Degree in Sociology students working on a group project
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Sociology (BA)

  • Program Length 
    4 Years
  • Credential 
    Bachelor Degree
  • Options 
    Honours, Major, Minor
  • Partially Available at 
    tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

Are you fascinated by the social behaviour of people? Consider a Sociology major!

Students in the VIU Sociology study program explore a breadth of issues and events from the past, present and future that shape society. Sociology covers every aspect of human existence, making the skills learned and understanding gained from this area of study carry over into almost any future career.

With an in-depth awareness of the inner workings of social behaviour from a macro level, Bachelor of Sociology students graduate with the tools to help make the world a better place with careers in social work, government, counselling, community affairs and international aid.

The Sociology (BA) Program

Sociologists seek to understand human behaviour and attitudes by examining how these are shaped by history, culture and a society’s political and economic arrangements. Sociologists examine how ‘macro’ issues such as race, class and gender, environmental destruction, and technological innovation are linked to the constraints and opportunities faced by individuals. Of central concern to sociology is the study of social inequality at the local, national and global levels. Sociologists also study how societies change and how such changes affect the life chances of individuals and groups. Sociological research spans a very wide range of subject areas including family, gender, aging, social movements, health, religion, population, science and technology, community development and the natural environment.

The B.A. Major in Sociology is a well-rounded program that provides students with a solid grounding in research methods, sociological theory and the core areas of sociological inquiry including inequality, gender, social change, political economy, family and the self in society.

The B.A. Minor in Sociology can be combined with a Minor in another discipline to fulfil the requirements for the B.A. degree. This is a flexible option that allows students to tailor a program best suited to their educational goals and career aspirations.

Requirements for a Major

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2 *

Credits

SOCI 111 - (Introduction to Sociology)

3

SOCI 209 - (Social Inequality)

3

SOCI 250 - (Introduction to Social Research) or equivalent**

3

Plus two additional lower-level SOCI courses

6

* All required Year 1 and 2 courses must have a minimum average grade of “C+” with no grade lower than “C” in each course.

** Students with credit in SSID 250, CRIM 220 or PSYC 204 are exempt from SOCI 250.

Years 3 and 4

Credits

SOCI 310 - (Foundations of Social Theory) or,
SOCI 312 - (Contemporary Sociological Theory)

3

Select one* of the following courses:
SOCI 350 - (Qualitative Research),
SOCI 351 - (Quantitative Research and Analysis),
CRIM 350 - (Qualitative Research Methods), 
CRIM 351 - (Quantitative Research Methods),
PSYC 300A - (Statistical Methods in Psychology I)
PSYC 304 - (Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology) or,
SSID 350 - (Qualitative Research)

3

Note: The above courses require a minimum grade of “C” in each course.

A minimum of twenty-four additional credits of Sociology courses numbered 300 and above. 
Note: Up to nine of the required twenty-four minimum credits may be taken as experiential learning options (SOCI 391,SOCI 392, SOCI 393, or SOCI 499).
Note: Up to twelve of the required twenty-four minimum credits may be taken as some combination of experiential learning options or courses in other departments that are defined as suitable, as noted below.
Note: Up to nine of the required twenty-four minimum credits may be taken from course in other departments. Please check the departmental website or the department chair for a current list of courses, or check with the department chair to determine other suitable courses within these areas.

24

* Students may not receive credit in more than one of SOCI 350, CRIM 350, SSID 350 or PSYC 304. Students may not receive credit in more than one of SOCI 351, CRIM 351, or PSYC 300A.

Note: Many upper-level Sociology courses are offered on a three-year rotation. Students are encouraged to review the Sociology Department's course scheduling page for information on expected course dates.

Requirements for a Minor

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2 *

Credits

SOCI 111 - (Introduction to Sociology)

3

SOCI 209 - (Social Inequality)

3

SOCI 250 - (Introduction to Social Research)

3

Plus two additional lower-level SOCI courses

6

* All Years 1 & 2 required courses must be completed with a minimum average grade of “C+” and no grade lower than “C” in each course.

Years 3 and 4

Credits

Select one of the following:
SOCI 310 - (Foundations of Social Theory) or,
SOCI 312 - (Contemporary Social Theory)

3

A minimum of fifteen additional credits of Sociology courses numbered 300* and above. 
Note: Up to three of the required fifteen minimum credits may be taken as experiential learning options (SOCI 391 or SOCI 499).
Note: Up to three of the required fifteen minimum credits may be taken from courses in other departments. Please check the departmental website or with the department chair for a current list of courses, or check with the department chair to determine other suitable courses within these areas. 

15

* Many upper-level Sociology courses are offered on a three-year rotation. Students are encouraged to review the Sociology Department's course scheduling page for information on expected course dates.

Recommended Electives

Electives from any Social Sciences discipline and from History are directly supportive of Sociology. Students planning a Major or Minor in Sociology should seek advice from the B.A. Degree Advisors.

Domestic Fees | International Fees

Domestic Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year*

Amount

Tuition (30 credits x $166.40 per credit)

4,992.00

Student Activity fee (4% of tuition)

199.68

Student Services fee (30 credits x $7.35 per credit)

220.50

VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month)

220.80

Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year)

265.00

Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year

1,500.00

Total

7,397.98
Notes

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

International Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year*

Amount

Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester)

23,993.10

Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester)

926.80

VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month)

220.80

Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year)

265.00

Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year

1,500.00

Total

26,905.70
Notes

Tuition in the above table is based on $776.48 per credit, up to a maximum of $10,870.72 per semester for 15 credits; $776.48 per credit beyond 15 credits. Ancillary Fees in the above table are based on $33.10 per credit, up to a maximum of $463.40 per semester for 15 credits; $33.10 per credit beyond 15 credits.

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

Updated
Monday, April 3, 2023

The Program

The BA Sociology (Honours) degree offers qualified students the opportunity to achieve the highest standards of academic excellence coupled with personal growth, and civic engagement in their time at VIU. Students accepted into the program will complete additional training in social theory, social justice and research methods, and will complete a senior research project in an area of their own choosing. The Honours degree is designed to allow students to tailor their degree to match their post-degree aspirations.

The Honours degree in Sociology is an excellent choice for students who want more focus and direction in their degree than is possible in the traditional BA because we offer a wide range of classroom and experiential-learning opportunities. Vancouver Island University excels in undergraduate research, and the Honours degree in Sociology is designed to foster this excellence. Students may work one-on-one with faculty in an area of the student’s choosing, or in an area of faculty expertise. Students wishing to do applied community-based research will find our CBAIR (Community Based Applied Interdisciplinary Research) course of particular interest.

Opportunities also exist for experiential learning through field placements (SOCI 499) or field schools (SOCI 391, 392 and 393). Sociology students may also be interested in the Liberal Studies Abroad yearly field school to Florence, Italy. Combined, these practical experiences provide the framework within which students can excel.  

Our Honours degree is an excellent preparation for Masters programs in Sociology and a wide range of other areas including (but not limited to) law, education, social policy, mediation, health care administration, social research, and positions in all levels of government. Students will graduate with collegial relationships with faculty members, and with the theoretical and methodological skills to allow them to secure research and analytical jobs in the non-profit, public and private sectors. 

For more information, please contact the department Chair.

Program Outline

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. requirements as outlined in the Calendar, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2

SOCI 111* - (Introduction to Sociology)

3

SOCI 209 - (Social Inequality)

3

SOCI 250** - (Introduction to Social Research) or equivalent*

3

Plus two additional lower-level SOCI courses

6

* Students with credit in INTR 102 are exempt from SOCI 111.

** Students with credit in SSID 250, CRIM 220 or PSYC 204 are exempt from SOCI 250.

Years 3 and 4

SOCI 310 - (Foundations of Social Theory)

3

SOCI 312 - (Contemporary Sociological Theory)

 3

SOCI 350* - (Qualitative Research) or equivalent**

 3

SOCI 351** - (Quantitative Research and Analysis) or equivalent

 3

SOCI 491 - (Senior Project)

 3

A minimum of twenty-seven additional credits of Sociology courses numbered 300 and above. 
Note: Up to nine of the required twenty-seven minimum credits may be taken as experiential learning options (SOCI 391,SOCI 392, SOCI 393, or SOCI 499).
Note: Up to twelve of the required twenty-seven minimum credits may be taken as some combination of experiential learning options or courses in other departments that are defined as suitable, as noted below.
Note: Up to nine of the required twenty-seven minimum credits may be taken from course in other departments. Please check the departmental website or the department chair for a current list of courses, or check with the department chair to determine other suitable courses within these areas.

27

* Students with credit in CRIM 350, PSYC 304, or SSID 350 are exempt from SOCI 350.

** Students with credit in CRIM 351 or PSYC 300A are exempt from SOCI 351.

Note: some courses may not be offered every year. Please see the Sociology Course Schedule for more information.

Recommended Electives

Liberal Studies, Media Studies, Philosophy, Criminology, Anthropology, Political Studies, Psychology, Geography,
Women’s Studies, Global Studies, Economics.

Completion Requirements

Honours students need an average GPA of 3.67 ("A-") on all 3rd and 4th year courses taken within the discipline in order to graduate from an Honours program.

Residency Requirement:

Students are expected to complete 50% of their upper level credits at Vancouver Island University, with the approval of the appropriate Dean and under exceptional circumstances.

Admission Requirements

The requirement for admission is a GPA of at least a 3.67 (A-) on the most recent 45 credits of study. There is limited space in the Honours program and not all students who meet the requirement will be admitted to the Honours program in Sociology.

Start Date and Application Deadline

Students can apply to the Honours program through the Program Chair. There are no application deadlines, but students are encouraged to apply in the first semester of their third year, to facilitate planning of remaining courses. Successful students will be connected with a faculty mentor, who will help guide them through the process, including linking to a senior project advisor.

Domestic (Canadian)

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Location
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 3, 2024
Application Fee
45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erin Johnson
Phone: 604.485.8033
Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca

Comments

Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604.485.2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements.
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June. 

Application Fee
45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erica Ellenchuk
Phone: 250.746.3512
Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca

Comments

Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca.
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June. 

Application Fee
45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erica Ellenchuk
Phone: 250.746.3512
Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca

Comments

Questions about becoming a student can be directed to the Office of Future Students at 250.740.6672 or email Connect@viu.ca.
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 2, 2025
Accepting International Applications
No
Application Fee
$45.16
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erin Johnson
Phone: 604.485.8033
Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca

Comments

Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604.485.2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements.

International

Program Start Date Accepting Applications
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 2, 2025
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.

Accepting International Applications
Yes
Application Fee
$150.00
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
International Admissions Officer Contact

Name: Elham Akhoundi
Email: Study@viu.ca

Comments

For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to WorldVIU@viu.ca.

Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.


Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.