Sociology

Sociology explores how someone’s background—class, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality—affects their experiences and shapes their behaviour. It studies how societies work, how social institutions operate, and how various elements of society influence the human experience.

Sociology at STU

Our Sociology department is rooted in social justice and focuses on using knowledge to address social inequality and make change. This is accomplished through diverse course offerings that include themes like racism, queer sociology, sociology of sport, sociology of health, and animals and society.

“We look forward to welcoming you into our sociology classrooms where you will learn to use sociological tools, become a stronger critical thinker, and prepare to solve the social problems that you see in the world.”

Dr. Erin Fredericks, Sociology professor

What sets STU’s Sociology Program Apart?

Small, engaging classes that emphasize personal interaction, discussion, and debate.
Our professors practice what they teach as active community activists. They are engaged in initiatives that tackle issues like food sovereignty, housing access, gender and sexual minority rights, and immigrant justice.
Lectures and seminars are always taught by professors—not teaching assistants—which means students learn from experts in the field.
Our professors are leading researchers and often invite students to work with them as research assistants. This is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students and provides valuable hands-on experience.
Students benefit from faculty expertise in gender, race, national identity, health inequalities, social determinants of health, geographies of inequality, residential and lifestyle migration, and urban and household forms.

Where the Study of Sociology can Take You

Through the study of Sociology, students gain effective writing and communication skills and develop the ability to analyze issues carefully using reason and facts. They earn advanced research and critical thinking skills and learn to understand how different elements of society impact an individual’s experiences and behaviours.

This prepares graduates for meaningful careers in fields like:

Social Work
Non-Profit Organizations
Urban Planning
Policy Analysis
Activism
Education
Government
Law

“The highlight of my time at St. Thomas was being able to publish an article in an academic journal with my professor, Dr. Gul Çaliskan. STU’s small class sizes allowed me to get to know my professors and have opportunities to further my education with Research Assistantships. STU opened my eyes to different ways of thinking which I was not exposed to before coming to university. It has made me a critical thinker and writer and has inspired me with the confidence to pursue an academic career.”

Kayla Preston, BA ’18, honours in Sociology
PhD Candidate (Sociology), University of Toronto

Gain Experience and Build Your Resume

Connect the study of Sociology with professional experience through the STU Internship Program in positions with:

3+ Corporation
Autism Connections Fredericton
Fredericton Downtown Community Health Centre
John Howard Society of Canada
Out of the Cold – Community Action Group on Homelessness
The Ville Cooperative
United Way

The Inequality in Society course, which explores existing patterns of social inequality, includes a service learning component where students engage in volunteer work within the community.

Featured Courses

Canadian Society
Racialization, Racism, and Colonialism
Sociology of Sport
Social Movements, Social Activism, and Social Change

Fields that Enhance Your Learning in Political Science

Studying Sociology involves looking at diverse areas of human societies. Academic fields that complement this kind of study include those that shed light on contributing factors to societal structures such as Economics, History, Anthropology, Political Science, Human Rights, Communications, and Journalism.