the nonprofit sector, community development, public affairs, human resources, research, teaching, marketing, media research, consulting and the arts. Our Sociology program is also designed to prepare you for graduate studies. A degree in Sociology can act as a springboard into a professional program in such areas as education, business or law.

An optional co-operative education program is available which provides students with 12 months of work experience which will complement their classroom studies and support the development of essential employability skills required for the workforce, including communication, collaboration and problemsolving.

Although the Career & Co-op Centre (opens in new window)  cannot guarantee placements, they provide assistance in locating suitable positions and counselling students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-op program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of a university education.

Students who have completed the first semester of the regular program must apply through the department for admission to the co-operative program before the end of the first year. Enrolment in the co-op program is limited. Admission will be based on a portfolio which includes the student's grade point
average, a resume and a statement of intent.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

Students must successfully complete a minimum of three work terms in order to graduate from the co-op program.

In most cases the co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Sociology. Students will have the option to fast track if they choose to take electives during the Spring/Summer. The regular program can be completed in four years.

All co-op placements must be approved by the Career & Co-op Centre (opens in new window)  and the Faculty Advisor for the Sociology co-op program.

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and four upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1: Four courses from Table I.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: One course from Table I or Table III.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: One course from Table III.

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1: Two courses from the following:

LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: One course from either Table I, Table III, or Table IV.

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL: Two courses from Table II.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table III or Table IV.

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 2: One course from the following:

LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL: Four courses from Table II.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table III or Table IV.

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1: Four courses from Table I.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: One course from Table I or Table III.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: One course from Table III.

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: One course from either Table I*, Table III, or Table IV.

*Students in the Co-op Program should take SSH104 (Table I) to fulfil this requirement.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1: Two courses from the following:

LIBERAL STUDIES: One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL: Two courses from Table II.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table III or Table IV.

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 2: One course from the following:

LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL: Four courses from Table II.

PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED: Two courses from Table III or Table IV.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

Students must successfully complete a minimum of three work terms in order to graduate from the co-op program.

In most cases the co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Sociology. Students will have the option to fast track if they choose to take electives during the Spring/Summer. The regular program can be completed in four years.

All co-op placements must be approved by the Career & Co-op Centre (opens in new window)  and the Faculty Advisor for the Sociology co-op program.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see  (PDF file) Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Cathy Crowe
Distinguished Visiting Practitioner
Department of Politics & Public Administration Ryerson University

Margrit Eichler
Professor Emerita
Department of Social Justice Education Ontario Institute For Studies In Education/University of Toronto  

Michele Landsberg OC
Journalist, Author, Public Speaker, Feminist, Social Activist

Uzma Shakir
Director, Equity, Diversity & Human Rights 
City Of Toronto  

Hassan Yussuff
President
Canadian Labour Congress Trade Union Confederation of the Americas