Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

at The University of Winnipeg Canada

The interdisciplinary field of Conflict Resolution Studies deals with the nature and dynamics of human conflict. It explores topics of violence, power, justice, peace, communication and culture, as well as personal, local, and global conflict. You can choose from courses in a variety of different subject areas, and complete a practicum program in either a local or international setting as part of your university education. This major is offered through Menno Simons College.

If you enjoy thinking about life’s big questions, you might be a natural philosopher. Philosophy engages in disciplined and imaginative thinking about the philosophical questions common to all humans by studying the works of great philosophers. Through analysis and discussion, you’ll learn how to think critically, and understand the origins of the ideas that influence us today.

Philosophy is literally the love of wisdom. Rather than studying a particular aspect of human history or culture, philosophy takes a step back and tries to understand the nature of all inquiry. Students of philosophy examine fundamental beliefs about who we are and the world we live in – beliefs most people take to be true but never examine systematically and critically. Philosophers consider such questions as: What is the meaning of life? How should I live my life? Why be moral? What is the best form of government? Are human beings immortal? Does God exist? What is knowledge? Does the world appear to us as it really is? What makes something right, or good, or beautiful?

If coming to an understanding of the human condition is the goal of a liberal arts education, then philosophy is essential to it. But philosophy also has a practical side, which we see whenever we debate social and political questions concerning the environment and our obligations to future generations, the distribution of wealth and opportunity in society, gender equity, the relationship between science and religion, and so on. Philosophy helps us to identify and defend what is most valuable to us.

The UW Philosophy Program prides itself on being small and student-focused; this is a place where you can work closely with professors and other students in small classes, reading great philosophers from the past, and thinking and writing about the big questions.

We have an excellent record of placing our students in graduate programs in Canada and the United States as well as overseas.

Combining aspects of anthropology with biological and physical sciences, Bioanthropology program teaches you to examine human biological systems of the past and present. You’ll gain understanding of comparative anatomy, cellular biology, and methods in human and primate evolution as you obtain experience in current laboratory techniques and procedures

panish is a language that has more native speakers than any other except Chinese. Belonging to the Romance language family which also includes French, Italian and Portuguese, Spanish derived from Latin but was heavily influenced by Arabic during the occupation of Spain which lasted from 711 to 1492. As Spanish spread throughout the New World starting in the fifteenth century, it underwent numerous changes through contact with indigenous peoples and developed various regional varieties and dialects. Today, it is spoken in many parts of the world including Spain, Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Chile...), the Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico) and north Africa (Ceuta, Melilla). The majority of Spanish speakers are found outside of Spain and many make their home in the United States or Canada.

As the number of Spanish speakers continues to increase, so do the career opportunities in Spanish as a language for international business, trade and law, tourism, immigration and the foreign service, global, national and community development with both governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as journalism, translation and teaching. In all of these fields, learning Spanish gives you a competitive edge.

Along with the language, you will gain the cultural awareness and understanding that is needed in today’s global community. The courses that we offer, through the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, will help you to develop your communication skills and your critical thinking skills - a must in order to grasp the subtleties of interacting with different cultures. In our courses, you will deepen your understanding of Hispanic culture through the analysis of texts from the Internet and the media as well as through the study of films and literature.

Whether Spanish is your first or second language or one of several that you speak, studying Spanish at the UW will be a rewarding and enriching experience that will give you an edge, whatever career path you choose.

The University of Winnipeg offers a combined degree/diploma program in Communications in cooperation with Red River College. Generally, students begin at the University of Winnipeg, completing at least 60 credit hours before proceeding to Red River, where they take the two-year Creative Communications Program. The final 12 credit hours of University of Winnipeg courses must be taken during these two years at Red River College if the student wishes to graduate within four years; otherwise, these credit hours may be completed before or after attending Red River College. Students are granted block transfer of 48 credit hours for their Creative Communications Diploma and granted a B.A. in Communications once they have received their diploma and completed the prescribed 72 credit hours of study at the University of Winnipeg.

Anthropologists study the evolution of humankind by examining how humans have developed and adapted, both culturally and physically, to the world around them. Anthropology specializes in cultural anthropology, archaeology or physical anthropology, or you may choose an integrated program that includes all three areas. Practical experience is also available through the Archaeological Field School.

In the broadest sense, sociology is the study of human interactions and inter-relations, their conditions and consequences

By utilizing a combination of theory, research, and lived experience, sociologists explore human behaviour as it occurs over time and across cultures. They ask questions such as: Why is there poverty? Is there a relationship between delinquency and social class? How do immigrants manage new and diverse experiences? What effect will an aging population have on society? How can class, sex, gender, age, and ethnicity be understood as part of social life?

In The University of Winnipeg's Sociology programme, you will investigate and analyze how various groups and organizations are structured, their purposes, and how they function. You will study how and why they change, and the effects of these changes on society.

The currency, variety, and depth of courses in this discipline allow students to develop a sound understanding of how the social world works, and how this knowledge can be applied to a diversity of pursuits.

The Sociology Department offers 3-year BA, 4-year BA, and Honours degree programmes plus a Minor and Research Methods Certificate. A student whose Major lies in a different area may still study Sociology as an elective. Courses in Sociology complement such areas as Politics, History, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice, Women's and Gender Studies, and Environmental Studies. Some interdisciplinary majors also require certain Sociology courses as part of their programmes.

An undergraduate degree in Sociology enables one to pursue a variety of vocations in areas such as social welfare, criminal justice, government, research, industrial relations, and administration. Provincial and federal government offices hire a large number of persons with a Sociology background. For those who wish to proceed to studies at the graduate level, a career in university teaching and research is also an option.

For more information on course offerings, degrees, and programme development, consult the Academic Calendar Information section on this web site.

Statisticians use their expertise in agricultural research, health care research, quality control and actuarial work. In the face of uncertainty, statisticians use data to make predictions about sales, product demand, weather forecasts and product quality.  Statisticians design and analyze the results of clinical trials to study the safety and effectiveness of new medications or to compare cancer treatments.  Almost every government agency employs statisticians.  They work with specialists such as economists, biologists, chemists, and doctors to assist in the design of experiments and the analysis of research data. Statisticians are highly employable with the majority working for private corporations or government departments and agencies.

Why do people think, feel, perceive, and behave the way they do? Psychologists seek to find answers to these questions by studying the human mind and behaviour. The Psychology program, explores topics ranging from the basic nervous system to principles of perception, learning, and cognition to gain an understanding of both social and clinical psychology.

nternational Development Studies (IDS) is an interdisciplinary major that challenges students to explore the causes and consequences of processes that promote some individuals, communities, and nations, and exclude others. IDS students are prepared for citizenship in an increasingly interdependent global community and are encouraged to envision paths towards a transformed, just world.

The IDS program focuses on development processes at the global, national and community levels, but gives particular emphasis to development at the community level and to the work of non-governmental organizations and popular movements.

IDS is offered jointly by Menno Simons College and the University of Winnipeg. An IDS major can be taken alone or it can be effectively combined with another program at The University of Winnipeg, such as Anthropology, Conflict Resolution Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Indigenous Studies, Politics, or Sociology.