Sociology
| PROGRAM INFORMATION | ||
|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Humanities and Social Sciences | Campus: St. John's | |
| Department: Sociology | Honours available: Yes | |
| Length: Four years | ||
| Prospective students: Fill out our student inquiry form to receive updates from Memorial. | ||
| Department website | University Calendar | |
Sociology explores patterns of human 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.
Jump to
• Admission requirements
• Your first year
• Sample courses and degree map
• Career opportunities
Sociology at Memorial
The Department of Sociology is the largest in Atlantic Canada, and our faculty regularly engage with communities and social issues right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our department has research strengths in the sociology of work, occupational health, immigration, culture, theory, gender, sexuality, technology and society, political sociology, social and economic development, the environment, deviance and criminology.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to apply by:
| Intake | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall (September) semester | March 1 |
| Winter (January) semester | Oct. 1 |
| Spring (May) semester | Feb. 1 |
You may apply for admission into the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences by indicating bachelor of arts as your program choice on the undergraduate application for admission. Direct entry into the faculty is subject to your meeting the general admission requirements for Memorial University.
You may choose sociology as your major at the time of application or you can explore your options and declare a major in a later semester by emailing registrar@mun.ca to make your choice official.
Considering a major in sociology? Have a look at a sample schedule for a first-year student studying five courses per semester.
| FALL SEMESTER | WINTER SEMESTER |
|---|---|
| English 1090 (critical reading and writing (CRW) course) |
CRW course |
| first required language study (LS) course1 | second required LS course1 |
| Sociology 1000 | Sociology 2000-level course Sociology 2040 (starting in winter 2024) |
| minor program course | minor program course |
| elective (breadth of knowledge course encouraged) |
elective (breadth of knowledge course encouraged) |
- Both LS courses must be in the same language. If your first language is not English and you do not meet the standards for entry into regular first-year English courses you may use English 1020 and 1021 to fulfill this requirement. Such students are permitted to complete up to an additional six credit hours in English CRW courses at the 1000 level in order to fulfill the CRW requirement.
Further assistance
For assistance with course selection, contact the Academic Advising Centre.
For additional program information, visit the Department of Sociology or contact the undergraduate program director.
Sociology degree map
Degree maps are navigational tools, designed to help you make the right choices throughout your bachelor of arts degree. They cover information pertaining to your studies, provide study tips, career guidance, suggestions for involvement, advice on go abroad activities and on your well being.
A bachelor of arts degree, with a major in sociology, prepares students for a variety of careers including:
- admissions counsellor
- child welfare officer
- corrections officer
- clinic worker
Note: some of these careers may call for supplementary education or preparation in the form of graduate studies, experiential learning or professional courses and exams.