75 University Avenue West | Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3385 | Fax: (519) 747-2106 | Email: chooselaurier@wlu.ca

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Part-Time, Distance & Continuing Education

W i l f r i d L a u r i e r U n i v e r s i t y

1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University

1911-2011 | Wilfrid Laurier University

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Sociology

SociologyatLaurier

Sociology is a broad-based field of study that deals with the

development, structure and functioning of human society.Sociology asks about the puzzles of social life: how we live together and build a social life, how social organizations are formed and maintained, and how they can be changed. Sociologists are interested in medicine, law, crime, family structures, the environment, political and economic structures, and the social functions of religion and churches.

Studying Sociology at LaurierAlong with sociological theory-building and a rich combination of qualitative and quantitative research, one thing that sets the Sociology Department at Laurier apart from sociology departments at other universities is our professors’ activism and commitment to social justice.

Sociology elsewhere tends to be “more academic and value-free,” says professor Dr. Juanne Clarke. “All of us at Laurier are interested in social justice, whether it involves gender, the environment, families, poverty, international development or ethnic relations. We are interested in social justice issues from whatever perspective.”

“A lot of us are also activists involved in local politics, the community and various service organizations,” she says. “Our research areas are very wide and varied, taking in areas such as the environment, medicine, mothering, gender and poverty. And we are critical. That makes us unique.”

About the programsLaurier offers an Honours BA in Sociology and an Honours BA in Sociology in combi-nation with another honours BA program.

The Honours BA in Sociology normally takes four years to complete, and consists of 20 full-credit courses (or the equivalent), including at least 11 but no more than 13 credits in sociology.

The Honours BA in Sociology in combi-nation with another honours BA program also consists of 20 full-credit courses or the equivalent, but requires seven to nine credits in sociology.

AdmiSSion infoRmAtionfor the most up-to-date information about

admission to Laurier, go to www.wlu.ca/admissions.

“My decision to attend Laurier was twofold,” recalls Liz Knox, a fourth-year sociology student.

Initially, Knox was drawn to Laurier because of its small-school and supportive environment. But she also states that it was Laurier’s high performance atmosphere that spoke to her both academically and athletically.

“As a hockey prospect, I recognized what a privilege it would be to play for Laurier’s nationally ranked women’s hockey team.”

Knox is the goaltender for Laurier’s women’s hockey team and has been since her first year at Laurier. She was recently named the 2010 Outstanding Woman of Laurier for her exceptional contributions to the women’s hockey team and to Laurier as a student and volunteer.

Off the ice, Knox’s area of study wasn’t as a clear cut as her role as goaltender. She started her undergraduate degree with no declared major but was quickly drawn to the sociology program.

“It is a field of study that challenged my perception and allowed me to diversify my under-standing of the world in which we live.”

Upon graduation, Knox plans to continue her pursuit of a spot on the National Women’s Hockey team while simultaneously focusing her studies in law.

Itisafieldofstudythatchallengedmyperceptionandallowedmeto

diversifymyunderstandingoftheworldinwhichwelive.

Co-op at LaurierHonours arts students in co-op complete two work terms of at least 10 weeks each, usually in the summers following their second and third years. Participants receive training in job search techniques and assistance in finding employment related to their studies or career goals.

Why should you consider co-op?• Puttheoryintoaction• Applyyourtechnicalskills• Clarifyyourcareergoals• Developmarketableskills• Gainvaluablecontacts

Recent employers of Sociology co-op students include:• CurriculumServicesCanada,�Toronto• HumanResources&SkillsDevelopment

Canada,�Gatineau• JohnHowardSocietyofWaterlooRegion,�

Kitchener

• LiteracyGroupofWaterlooRegion,�Waterloo• RegionofWaterloo,�Kitchener

the management optionHonours arts students are also eligible for the Management Option. This option will give you fundamental training in key areas of business such as business organization, accounting, marketing, management skills, operations and the fundamentals of finance, macroeconomics and microeconomics, interpersonal communications, business law, personal finance and business management.

Legal Studies optionThe Legal Studies Option is designed to give students an opportunity to study legal topics, theories and methods that are at the intersection of law, politics, business, history, philosophy, gender, justice, human rights and ethics. This Option might be of particular interest to those students interestedin pursuing a career in law.

For more information on the Legal Studies Option or the Management Option, visit www.wlu.ca/calendars.

SociologyofYouth

SociologyandCulturalForms

SocialMovements

PoliticalSociology

SociologyofMassCommunication

Health,�IllnessandGender

SociologyoftheFamily

SociologicalTheory

SocialInequality

SociologyofCrime

SociologyofPhysicalActivity

SociologyofAging

Bodies,�Bioethics,�andBoundaries

Migration,�Globalization&Transnationalism

Optionstoenhanceyourdegree

Sample courses offered

Dr. Jasmin Zine is passionate about teaching. As an associate professor of sociology, she is committed to teaching issues of social injustice and equity, and encourages her students to create strong learning communities.

“I see the classroom as an important place to not only gain knowledge, but also as a site of transformation geared toward affecting change and social justice.”

Zine’s research focuses on several areas of sociology, including the sociology of education, critical race and ethnic studies, Muslim studies and post-colonial theory. Her most recent publication, Canadian Islamic Schools: Unraveling the Politics of Faith, Gender, Knowledge and Identity, is a groundbreaking study that examines independent religious schools in Toronto.

Zine believes conducting research internationally and participating in academic forums strengthens the quality of research.

“The networks that develop through these forums are an important means to disseminate research and have dialogues that further our understanding of the work we do and its implication on a global scale.”

Iseetheclassasasiteoftransformationgearedtowardaffectingchangeand

socialjustice.

75 University Avenue West | Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3385 | Fax: (519) 747-2106 | Email: chooselaurier@wlu.ca

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Recent career examples• HumanResourceManager,�Pepsi-Cola

CanadaLtd• JusticeofthePeace,�GovernmentofOntario• SkillsTrainingOfficer,�MinistryofEducation• Director,�FinancialDevelopment,�YMCAof

Kitchener-Waterloo• FundraisingCoordinator,�CanadianCancerSociety• SocialWorker,�OttawaGeneralHospital• CorporateDevelopmentCoordinator,�Children’s

AidFoundation

A people profession Years ago, when Craig Richardson was in his first year at Laurier, he didn’t have a clear idea of what to major in. At the time, he wanted to be a lawyer, and Laurier seemed like the kind of university that would jump-start his career.

“I chose Laurier for a combination of reasons: size, reputation and location,” says Richardson. “It was well-

regarded as a great university with solid academics, spirit, sports and faculty.”

Initially, Richardson took a variety of different arts courses but soon found his calling in sociology.

“It chose me,” he says. “I appreciated the awareness sociology afforded me in terms of societal behaviour, which I found intriguing.”

Aside from the more theoretical aspects of the program, Richardson found sociology to embody many different traits that helped him in establishing himself as a business leader. Today, Richardson is the president and CEO of Grand River Foods and serves as the current president of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors (AOFP).

What can you do with a degree in Sociology?A university degree in any discipline will open doors for you. No matter what you study, your degree confirms that you know how to think critically and communicate, and you have the ability to analyze a wealth of material and extract what you need from it. These are skills that are valued by any employer.

About one-third of Ontario’s university students are enrolled in an arts program, and the most recent Ontario University Graduate Survey indicates that more than 90 percent of Ontario arts graduates are employed within six months of graduation.

Sociology graduates can be found in law, social work, policing, teaching, alternative medicine, criminal justice and parole work, human resources, public relations, public opinion research and marketing.

Yourcareerstartshere

Iappreciatedtheawarenesssociologyaffordedmeintermsofsocietalbehaviour,�

whichIfoundintriguing.

Craig Richardson President and CEO of Grand River Foods, president of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors (AOFP)