As the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in Sociology, I would like to welcome you to graduate studies in Sociology at the University of Waterloo. Please write me, Kieran Bonner, or our Graduate Studies Co-ordinator, Ilona Kosa, with any questions you have that are not answered here.
The Department of Sociology and Legal Studies offers graduate training leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Sociology. The programs provide a unique opportunity for advanced training which combines rigorous work in sociological theory and methods with highly personalized, flexible instruction in the student's specialized area. Yearly graduate enrolments are kept low in order to allow extensive student-faculty contact on an individualized basis.
Administrative Structure:
The graduate programs of the Department are directed at the administrative level by the Graduate Affairs Committee. The Chair of this committee is the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs, who has primary responsibility for the direction and administration of the graduate programs.
Each entering student is assigned to a faculty member who acts as an advisor until such time as the student selects an MA supervisor or PhD supervisor. Graduate advisors counsel students regarding the selection of courses, the fulfillment of general program requirements, etc.
Supervision of students' graduate research (MA research paper, MA thesis or PhD dissertation) is provided by a committee of faculty members selected by the student and his/her graduate supervisors and approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Affairs. This committee is selected primarily on the basis of the faculty members' expertise and interest in the problem which the student intends to investigate in his or her research.
Full-Time:
Full-time students normally take 4-6 academic terms beyond the Honours BA to complete all requirements for the MA degree, depending on the option chosen, and 15-18 academic terms beyond the MA degree to complete all requirements for the PhD degree. The actual length of time spent varies by student and by research interests.
Part-Time:
Students may apply to complete some or all of the MA degree requirements on a part-time basis. Part-time students are not eligible for teaching assistantships or scholarship support, therefore applicants for part-time status will need to demonstrate to the admissions committee that they can complete the degree in a timely fashion while relying exclusively on outside sources of financial support and meeting their non-university obligations.
Students are not normally accepted into the PhD program on a part-time basis. Doctoral students may switch to part-time status only after completing their residency requirements and with the permission of the Department and University.
Co-operative Programs for MA and PhD Studies:
Students entering the MA and PhD programs may choose the co-op option. Under this option, students undertake coursework on campus during their first two academic terms (Fall and Winter), normally followed by two academic terms of discipline-related outside employment. Co-op job placements are arranged by students with the assistance of the University's Department of Co-operative Education and Career Services. While the University will make every effort to assist students in finding suitable co-op placements, it cannot guarantee co-op employment. Once the co-op placement is completed and the student returns to campus, a work report must be submitted to the departmental co-op officer. Students may then proceed to complete the final requirements for their degrees. Only Canadian citizens and holders of Permanent Resident status may choose the co-op option.
International Students:
Students whose mother tongue is not English must provide proof of competency in English (see Graduate Studies Calendar: Academic Regulations - English Language Proficiency Certification). The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score acceptable for admission to a graduate program in Sociology is 600 overall. Please refer to Academic Regulations - Competency in English for other acceptable tests of English.
Pre-Doctoral Instruction Appointments:
The purpose of this program is to provide PhD students with university-level teaching experience while they are completing their degrees. These occasional appointments are made to PhD students in good standing who are nearing completion of their degree requirements. The goal of the program is to help students become effective university teachers by assuming full responsibility for preparation and instruction of a course in an area of their expertise. Appointments are made subject to the availability of financial resources and in consideration of the department's instructional needs. A member of the sociology faculty will be assigned to advise and provide critical feedback on the student's teaching activity. Participation in the university's Certificate in University Teaching program administered through the Centre for Excellence (CTE) is a requirement for consideration for a pre-doctoral instruction appointment.