Sociology

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Campus: St. John's Faculty: Humanities and Social Sciences
Department: Sociology Honours available: Yes
Degree(s): Bachelor of arts; International bachelor of arts; Joint arts and science degree
Length: Four years
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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.

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.

Admission requirements

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.

Sample first year

Wondering what courses you would take in your first year? Check out a sample program of suggested courses for sociology students.

Sample courses and degree map

SOCI 2100 - Social Inequalities
SOCI 3317 - Oil and Society
SOCI 3395 - Criminal Justice

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.

Career opportunities

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.