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 universities

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 
Program Cost Estimates

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Jane MacNeil
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 the Bachelor of Arts program.

Four-Year Degree Completion:

* Years three and four of a University of Calgary Bachelor of Arts degree can be completed at RDC. Majors in Psychology and Sociology are available (with optional Minors in 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.

Related Careers
  • Advertising
  • Government and Civil Service
  • Research
  • Administration
  • Law Enforcement and Corrections
  • Industrial Relations
  • Public Relations
  • Management
  • Radio and Television
  • Recreation
  • Journalism
  • Urban Planning
  • Publishing & Printing
  • Armed Forces
  • Writing
  • Consulting
  • Social Services

Graduates may also go on to professional studies (for example in fields such as law, business, education, etc.) or may continue to graduate studies (for a Master's or Doctoral program) in Sociology.

B.A. graduates generally have superior skills in conceptual analysis, evaluation and critical reasoning, leadership motivation, and interpersonal and communication skills.

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

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

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. 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

Examines the structure and functioning of Canadian society, including political, economic, cultural and value structures and processes. Prerequisite: SOCI 260

Suggested Pattern Year 2

  • SOCI 310 (3 credits)
  • SOCI 312 (3 credits)
  • SOCI 365 (3 credits)
  • Sr SOCI (9 credits)
  • Basic Requirements/Open Options (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. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the Department.

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

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

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. 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

Examines the structure and functioning of Canadian society, including political, economic, cultural and value structures and processes. 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. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the Department.

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

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

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. 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

Examines the structure and functioning of Canadian society, including political, economic, cultural and value structures and processes. 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. Prerequisite: SOCI 260 or consent of the Department.

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