Sociology, BA

Admission
Curriculum
Graduation Requirements

The Major in Sociology is designed to expand students’ sociological imaginations by challenging them to think critically about the ways in which society is created, maintained, and changed. Through courses that explore the historical, philosophical, and theoretical development of the discipline, students will be exposed to the conceptual and methodological tools required to conduct critical and reasoned analyses of all areas of social life from small-scale micro-level social interaction to large-scale macro-level social institutions. Sociology at Mount Royal focuses on the study of social power and inequality, exposing the ways in which interlocking systems of domination shape and define the individual and the collective social condition and on strategies of social resistance to that domination. Apart from the intrinsic value of learning to think critically about the taken-for-granted world, a BA in Sociology helps prepare students for graduate school and/or a wide range of careers in areas such as independent research, social services, community advocacy, and teaching.

Mount Royal’s BA in Sociology aims to provide students with the following competencies:

Sociological imagination and an intimate familiarity with core Sociology concepts in order to examine critically the taken-for-granted world.
The ability to locate, read and critically analyze primary and secondary sociological sources (theoretical and empirical).
Knowledge of the use of social theory in Sociology and a familiarity with the central sociological perspectives.
An understanding of all of the components of the research process both qualitative and quantitative.
An understanding of how social life is structured by inequality and shaped by factors such as social class, gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, and subcultural membership.
An understanding of the interaction between individuals, and historical, cultural, and social forces.

Admission

General Admission Requirements

All students must meet the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements indicated in the Admission section of this calendar, applicants must also satisfy the following criteria for each Major.

Academic Course Requirements

The following specific courses (or their equivalencies) with the specified minimum grades are required for admission into the Bachelor of Arts program:

Majors: Anthropology, English, History and Sociology

English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 or a 30-level language

Major: Psychology

English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 - 60%

Major: Policy Studies

English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 - 60%

Although conditional admission may be granted in advance of receipt of final/official transcripts, confirmation of the achievement of specified minimum grades will take place after all final/official transcripts have been received by the University. Applicants who do not meet these minimum grade requirements will be denied admission.

Indigenous Student Admission

Each year, 7% of the seats in the Bachelor of Arts program will be reserved for Indigenous applicants through an Indigenous admission target. To be considered for admission under the Indigenous admission target, the applicant must:

self-identify as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission;
meet the definition of an Indigenous Applicant; and
meet the minimum admission requirements as indicated in the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University as well as any program level admission requirements.

Designated seats for this special consideration target will be filled by Indigenous applicants on a competitive basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply during the early admission period. Any unfilled designated seats will be released on June 15 to students applying under the general admission requirements.

See general admission requirements in the Admission section of this calendar for further information.

Declaration of Major

Students must declare their major field of study within one year (ten courses) of enrolling in the program. Students who have decided on their major are advised to declare it as soon as possible to facilitate proper course selection and access to core courses.

Double Majors

Double majors must be chosen within the six majors offered as part of the Bachelor of Arts and include:

10-12 general education courses, of which four can fulfill the requirements of the double major.
All core courses specified for each major (a minimum of 32 courses).
All core requirements for each major must be satisfied in a manner approved by the Associate Dean, Curriculum and Policy
Courses that satisfy an elective requirement can be used to satisfy the program requirements for a double major.

Curriculum

Program Structure - Sociology

Total number of three-credit courses (or equivalent)	40 courses minimum
Required courses in Sociology	6 courses
Additional required Sociology courses	10-14 courses
Elective courses	10-14 courses
General Education Courses	10 courses
First-year course limit (1000 level)	16 courses maximum
Maximum number of courses outside of the Faculty of Arts, and/or the Faculty of Science and Technology, and/or designated as General Education courses	8 courses
Course limit in a single discipline	24 courses maximum
Grade Point Average (GPA) to graduate	2.00 minimum

Required Courses

All students must meet the general graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, in addition to the graduation requirements for the Sociology major.

SLGY 1101 - Introduction to Sociology
SLGY 2131 - Classical Sociological Theory
SLGY 2232 - Introduction to Sociological Research Methods
SLGY 3321 - Quantitative Methods
SLGY 3323 - Qualitative Research Methods
SLGY 3333 - Contemporary Social Theory
Two SLGY classes at the 2000 level
Three SLGY classes at the 3000 level or higher
Two SLGY classes at the 4000 level
One additional SLGY class at the 2000 level or higher
One additional SLGY class at any level

One of

Electives

14 Elective courses

Students are eligible to choose any 3-credit university-level course to complete an elective requirement, including SLGY courses that are not already fulfilling a major requirement. Students should be aware that no more than 24 courses within one discipline will be counted towards their degree (e.g. no more than 24 courses with the course prefix SLGY).

General Education Requirements

Ten courses must be completed to meet the General Education requirements to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts - Sociology.

Four courses will be taken at the foundational level: one from each of the thematic clusters.
Three courses will be taken at the second tier: no more than one from each of the thematic clusters. One of these courses must be from the Numeracy and Scientific Literacy cluster.
Three courses must be taken at the third tier, selected from at least two of the thematic clusters.

Graduation Requirements

Eligibility To Graduate

To be eligible to graduate from a Mount Royal program, a student must have been officially admitted into the program and must normally complete at least 25% of the graduation requirements as a student within the program, except where written approval has been given by the dean/director of the faculty/centre/school.

Normally, 50% of the academic work completed toward the award of a Mount Royal parchment must be completed at the University, except where written approval has been given by the dean/director of the appropriate faculty/centre/school.

Application for Honours after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in the same discipline.

A student who has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts may not apply to enter Honours in the same discipline in which he or she has received the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Time Limitation

All graduation requirements for the BA degree program must be completed within eight years of initial admission to and enrolment in the program. The prior learning of all students entering baccalaureate programs will be fully assessed at the point of admission for possible advanced standing or transfer credit. Applicable credit for prior learning which is recognized at the point of entry into the program will remain valid for the same time limit (eight years) as is permitted to complete the program.