Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology

The BA Sociology (Honours) degree offers qualified students the opportunity to achieve the highest standards of academic excellence coupled with personal growth, and civic engagement in their time at VIU. Students accepted into the program will complete additional training in social theory, social justice and research methods, and will complete a senior research project in an area of their own choosing. The Honours degree is designed to allow students to tailor their degree to match their post-degree aspirations.

The Honours degree in Sociology is an excellent choice for students who want more focus and direction in their degree than is possible in the traditional BA because we offer a wide range of classroom and experiential-learning opportunities. Vancouver Island University excels in undergraduate research, and the Honours degree in Sociology is designed to foster this excellence. Students may work one-on-one with faculty in an area of the student's choosing, or in an area of faculty expertise. Students wishing to do applied community-based research will find our CBAIR (Community Based Applied Interdisciplinary Research) course of particular interest.

Opportunities also exist for experiential learning through field placements (SOCI 499) or field schools (SOCI 391, 392 and 393). Sociology students may also be interested in the Liberal Studies Abroad yearly field school to Florence, Italy. Combined, these practical experiences provide the framework within which students can excel.

Our Honours degree is an excellent preparation for Masters programs in Sociology and a wide range of other areas including (but not limited to) law, education, social policy, mediation, health care administration, social research, and positions in all levels of government. Students will graduate with collegial relationships with faculty members, and with the theoretical and methodological skills to allow them to secure research and analytical jobs in the non-profit, public and private sectors.

Graduation from high school or equivalent.
International students who are BC high school graduates must have a minimum grade of C in English 12 for direct entry into an academic program

IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
TOEFL IBT - 88 (no section below 20)
TOEFL Paper Based Test - 550 (no section below 56)