Sociology

Introduces the basic concepts, theories, perspectives, and approaches of sociology and their application to the study of society and the relationship between the individual and society. Specific topics used to illustrate these sociological perspectives will include some combination of issues concerning socialization, sex and gender, family, community, population and aging, urban life, religion, race and ethnicity, work and occupations, inequality, education, environment, globalization, politics and social movements, technology and social change. 

How do photographs affect the way we think of ourselves (e.g., our body image) and of others (e.g., the "primitives" pictured in National Geographic)? How do photographs create desire (e.g., in advertising and pornography)? Why do people take photographs of friends and family but rarely photograph complete strangers? These questions explore the nature of a "picturing society", one where individuals are surrounded by photographic images and, as a result, the ability to capture realistic representations of the world around us influences image, meaning, and memory. The term "picturing society" also refers to the process of using visual information to understand the characteristics of society – social class and gender divisions, social structure, the process of social change, etc. Photographs from a wide variety of contexts – personal, commercial, scientific, artistic, and others – will be used to explore both aspects of picturing society.

This course provides an introduction to the sociological imagination by allowing you to make the sociological connections between your personal world and the social world. Sociological perspectives and approaches are introduced through examination of such aspects of youth in contemporary Western societies as identity and sub-cultures, sexual behaviour, music, consumerism, religion, in schools, employment, crime and violence, and other issues affecting youth and their transitions to adulthood.

Life is gendered from the moment of birth. Throughout the various developmental stages, girls and boys are exposed to a variety of messages that in some ways are represented by the fairytales read in childhood. Adolescents learn the price of deviating too far from the roles or expectations placed upon young men and women in our culture through formal and informal sanctions upon their behaviour. The choices, opportunities, and obstacles that we face as adults, are in large measure built upon the gender messages of childhood. Strategies for identifying the gendered nature of work, leisure, advertising, parenting, and aging will be amongst the topics discussed. 

Focuses on selected social issues in such areas as Aboriginal/non-aboriginal relations, the environment, and gender; inequality and poverty; the media; racism, ethnic relations, and language; schooling and jobs; cities; urbanization; deviance and crime; as well as globalization. 

Whether it is a prayer said in times of sorrow, grace at a meal, a religious ritual to celebrate adolescence, fasting, advice from a faith leader, or a spiritual blessing for a long-term intimate relationship, contact with religion comes in many different forms. Some Canadians “believe without belonging” while others belong to religious organizations but are unsure of their beliefs. Topics include patterns of spirituality in Canadian society, new religious movements, gender and family issues within contemporary religions, violence, and the impact of immigration and multiculturalism on the journey of faith. The impact of changing socio-cultural conditions on religion in Canadian society will be highlighted. 

This course is open to students from all faculties and disciplines who are interested in learning the very basic language and techniques of understanding, analysing, and reporting data in the social sciences. This course is equally divided between qualitative and quantitative approaches to different types of social science data. Note: This course is not equivalent to SOCI 3103 Research Design or STAT 2263 Statistics for Non-Science Majors.

A critical overview of mass communications within Canadian society: media institutions and audiences; processes and the impact of the media; media control and policy; social problems and the media; and social issues in an information society.

Examines sociological perspectives on marriage and family life: changing forms and functions of the family in the context of the growth of capitalism and industrialism in Western society, women, liberation and the family, patterns and ideologies of family formation and dissolution, changes in family law, and future prospects and alternatives.

Focuses on the role of women within a historical and contemporary context, including women’s position in the family, and in educational, political, and economic institutions. The nature, perpetuation, consequences, and the ideology of sexism in capitalist and non-capitalist societies will also be examined.

An introduction to the basic physical, psychological, and demographic changes which occur in aging. Emphasis is given to understanding the everyday world of the young old, their participation in family life, personal life style and community activities after retirement, and with the restrictions created by limited financial resources.

Examines the process of dying and death through a consideration of the cultural and institutional expectations and interpretations which surround this final stage in the human experience. The focus is on the North American context although other social and historical contexts will provide insights and background to the course work.

Examines the social nature and consequences of health and illness and looks at medicine as an institution and a form of social control. Areas to be covered include the delivery of health care, the social construction of medical knowledge, social inequality and its impact on health and disease, the medical profession, the medical industrial complex, and sexism and patriarchy in the medical system.

An introduction to current social issues in Canada such as social inequality, regionalism, unemployment, media concentration, the role of multinationals, and the state of the Canadian economy. The impact of these in shaping our everyday actions and beliefs will be examined.

This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop an understanding of various sociological approaches to the study of social problems and to focus on a selection of substantive issues such as the role of social movements in the construction of social problems.

An analysis of twentieth century social movements and revolutions from a sociological perspective. Emphasis is on a critical understanding of why they arise, why some fail, and why others succeed.

Investigates ‘the information society’ debate by focusing on the major contributors who argue that the information society is new and revolutionary. Other scholars accept the important role of information technologies in contemporary society but maintain that these technologies help broaden and extend existing social, cultural, economic, and political relations. 

Examines the relationship between technology and social change, such as the sources and effects of technical change, the control of technology, and the origin and nature of controversies involving modern technologies.

Examines the elements and patterns of deviance, basic principles of both normative and deviant behaviour, and the institutionalization of each. Examples of specific areas and types of deviance are studied in some detail.

An examination of the history of juvenile delinquency, its incidence, its causes, and the methods of investigation. Also deals with agencies involved in the adjudication and treatment of the juvenile and youthful offender.

An examination of global world and Canadian population variation and change through consideration of health and its relationship with fertility, mortality, and migration patterns. Also explores the rise and development of modern population theories , models, and policies.

A critical review of the first and second generations of sociology in Europe and the United States, with special emphasis upon the ideas of thinkers such as Comte, Spencer, Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Mead, Cooley, Merton, and Parsons.

This course will examine the major theories related to violence in intimate relationships and explore the different intervention strategies and programs which have evolved from these theories. Credits cannot be obtained for both FVI 3006 and SOCI 3006.

An overview of major developments in late 20th century sociological theory: the critique of functionalism and the rise of conflict theory; feminism and the critique of male-stream sociology; the revitalization of interpretive sociology; the emergence of neo-functionalism; and the debate over post-modernism.

This course is designed to provide students with these skills to design a variety of research projects. The focus is on the components that make up a research project including access to data sets, recruitment of research participants, choosing methods of data analysis, and research ethics review. Note: This course is not equivalent SOCI 2022 Introduction to Data in the Social Sciences.

Examines the interactional and institutional processes involved in ethnic and intercultural relations. Focuses on group experience, status and identity, communication and language, and the historical and contemporary conditions of social change, tension, and conflict.

Studies cultures as idea and value systems. Examines how cultural meanings are interpreted and used by individuals and groups in the course of everyday living.

Examines the place of media (such as film, television, and newspapers) in contemporary social life. Analyzes how media have emerged and developed, the organizational forms they have taken, and how they reflect and influence shared social experience.

Examines the relations between society and the state by comparing traditional political sociology with the contemporary approach. Issues include the nation state as the center of political activity, how power is exercised through institutions, social groups, class, the production of identity or subjectivity, how globalization and social movements decenter state political activity, the impact of these changes on citizenship and democracy.

An examination of the relationship between religion and gender in various interpersonal and societal contexts. Emphasis is placed upon understanding how modern religion both contributes to and challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.

Examines the institution of health care with particular emphasis on the Canadian health care system. Topics to be covered include: theoretical approaches to the sociological study of health care; the history and development of Canada's Medicare system; the pharmaceutical industry; alternative/complementary health care; the socialization and legitimation of health care professionals; and the patient/practitioner relationship. 

This course explores the complex interaction among science and technology in contemporary society.

Examines social interaction and communication in society as it occurs in social encounters and gatherings. Explores the presentation and projection of self in everyday life.

Examines the process of social transformation in the third world. Includes discussion of ties between developed and under-developed countries, patterns of industrialization, urbanization, changing class structure including its relation to the state.

Examines the nature of social stratification from both a historical and a comparative perspective. Attention is given to current controversies in this area.

Examines the social construction of masculinity, femininity, and changes in gender relations over time and in different societal contexts.

A sociological examination of the way humans perceive and relate to their physical environment. Potential topics include: environmentalism as a social movement, the social dynamics of environmental controversies, and public policy toward the environment.

Explores the broad conditions that shape environmental health, with special emphasis on both sociological analysis and political ecology.  We will examine questions of science, public policy and social justice.  This course will bridge the gap in understanding between policy and social perspectives and examine emerging strategies, from community-based monitoring to international negotiations concerning health and environment.

An examination of the historical development of criminological theory and the causes of crime. Deals with criminal causation theories and with an evaluation of the theories and purposes of punishment.  

Emphasizes that organizations, not just individuals, act and therefore can commit deviant acts. An analysis of the organized abuses of institutionalized power, particularly on the part of corporations and governments. The problem of controlling corporate and governmental deviance will also be discussed, as organizations pose prevention and control problems differently from individual deviants.

Examines issues pertaining to violence against women in Western society, including gender socialization, gender dynamics in dating and family relationships, private versus public, the contributions of social institutions (e.g., sports; the media; schools; the workplace; the military; the medical, legal and criminal justice systems) and the special vulnerability of women in marginalized groups.

The course explores the nature of social and professional responses to conflict and conflict resolution. It critically assesses, contrasts, and compares theoretical literature and research studies on processes such as adjudication and arbitration, negotiation, restorative justice, circle sentencing, and mediation in the context of gender, culture and social-economic power. Students will have an opportunity to explore how conflict resolution processes, and the skills and techniques associated with them, affect how conflict is perceived and resolved.

This course examines the paradigms of both restorative and transformative justice. Reviews criminal justice systems in post-industrial societies with a focus on punishment as the principal response to crime. Contrasts restorative justice with the current paradigm of retributive justice. Discusses victims, offenders, and the community within the context of the failure of the retributive system in meeting its responsibilities towards them. Critically analyzes prisons, limitations of restorative justice models and programs, and aboriginal traditions in community justice.

Examines the religious, philosophical and ethical justifications from the perspectives of different religious traditions for non-violence as a tool for social change in the contemporary world. We will study the concepts and theories of non-violence that may include the selected writings of L.N. Tolstoy (Russia), M. Gandhi (India) and R. Menchu (Guatemala) within their cultural, social, historical and religious traditions course is offered in English.

An examination in both historical and contemporary settings of the demographic correlates of urbanization and industrialization. Attention will be given to how patterns of fertility, mortality, and migration both reflect and influence social change.

This course provides students with a general understanding of the role of food in contemporary societies by exploring the socio-cultural aspects of food production and consumption in a cross-cultural context. It also analyzes the economic and political landscape of farming in an international context by examining food politics over regulatory measures in food labelling and safety, genetically modified food, organic and sustainable agriculture, and the future of the world food system.

This course conducts a systematic analysis of important readings in social theory relevant to both the social sciences and the humanities. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to, such areas as the historical development of social theory (e.g. the Ancient Greeks, the Enlightenment), the theoretical foundations of research methodologies (e.g. positivism and constructionism), key debates in sociology (e.g. subject/object, agency/practice/structure), or in-depth focus on the approaches of major social theorists.

This course offers an in-depth learning experience with qualitative methodological approaches and qualitative research methods in the social sciences. It introduces students to qualitative methodology and its usage in the field, and highlights important ethical considerations and concerns. Students will explore how to develop qualitative research designs; how to define a research question and how to answer it by developing a research protocol. This course offers students the ability to learn how to choose analytical methods for their data and how to interpret the results obtained from it.

This course offers an in-depth learning experience with quantitative methodological approaches and quantitative research methods in the social sciences. This course covers the foundations of research design, data collection, and data analysis. In this class, students will learn how to develop quantitative research designs to answer a research question. They will learn about sampling, primary data collection with standardized instruments, and data analysis with descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Students will be able to learn from this course how to prepare a standardized questionnaire and interviews, as well as to choose between statistical analytical methods for their primary and secondary data. Finally, students will learn and practice how to interpret and write about their results.

Discussion and evaluation of issues in contemporary sociological methods with exercises to develop skills in selected research procedures. Directed to the needs of individual students.

SPSS and Stata are statistical software packages largely used in the social sciences. If applied to analyze large scale secondary data, they provide students and researchers with a powerful tool to answer critical questions on phenomena, trends, and relationships in a variety of disciplinary areas. Most textbooks and courses at the undergraduate and graduate level tend to combine the teaching of substantive topics in methodology and methods with practical applications of this software package. This course tries to contribute twofold. Practically, it aims at offering students and faculty an opportunity to learn about one software package (either SPSS or Stata), its tools, and its challenges independently from content coverage on methods and statistics. While maintaining a substantial coverage of analytical and statistical topics, the course will focus on how to design and implement data analysis with SPSS or Stata syntax commands rather than on teaching statistics.

Examines the social and cultural implications of communication via computer network, with particular emphasis upon the similarities to and differences from other forms of electronic communication (e.g., television, telephone, radio). 

An examination of the socio-cultural forces which shape societal and individual attitudes toward self-body relations.

Explores the nature and delivery of health care in a variety of international settings. Emphasis will be placed on comparative analysis of health care systems in relation to prevailing patterns of health and disease as well as the broader socio-cultural contexts in which they are delivered.

The sociological study of varied world religions at both societal and interpersonal levels. Topics may include new religious movements, conversion, gender issues, and the relations between Eastern and Western belief systems.

Studies critical social and educational processes and structures, and the rapport of educational institutions with other social institutions, using comparative concepts and theories of sociology.

A critical examination for advanced students of theoretical, legal and policy issues related to selected aspects of changing patterns of families and familial relationships in Canadian and other Western societies.

This course explores the successes, challenges, and failures of legal responses to domestic violence. Why has the legal system had difficulty responding effectively to domestic violence? Does it have something to do with the nature of law; the nature of gender; the nature of social science and social change? What happens when law is confronted by changing social conceptions of gender, of children, of the roles of men and women? Does culture matter? Do new multi-disciplinary, collaborative judicial initiatives offer promise or peril? Students will review legal cases and socio-legal research in order to search for answers to such questions. 

A sociological analysis of law in modern society, including discussion of: legal theory, sociological and feminist criticisms of law, law as a means of social control and change, socio-legal research into the processes used by the legal system and its alternatives (such as mediation, restorative justice models, victim-offender reconciliation programs) to resolve disputes, and the abilities of the legal system and its alternatives to offer justice to the disadvantaged.

A sociological examination of current perspectives, responses, and debates about the meaning of equality and the just society. Possible topics include the shift from individual rights to collective rights; competition and cooperation at a macro and a micro level.

Course study to be of an advanced topic in sociology chosen jointly by student and instructor with the permission of the Department Chair.

A reading and research course open only to Honours students in their fourth year and meant to produce an Honours Thesis. Permission to take this course must be sought from the Undergraduate Advisor in agreement with the supervisory professor in the desired area of study. The project will produce a 40-60 pp manuscript and must be approved by the Department. This course may be used as an alternative to two 3 ch honour courses or seminars at the 3000 or 4000 level and it requires a CGPA of at least 3.6 in Sociology courses for admission.