Announcements

Dr. Emily Huddart Kennedy is an expert on civil society’s engagement in environmentalism. In this lecture, she will talk about political polarisation over environmental protection, arguing that everyone cares about the environment, but when we critique and demean others’ relationships with the environment, we fail to recognize that important common ground.

Book launch: Pathways to Ruin by Erin Gibbs Van Brunschot and Tamara Humphrey

Legalizing Illegal Mass Surveillance: A Transnational Perspective on Canada’s Legislative Response to the Expansion of Security Intelligence

Caitlin Chong - thesis project recruitment

New gift aims to amplify Indigenous voices: Presquito Murdoch Indigenous Law Award

It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of Dr. Karen Kobayashi of Victoria BC on May 28, 2022. Her final days were spent surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Tucker Farris's publication "Paint the Snow" - a short creative nonfiction piece published in Blood & Bourbon.

Susan McDaniel provides insight on Canada's aging population and returning to the workforce.

Bill Carroll - 2022 Canadian Review of Sociology's Best Article Award

Cecilia Benoit - Recipient of the 2022 Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize for the Social Sciences and Humanities

Congratulations to Sanam Vaghefi - Best Student Paper Award (CSA)

Jacqueline Quinless - SSHRC Grant recipient

Sociology Graduate Students' Colloquium - Spring 2022

Career Pathways of Canadian Sociology Graduates

A key factor missing in population-aging/health-care discussions is decreasing access by older adults to primary care.

Volunteers needed: Global Community Conversation Partners & Mentors

What does Victoria's labour shortage look like? Research predicts BC will have enough workers in the next 10 years—but tell that to businesses desperate for workers. We look at the data. First in our new series, Pay Check

2022 Honours Research Symposium

Join the International Centre for Students Exchange Team to learn more about spending 1-2 terms abroad during your UVic degree. On exchange, students can live and learn abroad while earning UVic credits, and continuing to pay UVic tuition fees. Visit the Exchange Program website for more details.

Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives presents "Bodies as Risky Resources: Japan’s Colonial Identification Systems in Northeast China"

Have you finished your first year of studies? Now’s the time to apply to co-op to gain paid, hands-on experience related to what you’re studying. Find out what you love by test driving career options, building a career network, and earning a salary all during your degree! Find out more about why co-op could be right for you at uvic.ca/coopandcareer/apply. Your deadline is coming up! Social science students must apply to co-op by September 20.

Congratulations to Bruce Ravelli - Recipient of the first annual Lorne Tepperman Award in Teaching Excellence.

The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is based out of UVic’s Centre for Accessible Learning. With all university classes recently moving online, many students may feel overwhelmed as they cope with changes to their coursework. The LAP runs a fee-based specialized tutoring program and learning assistance program, as well as a free program called Study Solutions. Recognizing the challenges students are facing this term in the face of unideal circumstances, we wanted to look at ways in which our program could reach a wider range of people who may benefit from extra support.

New Undergraduate Courses Winter 2021-22

Edwin Hodge to present at the May Elder Academy

Undergraduate Online In-Course Scholarship Application Now Open!

Zheng Wu - Canadian Population Society's Lifetime Achievement Award

West Coast Virtual Fair: Jobs and Volunteer Expo - March 2-3, 2021

The Moving Trans History Forward conferences are not just for scholars, or just for community people. MTHF conferences are a unique blend that create opportunities for cross-fertilization among members of the general public; students and faculty; artists; activists; Trans, Nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and other gender-diverse people; family members; allies; and service providers. Conferences consider both our history, and the crucial issues which impact us today, and into the future—locally, nationally, and globally.

Congratulations to Nick Graham on the publication of his book, Forces of Production, Climate Change and Canadian Fossil Capitalism.

Congratulations to Hannah Ahluwalia - Sociology Coop Student of the Year - 2020!

Orange Shirt Day at Uvic goes virtual this year, featuring a conversation between Uvic Chancellor Shelagh Rogers and Phyllis Webstad, whose story sparked the drive to recognize Orange Shirt Day. Join the virtual event on Wednesday Sept. 30 at noon.

Our department is committed to social justice, equality, and equity. In alignment with this commitment, we must take a stand against the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbrey, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd in the United States, and Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Jason Collins, Eishia Hudson, and D’Andre Campbell in Canada.

Tara Lise Erb, MA candidate, will be defending her Master's thesis on Wednesday, April 22 (9:00 a.m.) remotely, via Blue Jeans Video Conference. The thesis is titled "Facilitating Indigenous cultural safety and anti-racism training: Affect and the emergence of new relationships and social change"

Online In-course Scholarship Application Now Open!

The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is based out of UVic’s Centre for Accessible Learning. With all university classes recently moving online, many students may feel overwhelmed as they cope with changes to their coursework. The LAP runs a fee-based specialized tutoring program and learning assistance program, as well as a free program called Study Solutions. Recognizing the challenges students are facing this term in the face of unideal circumstances, we wanted to look at ways in which our program could reach a wider range of people who may benefit from extra support.

Sociology Office closed - effective March 23, 2020

Department of Sociology Announces: 2020 Honours Program Presentations

The Department of Sociology Honours Program Information Session Tuesday March 24, 2020 2:30-3:30pm Cornett Building, Room A221

The Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA) program was established in 2009-2010 by the Vice-President Academic and Provost. The goal of this award is to encourage undergraduates to pursue innovative and original research to enhance their learning while at the University of Victoria and to provide a valuable preparatory experience towards graduate studies or a research related career. The Division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation (LTSI) administers the award process on behalf of the Provost’s Office. JCURA is directed at undergraduate students from all disciplines and who meet the following eligibility requirements: ◾full-time third or fourth year undergraduate student (normally registered in 12 or more units of study in the winter session) ◾excellent academic standing (normally with a minimum sessional GPA of 7.0) ◾satisfy the general regulations of Student Awards and Financial Aid This award experience allows students to be mentored by a faculty supervisor. Each academic unit is eligible for one to three student nominations per year, depending on the number of students in the unit. Successful student applicants receive $1,500 credited directly to their UVic fee account.

Academic Advising in the SUB February 12 & 13, 2020 10:00am to 3:00pm Upper Lounge For students in the Faculties of Humanities, Science and Social Sciences

Saturday, February 29, 2020 Last day for withdrawing from full-year and second-term courses without penalty of failure

Jason Beckfield is Professor of Sociology, Chair of the Department of Sociology, and Associate Director of the Center for Population and Development Studies at Harvard University. He researches the connections between political institutions and social inequalities. His book Political Sociology and the People’s Health was published in 2018 by Oxford University Press. His book Unequal Europe: Regional Integration and the Rise of European Inequality was published in 2019 by OUP. At Harvard, Jason teaches courses on social inequality, population health, globalization, and quantitative research methods.

Jason Beckfield is Professor of Sociology, Chair of the Department of Sociology, and Associate Director of the Center for Population and Development Studies at Harvard University. He researches the connections between political institutions and social inequalities. His book Political Sociology and the People’s Health was published in 2018 by Oxford University Press. His book Unequal Europe: Regional Integration and the Rise of European Inequality was published in 2019 by OUP. At Harvard, Jason teaches courses on social inequality, population health, globalization, and quantitative research methods.

Join Sociology Co-op today! Apply by January 20th in DTB A204.

Are you interested in a career with the federal government? Parliamentary Budget Offier, Yves Giroux is coming to Uvic to speak with graduate students about upcoming job postings for economic and financial analysts. When: Monday December 2nd, 1:00-2:00pm Where: David Strong Building, Room C130

CRA and Office of the Procurement Ombudsperson - Employer Info Session Thursday November 21st, 2019 - 2:00-3:30pm & 6:30-8:00pm

Thursday October 31st: Last day for withdrawing from first term courses without penalty of failure.

Diabetes risk double in Japanese Americans

Renowned sociologist Dorothy Smith appointed to the Order of Canada

Department of Sociology Colloquium Series presents Dr. Asef Bayat. "Urbanity and Insurrection" Friday October 4, 2019, 1:00-2:00pm Cornett Building, Room B344

Date: Thursday, October 3rd, 2019, 7:00pm Location: David Turpin Building, Room C118 Free and open to the public.

Zheng Wu passed away on August 27 in Victoria, after a short period of illness. He was a longstanding professor of sociology at UVic (1992-2019), department chair from 2006-2011 and past president of the Canadian Population Society. He retired from UVic on July 1, and had planned to extend his gerontology research as Tier I Canada Research Chair in Aging and Health at SFU. Zheng’s research interests reached across numerous demographic topics, with a long-held emphasis on family demography. His recent research program was concerned with trends and patterns of aging population in Canada, focusing on union formation and dissolution in later life, and physical and psychological wellbeing of older adults. His other research areas include immigration, social integration, and race and ethnicity. Zheng was an accomplished educator and scholar. Over his career, he published over 100 books, edited volumes, chapters in books and peer-reviewed journal articles. Zheng is survived by his wife Lanjing Li, brother Jun and sister Fei. At his request, no funeral is to be held after his death.

A new online mapping tool highlighting the 50 most influential fossil fuel industry players in Western Canada was launched today to help shed light on who’s who in the oil resource sector.

Assistant Professor Positions Available

Congratulations to Dr. William Carroll and Shannon Daub from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - winners of the 2019 UVic REACH Award for Excellence in Research Partnerships.

Nicolas Graham, Ph.D candidate, will be defending his PhD dissertation on Tuesday May 7, 2019 (10:00am, Clearihue Building, Room B007). The dissertation is titled "Forces of Production, Climate Change and Canadian Fossil Capitalism."

Dr. Laureen Snider's Lansdowne Lecture "Abolishing corporate crime: The Trump Chapter" (presented on 6 March 2019) is now available online as a digital recording.

Grassroots picnic on the Quad - Wednesday April 24th, 2019 Noon - 2:00pm

Bureau of Sociology Students (BOSS) course union is presenting an academic event on Wednesday March 27th, 2019 in the digital scholarship commons on the 3rd floor of the McPherson Library. Event is free to attend and refreshments will be served.

Congratulations to Adele Mark, Kellie-Anne Goldberg and Rachel Kaufman - 2nd place win at CMBD!

Join us to celebrate the launch of "Violence and Nonviolence" by Peyman Vahabzadeh Friday, April 5, 2019 1:00-2:00pm Cornett Building, Room B344

Tuesday March 19, 2019 1:30-3:30pm Cornett Building, Room A319 All are welcome! Light refreshments will be served.

University of Victoria - Social Justice Studies Program Annual Lecture The Challenge of Climate Justice. Can We Make A Just Transition From Fossil Capitalism? A Talk with Dr. William Carroll Tuesday, March 19th, 2019 7:00-9:00pm David Turpin Building, Room A110

Each year, the Faculty of Social Sciences honours and recognizes excellent students who are making a difference in the world. Congratulations to our 2019 Rising Stars in Sociology!

Free - everyone welcome! Drop in, visit the displays, speak with the students. Find out how you too can apply for a Research Award. Over 100 Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards available each year worth $1500 each.

Corporate Crime, unlike corporate harm, is inherently political. It must be “named”, “shamed”, “blamed”, and most importantly counted, measured, reported and disciplined by state institutions. By the same token, it can be eliminated by political fiat. From the 1980s on, as governments bought into neoliberal doctrines, regulatory agencies in most capitalist democracies have been variously downsized, privatized, and starved of resources and staff. With the election of Donald Trump, however, this agenda in the United States has exploded. Federal laws protecting workers, the environment and the economy are all threatened—not just with downsizing but with outright elimination. This lecture documents the Trump agenda as it has been practiced thus far in these three areas, then attempts to understand, through critical theory, how and why this has happened.

Daniela Zuzunaga Zegarra, MA candidate, will be defending her Masters thesis on Monday, December 10th, 2018 (1:00 p.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "What is a Refugee: An Ontological Exploration".

All are welcome to attend a book launch - Organizing THE 1%: How Corporate Power Works by William K. Carroll and J.P. Sapinski Wednesday October 17, 2018 12:30-1:30pm University of Victoria Cornett Building Room B344

A welcome message from our new (acting) department Chair, Steve Garlick.

Alexandre Charron, MA INTD candidate, will be defending his Masters Interdisciplinary thesis on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 (10:00 a.m., Clearihue Building, Room B021). The thesis is titled "The Economic Theories of Rosa Luxemberg and Michal Kalecki: Continuity or Rupture?".

Kevin McCartney, MA candidate, will be defending his Masters thesis on Monday, August 27, 2018 (10:00 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Pricing Air to Starve the Fire: An Institutional Ethnography of Smart Prosperity".

Edwin Hodge, PhD candidate, will be defending his Doctoral dissertation on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 (10:00 a.m., Clearihue Building, Room B021). The dissertation is titled "Grievance and Responsibility: Emotional motivators and knowledge production networks in men's rights and pro-feminist men's groups in North America".

Suzanne Wood, MA candidate, will be defending her Master's thesis on Monday, August 13, 2018 (10:30 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Teachers' Challenges Fostering Equitable Classrooms: Why Students Who Need More Get Less"

A sociological investigation of Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon. Why has it lasted for 50 years? What does it mean to the people who love it? Boldy go where no course has gone before! Fall Semester 2018

Brigitte Benning, MA candidate, will be defending her Master's thesis on Thursday July 12th, 2018 (10:30 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Exploring the Role of Indigenous-Based Support in Post-Secondary Education: The On-Campus Friendship Centre at Grande Prairie Regional College"

Blair Wilkinson, PhD candidate, will be defending his Doctoral dissertation on Thursday, July 5, 2018 (10:00 a.m., Clearihue Building, Room B021). The dissertation is titled "Questing for Legitimacy in the Ivory Tower: Risk Management and the Legitimation Work of University Security Services".

Uvic's Transgender Archives have been listed at #7 of the Top 12 LGBTQ Museums around the world. Congratulations to Dr. Aaron Devor!

Congratulations to Dr. Cecilia Benoit has been awarded a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship. The foundation fellowship will fund Dr. Benoit's work across Canada with sex workers in week-long transformative learning sessions held at local sex worker agencies for her project, "Beyond the 'Missing Women Inquiry': Empowering Sex Workers as Social Justice Advocates."

Qwisun Yoon-Plotkins, will be graduating this month with an Honours BA in Sociology and a Diploma in Social Justice. She is featured in this month's edition of The Ring.

Michaelangelo Anastasiou, PhD candidate, will be defending his Doctoral dissertation on Thursday, June 14, 2018 (9:00 a.m., Clearihue Building, Room B021). The dissertation is titled "Nation Dislocation: Hegemony and Nationalism".

Winter 2018-19 Sessional Lecturer Positions Available

Department of Sociology Announces: Honours Program Presentations Tuesday March 20, 2018 MacLaurin Building, Room D115

Department of Sociology Colloquium Series presents Dr. Alisa Grigorovich: "Troubling sexuality and dementia in residential long-term care"

Kristina Olson, presented by the Chair in Transgender Studies & Lansdowne Lecture Series "Early Transgender Children's Development"

Congratulations to Dr. Aaron Devor, recipient of the 2017 CAUT Equity Award

Russell Elliott, MA candidate, will be defending his Masters thesis on Thursday, December 14th, 2017 (9:30 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Aesthetics of Absence: An Exploration of the Apocalypse of the Anthropocene".

Kimberly Smith, MA candidate, will be defending her Masters thesis on Friday December 15th, 2017 (10:00 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "It's Not Getting Better: The transformative potentials of hopelessness."

Stephanie Bethune, MA candidate, will be defending her Masters thesis on Wednesday December 6th, 2017 (10:00 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Manly Bodies: Theorizing Masculinities Through Affect"

The Department of Sociology presents Dr. Rachel Phillips Wednesday 29th November 2017, 2:30pm-3:15pm Cornett B344

The Department of Sociology presents Dorothy E. Smith Monday, 23rd October 2017, 2:30pm-3:30pm Cornett Building, Room B344

The Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The appointment will have an effective date of July 1, 2018.

The Department of Sociology presents Dr. George Pavlich, Professor Canada Research Chair in Social Theory, Culture & Law Department of Sociology University of Alberta Wednesday 04 October 2017, 2:30pm-3:30pm Cornett Building, Room B344

Bryan Benner, MA candidate, will be defending his Masters thesis on Thursday September 14th, 2017 (11:30 a.m., Human & Social Development Building, Room A373). The thesis is titled "On the Criminalization of HIV Nondisclosure: HIV Vulnerabilities and Implications for HIV testing among Survival Sex Workers in a Qualitative Study from Victoria, Canada"

Isaac Rosenberg, MA candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies, will be defending his Masters thesis on Thursday, September 7, 2017 (12 noon, Clearihue Building, Room B115). The thesis is titled "A Lifetime of Activism: Doing Feminist Men's Work from a Social Justice Paradigm"

Stephanie Cahill, MA candidate, will be defending her Masters thesis on Thursday, September 7, 2017 (1:00 p.m. Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Imagining Alternative in the Emerald City: The Climate Change Discourse of Transnational Fossil Fuel Corporations"

Ryan Butler, MA candidate, will be defending his Masters thesis on Friday, August 25, 2017 (11:00 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Between Nature and Artifice: Hannah Arendt and Environmental Politics".

Mohammad Nasser Jahani Asl, PhD candidate, will be defending his Doctoral dissertation on Thursday, August 24, 2017 (10:00 a.m., Clearihue Building, Room B007). The dissertation is titled "Identity, Politics, Organization: A Historical Sociology of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Kurdish Nationalist Movement".

Congratulations to MA Candidate Kora Liegh Glatt (nee Russell) for being awarded “The Stephens Family Graduate Research Award in Organic and Sustainable Food Systems”!!

Faculty of Social Sciences presents John Ralston Saul People in place: the worldview we need Wednesday May 3rd, 7:30pm David Lam Auditorium MacLaurin Building, UVic

Rudolf Scherban, MA candidate, will be defending his Masters major research paper on Tuesday April 25th, 2017 (1:00 p.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The major research paper is titled "Application of Constructal Theory on Turner's Social Dynamics"

Jacqueline Quinless, PhD candidate, will be defending her Doctoral thesis on Friday, April 21st, 2017 (9:00 a.m., David Turpin Building, Room A144). The dissertation is titled "Decolonizing Bodies: A First Nations Perspective on the Determinants of Urban Indigenous Health and Wellness in Canada"

Galina Scolnic, MA candidate, will be defending her Masters thesis on Thursday April 20th, 2017 (11:00 a.m., Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Pentecostalism in Soviet Union: A Nihilistic Analysis"

Edwin Hodge, PhD candidate, is interviewed by Rebecca a student blogger as part of the My Uvic Life series about his upcoming course "SOCI 390 - The Sociology of Star Trek".

Congratulations to Dr. Cecilia Benoit, one of three recipients of the 2017 Provost's Engaged Scholar Awards.

A sociological investigation of Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon. Why has it lasted for 50 years? What does it mean to the people who love it? Boldy go where no course has gone before! Fall Semester 2017

The 9th annual JCURA Research Fair will be held on Wednesday March 7th, 2018 in the Student Union Building (Michele Pujol Room, SUB corridor and Upper Lounge). This is a celebration of undergraduate research awards.

The Department of Sociology presents Dr. Stephen McBride, Professor Canada Research Chair in Public Policy and Globalization Department of Political Sociology McMaster University Wednesday 22nd February 2017, 2:30pm-4:00pm Maclaurin Building, Room D103

The Department of Sociology presents Dr. Ziba Vaghri, Director, GlobalChild Program, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria Wednesday 18th January 2017, 2:30pm-4:00pm Cornett B344

Demy Tabangcura, MA candidate, will be defending his Masters thesis on Monday December 12th, 2016 (10:00am, Cornett Building, Room A317). The thesis is titled "Media Representation of Gay and Lesbian Couples with Families: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Proposition 8 Advertisements"

Zoe Yunker, MA candidate, will be defending her Master's thesis on Monday, April 29 (3:00 p.m. Clearihue Building, Room B007). The thesis is titled "Dispossession politics: Mapping the contours of reconciliatory colonialism in Canada through industry-funded think tanks"

David Huxtable, PhD candidate, will be defending his PhD dissertation on Tuesday December 13th, 2016 (9:00am, David Turpin Building, Room A136). The dissertation is titled "The International Trade Union Confederation and Global Civil Society: ITUC collaborations and their impact on transnational class formation"

Recognized by Status of Women Canada for her work in gender equality, Dr. Cecilia Benoit has devoted 25 years as a researcher to advancing the social rights of marginalized populations, especially women. On October 18, Benoit and five other women were recognized with the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

Congratulations to Dr. Cecilia Benoit, one of six recipients of the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case: Honouring Canadians who advance gender equality

The Department of Sociology will be holding a Graduate School Information event on Wednesday October 19th, 2:30 - 3:30pm in Cornett A125. Come along to learn about the benefits of doing a Master’s degree and some of the resources available to graduate students. Information will be provided on the department’s MA program, along with practical advice on how to put together an application for admission. There will also be the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. For more information, please contact the Graduate Advisor, Dr. Steve Garlick, at sgarlick@uvic.ca

David Huxtable and Stephanie Constantine will be the second presenters in the Fall Seminar Series to be held on Wednesday October 26th, 2016, 2:30-4:00pm in COR B344.

The Department of Sociology invites applications from qualified applicants to deliver the following 1.5-unit Sociology courses during the 2017 Summer Session. For a more detailed description of the course, go to http://web.uvic.ca/calendar2016-09/CDs/SOCI/310.html

Blair Wilkinson and Ashley Berard will be the first presenters in the Fall Seminar Series to be held on Wednesday September 28th, 2016, 2:30-4:30pm in COR B344

This week-long course is open to social science graduate students from across Canada, May 8-12, 2017 at the University of Victoria. This course will be directed by Dr. William Carroll, but will feature presentations, guest lectures and extensive participation from members of the Corporate Mapping Project network, including representatives from environmental, social justice, labour and First Nations groups.

Wrenna Robertson, MA candidate, will be defending her MA major research paper on Wednesday August 17th (10:30am, Cornett Building, Room A317). The paper is titled "On the Matter of Plastic". The defense is free to attend and open to the public.

Congratulations to Dr. Neena Chappell on her recent appointment as a member of the Order of Canada - "a high honour which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation."