Sociology explores patterns of social life and examines the development, structuring, and organization of societies in all their historical and current diversity. Sociologists seek to understand how people live, think, feel, and believe in the ongoing processes that maintain and shift society and culture. Through understanding the social forces, structures and relationships that shape our world, Sociology allows us to see why and how things are as they are, and how everything could be otherwise. Sociology is therefore central to understanding institutions, organizations, social policy, inequality, privilege, social problems and social change.

The following undergraduate programs are available in the Department:

1. Major in Criminology

2. Major in Sociology

3. Minor in Criminology

4. Minor in Sociology

5. Joint Major in Sociology

6. Honours in Criminology

7. Honours in Sociology

Sociology course descriptions are found at the end of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences section under Course Descriptions, Sociology and are designated by SOCI.

The Bachelor of Arts requires the successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. A student must meet the requirements for a departmental Major, Minor, or Honours program and also meet the Program Regulations – General and Honours Degrees for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. A student is therefore advised to consult with the Admission to the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Programs regulations, the Program Regulations - General and Honours Degrees which also includes the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Components, The Major Program, and The Minor Program regulations. Information regarding honours programs is available at Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree Regulations as well as under each department’s regulations.

A student is strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to discuss available programs and requirements in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences including the Core Requirements, The Major Program, The Minor Program, and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree Regulations. A student is advised to declare a program of study, including a Major and a Minor, before completing the first 45 credit hours of study. Information about declaring a Major and Minor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/programs/undergraduate/ideclare.php. Information regarding advisors for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/about/contact/liaisons.php.

Students may wish to follow the pattern for the Major in Sociology listed under Suggested Course Pattern for a Major in Sociology (SOCI) below.

Students who undertake Sociology as their Major must complete at least 36 credit hours in Sociology as follows:

1. Core courses: Sociology 1000 (or the former 2000), Sociology 2040, Sociology 3040, Sociology 3041, Sociology 3150, Sociology 3160;

2. At least 6 credit hours in Sociology at the 4000 level;

3. 6 credit hours in Sociology at the 2000, 3000, or 4000 level; and

4. The remaining 6 credit hours may be selected from any Sociology course at the 3000 and 4000 levels.

Students who undertake Sociology as their Minor must complete at least 24 credit hours in Sociology as follows:

Sociology 1000 or the former 2000, Sociology 2040, Sociology 3040, 3041, 3150, at least 3 credit hours from Sociology courses at the 4000 level, and 6 credit hours in other Sociology courses.

As an alternative to a minor, a student may choose to complete a major in Sociology and a major in another eligible program in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Joint Major Program requires 3 fewer credit hours in each participating major as prescribed in each program’s Calendar entry. For the joint major in Sociology, 3 fewer credit hours shall be required at the 3000- or 4000-level to fulfill clause 4. under the Major in Sociology above.

Honours students are required to complete at least 60 credit hours in courses in Sociology, of which there must be a minimum of 36 credit hours at the 3000-level or above, including all courses prescribed for the Major in Sociology, and Sociology 4995, and must meet the requirements outlined in the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

It is possible to complete a Joint Honours program that includes Sociology as one of the Major subjects. Such a program may be arranged in consultation with the Head of the Department of Sociology and the Head of the other Department concerned.

Admission to the Honours program in the Department of Sociology is competitive and selective. Students who wish to enter this program must submit an "Application for Admission to Honours Program" form to the Department.

To be accepted into the Honours program, a student must not only meet the criteria laid out in the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts, but must normally have obtained a cumulative average of at least 75% in 18 credit hours in courses in Sociology which must include Sociology 3040, 3041, 3150, and 3160.

In addition to completing the normal requirements for a Bachelor of Arts and one of an Honours, Major or Minor in Sociology, students may elect to complete requirements for the International Bachelor of Arts (iBA). As part of the minimum 120 credit hours, a student may use eligible credit hours in Sociology to jointly satisfy other requirements of the iBA degree. When selecting courses, a student is encouraged to consult with an academic advisor early in the program, to consider Possible Course Sequencing for the International Bachelor of Arts (iBA) (First 60 Credit Hours), and to consider Sociology courses listed in International Studies (IS) Designated Courses. Up to 12 credit hours in Sociology IS courses may be used towards the International Studies (IS) Courses Requirement.

The Major in Criminology is administered by the Department of Sociology.

The Major in Criminology aims to promote the academic study of different facets of criminal justice organizations and practices, including the legal, political and social contexts in which they operate. This program would be beneficial for students with a scholarly interest in deviant/criminal behaviour, social justice and legal issues, policing, corrections, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and criminal justice themes more broadly, including those who have completed the Diploma in Police Studies; experienced police officers; and others working in a policing, correctional, or criminal justice environment. The Major in Criminology does not constitute a qualification in policing or corrections.

Criminology course descriptions are found at the end of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences section under Course Descriptions, Sociology, Criminology and are designated by CRIM.

The Bachelor of Arts requires the successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. A student is strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to discuss available programs and requirements including the Core Requirements, The Major Program, The Minor Program, and the Bachelor of Arts Degree Regulations. A student is advised to declare a Major and a Minor (or two Majors) before completing the first 45 credit hours of study. Information about declaring a program of study In the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/programs/undergraduate/ideclare.php. Information regarding advisors for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/about/contact/liaisons.php.

Students must carefully plan their course selection and consult with an academic advisor. Questions about the delivery of a course should be directed to the appropriate academic unit.

Students wishing to declare a Major in Criminology shall consult with the designated academic advisor to discuss the requirements of the program. Information about declaring a program of study in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/programs/undergraduate/ideclare.php. Information regarding advisors for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/about/contact/liaisons.php.

1. A Major in Criminology consists of all of the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts program, including a minimum of 42 credit hours in courses as follows, which must include a minimum of 27 credit hours in Criminology courses:

   1. 21 credit hours in:

      1. Criminology 1001 or Sociology 1001 (or the former Sociology 2300 or Police Studies 2300);

      2. Criminology 2400 (or the former Police Studies 1000 or the former Police Studies 2000);

      3. Criminology 2200 (or the former Police Studies 2200);

      4. Criminology 3000 (or the former Police Studies 3000);

      5. Criminology 3100 (or the former Police Studies 3100) or Law and Public Policy 3315 (or the former Law and Society 3015);

      6. Criminology 3500 (or the former Police Studies 3500);

      7. Criminology 3395 (or the former Police Studies 3395) or Sociology 3395

   2. 6 credit hours in two of Criminology 4000 (or the former Police Studies 4000), Criminology 4001 (or the former Police Studies 4001), Criminology 4080 or Sociology 4080, Criminology 4099 (or the former Police Studies 4099) or Sociology 4099, Criminology 4212 (or the former Police Studies 4212) or Sociology 4212;

   3. 3 credit hours in one of Law and Society 1000, the former Law and Society 2000, Sociology 2100, or an additional 3 credit hours in Criminology at any level (excluding credit hours used to fulfill other requirements listed here);

   4. 3 credit hours in one of Political Science 3010, Statistics 2500, Sociology 3040, or Sociology 3041;

   5. 3 credit hours in one of Criminology 3290 or Sociology 3290; Criminology 3306 (or the former Police Studies 3306) or Sociology 3306; or the former Law and Society 3400;

   6. 3 credit hours in one of Archaeology 2492 or Psychology 2150; and

   7. 3 credit hours in one of Anthropology 2414, History 2800, the former Law and Society 3012, Law and Public Policy 3830 (or the former Law and Society 3830), Sociology 3180, or Sociology 4205.

2. A student is expected to enroll in the Criminology section of any applicable crosslisted courses.

3. As per the Degree Regulations, Major Program of Study, students completing a Major in Criminology are ineligible for an interdisciplinary Minor in any program. Credit hours in a course cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of two Major programs, of both a Major and a Minor program, or the program requirements of all three of a Major, diploma and certificate.

4. Students cannot complete both a major and minor in criminology, a major and certificate in criminology, and/or a minor and certificate in criminology.

Students may wish to follow the pattern for the Major in Criminology listed under Suggested Course Pattern for a Major in Criminology (CRIM) below.

For a Minor in Criminology, students must complete at least 27 credit hours in Criminology and other designated courses from relevant disciplines as follows:

1. Sociology 1000 (or the former Sociology 2000); Criminology 1001 or Sociology 1001 (or the former Sociology 2300 or the former Police Studies 2300); Law and Society 1000; Criminology 3290 or Sociology 3290; and Criminology 3395 or Sociology 3395 (or the former Police Studies 3395).

2. Any one of Sociology 3040; Sociology 3041, Political Science 3010, or Statistics 2500.

3. At least 3 credit hours at the 2000-level chosen from the following courses: Criminology 2200, Criminology 2400, Criminology 2208 or Sociology 2208, Psychology 2150, Psychology 2800, Archaeology 2492, Sociology 2100; or other courses approved by the Criminology Undergraduate Program Director as listed in Elective Courses for the Minor in Criminology.

4. At least 3 credit hours at the 3000-level chosen from the following courses: Criminology 3000 or the former Police Studies 3000, Criminology 3100 or the former Police Studies 3100, Criminology 3500 or the former Police Studies 3500, Psychology 3640, or Political Science 3620 or Law and Public Policy 3620 (or the former Political Science 3521), or other courses approved by the Criminology Undergraduate Program Director as listed in Elective Courses for the Minor in Criminology.

5. At least 3 credit hours at the 4000 level chosen from the following courses: Criminology 4000, Criminology 4001, Criminology 4099 or Sociology 4099, Criminology 4212 or Sociology 4212, Sociology 4210, or other courses approved by the Criminology Undergraduate Program Director as listed in Elective Courses for the Minor in Criminology.

Credit hours in a course cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of both a Major and a Minor program, or the program requirements of all three of a Major or Minor, diploma, and Certificate.

Honours students are required to complete at least 60 credit hours in Criminology and/or Sociology courses, of which there must be a minimum of 36 credit hours at the 3000-level or above, including all courses prescribed for the Major in Criminology, and Criminology 4995. To obtain an Honours in Criminology, students must also meet the general requirements of their degree as outlined in the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Admission to the Honours program in Criminology is competitive and selective. Students who wish to enter this program must submit an "Application for Admission to Honours Program" form to the Department of Sociology. To be accepted into the Honours program, a student must not only meet the criteria laid out in the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts, but must normally have obtained a cumulative average of at least 75% in 18 credit hours in courses in Criminology and Sociology which must include Criminology 3290 (or Sociology 3290), and Sociology 3040 and 3041.

A student cannot be awarded both a Major in Police Studies and a Major in Criminology.

1. Subject to the prior approval of the Program Director, certain programs and courses offered by recognized police or other criminal justice training programs may be eligible for credit hours that are applicable towards the Bachelor of Arts, Criminology. Graduates of the Atlantic Police Academy (APA) Police Sciences Technology Program, Holland College, Prince Edward Island; the RCMP Depot Division Cadet Training Program; or the pre-APA program offered through the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) for cadet training may be awarded up to 30 PLAR credit hours at an unspecified level in the Criminology (CRIM) subject area. Qualifications from other recognized police or other criminal justice training programs will be assessed on an individual basis by the Program Director of the respective program based on the topics covered and the number of hours involved, and will be subject to the approval of the Faculty's Undergraduate Waivers and Appeals Committee. Normally, the Committee will prioritize programs and courses that feature evaluation of student knowledge; workshops and professional development modules that do not involve evaluation are not eligible. Applicants with five or more years of professional criminal justice experience may request credit for CRIM 2200 or CRIM 2400 as part of their maximum 30 credit hours. An Application for Transfer Credit Evaluation, including official documentation confirming program completion or professional experience, must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar to have training assessed and recognized for transfer credit. The Application may be obtained online at www.mun.ca/regoff/forms.php or in-person at the Office of the Registrar.

2. Unspecified Criminology credit hours may only be used towards the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Criminology program to meet up to 12 of the required minimum of 27 credit hours in Criminology courses. Any remaining unspecified credit hours in the Criminology subject area may be used in part to satisfy the Humanities and Social Sciences Elective requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, Criminology Major program. In the case of programs where there are established course transfer credits, the student will be awarded transfer credit for the appropriate courses. Any remaining credit hours will be awarded as unspecified credit hours in the Criminology subject area.

In accordance with University Regulations (Undergraduate), Year of Degree and Departmental Regulations - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science, students for the Interdisciplinary Major in Criminology. will normally follow regulations in effect in the academic year in which the student first successfully completes a course in that subject at the 2000-level or above which may be applied to the major or minor program respectively. However, the student may elect to follow subsequent regulations introduced during the student's tenure in a program. These “grandparented” students are encouraged to consult the program's designated academic advisor for assistance with course selection.

Students eligible for the former Interdisciplinary Major in Criminology. may choose between that program or the Major in Criminology. Courses approved for the Major in Criminology that do not appear in the Interdisciplinary Major and which are successfully completed after August 2018 may, for the purpose of that former program, be treated as the former Table 1 courses.

The previous non-credit courses from the former Life Long Learning Certificate in Criminology are not eligible towards the Major in Criminology.

The Department of Sociology administers the Diploma in Police Studies for students who were approved for and began this program prior to 2022 and are continuing in or returning to complete this program. Credit hours in Sociology and Criminology may be eligible to jointly fulfill requirements of a degree and a diploma.

The Department of Sociology administers the Certificate in Criminology. Credit hours in Sociology and Criminology may be eligible to jointly fulfill requirements of a degree and a certificate. For further information about this program, see Certificate Programs Offered in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, or contact the Program Director.