Sociology contributes to understanding our social world by studying how groups, organizations, societies, and their cultural products are produced, reproduced and transformed by the actions and interactions of people in social contexts. The Sociology program cultivates students' sociological imaginations by offering a wide range of opportunities to think sociologically and to use different theoretical approaches, research methods and data-analysis techniques so students gain experience thinking with and using a sociological perspective.
The program in Law and Society is designed to provide a broad exposure to the nature of law and its role in society. The overall aim of the program is not only to provide students with a deep understanding of the law but also to demonstrate that the law is not an isolated discipline but is a part of an integrated culture of which we all partake. The program is not specifically a "pre-law" program. Nevertheless, the perspectives that it offers are likely to be of great benefit to those who hope to be lawyers, as well as to those considering a career in politics, the civil service, law enforcement, the social sciences, business and industry, or public-interest advocacy.
First-year students in Law and Society are encouraged to explore courses in a variety of areas. It is recommended that a first-year program include: Law and Society 201, 203 and at least an additional 9 units from the Faculty of Arts. Degree programs in Law and Society include senior-level courses offered by various Departments either as core requirements or as options. It is therefore useful to take first-year courses from a variety of related areas such as Political Science and History. In planning their first-year programs, students should look ahead to later years and make sure they take courses that are prerequisites to the courses they may subsequently wish to take.
Courses that are required for the Law and Society major can generally be double-counted toward minor programs: students are advised to consult with the Arts Students' Centre for confirmation. The following minor programs are particularly good fits with a Law and Society major: Political Science, History, Economics, Philosophy, Sociology, Indigenous Studies, Canadian Studies, Women's Studies.
Faculty of Arts