Bachelor of Arts - Honors Sociology

Honors is about academic excellence and personal growth, both of which we hope you will experience as an honors student. The opportunity to develop research expertise in an area of interest to you under the mentorship of a professor will be useful for those thinking of pursuing graduate studies or other professional pathways.

The Honors program is unique in three important ways:

  1. It recognizes students who are doing well academically in their Sociology courses (higher admission standard) and requires that students maintain a higher level of academic performance.
  2. It provides an opportunity for even greater specialization in Sociology (minimum ★48 to a maximum of ★60).
  3. In their final year, Honors students complete ★6 through registration in SOC 407 and SOC 408 where they have the opportunity for independent research and the writing of an original honors thesis under the guidance of a Faculty member.

Degree Guide

Provides a general overview of majoring in Sociology for your honors degree and can be used to think about your academic and career pathways.

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Pathways

We have organized our courses into twelve pathways to assist students in identifying areas of interest within the Sociology program.

Admission Requirements:

High School Students:

Can apply for direct entry into the Faculty of Arts BA Honors Program (Honors Foundation Year).

Post-secondary Transfer Students:

  • Minimum of *24 units of transferable course weight required
  • Minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 3.3
  • Average of 3.3 or higher in all Sociology courses taken
  • No grade less than B- in any Sociology course taken
  • SOC 100 must be completed

    Transfer students can apply in any year of study, however, applying earlier (after your 1st or 2nd year) is recommended.

Application Deadline:

Students must apply online by March 1st for September admission.  

Requirements in the Major Subject:

Honors in Sociology requires successful completion of a minimum of ★48 to a maximum of ★60 in Sociology, including 9 at the 300- or 400-level and 6 at the 400-level.  See Calendar.

Course Requirements:

  • SOC 100 - Introductory Sociology
  • SOC 210 - Introduction to Social Statistics
  • SOC 212 - Classical Social Theory
  • SOC 315 - Introduction to Social Methodology
  • SOC 335 - Themes in Contemporary Social Theory
  • SOC 407 - Honors Thesis I
  • SOC 408 - Honors Thesis II
  • ★9 at the 300- or 400-level
  • ★6 at the 400-level

Two of:

  • SOC 241 - Social Psychology
  • SOC 251 - Population and Society
  • SOC 260 - Inequality and Social Stratification
  • SOC 269 - Introductory Sociology of Globalization

Plus:

  • ★6 in SOC at any level, in order to meet the minimum credits required for the major
Note: R SOC 355 and R SOC 450 have been approved for cross-listing as applicable to a major or minor in Sociology (see Cross-Listed Courses).

Promotion Requirements

Promotion from year to year requires a GPA of at least 3.0 with an average of at least 3.3 in all Sociology courses in the Fall/Winter.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation with Honors in Sociology requires a graduation average of at least 3.0 with an average of at least 3.3 in all Sociology courses. Graduation with First Class Honors requires an average of at least 3.7 in all senior Sociology courses and 3.5 or better on all courses in the final year (last ★30 completed).

Combined Honors in Sociology

The Honors in Sociology program is also available as a Combined Honors degree, for students interested in studying Sociology alongside another Arts discipline. Visit the Calendar for more details about the Combined Honors in Sociology program.

Additional Information:

      

View Honors Thesis Projects

Department Contact Information

Pamela Minty
Sociology Undergraduate Advisor
5-27 HM Tory Building
socundergrad@ualberta.ca
780.492.0468

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