Sociology, Bachelor of Arts

Program Information
Credential: 
Bachelor's Degree
Duration: 

2 years at RDC - 2 years at RDC as a U of C collaborative student or 2 years at most universites

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Tim Heath
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca

Department Information

For more information about the Sociology program, visit the Sociology Department in Humanities & Social Sciences, under About RDC.

University Transfer Program

Two-Year University Transfer Program:

RDC offers the first two years of these degree programs:

  1.     Bachelor of Arts*
  2.     Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Four-Year Degree Completion:

* Years three and four of a University of Calgary Bachelor of Arts degree can be completed at RDC. Majors in English, Psychology and Sociology are available (with optional Minors in English, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). See the program website.

For the most current university program and transfer information, see the Planning Guides in Academic Advising.

The Program

For a general discussion of the B.A. program, click here.

Sociology is the study of the organization and process of human society. Courses are offered in social theory, social research methods, and areas of special interest which include the following: criminology, medical sociology, First Nations sociology, ethnic relations, social stratification, gender, family, aging, and mass media and popular culture.

Transfer Features

Visit the Bachelor of Arts page for transfer features.

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

Visit the Bachelor of Arts page for full admission requirements.

Program Content
University of Alberta

For the Compulsory Core Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of A credits. RDC credits may differ from U of A credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Alberta Program Requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Pattern Year 1

  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • SOCI 260 (3 credits)
  • SOCI 261 (3 credits)
  • Basic Requirement (18 credits)

Criminology Concentration

Students seeking admission to Criminology should include ENGL 219/ENGL 220, SOCI 260, PSYC 260/PSYC 261 and a Language other than English in the first year of their program.

Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

SOCI 260

Sociological perspectives and concepts used to analyse social behaviour. The nature of group behaviour and social interaction. Culture; social organization; the social personality; and deviance. Note: SOCI 260 is the prerequisite for most advanced courses.

SOCI 261

Family; religion; education; politics; and economics. Social stratification and social inequality. Emphasis is on Canadian Society. Prerequisite: SOCI 260

Suggested Pattern Year 2

  • SOCI 332 (3 credits)
  • SOCI 312 (3 credits)
  • SOCI 310 (3 credits)
  • Sr SOCI (3 credits)
  • Basic Requirement (6 credits)
  • Open Option (12 credits)

Note: Sociology 261 is not required as a prerequisite for senior level Sociology courses; it is strongly recommended.

Year 2 Course Descriptions

SOCI 310

Statistical reasoning and techniques used by sociologists to summarize data and test hypotheses. Topics include describing distributions; cross-tabulations; probability; correlation/regression and non-parametric tests. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the department. Note: This course may not be taken for credit by students with credit in SOCI 311-6.

SOCI 312

Research design; data collection; and data processing strategies used by sociologists. Topics include research values and ethics; scaling; reliability and validity; experimentation; survey research techniques; historical methods; field research; and content analysis. Note: This course may not be taken for credit by students with credit in SOCI 311-6 Prerequisite: SOCI 310 (or equivalent)

SOCI 332

The origin and development of classical sociological theory. Emphasis is on the Enlightenment; Romantic-Conservative Reaction; Saint-Simon; Comte; Marx; Durkheim; Weber; and Freud. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the department.

University of Calgary

For the Compulsory Core Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of C credits. RDC credits may differ from U of C credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Calgary Program requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Year 1 Pattern

  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • SOCI 260/SOCI 261 (6 credits)
  • Science requirement (6 credits)
  • Options (12 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

SOCI 260

Sociological perspectives and concepts used to analyse social behaviour. The nature of group behaviour and social interaction. Culture; social organization; the social personality; and deviance. Note: SOCI 260 is the prerequisite for most advanced courses.

SOCI 261

Family; religion; education; politics; and economics. Social stratification and social inequality. Emphasis is on Canadian Society. Prerequisite: SOCI 260

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • SOCI 332/SOCI 333 (6 credits)
  • SOCI 310/SOCI 312 (6 credits)
  • Sr SOCI Options (6 credits)
  • Open Option (12 credits)
Year 2 Course Descriptions

SOCI 310

Statistical reasoning and techniques used by sociologists to summarize data and test hypotheses. Topics include describing distributions; cross-tabulations; probability; correlation/regression and non-parametric tests. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the department. Note: This course may not be taken for credit by students with credit in SOCI 311-6.

SOCI 312

Research design; data collection; and data processing strategies used by sociologists. Topics include research values and ethics; scaling; reliability and validity; experimentation; survey research techniques; historical methods; field research; and content analysis. Note: This course may not be taken for credit by students with credit in SOCI 311-6 Prerequisite: SOCI 310 (or equivalent)

SOCI 332

The origin and development of classical sociological theory. Emphasis is on the Enlightenment; Romantic-Conservative Reaction; Saint-Simon; Comte; Marx; Durkheim; Weber; and Freud. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the department.

SOCI 333

The contributions of modern and contemporary sociological theorists. Emphasis is on Structural Functionalism; Symbolic Interactionism; Ethnomethodology; Contemporary Feminist Theory; Neo-Marxism and Critical theory; and Post- Structuralism and Post-Modernism. Prerequisite: SOCI 332

University of Lethbridge

For the General Liberal Education Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of L credits. RDC credits may differ from U of L credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Lethbridge Program requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Year 1 Pattern

  • SOCI 260/SOCI 261 (6 credits)
  • ENGL 219/220 (6 credits)
  • General Liberal Education Requirements (18 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

SOCI 260

Sociological perspectives and concepts used to analyse social behaviour. The nature of group behaviour and social interaction. Culture; social organization; the social personality; and deviance. Note: SOCI 260 is the prerequisite for most advanced courses.

SOCI 261

Family; religion; education; politics; and economics. Social stratification and social inequality. Emphasis is on Canadian Society. Prerequisite: SOCI 260

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • SOCI 310/SOCI 312 (6 credits)
  • SOCI 332/SOCI 333 (6 credits)
  • Open Options (18 credits)
Year 2 Course Descriptions

SOCI 310

Statistical reasoning and techniques used by sociologists to summarize data and test hypotheses. Topics include describing distributions; cross-tabulations; probability; correlation/regression and non-parametric tests. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the department. Note: This course may not be taken for credit by students with credit in SOCI 311-6.

SOCI 312

Research design; data collection; and data processing strategies used by sociologists. Topics include research values and ethics; scaling; reliability and validity; experimentation; survey research techniques; historical methods; field research; and content analysis. Note: This course may not be taken for credit by students with credit in SOCI 311-6 Prerequisite: SOCI 310 (or equivalent)

SOCI 332

The origin and development of classical sociological theory. Emphasis is on the Enlightenment; Romantic-Conservative Reaction; Saint-Simon; Comte; Marx; Durkheim; Weber; and Freud. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the department.

SOCI 333

The contributions of modern and contemporary sociological theorists. Emphasis is on Structural Functionalism; Symbolic Interactionism; Ethnomethodology; Contemporary Feminist Theory; Neo-Marxism and Critical theory; and Post- Structuralism and Post-Modernism. Prerequisite: SOCI 332