Courses

This course examines the role of religious beliefs and practices in Canadian culture from a sociological perspective. Emphasis is on understanding pluralism, multiculturalism, and contemporary religious expression in relation to other social institutions like family, economics, and politics. Attention is given to cross-cultural comparisons of religions in Canada.

This course examines the evolution of the city, from its earliest pre-industrial roots to cities of the New Economy, and provides a sociological analysis of selected urban social issues. The course explores the urban effect on society and the various efforts, past and present, to make cities more livable.

The goal of this course is to clarify thinking about the use of the term community, to explore the role of community in contemporary society, and to consider societal and cultural factors that either promote or undermine the building of community.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the development and applicability of the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism to the study of self and identity. Students will encounter the work of several classical and contemporary theorists on the topic of self and identity including different perspectives on socialization, self-presentation and authenticity. This course will provide students with a greater understanding of how broader social institutions and narratives intertwine with and influence individual self-narratives, agency and expression.

An introduction to the concepts and processes of both qualitative and quantitative social research. Research processes include problem definition, data collection, and analysis. Students are expected to develop research skills through practical application.

An analysis of the role of the school in culture; societal trends affecting the institutions and practices of education; interpretive paradigms and related research studies; group dynamics in education; religious, social, and economic factors and issues in Canadian education.

An introduction to key concepts and issues in criminology and to operational practices of the Canadian criminal justice system. Topics include principal criminological theories, the social construction and elements of criminal behaviour, policing, crime prevention, offenders and victims of crime, the criminal justice system, sentencing, corrections, restorative justice and other alternative measures, and social issues that intersect with crime.

An examination of the ideas of a particular theorist, school of thought, or conflicting theories within the behavioural sciences; or an examination of particular sociological issues from a theoretical or empirical perspective.

In the setting of the historical Booth Mansion in Ottawa, students are invited to explore the history of Canadian political leadership. Using the historical method, including research in primary sources, they will evaluate the leadership of Canadian Prime Ministers and examine how they addressed the needs and crises of the nation. By means of their enquiries into Canada's political leadership, students will develop their own theories of effective leadership.