Sociology
Sociology involves the systematic study of individuals, groups, and societies. As an incredibly broad discipline, it encompasses studies in just about everything in our social world from the development of identities in childhood through old age, to gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, economic inequalities, family, health and disability, media, work, politics, science and technology, and more.
Sociologists develop a ‘sociological imagination’ which is a creative way of thinking that connects individuals’ experiences and personal problems to wider social contexts. Sociology illuminates how individuals’ choices and actions both shape, and are shaped by, social forces by examining cultural norms, social roles and institutions, small groups, and large-scale social organizations. This unique perspective also uncovers the ways that many of the things we take for granted as “natural” or “normal” are the product of social interactions. Sociological study reveals that nothing is quite what it seems and is therefore filled with many surprises!
Who Studies Sociology?
Sociology students develop an inquiring mind and learn to think critically about the world around them. Many students report that taking sociology courses is a truly eye-opening experience that contributes to their personal and professional growth. As they acquire an understanding of sociological perspectives and research skills, students find themselves reflecting, in ways they never had before on their own lives, as well as those of others in Canadian society and around the world.
Sociology students are open to multiple perspectives and knowledges. They are not afraid to tackle the ‘big questions,’ engage in dialogue, and exchange informed viewpoints about social problems and controversial social issues. While they recognize that collective action is required to bring about significant social change, sociology students take away the knowledge and skills that can help them contribute to the well-being of their communities and greater social justice. Sociology stimulates students’ curiosity, broadens their worldview, and helps them to better understand and participate in our highly diverse society.
Department's website: kpu.ca/arts/sociology
Sociologists are often employed as researchers, analysts, or consultants in universities, governmental departments or agencies, and community organizations. As researchers, they may be involved in conducting studies and producing reports that are used for purposes such as social policy formation, governmental initiatives related to social welfare, or community development projects. Yet a degree in sociology opens multiple career paths by equipping students with knowledge, critical thinking, research skills, and other competencies that are highly sought after by employers and transferrable to a wide variety of occupations. Often with additional specialized credentials, sociology graduates find employment in areas such as:
- Community, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations
- Criminal justice system
- Customs and immigration services
- Education
- Foreign service or diplomacy
- Government and public/civil service
- Healthcare and disability services
- Human resources and labour relations
- International development
- Journalism, media, and public outreach
- Marketing
- Public relations
- Publishing
- Research or data analysis
- Social policy development
- Social work
Visit the BC Transfer Guide - bctransferguide.ca - for information about course transfer in B.C.
SOCI 1125 3 credits
Introduction to Society: Processes and Structures
Students will learn essential concepts, theoretical perspectives, and methods used in the discipline of sociology to analyze social processes and structures. They will explore topics such as culture, socialization, social interaction, social inequalities, and social change. Students will critically examine assumptions people make about social life and will develop informed views on social issues that are important in their own lives and the lives of others in local, national, and global communities.
Level: UG
SOCI 2225 3 credits
Canadian Society: Conflict and Consensus
Students will study various aspects of Canadian society. They will use sociological perspectives to critically analyze such things as Canadian identity, ethnic diversity and multiculturalism, national unity, regional differences, foreign control, and international relations. Students will explore the structure of Canadian society including issues related to health care, education, economy and work, social inequalities, government, and social policies.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2230 3 credits
Racialization in Canada
Students will critically examine processes of racialization in relation to the formation of the Canadian state, culture, and social institutions, as well as the consequences of these processes and structures for Indigenous peoples. The impact of racialization, Indigeneity, and ethnicity on Canadian social policy and practice, as well as on key social institutions including law and criminal justice administration, education, immigration, health, welfare, and the media, will be analyzed. Students will identify and critique systemic patterns of racism in white settler societies and in relation to other intersecting systems of oppression such as gender, class, and sexuality. Anti-racist social movements and patterns of resistance, including contemporary discourses of decolonization, Indigenization and reconciliation, will also be examined.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2235 3 credits
The Development of Sociological Thought
Students will explore the development of sociological thought, from early and classic to contemporary theories. Students will survey the range of sociological theories while they critically evaluate essential concepts, models, and approaches. Historical contexts, ongoing debates within the discipline, and their relevance to contemporary social life will be explored. Some of the traditionally less-represented sociological perspectives, such as Indigenous and non-Western ones, will also be highlighted in this course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2240 3 credits
Gender in Canada
Students will critically examine gender. They will consider various approaches to the study of gender and various perspectives on gender inequality in Canada in a global context. Students will examine different ways in which gender is produced, reproduced, and challenged by individuals, groups, movements, and institutions such as the economy, the state, education, family, and mass media. Students will explore and engage with Indigenous and other diverse perspectives on gender. They will analyze the interrelationships between gender and race, ethnicity, colonialism, class, age, sexuality, disability, and geography. Students will examine various feminist, decolonizing, and intersectional perspectives on gender.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2250 3 credits
Families in Canada
Students will examine the institution of the family in Canada in both historical and contemporary contexts. They will consider issues and approaches relevant to the sociology of the family and explore the structure and organization of various family forms and relations in the context of social, economic, and cultural transformation. Students will analyze the impact of gender, race, ethnicity and class on the institution of the family and compare cross-cultural and other differences among families both within Canada and globally.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2255 3 credits
Sociology of Everyday Life and Interaction
Students will inquire into everyday practices, interactions, and social processes involved in the accomplishment of identities and the social order. They will learn how to frame scenes and situations through which identities and the social order emerge as lived experience. They will examine the relativity of relationships, participation and belonging, self-presentation and performativity, and the importance of communicative ideals. They will analyze the ways that reality is socially constructed and the social order is reproduced, challenged, and transformed through common place taken-for-granted social interactions, rituals, routines, and representations. Students will explore everyday social practices, images, and spaces in a way that offers new meaning to social phenomena such as fashion, flirting, friendship, leisure, workplaces, and city life.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2260 3 credits
Research Methods in Sociology
Students will study the research methods used in the social sciences. Students will examine both quantitative and qualitative approaches used to conduct social research. They will emphasize practical applications of research while learning all the stages involved in designing and executing a research project.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher
SOCI 2270 3 credits
Sociology of Education: A Critical Perspective
Students will critically explore the sociological, philosophical, and psychological concepts and theories of education and learning. They will examine the historical, socio-economic, and political factors responsible for the establishment and growth of the education system and schooling in the Canadian and global contexts. Students will investigate and analyze current educational issues and controversies. They will analyze the effects of discrimination and inequality on the achievement levels of students, and the organization of schools and universities. Students will critically examine the effects of "race"/ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, and disabilities on the experiences of teachers and students in schools.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2275 3 credits
Mass Media and Society
Students will study the place of the mass media in Canadian society and their role in the social construction of reality. They will examine the development of print, radio, television, and new media in a global context, and will focus on the interconnection between media and other social institutions. Students will evaluate and apply various theoretical approaches to media production, content, and audiences.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2280 3 credits
Sociology of Health, Disability, and Society
Students will learn about the social, cultural, economic, and political factors surrounding experiences of health, disability, and society. They will learn about the social construction of health and disability, and the structure of Canada's health care system including health care professionals and health care delivery systems. Students will also explore the interaction between health care providers and service users, and current policy and health issues.
Level: UG
SOCI 2285 3 credits
Gods in the Global Village: A Sociological Perspective of World Religions
Students will examine the social dimensions of religion in communities and countries across the world. They will explore the social relevance of religion to individuals and collectives in both the local and the wider global village. Students will explore several interpretations of religion offered by sociologists, past and present. They will also examine religion's contribution to the shaping of social reality and the status of religion in the world today as well as its future.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2290 3 credits
South Asians around the Globe
Students will examine South Asian diasporas – across religious, ethnic and national boundaries – as they exist outside their homelands, with special focus on the South Asian communities in Canada. They will examine social theory related to South Asian migration and social adaptation as well as look at contemporary concerns related to globalization and transnationalism. Students will also investigate social issues that people often face in the process of adaptation to a new country at the personal, community, and societal levels. In doing so, students will have an opportunity to engage in experiential learning. This course is cross-listed with ASIA 2290. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 6 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher
Cross-listing: ASIA 2290
SOCI 2311 3 credits
Social Justice
Students will explore principles and theories of social, political, and economic justice. They will examine the nature and goals of current and historical social justice movements. Relationships between governance and social justice will be examined. Students will analyze the connections between local and global social justice issues. Students will apply theories of oppression and privilege, power and resistance, and liberation and emancipation to describe and analyze various social justice issues related to race, gender, social class, and other forms of oppression. Forms of resistance, such as decolonization, Indigenization, self-determination, and social movements, will be explored and assessed. Students will address ideas about how our societies can be made healthier, happier, fairer, and more peaceful for all.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 2365 3 credits
Introduction to Social Research Statistics
Students will study basic statistical techniques used in sociology. They will examine descriptive and inferential statistics at an introductory level with an emphasis on practical applications. Students will learn to interpret and summarize data, perform basic bivariate analysis, and report findings.
Level: UG
SOCI 3155 3 credits
Indigenous Perspectives on Settler Colonial Societies
Students will explore Indigenous perspectives on settler colonial societies and the consequences of ongoing colonial occupation for Indigenous nations. Students will draw upon critical Indigenous studies scholarship, Indigenous traditional knowledge, narrative accounts and oral histories. Students will explore the misattribution and denial of Indigenous contributions to human social development and analyze strategies for decolonization, Indigenization, and self-determination. Note: Students may earn credit for only one of SOCI 3155 or INDG 3155, as they are identical courses.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125 or INDG 1100.
Cross-listing: INDG 3155
SOCI 3210 3 credits
Technology and Society
Students will examine the interplay of technology and society in Canada as well as globally. They will explore the social, economic, political, and cultural transformations brought about by technologies from the mundane to the futuristic. They will explore and apply theoretical perspectives, particularly assessing the social, economic, political, and cultural transformations associated with technological developments. Students will evaluate the role society plays in shaping technology, and vice versa, through comparative analyses. Decolonizing, ecological, and critical perspectives on technology will be explored.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher.
SOCI 3230 3 credits
International Migration
Students will critically examine the causes and consequences of international migration, refugee movements, and the establishment of ethnic communities outside of their countries of origin in the Canadian and global contexts. They will explore the roles which environmental crises, colonization, ethnic strife and cleansing, wars, political and economic crises, disease, and cultural issues play in relation to international migration. How gender, class, ethnicity, racialization, sexuality, ability, and legal status impact migration and settlement will also be explored. Students will further study the formation of ethnic communities in settler-colonial contexts and in relation to the Indigenous peoples on whose unceded territories international migration and settlement sometimes take place. NOTE: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125
SOCI 3235 3 credits
Classic Sociological Theories
Students will examine classic sociological theories including the works of theorists such as Comte, Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Cooley and Mead, as well as early feminist and non-western theorists. They will explore the historical contexts in which the theories were developed and bring them to life by engaging in conceptual and critical analysis that furthers self-understanding and uncovers dimensions of our lives often take for granted. They will engage the theories through dialogue, join in debates that characterize sociology, and apply classic social theories to contemporary phenomena, issues, and problems, rather than treat the theories as relics of the past. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2235
SOCI 3240 3 credits
Gender in the Globalized World
In this course, students explore gender dynamics in a global context. Students examine social, sexual, economic, and political dimensions of gender in multiple geographic and cultural locations. They analyze gender norms and structures as they vary across cultures, societies, and historical periods. Students investigate power relations between the Global North and the Global South, Colonization, Orientalism, and Eurocentrism. Feminist and decolonizing approaches to the study of gender from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives are explored, including post-colonial and critical race theory, queer theory, cultural studies, political economy, and Indigenous knowledges.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125
SOCI 3245 3 credits
Gender, Bodies, and Sexualities
Students will explore historical and contemporary conceptions of sexualities and embodiment relating to gender in Westernized societies. Students will study the changing construction of gender, sexual identities and politics of embodiment that shape our everyday lives in relation to other socialized differences such as race and class. They will explore, discuss, and debate important theoretical and conceptual frameworks in gender and sexualities studies such as social structure, intersectionality, and social constructionism.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 2240.
Attribute: ARTS
SOCI 3260 3 credits
Qualitative Research Methods
Students will learn the theoretical and ethical underpinnings of qualitative research, gaining practical knowledge of qualitative research techniques and how they provide a contextual and in-depth understanding of social phenomena. They will explore various methodologies, develop an understanding of qualitative research design, study the ethical conduct of research, learn various data collection techniques, and learn to organize, manage, and interpret qualitative data. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2260
SOCI 3270 3 credits
Education, Nation-Building and Globalization
Students will critically examine the historical, socio-economic, and political factors responsible for the establishment and growth of education systems in different parts of the world. They will explore the roles of the education system in colonial intervention, promotion of Westernization, nation-building, and modernization globally. Students will explore the effects of globalization, neo-liberalism, and neo-conservatism on education systems and students in various countries from critical multidisciplinary perspectives. Note: This is a seminar course
Level: UG
SOCI 3275 3 credits
Sociology of Popular Culture
Students will explore the role of popular culture in their everyday lives and its connection with social structures and processes. They will apply various sociological perspectives, concepts, and interpretive strategies to a critical examination of a variety of popular culture forms, consumer goods, and leisure activities. They will analyze the production and consumption of popular culture within the local and global contexts and explore the relationships between popular culture, and community, identities, ethnicity, gender, the body and sexuality.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2275
SOCI 3280 3 credits
Sociology of Dying and Death
Students will critically examine cultural, historical, and contemporary attitudes and practices concerning dying and death. They will focus on the dying process, medicalization of death, funerals and body disposal, grief and bereavement, the coroner's role, suicide, assisted death, and other end of life decisions. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125.
SOCI 3300 3 credits
Sociology of Work and Occupations
Students will study the sociological aspects of work and occupations in the Canadian context. They will explore topics such as the historical transformation of work, the meaning of work, the impact of new technologies, and work structuring and restructuring. They will also examine the social organization of occupations, the relationship between work and social inequality, employment opportunities and insecurities, and control and resistance. Students will critically analyze issues related to work and occupations that affect Canadians in significant ways. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 3310 3 credits
Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Students will explore the emerging interdisciplinary field of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CAR). They will critically analyze the basic elements and processes of human social conflict in interpersonal and broader social contexts. Students will learn core concepts and theories of conflict, including the thoughts and emotions that support conflict and the ones that challenge it; the social structures and processes that support, uphold, or diffuse it; and the ways in which the conditions that support conflict can be transformed. Students will analyze an interdisciplinary body of scholarship that includes theoretical, professional, and applied studies of conflict and its resolution. Note: This is a seminar class
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125.
SOCI 3320 3 credits
Sociology of Global Inequalities
Students will critically examine a number of perspectives on development and underdevelopment within a global context, focusing in particular on economic, political and social change. They will critically examine the globalization process, including problems of inequality and its social, political, and economic roots. They will also analyze the role of regional and world bodies, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in development and underdevelopment, paying particular attention to the effects of these organizations on communities and individuals. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 18 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125.
SOCI 3330 3 credits
Contemporary Sociological Theories
Students will explore major developments in sociological theory since the mid-20th Century. They will examine the assumptions, terminologies, and implications of new ideas about the patterns and processes of social life. Contemporary theories will be applied to sociology’s recurring themes and fundamental debates, including structure and freedom, modernity and postmodernity, globalization, inequality, and self and society. Students will reflect on the role of contemporary social movements in the evolution of sociological thought, such as intersectional, decolonizing, and other critical perspectives. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2235
Attribute: ARTS
SOCI 3345 3 credits
Social Policy in Context
Students will examine how social issues are defined, and how social policies are formulated, administered, and revised. They will explore the dynamic relationship between social policy and Canada's social structure from varying theoretical perspectives. Students will consider historical and global influences, contemporary welfare state programs, as well as ideological, social, and economic factors shaping policy formation. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1125
SOCI 3365 3 credits
Quantitative Research Methods
Students will study statistical methods of research in the social sciences at an advanced level. Students will employ statistical theory to enhance understanding beyond the basic applications of descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will use existing sociological empirical case studies to examine the issues motivating the research, the key research questions, and the reports of findings. They will analyze secondary data using statistical techniques in the context of the broader logic of quantitative sociological inquiry, with a special focus on applied regression analysis.
Level: UG
SOCI 3385 3 credits
Social Demography
Students will study analyses of population trends regarding fertility, mortality, migration, and aging, as well as their influence on population growth, composition, and structure. Students will examine the demographic patterns and changes in Canadian society in conjunction with the significant on-going demographic changes taking place across the world. Students will also study the sociological determinants and consequences of population change, and how these affect issues such as colonization, urbanization, socioeconomic development, health, and the environment.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125
SOCI 4225 3 credits
Advanced Topics in Canadian Issues
Students will engage in an intensive and critical examination of a number of Canadian issues, as selected by the instructor. Students will conduct a primary research project outside the classroom and/or in the field for a portion of the semester on a specific topic. They will review relevant literature, write a proposal, collect and/or analyze data, write a paper, and give a presentation of the paper. Note: The topic(s) of study will be established in advance by the department. Please check with the department for proposed offerings. This is a seminar course. Students may take this course multiple times for further credit on different topics.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including both (a) SOCI 2225 and (b) SOCI 2260, CRIM 1208, PSYC 2300, or PSYC 2400.
Attribute: ARTS
SOCI 4230 3 credits
Advanced Topics in Race/Ethnicity: A Global Perspective
Students will engage in an intensive and critical examination of a number of issues and policies relating to race and ethnicity globally, as selected by the instructor. Students will conduct a primary research project outside the classroom and/or in the field for a portion of the semester on a specific topic. Note: This is a seminar course. The topic(s) of study will be established in advance by the department. Please check with the department for proposed offerings. For further credit on different topics, students may take this course multiple times.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125 and SOCI 2230.
Attribute: ARTS
SOCI 4310 3 credits
Terrorism, Globalization, and Social Justice
Students will explore the socio-economic and historical foundations of globalization, inequality, social (in)justice, resistance, and terrorism. They will analyze social (in)justice, globalization and terrorism in local and global political, ideological, and religious conflicts. Students will analyze forms of resistance, oppression, and global inequality. Finally, they will examine theories and practices of conflict resolution, global economic justice, international and inter-ethnic arenas and peace initiatives of the United Nations and other bodies. Note: This is a seminar course.
Level: UG
SOCI 4320 3 credits
Advanced Topics in Global Studies
Students will engage in an intensive and critical examination of a number of global issues, as selected by the instructor. Students will conduct a primary research project outside the classroom and/or in the field for a portion of the semester on a specific topic. Note: This is a seminar course. The topic(s) of study will be established in advance by the department. Please check with the department for proposed offerings. For further credit on different topics, students may take this course multiple times.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 1125 and SOCI 3320.
Attribute: ARTS
SOCI 4325 6 credits
Sociological Aspects of Community Service
Students will gain employment experience through volunteer work at not for profit social service agencies, international organizations or other community groups. They will work to complete a mutually agreed upon project that focuses on an issue or problem faced by the host agency. Through this project they will integrate sociological theory, concepts and methods and apply to the understanding of practical social issues. Students will also be involved in classroom based analysis and reflection about the interrelationships among organizations, culture and society.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 60 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including both (a) SOCI 1125 and (b) SOCI 2260, PSYC 2400, or CRIM 2103.
Attribute: ARTS
SOCI 4330 6 credits
Global Community Service
Students will deepen their formal preparation for local and global citizenship and gain practical experience through a field placement, doing volunteer work as part of a team with international non-for-profit/non-governmental or other community organizations in another country. They will engage in praxis-oriented, reciprocal learning about social justice issues through the application of theoretical and sociological knowledge, concepts, and methods to the practical, everyday lives of disadvantaged people and groups. They will work to complete a mutually agreed upon project that focuses on a social justice issue or problem faced by the host agency. Students will also be involved in classroom based analysis and critical reflection about the interrelationships among organizations, cultures and global society.
Level: UG
Prerequisite(s): 45 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher, including SOCI 3320.
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