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Program Requirements
Note: University regulations apply to all students at Laurier. If there is any discrepancy between the program or progression requirements outlined on this page and those in the university's academic calendars, the academic calendars are the official sources of information. The information below is from the latest calendar, and you may be following progression requirements from an earlier calendar. Students are responsible for checking the appropriate calendar. Contact your program coordinator should you notice any discrepancies.
Switching into Sociology
To enter the honours Sociology program you must first complete SY101 and have at least a C average (or 4.0 GPA) in your Sociology courses. You must also have a minimum 4.0 GPA across all your courses. You can declare the major through LORIS using the "Program Selection Form" from Enrolment Services.
If you do not have the GPA to declare the major, you can still take Sociology courses that are not restricted to majors and continue to take your other electives toward the completion of your degree. You can declare the major later, when you have earned the GPA required for the honours program.
Undergraduate Program Requirements
The Honours BA in Sociology program consists of 20.0 credits, of which at least 14.0 must be at the senior level. A minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 14.0 credits in Sociology must be completed including:
- SY101
- SY103
- SY207
- SY208
- SY210
- SY280
- SY281
- SY382
- SY389
- 2.5 additional SY credits at the 200 or 300 level
- 1.5 additional SY credits at the 300 level
- 1.5 SY credits at the 400 level
Degree Program Electives
An additional 10.0 credits toward the degree total of 20.0 credits, which includes not more than 14.0 senior SY credits and 6.0 100-level credits.
Notes
- The formerly cross-listed RE380 will continue to count as a credit in the Sociology program.
Resources
The combined Honours BA in Sociology program consists of 20.0 credits, of which at least 14.0 credits must be at the senior level. A minimum of 7.0 credits (6.0 senior) in Sociology must be completed, including 6.0 senior SY credits and the following:
- SY101
- SY103
- SY207
- SY210
- SY280
- SY281
- SY382
- SY389
- 0.5 additional SY credit at the 200 or 300 level
- 1.0 additional SY credit at the 300 level
- 1.0 SY credit at the 400 level
Degree Program Electives
An additional 13.0 credits toward the degree total of 20.0 credits, which includes not more than 4.5 100-level credits and the second BA major.
Notes
- Students who are required to complete research methods and statistics courses in the second honours program should consult with both departments to avoid duplication.
- The formerly cross-listed RE380 will continue to count as a credit in the Sociology program.
Resources
- SY101
- SY207
- 2.0 additional SY credits, at least 1.5 mandatory at the senior level.
Resources
Required Courses
- One half (0.5) credit from the following: SY489 or SY490
- One (1.0) credit from the following: SY489, SY490, SY312, SY314, SY317, SY309 and SY452 (special topics; refer to note below).
Notes: Not all sections of SY 309 or SY 452 (special topics) can be used to fulfill this requirement; consult the department
Students wishing to have the Applied Social Research Specialization added to their honours major must complete and submit the appropriate program selection form from Enrolment Services. After eligibility has been confirmed, the option will be added to your program.
Note: Only non-Sociology students can enrol in this option.
Required Courses
Choose one 0.5 credit course from each of the following four groups for a total of 2.0 credits.
Group 1:
- SY280: Quantitative Methods
- CS235: Communication Research Methods
- EC381: Economic Research Methodology
- GG258: Geographical Research Methods
- HE201: Research Methods for the Health Sciences
- KP261: Research Methods I
- PO217: Asking Questions in Political Science: An Introduction to Research
- PS295: Introduction to Research Methods
Group 2:
- SY281: Qualitative Methods
- GS202: Methods in Global Studies
- PS398: Qualitative Methods in Psychology
Group 3:
- SY382: Social Statistics
- EC205/BU205: Introduction to Applied Statistics
- EC255/BU255: Managerial Statistics
- EC285: Introductory Statistics
- GESC254: Geographic Information and Analysis
- KP262: Research Methods II
- PS296: Introduction to Statistics
- PO218: Answering Questions in Political Science: Research in Practice
Group 4:
- SY489: Advanced Qualitative Analysis
- SY490: Advanced Quantitative Analysis
Electives
Choose 2.0 credits from the following:
Sociology:
- SY312: Conversation Analysis
- SY314: Time Diaries and Content Analysis
- SY317: Social Policy Analysis
- SY489: Advanced Qualitative Methods
- SY490: Advanced Quantitative Methods
- SY452: Special Topics in Critical Research Methods
Anthropology:
- AN300: Ethnographic Methods
- AN400: Doing Fieldwork
- AN456: Applied Anthropology
Business:
- BU422: Marketing Research
- BU495q: Business Analytics
Communication Studies:
- CS405: Research Seminar
Economics:
- EC245: Applied Econometrics
- EC295: Introductory Econometrics
- EC303: Economic Evaluation in the Public Sector
- EC355: Intermediate Econometrics
- EC455: Advanced Econometrics I: Time Series Analysis
- EC451: Applied Economic Research
- EC481: Research Paper and Seminar
Geography and Environmental Studies:
- ES392: Environment Impact Assessment
- GESC350: Canadian Issues
- ES/GG290: Global Resource and Environment Issues
Global Studies:
- GS310: Field courses in Global Studies
Health Sciences:
- HE3OO: Epidemiology
- HE400: Multidisciplinary Seminar on Critical Health Issues
- HE411: Critical Perspectives in Public Health
Political Science:
- PO245: The Art and Science of Policy Design
- PO345: Canadian Public Policy
- PO360: Citizen Politics
- PO466: Interpreting and Understanding Elections
- PO467: Public Opinion
Psychology:
- PS370: Research in Social Psychology
- PS394: Linear Models
- PS382: Research in Community Psychology
Religion and Culture:
- RE308: Conducting Fieldwork
Notes
- Students wishing to have the Applied Social Research Option added to their honours major must complete and submit the appropriate program selection form from Enrolment Services. After eligibility has been confirmed, the option will be added to your program.
- Not all sections of SY 309 or SY 452 (special topics) can be used to fulfill this requirement; consult the department
- PS394 is an exclusion for SY490.
Graduate Program Requirements
Please note: The MA Sociology Program is on a indefinite hiatus and is not taking applications at this time.
The master's program in sociology seeks to educate engaged and aware citizens of an increasingly complex world. The program seeks to enhance students’ knowledge of the social changes attendant upon contemporary processes of globalization. We seek to educate students in social citizenship, to equip them with the knowledge and skills required for active, informed and useful participation in 21st-century social life. We train them to be appreciative of the multiple connections of their lives with the lives of others, from their lone activities to their family life, from their consumption patterns to their work habits, from their community involvements to their roles as national and global citizens. The MA program shares the WLU Sociology Department’s identifying focus upon equity and social justice.
The nine month, course work only, program of study is a fast track to a recognized certification of research skills valued across all sectors of employment – to wit, self discipline, enhanced analytical cognition, writing ability and the capacity to conduct empirical research independently.
Those students following the one-year Major Research Paper option of program will be equipped with the research skills required to proceed with doctoral work in the discipline.
All students will be initially admitted to the course-based option. If you complete the degree requirements through the course-based option, you must complete four electives in the winter and spring terms.
Major Research Paper Option
In cases in which a) you have demonstrated the academic capacity for original independent research and b) your interests are aligned with the expertise of a faculty member available to support them, you may transition to the Major Research Paper (MRP) option. The MRP option will require the completion of two elective courses (winter term) and the MRP (spring term).
Required Courses
- SY600: Theory and Practice
- SY601: Advanced Qualitative Research
- SY602: Advanced Quantitative Research
- SY603: Research and Professionalization Seminar
- Plus four elective courses (course-work option) or two elective courses (MRP option)