Sociology (MA)
Master of Arts (MA)
The program aims to provide students with upper-level training in a wide variety of sociological theories and methods. It encourages students to engage their sociological imaginations in a number of different contexts and prepares them to do both academic and applied sociological work in a range of governmental and non-governmental sectors.
Why pursue a master's in sociology?
The Master of Arts (MA) in Sociology degree program provides advanced studies in general sociology and various specialized research fields.Offered since 1972, the MA program targets students interested in pursuing careers as sociologists or who currently work in occupations where sociological studies add value.
The MA program, like other graduate degree programs in sociology, emphasizes a pluralistic approach to scholarly theory and methods. Students are inspired to engage in a wide range of research emphases in both established and emerging fields.
Research is an essential component of the MA program and faculty members encourage student participation in research projects at the local, national and international levels. Students have opportunities to work as research assistants on individual faculty research projects or as part of a team on projects associated with another centre of research. Students are also involved in innovative student-initiated research projects, theses and essays.
Research is integral part of all three programs and faculty members encourage students to participate in projects within the department or at affiliated research centres. Faculty are involved with research initiatives at the local, national and international levels. Their research foci include:
- Community, Migration, Travel, Transnational links, Elites, Youth
- Feminisms, Ethnography, Histories of Anthropology
- Imperialism, Neoliberalism, Political Anthropology
- Environment and Infrastructure, Politics, Bureaucracy
- Gender and Development, Legal Anthropology, Muslim Feminisms
- The Body and Senses, Law and Society, Culture and Commerce, Art and Aesthetics
- Creolization, Language and Culture, Food
- Indigenous studies, ethnography, participatory research
- State Violence, Racialization, Citizenship
- Political Economy, Marxist Theory, Cultural and Critical Theory
- Family, Suicide, Sociological Theory, Modernity
- Emotions, morality, suffering and wellbeing, culture
- Risk, Surveillance, Social Justice
- Demography, History of Quebec/Canadian Population, Family
- Food and Sustainability, Social Economy, World-System Studies
- Youth, Addictive Behaviours, Population Health
- Self, Body, Gender, Sexuality, Popular Media, Cultural Theory
- Environmental governance and neoliberalism; Eco-citizenry; Post-humanism
- Social and cultural theory, Journalism and media studie
- Medicine, Gender, Racialization
- Sex Industry, Mixed Methodologies, Social Justice, Policy Research
- Digital Culture, Science and Technology, Social Theory
- Social theory, Deviance, Sociology of Law
- Men, Bodies, Senses
- Quebec, Social Movements, Political Sociology
Program details
Master of/Magisteriate in Arts in Sociology with Thesis (Option A)
Courses. Each student must satisfactorily complete the following program: SOCI 602 (3 credits), SOCI 603 (3 credits), SOCI 612 (3 credits), SOCI 613 (3 credits), SOCI 660 (3 credits), and SOCI 690 (3 credits); a course in the area of research (3 credits); one elective course (3 credits), SOCI 691 (21 credits).
Thesis. Students enrolled in the thesis option are required to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research which reflects a scientific approach. The thesis proposal, SOCI 690 (prepared within the confines of the thesis tutorial) will serve as the basis for the elaboration of the written thesis, SOCI 691. The student will then orally defend the thesis before an examining committee. The thesis may be written in either English or French.
Master of/Magisteriate in Arts without Thesis (Essay - Option B)
Courses. Each student must satisfactorily complete the following program: SOCI 602 (3 credits), SOCI 603 (3 credits), SOCI 612 (3 credits), SOCI 613 (3 credits), SOCI 660 (3 credits), SOCI 695 (18 credits) and 12 credits of electives.
Essay. SOCI 695 (18 credits): Each student is required to write the essay under the supervision of one faculty member and is evaluated by two faculty members, including the supervisor. It can either be a literature review of a substantive nature, or a report on empirical research. Students are expected to submit work of publishable or near publishable quality. The appropriate length of the essay is approximately 40 pages.
Note 1. All students are required to plan courses related to their own interests with the help of advisors.
Note 2. No more than 6 credits of elective studies taken outside the discipline may be credited towards the degree.
Admission Requirements. An undergraduate degree with honours or specialization in sociology, with a grade point average of 3.00 (B average) is required. An undergraduate degree with a major in sociology, with a grade point average of 3.00 (B average) will also be considered provided that the background preparation is acceptable. Applicants with degrees in cognate disciplines with higher grade point averages will also be considered.
Applicants who lack certain prerequisite courses may be required to take a qualifying program of up to 12 undergraduate credits in addition to the regular graduate program. For the qualifying program a grade point average of 3.00 (B average) is required.
Applicants with deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation may be required to take up to 24 undergraduate independent credits.
International students must pass the TOEFL iBT language test with a minimum score of 80 (or 550 for TOEFL PBT). Similar scores on comparable tests are acceptable.
Applications to the program must be accompanied by a preliminary statement (roughly 500 words in length) of the student’s intentions regarding research and thesis.
Checklist:
- Application form and fee
- Three official academic letters of recommendation (in a sealed and signed envelope) with academic assessment form
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Purpose (three pages double spaced plus bibliography). The Statement of Purpose should include the following;
- Your subject of interest;
- The question which you will pose;
- The methods that you will use;
- A short presentation of relevant debates and theoretical engagements with which your work will correspond and use;
- And finally, the name of a potential supervisor whose work you know and with whom you have communicated and would like to work with
- Unofficial transcripts: graduate and undergraduate
- Proof of Canadian citizenship, Permanent Resident status, or Refugee status
- Language proficiency (if required)
- Sample of writing (optional)
| DEGREE |
FALL (September) |
WINTER (January) |
SUMMER (May/June) |
| Sociology | MA | Jan. 15 | Oct. 1 | n/a |
Priority will be given to those who apply within the official deadlines listed above. Some programs may continue to accept applications after these deadlines. For more information, please contact the department.
Sample classes
- Issues in Classical Sociological Theory
- Issues in Contemporary Sociological Theory
- Quantitative Research Design and Methods
- Qualitative Research Design and Methods
Opportunities exist for students to work as teaching and research assistants within the department. The selection process is competitive. Preference is given to experienced applicants with an aptitude for the work to be performed. Research assistants participate in funded projects and are hired by the individual faculty members conducting the research.
The department also offers financial support to students presenting papers at conferences.
