Sociology

• M.A. Sociology
• M.A. Sociology with Concentration in Quantitative Methodology
• M.A. Sociology with Specialization in African Studies 
• M.A. Sociology with Specialization in Digital Humanities
• Ph.D. Sociology
• Ph.D. Sociology with Specialization in Political Economy 

M.A. Sociology

About the Program

The principal focus of the graduate programs in sociology is the organization and development of contemporary societies in comparative context and with particular reference to Canadian society. The programs specialize in four fields: theory and methodology, stratification and power, cultural studies, and applied social research. See the department website for detailed descriptions of the fields and the variety of sub-fields sub-subsumed under these four areas. In addition, the Master of Arts in Sociology offers a concentration in quantitative methodology. The department strives to achieve a blend of research and formal graduate instruction in its graduate programs.

Academic Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Academic Standing

A grade of B- or better must normally be obtained in each credit counted toward the master's degree. With the recommendation of the department, and permission of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, a candidate may be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit.

Admission Requirements

The requirement for admission into the master's program is a B.A.(Honours) (or the equivalent) with at least high honours standing in sociology or a closely-related field. Where relevant, previous professional experience will be taken into account in determining an applicant's standing on admission.

Applicants with general (three-year) bachelor's degrees may be admitted into a qualifying-year program designed to raise their standing to honours status. Students earning at least high honours standing in their qualifying-year courses will be considered for admission into the master's program. Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar for details of the regulations governing the qualifying year.

Program Requirements

Master's students in sociology are required to select and follow one of the optional program patterns below, chosen in consultation with a graduate adviser:

M.A. Sociology with Concentration in Quantitative Methodology

Students in either the research essay or thesis program options may pursue a concentration in quantitative methodology. For a concentration in quantitative methodology, courses selected must include the following:

Students in the Concentration in Quantitative Methodology may apply for admission into a Cooperative Education option. This option provides an opportunity for students to enhance their educational experience through a work placement directly related to their area of interest and expertise. Once admitted into this option, students shall enrol in SOCI 5907. The conditions of the placement are arranged with the student's supervisor and the graduate coordinator. Grades for the cooperative education placement are assigned in consultation between the placement supervisor and the graduate coordinator. Placements can be held for up to two academic terms and count for 1.0 credit.

M.A. Sociology with Specialization in African Studies

M.A. Sociology with Specialization in Digital Humanities

Transfer from Thesis to Course Work M.A.

Students who choose to change from the thesis to the course work program must normally do so before registering for a third term after initial, full-time registration, or before registering for a fifth term after initial part-time registration.

Co-operative Education Program in Sociology

The Co-operative Education program in Sociology provides Master of Arts (M.A.) students enrolled in the Concentration in Quantitative Methodology stream the opportunity to combine work placements with academic study.

Co-operative Education Admission Requirements

Students interested in admission into the Co-operative Education program in Sociology must apply by the end of the first semester of academic study.

To be eligible for admission to the Co-operative Education program in Sociology, students must:

a) be registered in the Sociology M.A. Concentration in Quantitative Methodology stream;

b) have successfully completed, by the start-date of the first work term, the required first-year core research methods courses (SOCI 5809 and at least 1.0 credit selected from: SOCI 5101, SOCI 5102, SOCI 5103, SOCI 5104, SOCI 5105 SOCI 5201, SOCI 5605;

c) be registered full-time in each academic term prior to work term; 

d) be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work placements).

Students admitted to the Co-operative Education program must successfully complete two work placement term, each work term lasting four months, to receive a Co-operative Education designation on their academic transcript. Students register in the 0.0 credit Co-operative Education course SOCI 5913 and are permitted to enrol in one additional 0.5 credit course during each work term.

More information on Co-operative Education regulations can be found in Section 14.0 of the general regulations section of this Calendar. (http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations ).

Ph.D. Sociology

About the Program

The principal focus of the graduate programs in sociology is the organization and development of contemporary societies in comparative context and with particular reference to Canadian society. The programs specialize in four fields: theory and methodology, stratification and power, cultural studies, and applied social research. See the department website for detailed descriptions of the fields and the variety of sub-fields sub-subsumed under these four areas.

The substantive focus of the Ph.D. program is the organization and development of contemporary societies, both in a comparative context and with particular reference to Canadian society.

The Ph.D. program in sociology normally will be undertaken on a full-time basis; however in exceptional cases the department will consider admission on a part-time basis.

Academic Regulations

See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Candidates must obtain a grade of B- or better in each credit, and Satisfactory on the comprehensive examinations, the Ph.D. thesis and its oral defence.

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission into the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or the equivalent) in sociology, normally with a minimum average of B+ in courses (including the thesis where applicable), and with no grade below B

Applicants who have deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the Ph.D. program, but will normally be required to complete additional course work.

Program Requirements

Comprehensive Examinations

Each Ph.D. candidate is required to write comprehensive examinations in two of the following areas:

• Theory and Methodology

• Stratification and Power

• Cultural Studies

• Applied Social Research

Subjects of instruction and research subsumed under these four areas are:

Theory and Methodology

• Logic of Social Scientific Inquiry

• Classical Social Theories

• Contemporary Social Theories

• Feminist Theories

• Research Methods (Historical, Qualitative, and Quantitative)

Stratification and Power

• Occupations, Organizations, and the Labour Process

• Class Analysis and Social Stratification

• Political Sociology

• Race and Ethnic Relations

• Gender Relations

• Political Economy

• Canadian Society

• Social and Economic Development

• Citizenship Studies

• Governance, Regulation, and Law

Cultural Studies

• Communication and Popular Cultures

• Ethnographic Analysis

• Discourse Analysis

• Social Anthropology

• Social and Virtual Spaces

Applied Social Research

• Criminal Justice

• Health and Illness Policy

• Population Studies

• Sociology of Language

• Built Environments

• Education Policy

Upon petition to the sociology graduate program's coordinator, an approved field in sociology or a related discipline may be substituted for one of the options above. The subjects of instruction and research subsumed under each of the areas are indicative, and may be subsumed under more than one area, depending on the analytic approach adopted.

The comprehensive examinations are to be completed after course requirements for the Ph.D. have been completed. Comprehensive examinations must be completed no later than two years or six terms after initial full-time registration, and four years or twelve terms after initial part-time registration.

The thesis proposal is to be presented after comprehensive requirements have been completed. Normally the thesis proposal must be presented no later than two and one-half years or seven terms after initial full-time registration and five years or fifteen terms after initial part-time registration.

Language Requirement

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology requires each Ph.D. candidate to demonstrate an understanding of a language other than English. Although French is the preferred second language, students may be permitted to substitute another language if it is demonstrably relevant to their professional interests. It is strongly advised, however, that all English-speaking candidates be proficient in French. The language requirements may be satisfied by a demonstration of reasonable understanding, on sight, of material contained in selected samples of sociological literature in that language. Students may find it necessary or advisable to take a course in the required language before undertaking the departmental language examination.

Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca