Program Requirements

2024-2025 Academic Year

Undergraduate Academic Calendar information header

Chair

Alex Khasnabish, BA Honours (McMaster), MA (McMaster), PhD (McMaster), Professor

The Sociology/Anthropology Department offers a joint undergraduate program in Sociology and Anthropology. The department’s goals are as follows:

  • to engage our students through a critical, social justice orientation to social processes, policies and structures, with a special emphasis on women
  • to challenge our students in the process of making sense of the world, to understand the effects of social problems and to encourage them to make a difference by integrating theory and practice
  • to provide our majors and honours students with qualitative and quantitative research skills that will be valuable in a variety of academic and non-academic contexts upon graduation
  • to provide high quality courses to programs in allied disciplines and interdisciplinary programs at the Mount

These goals can be summarized in the slogan of our department: JUSTICE, EQUALITY, COMMUNITY AND CHANGE. Right from our first year introductory course, students will be exposed to both qualitative and quantitative methods and encouraged to apply them to issues that are meaningful in their lives. Majors and honours students will be given practical instruction on a variety of social research methodologies, data analysis techniques including the use of disciplinary standard software packages, and the production and dissemination of research results. SOAN majors also take courses in sociological and anthropological theory, giving them a chance to explore core ideas of the disciplines. While our program seeks to provide students with a solid grounding and broad exposure to these disciplines’ theories and practice, our approach is to downplay the artificial boundaries that separate Sociology and Anthropology. These boundaries are particularly unimportant in a world where the major issues are all at least partly global in nature. Beyond the core courses, majors have significant freedom to concentrate on various substantive areas through the selection of appropriate electives. Throughout these courses, our goal is to engage students in social issues, to provide tools so they can do their own analyses, and to empower them.

The Sociology/Anthropology Department also plays a significant role in providing required and/or elective courses to students in other academic programs at the University, including Child and Youth Study, Cultural Studies, Education, Family Studies and Gerontology, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political and Canadian Studies, Public Policy Studies, Public Relations and Women’s Studies.

The Sociology/Anthropology curriculum is designed to provide students with analytical, writing, research and presentation skills and to prepare majors for a variety of careers in social service, social policy and social research professions, and for graduate studies and other professional programs. Our program prepares students to be informed, active, and responsible participants in the increasingly complex social life of the modern world.

The Department of Sociology/Anthropology does not accept Challenge for Credit.

Students may count courses from a major, concentration and/or minor towards a second major, concentration and/or minor; however, students must complete a minimum of 50 percent of unique courses toward the second major, concentration and/or minor, unless otherwise stated in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

The degree with a major is intended for those students with a clearly focused interest who wish to gain knowledge in depth of a single discipline.

Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before they register for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10.0 units in the major as follows:

  • SOAN 1502
  • SOAN 2500, 3501, 3511, and 3512
  • a minimum of 5.5 and a maximum of 7.5 additional units of SOAN, 3.5 units of which must be at the 2000 level or above, and 2.0 units of which must be at the 3000 level or above
  • a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of SOAN

❏ a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the major):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit) (Note: MATH 2208 and 2209 are strongly recommended)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.

Major Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts General Studies degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units. In order to complete a combined major in Sociology/Anthropology, the following requirements must be met:
❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 units in the Sociology/Anthropology combined major as follows:

  • SOAN 1502
  • SOAN 2500, 3501, 3511, and 3512
  • 2.5 additional units of SOAN at the 2000 level or above
  • an additional 1.0unit of SOAN at the 3000 level or above

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, Family Studies, French, Gerontology, History, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Women’s Studies)
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major
❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit) (Note: MATH 2208 and 2209 are strongly recommended)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Students wishing to combine an arts major and a science major (e.g. Chemistry and English or Biology and Political Studies):
❏ must meet all of the requirements listed above
and
♦ to complete a BSc (Combined Major) primary science
discipline plus secondary arts discipline

  • must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in science disciplines

♦ to complete a BA (Combined Major) primary arts discipline
plus secondary science discipline

  • must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in arts disciplines

Students wishing to do a combined major with honours degree in Sociology/Anthropology must apply in writing to the department Chair.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 9.0 and a maximum of 11.0 units in the honours subject as follows:

  • SOAN 1502
  • SOAN 2500, 3501, 3511, 3512, 4590 and 4599
  • a minimum of 5.0 and a maximum of 7.0 units of SOAN, 2.5 units of which must be at the 2000 level or above, and 2.5 units of which must be at the 3000 level or above

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, Family Studies, French, Gerontology, History, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Women’s Studies)
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required units of each combined major
❏ at least 8.0 units of the 15.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit) (Note: MATH 2208 and 2209 are strongly recommended)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 9.0 units of the required SOAN honours courses
❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis
❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken
Note: No more than 2.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor as designated will not be counted as professional electives.

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 9.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts Combined Major degree, with a combined major in Sociology/Anthropology may apply to do a combined major honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the combined major honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates.

Students wishing to do an honours degree in Sociology/Anthropology must apply in writing to the department Chair.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 12.0 units in the honours subject as follows:

  • SOAN 1502
  • SOAN 2500, 3501, 3511, 3512, 4590 and 4599
  • a minimum of 6.0 and a maximum of 8.0 units of SOAN, 3.0 units of which must be at the 2000 level or above, and 3.0 units of which must be at the 3000 level or above

❏ a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the honours subject):

  • Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit) (Note: MATH 2208 and 2209 are strongly recommended)
  • Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
  • Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10.0 units of the required SOAN honours courses
❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis
❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken
Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology/Anthropology may apply to do an honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates.

To obtain a concentration in Sociology/Anthropology, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ SOAN 1502

❏ 2.5 units of SOAN at the 2000 level or above

❏ 1.0 unit of SOAN at the 3000 level or above

To obtain a minor in Sociology/Anthropology, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ SOAN 1502

❏ 2.5 additional units of SOAN

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2024-2025 academic year which runs from September 01, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.

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