Graduate student resources

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General resources

Working as a marker or teaching assistant

MA students have the opportunity to work as a marker or a teaching assistant, while PhD students are also encouraged to consider sessional lecturer opportunities. These positions are voluntary, however, it is a good way to earn additional income.

Refer to the human resources website for postings.

Application deadline: Students interested in obtaining a position should begin watching for postings starting in mid-June for the Fall/Winter term and March for the Spring/Summer term.

Graduate student contacts

Contact our Graduate Program Assistant for questions regarding individual student issues, course registration, program requirements or progress, committee membership and procedures, advisor/committee interaction and leave of absence.

Meet our graduate students 

Areas of study

The Department of Sociology and Criminology provides specialized training in the core areas of the discipline (sociological methods and theoretical inquiry), as well as a number of substantive areas:

  • criminology and social justice
  • culture and social relations
  • population health and wellness
  • power, privilege and resistance
  • global sociology
  • social policy and social change

The low graduate student/faculty ratio creates an informal learning environment in which students receive considerable individual attention. Faculty members are actively involved in research, including many projects that readily lend themselves as the basis for student theses and dissertations.

Past theses

Past Department of Sociology and Criminology theses can be found on MSpace.

View past theses on MSpace

Identifying a graduate advisor

Before submitting your application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for the Sociology MA or PhD programs, you are encouraged to review the list of Sociology and Criminology faculty members. Applicants must list two potential advisors on their application who specialize in areas related to the applicant's research interests, but do not have to secure an advisor prior to applying for admission.

PhD applicants are advised to email potential advisors in advance of applying to indicate their intention to apply. In an email, please let the potential advisor know the following:

  • your area(s) of interest,
  • a bit about yourself, and how to best contact you,
  • a brief summary of your relevant education, community and/or work experiences,
  • a description of your proposed research topic.

Please note that tentative acceptance from an advisor does not guarantee admission into the program.

Financial aid and awards

Documents and forms

The Department of Sociology and Criminology has specific requirements above and beyond those in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Academic Guide. Students are to consult both documents for their graduate program. 

View the Department of Sociology and Criminology supplementary regulations

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