Last updated: October 17, 2023 @ 08:57AM
Sociology
Master of Arts in Critical Sociology, Co-op
Master of Arts in Critical Sociology
Dean
Ingrid Makus
Faculty of Social Sciences
Associate Dean
Dawn Zinga
Faculty of Social Sciences
Core Faculty
Professors
Kate Bezanson (Sociology), Nancy Cook (Sociology), Andrea Doucet (Sociology/Women's and Gender Studies), Thomas Dunk (Sociology), Ifeanyi Ezeonu (Sociology), Tamari Kitossa (Sociology), Rebecca Raby (Child & Youth Studies), John Sorenson (Sociology), Michelle Webber (Sociology)
Associate Professors
Jonah Butovsky (Sociology), Robyn Bourgeois (Women's and Gender Studies), Lauren Corman (Sociology), Katerina Deliovsky (Sociology), Margot Francis (Sociology/Women's and Gender Studies), Kevin Gosine (Sociology), Trent Newmeyer (Sociology), Hijin Park (Sociology), Mary-Beth Raddon (Sociology), Ian Ritchie (Kinesiology), Dennis Soron (Sociology)
Assistant Professors
Michele Donnelly (Sport Management), Julie Ham (Sociology), Gökbörü Sarp Tanyildiz (Sociology)
Lecturer
Lyn Trudeau (Women's and Gender Studies/Sociology)
Graduate Program Director
Thomas Dunk
tdunk@brocku.ca
Administrative Coordinator/Graduate Advisor
Debbie Ouellette
STH 400A
905-688-5550 x 3455
csociology@brocku.ca
brocku.ca/programs/graduate/ma-soci/
Program Description
The MA in Critical Sociology is based on three foundations: (i) an examination of theoretical perspectives in critical sociology, (ii) the study of both standard and innovative sociological methodologies, and (iii) the exploration of a diversity of key topics in the field. Through course work and interaction with faculty, students will be exposed to a wide range of critical sociological frameworks, including Marxist political economy, political ecology, critical race theory, feminist analyses, critical animal studies, and poststructuralist, queer and post-colonial paradigms. Students will also examine a diverse range of sociological methodologies, in particular ethnographic research, interview and survey-based research methods, critical discourse analysis, and feminist methodologies. This theoretical and methodological foundation, coupled with exposure to diverse empirical concerns, will prepare students to develop sophisticated and rigorous approaches to critical sociological research and analysis.
The program will prepare students to enter a wide variety of employment fields, as well as to proceed to PhD level studies in Sociology, related disciplines, and other interdisciplinary programs. Possible career options include social research and policy development, employment in social advocacy and activism organizations, program evaluation for both governmental and non-governmental organizations, and teaching in community colleges and other venues.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Sociology, with a minimum average of 75%. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in English. For students who must provide proof of English Language Proficiency the minimum TOEFL score of 580 (TWE 4.5) or equivalent score on the other tests of ELP accepted by Brock University is required. For full listing of accepted tests see: brocku.ca/graduate-studies/future-students/international/english-language-proficiency/.
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.
Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.
Degree Requirements
Students will consult with the Director or designated faculty liaison person when planning their programs of study. Additional credits may be required of candidates with insufficient pre-admission background.
The program offers three streams: course work and major research paper, course work and major research paper with co-op, or course work and thesis. Students are not accepted directly into the thesis stream. Students wishing to pursue the thesis stream must seek approval from the Director at the end of the first term.
Scheme A: Course Work and Major Research Paper
The program of study must include: SOCI 5F91 (major research paper), SOCI 5P01, SOCI 5P02, four half-credit electives, and SOCI 5N00 (graduate workshop). Of the four half-credit electives, normally three will be offered as electives within the Critical Sociology program and normally one will be a course offered by another Brock graduate program, a graduate course at another Ontario university (OVGS), or a Directed Studies course. All courses must be pre-approved by the Graduate Program Director.
Scheme A is designed to normally be completed in four terms.
Major Research Paper
To complete the requirements of SOCI 5F91, each student must complete a major research paper that demonstrates capacity for independent work and original research or thought. The major paper shall be chosen in consultation with a Supervisor and will be evaluated by the Supervisor and a second faculty reader. Students interested in pursuing a broader range of courses should enroll in Scheme A. Full-time students must complete four successive terms of full time study.
In the first Fall term, full-time students in Scheme A will normally enroll in SOCI 5P01, SOCI 5P02, SOCI 5N00, (this workshop runs over two terms) and provisionally one elective course.
In the winter term, students in Scheme A will normally enroll in two or three additional elective courses. If any course credits are outstanding at the end of the spring term, they may be taken in the second fall term.
Part-time students will normally take one of either SOCI 5P01 or SOCI 5P02 in the first term and at least one half-credit course per year thereafter.
Scheme B: Course Work and Major Research Paper with Co-op
Scheme B entails a program of study identical to that of Scheme A with three exceptions: (a) Scheme B students undertake two four-month co-op work terms, typically paid full time employment experience (SOCI 5N01 and 5N02) in the third and fourth terms of the program; (b) Scheme B students must complete successfully the mandatory Co-op Professional Preparation Course (SOCI 5N90) in the first term of the program; and (c) one half-credit elective, typically completed in the second term by Scheme A students, will be taken by Scheme B students in the fifth term of the program to enable participation in SOCI 5N90.
Co-op students typically undertake two consecutive four-month work terms with the same employer, although approval may be granted for two four-month work terms with different employers. In either scenario, students are required to register for and pass the two work placement courses (SOCI 5N01 and 5N02).
In addition to regular tuition all co-op students pay an administrative fee. Please see the Schedule of Fees for detailed information. Fees are subject to change.
Scheme B is a six-term (24 month) program of study.
Scheme C: Course Work and Thesis
The program of study must include: SOCI 5F90 (thesis), SOCI 5P01, SOCI 5P02, two half-credit electives, and SOCI 5N00 (graduate workshop). The electives will normally be offered within the Critical Sociology program; however, subject to the approval of the Director, students may complete one elective credit offered by another Brock graduate program, a graduate course at another Ontario university (OVGS), or a Directed Studies course.
Scheme C is designed to normally be completed in six terms.
Thesis
To complete the requirements of SOCI 5F90, each student must complete, and defend at a public oral examination, a thesis that demonstrates a capacity for independent work and original research or thought. The thesis topic shall be chosen in consultation with the Supervisor and other members of the Supervisory Committee. A formal thesis proposal must be approved by the Committee. Scheme B is intended for students who are prepared to do an in-depth project on a specialized topic.
Full-time students in Scheme B will normally enroll in SOCI 5P01, SOCI 5P02, and the graduate workshop (SOCI 5N00, note that this workshop normally runs over two terms) in the first fall term. In the winter term students in Scheme B will normally enroll in two additional elective courses.
Part-time students will normally take one of either SOCI 5P01 or SOCI 5P02 in the first term and at least one half-credit course per year thereafter.
Course Descriptions
Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable timetable for details.
Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.
SOCI 5F90
MA Thesis
An in-depth research project involving the preparation and public defense of a thesis that demonstrates the capacity for independent work and original research or thought.
SOCI 5F91
Major Research Paper
A major research paper that demonstrates the capacity for independent work and original research or thought.
SOCI 5N00
Graduate Workshop
A non-credit graduate workshop that focuses on issues in graduate studies and critical sociological research students encounter while developing their programs of study and preparing their proposals, research papers and theses.
Note: Completion of the workshop is required for successful completion of the MA program.
SOCI 5N01
Co-op Employment I
Co-op work term (four months) with an approved employer providing a work integrated learning experience related to the student's chosen area of concentration. The co-op employment is full-time with 35 to 40 hours per week for 12 to 16 weeks. Students are required to meet all the work term deliverables successfully (learning objective, work site visit, work term report and work term evaluation) and fulfill their employment contract in order to receive a "Satisfactory" grade for the work term.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 5N90
SOCI 5N02
Co-op Employment II
Co-op work term (four months) with an approved employer providing a work integrated learning experience related to the student's chosen area of concentration. The co-op employment is full-time with 35 to 40 hours per week for 12 to 16 weeks. Students are required to meet all the work term deliverables successfully (learning objective, work site visit, work term report and work term evaluation) and fulfill their employment contract in order to receive a "Satisfactory" grade for the work term.
SOCI 5N03
Co-op Employment III
Co-op work term (four months) with an approved employer providing a work integrated learning experience related to the student's chosen area of concentration. The co-op employment is full-time with 35 to 40 hours per week for 12 to 16 weeks. Students are required to meet all the work term deliverables successfully (learning objective, work site visit, work term report and work term evaluation) and fulfill their employment contract in order to receive a "Satisfactory" grade for the work term.
SOCI 5N90
Co-op Professional Preparation Course
The primary goal of this course is to provide graduate students with the tools, resources and skills to maximize co-op employment and professional development opportunities – both while at Brock and after graduation. This course is a pre-requisite for any co-op students who wish to participate in co-op job search and grade will be evaluated based on class participation including attendance and completion of professional projects.
SOCI 5P01
Critical Social Theories
A survey of key historical and contemporary theoretical themes in critical Sociology.
SOCI 5P02
Critical Social Research Design and Methods
An exploration of the methodological and epistemological foundations of major traditions of sociological inquiry, techniques of data collection, and case studies of critical sociological research in each tradition.
SOCI 5P20
Globalization, Inequality and Social Change
Sociological perspectives on economic, social, cultural and political processes of globalization; global social inequalities; the historical antecedents of globalization; and global social movements.
SOCI 5P30
Engaging Criminology in the 21st Century
Critical examination of contemporary and historical issues and theory in criminology. Topics may include advanced criminological theories, heterodoxies, controversies and contemporary issues in criminology, criminal justice and sociology of law.
SOCI 5P40
Colonialism, Capitalism, and Animality
Sociological perspectives on the intersections of colonialism, capitalism and animality. Topics may include various forms of colonialism and animals, anti-colonial perspectives on animals, political economy and animals, animal oppression and social justice, and related ethical debates.
SOCI 5P50
Critical Sociologies of Gender and Sexuality
Current sociological perspectives on femininity, masculinity and sexuality as organizing principles of society at local, national and global scales that articulate with other social inequalities to shape principal social identities and institutions.
SOCI 5P60
Critical Perspectives on Race and Racism
Current sociological perspectives on the social inequalities associated with issues of race, racism, ethnicity and anti-racism; the articulation of race with other forms of social inequality at the local, national and global level; and anti-racist struggles for social justice.
SOCI 5P80
Problems and Possibilities in Economic Life
Perspectives drawn from economic sociology, political economy and other interdisciplinary disciplines on the relationship between economic structure and social organization and inequalities; alternative ways of organizing material life and social life; and democratic socialist planning.
SOCI 5P90
Environment in Social Context
Current sociological perspectives on the relationship between environment and human societies. Topics may include environment inequalities and social justice struggles, sustainability, biodiversity, consumerism, and environmental management.
SOCI 5P95
Directed Study
Specialized study on an individual basis under the direction of a faculty supervisor.
SOCI 5V80-5V89
Selected Topics in Critical Sociology
A topic in critical sociology that will vary by instructor.