This section presents the requirements for programs in:

• M.A. Sociology
• M.A. Sociology with Concentration in Quantitative Methodology
• M.A. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in Accessibility
• M.A. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies
• M.A. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in Climate Change
• M.A. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in Data Science
• M.A. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in Digital Humanities
• M.A. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Ph.D. Sociology
• Ph.D. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in African Studies
• Ph.D. Sociology with Collaborative Specialization in Political Economy
• Graduate Diploma in Social Statistics and Data Analysis

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.

Regularly Scheduled Break

For immigration purposes, the summer term (May to August) for the M.A. Sociology, including all concentrations and specializations, is considered a regularly scheduled break approved by the University. Students should resume full-time studies in September.

Note:  a Regularly Scheduled Break as described for immigration purposes does not supersede the requirement for continuous registration in Thesis, Research Essay, or Independent Research Project as described in Section 8.2 of the Graduate General Regulations.

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.

Co-operative Education

For information about how to apply for the Co-op program and how the Co-op program works, visit the Co-op website.

All graduate students participating in the Co-op program are governed by this Graduate Co-operative Education Policy.

Application Requirements

Graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Co-op Program during their first term of studies. Alternatively, students may delay their participation until later on, provided that they have mandatory credits remaining for degree completion.

Participation Requirements

Graduate students:

• must be registered as full-time before they begin their co-op job search and their co-op work term.
• will be registered in a Co-op Work Term course while at work. This course does not carry academic course credit, but is noted on academic transcripts.
• may register in a 0.5 credit during a work term, provided the course is offered during the evening or is offered asynchronously online.
• are not permitted to hold a Teaching Assistantship while on a co-op work term. Where eligible, Teaching Assistantships will be deferred to a later term.
• in receipt of internal or external scholarships should contact the Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Affairs to discuss the possible funding implications of being on a co-op work term
• must have mandatory courses left to complete following their final co-op work term. In cases where the graduate student has just a 0.5 credit left, he or she may request permission of the Co-op Office to complete this course during the work term.

Co-op Participation Agreement

All graduate students must adhere to the policies found within the Co-op Participation Agreement.

Communication with the Co-op Office

Graduate students must maintain regular contact with the Co-op Office during their job search and while on a work term. All email communication will be conducted via the student’s Carleton email account.

Graduation with the Co-op Designation

In order to graduate with the Co-op Designation, graduate students must satisfy all requirements of the degree program in addition to the successful completion of two work terms.  Students found in violation of the Co-op Participation Agreement may have the Co-op Designation withheld. 

Employment

Although every effort is made to ensure a sufficient number of job postings for all Co-op students, no guarantee of employment can be made. The Co-op job search process is competitive, and success is dependent upon factors such as current market conditions, academic performance, skills, motivation, and level of commitment to the job search. It is the student’s responsibility to apply for positions via the Co-op job board in addition to actively conducting a self-directed job search. Students who do not obtain a co-op work term are expected to continue with their academic studies. It should be noted that hiring priority for positions within the Federal Government of Canada is given to Canadian citizens.

Work Term Assessment and Evaluation

Work Term Evaluation

Employers are responsible for submitting to Carleton University final performance evaluations for their Co-op students at the end of their work terms.

Work Term Assessment

In order to successfully complete the co-op work term, graduate students must receive a Satisfactory (SAT) grade on their Co-op Work Term Report, which they must submit at the completion of each four-month work term.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Students who are currently on a co-op work term or who have already committed to a co-op work term either verbally or in writing may not leave the position and/or withdraw from the co-op option until they have completed the requirements of the work term.

Involuntary or Required Withdrawal from the Co-op Option

Graduate students may be removed from the Co-op Program for any of the following reasons:

1. Failure to attend all interviews for positions to which the student has applied;
2. Declining more than one job offer during the job search;
3. Reneging on a co-op position that the student has accepted either verbally or in writing;
4. Continuing a job search after accepting a co-op position;
5. Dismissal from a work term by the co-op employer;
6. Leaving a work term without approval from the Co-op Management Team;
7. Receipt of an unsatisfactory work term evaluation;
8. Receiving a grade of UNS on the work term report;

International Students

All Graduate International Students are required to possess a Co-op Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before they can begin working. The Co-operative Education Office will provide students  with a letter of support to accompany their Co-op Work Permit application. Students are advised to discuss the application process and application requirements with the International Student Services Office.

Co-op Fees

All participating Co-op students are required to pay Co-op fees. For full details, please see the Co-op website.

Co-operative Education Option
M.A. Sociology with Concentration in Quantitative Methodology

Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Co-operative Education Program by the end of their first term of academic study.

To be eligible for admission to Co-op, students must:

1. be enrolled in the M.A. in Sociology, Concentration in Quantitative Methodology;
2. 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 5102, SOCI 5104, SOCI 5105, SOCI 5201, SOCI 5605);
3. be registered as a full-time student in each academic term prior to a work term;
4. be eligible to work in Canada (for off-campus work terms)

For more information, please refer to the Co-operative Education Policy. 

Admission

The requirement for admission into the master's program is a B.A.Honours or 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 three-year non-honours 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.

Accelerated Pathway 

The accelerated pathway in the Department of Sociology is a flexible and individualized plan of graduate study. Students in their final year of a Carleton B.A. Honours degree in Sociology, or equivalent, may qualify for this pathway.

Students in their third-year of study in the Carleton B.A. Honours degree in Sociology, or related discipline, should consult with both the Undergraduate Advisor and Graduate Advisor to determine if the accelerated pathway is appropriate for them and to confirm their selection of courses for their final year of undergraduate studies.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

1. Any two 0.5 credit 5000-level courses with a grade of B+ or higher
2. Minimal overall CGPA of B+

Students may receive advanced standing with transfer of up to 1.0 credit which can reduce their time to completion of the M.A.

Admission

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.

Admission

Type 2 Concurrent Program

At the time of admission, applicants to the Type 2 Graduate Diploma in Social Statistics and Data Analysis must be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at Carleton University.

Type 3 Direct-entry Program

Applicants to the Type 3 Graduate Diploma in Social Statistics and Data Analysis must hold a bachelor's degree. Admission for prospective students without a degree will be considered if they have relevant work experience.