Why Sociology?

What is Sociology?

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and social inequality. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Sociology looks at a wide range of issues from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from environmentalism to religious traditions; as well as race, Indigeneity, gender, sexuality, and social class.

At Western, you’ll join a vibrant sociology department renowned for its high-impact research and globally cited faculty. Our professors are at the forefront of advancing knowledge—publishing in top journals and shaping debates on the most pressing social issues of our time.

We offer exceptional training in research methods and data analysis, giving you the tools and analytical edge that employers and graduate programs value. This strong methodological foundation opens doors to diverse careers in policy, research, data analytics, and beyond.

Our faculty also lead cutting-edge research on power and justice, health, labour markets and demography, giving you the chance to explore compelling real-world questions with mentorship from leaders in their fields.

Come to Western Sociology—where strong methods meet big ideas.

Anders Holm, Professor of Sociology, Western University

What skills do I gain with a Sociology degree?

Sociology students bring many important skills to the workforce when they graduate such as:

Understanding the causes and effects of social inequality across multiple dimensions (such as gender, race, ethnicity, Indigenous identity, age, sexual minority status, and social class);
Data collection and interpretation;
Qualitative analysis (interviewing skills, focus groups);
Quantitative analysis (survey data analysis, statistics, demographic analysis);
Synthesizing and communicating complex ideas;
Presenting ideas and data clearly;
Writing and oral presentation communication skills;
Identifying and understanding social trends and social change.

What kind of jobs can I get with a Sociology degree?

The skills and educational background gained in sociology are well-suited for work in the following industries and functions:

Analytics;
Communications;
Community Health;
Data Analyst;
Education;

Government;
Human Resources;
Immigration;
Justice;
Market Research;

Non-Profit Sector;
Public Policy Analysis;
Health Policy Analysis;
Public Relations;
Research.

Why Sociology?

Our program is unique in its applied and methodological strength. It also has depth in areas of Health and the Life Course, Power and Justice, Social Demography and Migration, and Work and the Economy. Our program is also unique in so far as less than 8% of courses are taught be part time faculty. Instead, most of our courses are taught by active tenured and tenure-track researchers.

Howard Ramos, Professor of Sociology, Western University

Steps

1. Apply to Western

The first step in pursuing a degree in Sociology is to Apply to Western University. Admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Office. Students can declare an area of interest when applying, but this does not mean you are entered into our program. Students interested in our program should apply to Western in the Faculty of Social Science.

2. Include Sociology in your first year courses

All modules in the Department of Sociology require that students complete 1.0 credits of courses in Sociology at the 1000 level. Enrol in both half-year courses offered at the 1000 level:

Sociology 1025A/B Society and You
Sociology 1027A/B Life is Not Always Fair

3. Declare a Sociology module

Every year during Intent to Register, students sign up for an academic program (module) for the subsequent fall/winter term.

Why Choose Sociology

Sociology helps you make sense of the world by asking big questions about power, culture, inequality, and change. In our program, you’ll gain the critical thinking and research skills that employers and graduate schools value while exploring real-world issues that matter to your generation-like policing, criminal victimization, social media, sexual violence, and health.

Julie McMullin, Professor of Sociology, Western University

Julie McMullin's Faculty Profile