Undergraduate FAQ for new students
Why take sociology?
If you are interested in social issues (e.g., inequality, gender, racism, environmentalism, understanding the forces that have influenced the person you have become, etc.) you will enjoy sociology. Sociology courses will explore many social problems, but not to depress you but rather to inspire you to change them.
What can you do with a Sociology degree?
Great question (see here)
http://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/careers/departments/sociology/index.php
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/careers-by-major-sociology
http://sociology.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/careers-for-sociology-majors
You might not see a lot of jobs requiring a sociology degree, but a degree in the social sciences (which includes sociology). A sociology degree confirms to employers that you understand contemporary society, social issues and have training in writing, research methods, statistics, and theory.
https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/sociology-degree-jobs
Where can I find the Sociology Department?
We are located in Cornett A333 (for a map, see here).
What advising support does the department offer students?
Department supports are here.
What is the difference between general, major, minor and honours degrees?
A general degree shows that a student has completed 60 units of university-level courses and met all related degree requirements. General degrees do not have a specific area of focus.
A major degree (e.g., anthropology, sociology, etc.) ensures that a student has completed a broad and intensive analysis of that discipline. Each major requires students to complete required (often called core) courses (i.e., for a major in sociology you must complete 10 core courses).
A minor is when a student has completed the requirements for their major, but also a set of required courses in another subject (e.g., you could major in geography and get a minor in sociology if you complete SOCI 100A, 100B, 210, 211 plus 9.0 units in SOCI in courses number 300 and above).
For details on our minor and major degrees, see here.
An honours degree includes all the requirements for the major plus a year-long seminar course (for 3.0 credits) that culminates in an honour’s thesis. Students must apply to the honours program by May 15th - usually at the end of their 3rd year. An honours degree is the gold standard for an undergraduate program and is excellent training for those considering going on to a MA or Ph.D. degree.
For details on our honours degree, see here.
What are electives?
A Major in Sociology requires a minimum of five elective courses in Sociology (7.5 credits), which are courses you choose outside of the core courses. In addition, students may also take elective courses in other disciplines.
What is a co-op degree?
A co-op degree includes placements where you work for an employer (and you are paid) for three work terms while completing your degree. The work terms are beyond the usual time it takes to get a degree (i.e., 4 years) but gives students first-hand employment experience, ideally, in their area of interest.
What is BOSS (Bureau of Sociology Students)?
BOSS is our undergraduate student association. BOSS is a wonderful resource that has office space in Cornett, meets regularly, plans social events and shares information about classes/professors and often supports local community organizations.
Even if you aren't sure if you want to major in sociology, attending BOSS events will help you learn more about the department, the program, and benefit from the advice and support of other students.
Why do you need to declare your major after 1st year?
Declaring your program allows you to track your progress through your degree. Once you declare your program you can run your CAPP/Degree Works report (through your MyPage account) to see what courses you still need to graduate. While declaring your major sounds onerous, it isn’t, you can do it online and you can change it if your interests change. Reviewing your CAPP/Degree Works report helps ensure your four-year degree, takes four years.
For information about declaring your degree, see here.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is using the ideas and works of others and presenting them as your own. Universities take plagiarism very, very seriously. Universities are built upon the ideals of honesty and the free investigation of the world around us. Using the work of others (including AI resources) without recognition, is a violation of academic integrity and will not be tolerated.
For some resources on academic integrity and what plagiarism is, see here.
What helps students succeed at university?
Success as an undergraduate is less about being smart than it is about being organized. Being organized means completing your assignments before they are due, giving yourself enough time to study, and generally, taking university seriously. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out with your friends, but it does mean that you give yourself enough time to ensure your tests and assignments reflect your best work.
How much studying is required at university?
Depends. Some students are better at understanding and managing different topics/courses than others. As a rule, you should spend, on average, 10-12 hours per week (not including class time) studying/preparing assignments. Realize that this is an average across the entire semester – there will be times (like the first 3 weeks of classes) when you won’t need as much time studying, but later in the term you will. Studying for exams and writing assignments takes time, and as the term progresses, your workload will increase.
Should you meet your professor?
Sure, why not? Meeting your professor early in the term, even just to say hi during their office hours, makes it much easier to approach them later if you have questions about lecture material or course assignments.
Should you meet your Teaching Assistants (TAs)?
Again, why not? TAs are graduate students (i.e., they have an undergraduate degree) and have “been there, done that”. TAs are a great source of information about the course and what is required to do well.