Sociology

Sociology looks at how societies are organized and how they shape human behaviour. In this program you’ll study social problems with an emphasis on:

• social justice
• equality
• equity

Potential careers

What can you do with a sociology degree? Here are a few jobs that relate to the program:

• policy advisor for municipal, provincial or federal governments
• research analyst for private, government or non-governmental organizations
• community organizer
• outreach coordinator for community support programs
• market research analyst
• social media analyst
• journalist
• program evaluation consultant
• fundraising and donor relations coordinator
• human relations consultant
• diversity and inclusion adviser
• healthcare administrator
• probation officer
• public relations consultant
• victim services advocate
• client services or sales consulting

Some of these roles may require post-graduate studies or training. 

Find a career that fits you

• Explore your career options at an appointment with a career educator.
• Attend career development workshops as you search for work.
• Enrol in the Your Career Starts Here course to generate career ideas and plan your next steps.

Experience & connections

Opportunities in the sociology program

• With the Co-op Program you can alternate study with paid work. 
• Connect with peers and faculty with the Bureau of Sociology Students (BOSS) – Undergraduate Course Union

Opportunities outside your program

• With a work study position you can develop skills during your study term.
• Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while you build skills.

Networks you can connect to

Here are a few professional associations related to sociology:

• American Sociological Association
• International Sociological Association
• Canadian Sociological Association
• Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
• Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology

Hands-on learning opportunities

These courses in the sociology program offer extensive hands-on learning.

Co-op

Co-op work terms
Alternate academic study with paid work terms to gain workplace experience

Research project

SOCI 271 – Introduction to Social Statistics
Learn to use statistical software in computer labs

SOCI 374 - Qualitative Research Methods
Carry out an independent research project

SOCI 376 – Quantitative Research Methods
Learn to do survey research in computer labs

SOCI 439A - Community Engaged Sociology I
SOCI 439B - Community Engaged Sociology II
Work with community partners on projects

SOCI 499 - Honours Seminar and Thesis
Design, carry out and write an honours thesis

Work experience

Work experience work terms
Take part in a modified co-op program requiring one or two work experiences

These courses are not always offered as described.

What you'll learn

Every student at UVic builds skills all employers look for. At UVic Co-op & Career we call these  "competencies". This is what you’ll learn in the sociology program.

Knowledge

• understand how sociologists investigate the structure and interactions of groups, organizations, and societies
• understand divisions of race, gender, sexuality, age, and class, and the shared beliefs of different cultures
• understand the relationship between social environments and individual experience
• understand how sociological research contributes to public policy debates, the formation of laws, and the shaping of better ways of living
• understand how the concepts, language and major theories of sociology are used to address important issues

Research and methods

• use sociological methods such as observations, interviews and content analysis
• use sociological methods such as ethnography, institutional analysis, survey research, and statistical analysis
• write, present and communicate research findings
• understand conceptualization, measurement and sampling as research tools
• design and conduct research using qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• collaborate in teams
• understand the different approaches in social justice research such as action and participatory research, and critical media studies

Theory

• understand sociological theory in the context of studying social life, social change and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour
• understand how theory helps guide one’s understanding of issues such as the impact of inequalities on the health status of population groups and the causes and effects of social movements
• think creatively and theorize social issues in new ways 

Substantive areas

The sociology of crime, deviance and law

• understand moral panics, white collar crime and institutional corruption
• understand the causes and consequences of violent crime, the sociology of law, and the social consequences of surveillance
• Ecology, Global Issues and Social Movements
• understand corporate power and the climate crisis, food sovereignty and justice for migrant workers
• understand global social networks, social movements and social change

Health, aging, and society

• understand the sociology of mental health, international inequities in health and the social dimensions of aging
• understand the politics of vaccinations, sexual health, and the sociology of death and dying

Gender, racialization and ethnicity

• understand settler colonialism and Canadian society, contemporary feminisms, and postcoloniality and Indigenous resurgence,
• understand the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality, and transgender rights

Other topics

• study family relationships, and media and society
• study class and social inequality, and community-engaged sociology

What's next?