Sociology

Sociology: Introduction

Faculty Affiliation

Arts and Science

Degree Programs

Sociology

MA and PhD

Collaborative Specializations

The following collaborative specializations are available to students in participating degree programs as listed below:

Overview

The Department of Sociology is consistently the top-ranked sociology department in Canada, with internationally renowned scholars who have an excellent track record for securing research funding, producing outstanding sociological research, and mentoring graduate students extensively. A collegial atmosphere encourages innovation and rigour in research and teaching. The community of scholars includes faculty members, outstanding postdoctoral scholars, and creative and engaged graduate students.

The department's graduate programs provide exceptional training to students in advanced social research. The focus is on transforming graduate students from consumers of academic research into producers of new sociological knowledge. To that end, there is a strong focus on methodological training; graduate students are integrated thoroughly into the faculty research programs in the department.

Contact and Address

Web: www.sociology.utoronto.ca
Email: sociology.graduate@utoronto.ca or socgrad.assist@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-3414
Fax: (416) 978-3963

Department of Sociology
University of Toronto
725 Spadina Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2J4
Canada

Sociology: Graduate Faculty

Full Members

Adese, Jennifer - BA, BA, MA, PhD
Baber, Zaheer - PhD
Baumann, Shyon - BA, MA, PhD (Chair)
Berrey, Ellen - AB, PhD
Berry, Brent - BS, PhD
Boase, Jeffrey - BA, MA, PhD
Bryant, Joseph - BA, MA, PhD
Brym, Robert - BA, MA, PhD
Childress, Clayton - BA, MA, PhD
Choo, Hae Yeon - BA, MA, PhD
Cranford, Cynthia - MA, PhD
Dinovitzer, Ronit - BA, MA, PhD
Erickson, Bonnie - BA, MA, PhD
Erickson, Patricia - BA, MA, PhD
Farah Schwartzman, Luisa - PhD
Fields, Jessica - BA, MA, MA, PhD
Flores, Jerry - BA, MA, MA, PhD
Goodman, Philip - BA, MA, PhD
Green, Adam - BA, MA, MSS, PhD
Hannah-Moffat, Kelly - BA, MA, PhD
Hannigan, John - BA, MA, PhD
Hermer, Joseph - PhD
Hoffman, Steve - BA, PhD
Hsiung, Ping-Chun - PhD
Johnston, Josee - AB, MA, PhD
Kervin, John - BA, PhD
Korteweg, Anna - BA, MA, PhD
Landolt, Patricia - BA, MA, PhD
Lee, Jooyoung - BA, MA, PhD
Lee, Yoonkyung - BPhil, MA, PhD
Leschziner, Vanina - BA, AM, DPhil
Levi, Ron - BCL, LLB, LLM, SJD
Liu, Sida - LLB, PhD
Magee, William - PhD
Maghbouleh, Neda - BA, MA, PhD
Maurutto, Paula - DPhil
Miles, Andrew - BA, MA, PhD
Milkie, Melissa - BA, MA, PhD (Graduate Chair)
Mullen, Ann Louise - BA, MA, PhD
Peng, Ito - BSc, BSW, MA, PhD
Plys, Kristin Victoria - BA, MA, MPH, PhD
Salem, Rania Hatem - BSc, MSS, PhD
Sarkar, Mahua - BA, MA, PhD
Schafer, Markus - BA, MS, PhD
Schieman, Scott - BA, MA, PhD
Schneiderhan, Erik - PhD
Siddiqi, Arjumand - ScD
Silver, Daniel - BA, MA, PhD
Silver, Michelle - BA, BS, MA, PhD
Super, Gail Jennifer - BA, BCL, MSc, PhD
Taylor, Judith - BA, PhD
Tepperman, Lorne - BA, MA, PhD
Veugelers, John - PhD
Welsh, Sandy - BA, MA, PhD
Wheaton, Blair - PhD
Zhang, Weiguo - PhD

Members Emeriti

Blute, Marion - BA, MA, PhD
Boyd, Monica - BA, MA, PhD
Brownfield, David - PhD
Campbell, Douglas - BA, MA, PhD
Fox, Bonnie - AB, PhD
Friedmann, Harriet - AB, MA, PhD
Gartner, Rosemary - BA, AA, MS, PhD
Gillis, Ronald - BA, MA, PhD
Hagan, John - BA, MA, PhD
Harvey, Edward - BA, MA, PhD
Howell, Nancy - BA, PhD
Jones, Charles - BA, MA, PhD
Kruttschnitt, Candace - BA, MA, MPH, PhD
Michelson, William - AB, AM, PhD
Reitz, Jeffrey G. - PhD
Simpson, John - BA, BD, MTh, PhD
Spencer, Metta - AB, MA, PhD
Zeitlin, Irving - BA, MA, PhD

Associate Members

Alegria, Sharla - AM, PhD
Alexander, Monica - MA, PhD
Baker, Jayne - MA, PhD
Bryan, Timothy - BA, MA, PhD
Caron, Christian - BA, MA, PhD
Chmielewski, Anna Katyn - BA, MA, PhD
DeGagne, Michael - BSc, MA, MA, PhD
Doering, Laura - BA, MA, MA, PhD
Dokshin, Fedor - BA, DPhil
Elcioglu, Emine Fidan - BA, MA, PhD
Fosse, Ethan - BA, AM, PhD
Gray, Robin - BA, MA, PhD
Haag, Julius - BA, MA
Horowitz, Jonathan - BA, MS, MA, PhD
Innocente, Nathan - BA, MA, MA
Liddle, Kathy - BA, AM, PhD
McIvor, Mitchell - BA, MA, PhD
Nicholson Jr., Harvey - BA, MA, PhD
Owusu-Bempah, Akwasi - BA, MA, PhD
Pernell-Gallagher, Kim - MA, PhD
Richer, Zachary - BA, MA, MA, PhD
Richter, Lauren - BA, MA, PhD
Smith, Chris - BA, PhD
Spence, Nicholas David - BA, PhD

Sociology: Sociology MA

Master of Arts

Program Description

The MA program trains students in the theoretical approaches, research designs, and analytical skills central to the field of Sociology. It provides extensive background and knowledge valuable for a number of rewarding careers in the public and private sectors. The program also builds a strong foundation in sociological training for those who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in Sociology.

Students have the option of completing the master's degree in one of two ways:

  • Coursework (the preferred option for those proceeding to the PhD).

  • Coursework plus research paper.

Students can take the program on a part-time or full-time basis.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Sociology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate bachelor's degree with 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in sociology, with an overall B+ average in each of the last two years of post-secondary education. Those with excellent grades but whose preparation is insufficient will be required to take additional courses.

  • Applicants are also expected to have acquired basic research and statistical skills.

  • Admission decisions are based on grades and indications of superior qualifications such as letters of recommendation and a sample of the applicant's work.

  • In addition to the School of Graduate Studies' online application form, applicants must submit:

    • Two letters of reference from instructors or research supervisors.

    • A paper, including summary, which the student feels represents his or her best work.

    • A one-page, single-spaced typed statement of interest indicating research interests, research experience, and reasons for applying to study sociology at the University of Toronto.

  • Proficiency in the English language, demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English. See General Regulations section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency for minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language and TWE (Test of Written English) scores required.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework Option: the preferred option for those proceeding to the PhD

    • 4.0 FCEs or eight half courses including:

      • SOC6001H Classical Sociological Theory I

      • SOC6302H Statistics for Sociologists

      • SOC6712H Qualitative Methods I.

  • Coursework Plus Research Paper Option

    • 3.0 FCEs or six half courses including:

      • SOC6001H Classical Sociological Theory I

      • SOC6302H Statistics for Sociologists

      • SOC6712H Qualitative Methods I.

    • A research paper.

  • Regardless of option, the MA program is completed in 12 months.

  • The choice of courses in all programs must be approved by the department.

  • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in reading courses may be counted towards the degree requirements.

  • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in elective courses taken outside the department may be counted towards the degree requirements unless approval of the Graduate Coordinator is obtained.

  • Students must maintain a B average to be recommended for the MA degree.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S);
15 sessions part-time

Time Limit

3 years full-time;
6 years part-time

Sociology: Sociology PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The PhD program provides training in conducting theoretically rich and methodologically sophisticated sociological research. Through the program, students design and carry out research projects, present their work at professional conferences, and author scholarly publications. The program is designed to provide both a broad knowledge of the discipline and specialized methodological and subject matter expertise.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an appropriate MA or 2) direct entry after completing a bachelor’s degree.

 

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Sociology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • The normal requirement is completion of the University of Toronto MA, with at least an A– standing. All students must demonstrate that their master's degree program included coursework equivalent to Classical Social Theory, Social Statistics, and Qualitative Methods I. Some students may be required to take prescribed additional courses.

  • Admission decisions are based on grades and indications of superior qualifications such as letters of recommendation and a sample of the applicant's work.

  • In addition to the School of Graduate Studies' online application form, applicants must submit:

    • Two letters of reference from instructors or research supervisors.

    • A paper, including summary, which the student feels represents his or her best work.

    • A one-page, single-spaced typed statement of interest indicating research interests, research experience, and reasons for applying to study sociology at the University of Toronto.

    • Proficiency in the English language, demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English. See General Regulations section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency for minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language and TWE (Test of Written English) scores required.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must complete 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • SOC6101H Contemporary Sociological Theory

    • SOC6707H Intermediate Data Analysis

    • SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I

    • SOC6711Y Research Practicum

    • If a student has already taken these courses at the graduate level, other courses will be substituted to obtain the 4.5 FCEs total.

    • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in reading courses may be counted towards the degree requirements.

    • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in elective courses taken outside the department may be counted towards the degree requirements unless approval of the Graduate Coordinator is obtained.

  • An average of at least B+ is required in order to be eligible to continue in the following year of any program. Failure in any course (that is, less than a B–) will require a review of the student's total program by the department.

  • Doctoral students must complete SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I (Credit/No Credit). This seminar consists of a series of workshops designed to guide students in their graduate school career and beyond. SOC6511H must be completed in the Fall session of Year 1.

  • Two comprehensive examinations, which must be completed by the end of Year 2.

    • Comprehensive exams are offered in each of the 12 areas of study: Computational and Quantitative Methods; Gender; Global Migration; Health and Mental Health; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Race, Ethnicity, Indigeneity; Social Networks; Sociology of Crime and Law; Sociology of Culture; Theory; and Work, Stratification, and Markets.

    • If a student fails a comprehensive exam, the student has one attempt to rewrite the exam. The rewrite must occur in the next available exam session.

  • Submission of a written thesis proposal and its successful oral defence before a supervisory committee consisting of three faculty members. If a student should fail, the student is permitted one additional opportunity to defend a revised thesis proposal.

  • University policy requires that students complete all their non-thesis requirements (coursework, comprehensive examinations, thesis proposal, and language requirement if applicable) by the end of Year 3.

  • Preparation of an original PhD thesis, which must be defended at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

  • Candidates must have an adequate knowledge of a language other than English if an additional language is deemed essential for satisfactory completion of research for the thesis.

  • Two years of residence, whereby students must be on campus and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Sociology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • The department may recommend admission directly after completion of an appropriate bachelor's degree. Direct entry of this kind will only be recommended for outstanding students who have provided a clear and detailed plan for thesis research.

  • Admission decisions are based on grades and indications of superior qualifications such as letters of recommendation and a sample of the applicant's work.

  • In addition to the School of Graduate Studies' online application form, applicants must submit:

    • Two letters of reference from instructors or research supervisors.

    • A paper, including summary, which the student feels represents his or her best work.

    • A one-page, single-spaced typed statement of interest indicating research interests, research experience, and reasons for applying to study sociology at the University of Toronto.

    • Proficiency in the English language, demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English. See General Regulations section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency for minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language and TWE (Test of Written English) scores required.

Program Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • SOC6001H Classical Sociological Theory I

    • SOC6101H Contemporary Sociological Theory

    • SOC6302H Statistics for Sociologists

    • SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I

    • SOC6707H Intermediate Data Analysis

    • SOC6711Y Research Practicum

    • SOC6712H Qualitative Methods I.

    • A maximum of 0.5 FCE in reading courses and 0.5 FCE in elective courses taken outside the department may be counted towards the degree requirements.

  • An average of at least B+ is required in order to be eligible to continue in the following year of any program. Failure in any course (that is, less than a B–) will require a review of the student's total program by the department.

  • Doctoral students must complete SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I (Credit/No Credit). This seminar consists of a series of workshops designed to guide students in their graduate school career and beyond. SOC6511H must be completed in the Fall session of Year 1.

  • Two comprehensive examinations, which must be completed by the end of Year 2.

    • Comprehensive exams are offered in each of the 12 areas of study: Computational and Quantitative Methods; Gender; Global Migration; Health and Mental Health; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Race, Ethnicity, Indigeneity; Social Networks; Sociology of Crime and Law; Sociology of Culture; Theory; and Work, Stratification, and Markets.

    • If a student fails a comprehensive exam, the student has one attempt to rewrite the exam. The rewrite must occur in the next available exam session.

  • Submission of a written thesis proposal and its successful oral defence before a supervisory committee consisting of three faculty members. If a student should fail, the student is permitted one additional opportunity to defend a revised thesis proposal.

  • University policy requires that students complete all their non-thesis requirements (coursework, comprehensive examinations, thesis proposal, and language requirement if applicable) by the end of Year 3.

  • Preparation of an original PhD thesis, which must be defended at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

  • Candidates must have an adequate knowledge of a language other than English if an additional language is deemed essential for satisfactory completion of research for the thesis.

  • Two years of residence, whereby students must be on campus and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years

Sociology: Sociology MA, PhD Courses

For details on course offerings, check with the departmental graduate office.

Theory and Methods of Sociology — Core Courses

Course Code Course Title
SOC6001H
Sociological Theory I
SOC6101H
Sociological Theory II
SOC6201H
Sociological Theory III
SOC6301H Sociological Theory IV
SOC6302H
Statistics for Sociologists
SOC6303H
Ethnography
SOC6309H Indigeneity I
SOC6401H
Special Topics in Sociological Theory
SOC6502H
The Sociology Curriculum
SOC6707H
Intermediate Data Analysis
SOC6708H
Advanced Data Analysis
SOC6710H
The Logic of Social Inquiry
SOC6711Y+
Research Practicum
SOC6712H
Qualitative Methods I
SOC6713H
Qualitative Methods II
SOC6715H
Historical Sociology

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

Areas of Specialization

Colonialism, Racialization, Indigeneity

Course Code Course Title
SOC6009H Ethnicity I
SOC6109H Ethnicity II
SOC6209H Ethnicity III

Gender and Family

Course Code Course Title
SOC6017H Sociology of Families I
SOC6019H Gender Relations I
SOC6119H Gender Relations II
SOC6219H Gender Relations III

Global Migration

Course Code Course Title
SOC6002H Immigration I
SOC6003H Immigration II

Health and Mental Health

Course Code Course Title
SOC6022H
Sociology of Health
SOC6023H
Sociology of Mental Health
SOC6024H
Special Topics in Health
SOC6122H
Sociology of Mental Health II
SOC6126H
The Social Ecology of Health

Networks and Community

Course Code Course Title
SOC6008H
Network Analysis I
SOC6108H
Network Analysis II
SOC6214H
Sociology of Urbanization
SOC6314H
Community
SOC6414H
Urban Organization

Political Sociology

Course Code Course Title
SOC6010H
Political Sociology I
SOC6110H
Political Sociology II
SOC6210H
Political Sociology III
SOC6014H
Environmental Sociology I
SOC6125H
Theories of Social Change

Sociology of Crime and Law

Course Code Course Title
CRI3140H
Special Topics in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
SOC6006H
Sociology of Crime and Law I: Criminology
SOC6106H
Sociology of Crime and Law II: Sociology of Law
SOC6206H
Sociology of Crime and Law III: Punishment
SOC6306H
Advanced Topics in Sociology of Crime and Law I
SOC6406H
Advanced Topics in Sociology of Crime and Law II
SOC6506H
Advanced Topics in Sociology of Crime and Law III

Sociology of Culture

Course Code Course Title
SOC6516H
Sociology of Culture
SOC6517H
Culture and Cognition
SOC6518H
Culture Industries
SOC6520H
Special Topics in Sociology of Culture

Work, Stratification, and Markets

Course Code Course Title
SOC6012H
Work, Stratification, and Markets I
SOC6013H Social Inequality I
SOC6112H Work, Stratification, and Markets II
SOC6212H Work, Stratification, and Markets III
SOC6312H
Work, Stratification, and Markets IV

Other Courses

Course Code Course Title
SOC6021Y
Sociology and the Policy Process in Canada
SOC6511H Professional Development Seminar I (Credit/No Credit)
SOC6811H
Seminar in Teaching (Credit/No Credit)

Special Reading Courses

Course Code Course Title
SOC6015H
A reading course or individual research in an approved field I
SOC6115H
A reading course or individual research in an approved field II

MA Research Paper

Course Code Course Title
SOC6215Y
MA Research Paper