Sociology & Criminology
In the Department of Sociology, we engage with the pressing social issues of our time.
Sociology teaches you to make connections between individual experiences and broader social structures and processes.
Criminology is a subfield of Sociology, and is the study of legal and extra-legal sanctions, including their effects on individuals, the police, corrections, the judiciary, the state, and social and governmental reactions to it.
The Department of Sociology offers degrees in Sociology and Criminology. In your first year, you will take Sociology 1020, 1020W/X, or 1021E to enter a Sociology or a Criminology module in your second year.
A degree in Sociology or Criminology helps open the door to a range of potentially interesting and rewarding career paths including law, journalism, social work, human resources, teaching, social policy and planning, policing, corrections, public administration and government.
The Sociology department offers three- and four-year Majors in Sociology and Criminology, as well as a four-year Honours Specialization in Sociology or Criminology. You can also earn in Minor in Sociology or Criminology, or combine a Sociology or Criminology degree with other related disciplines, such as Psychology, Political Science, Social Work or History.
Student Testimonials
King’s gave me all the tools and the resources to network and really connect with others in my fields and in my interests, and then from there with any support I needed.
I am so glad about all that I have learnt about our society and myself while being here. It is such a valuable program that gave me a deeper understanding of how our society impacts us and our response to it, which helps me look at the world from a reflective lens.
Not only is King's a reputable school, but it provides students with opportunities that are unique to a small campus. In my four years of undergrad I had the chance to work closely with faculty, which ultimately enabled me to progress substantially in my academics and extracurricular. The skills I developed at King's continue to help me today as I'm completing my last year of law school at Western Law. I highly recommend King's to any student looking for a collegial environment that will challenge you, inspire you, and ultimately better you.
Studying criminology at King’s is a path that has proven to be highly rewarding and worthwhile. It is a program with outstanding faculty who will mentally challenge their students while addressing and exploring pressing social issues, the realities of crime, misconceptions and methods of prevention. With such a wide selection of courses, the program is able to cater to varying interests. The investigation of corporate crime, the criminal justice system, organized crime, terrorism and youth in conflict are among some of the courses offered. Conducting research, theorizing as well as analyzing and critiquing various works are examples of some of the practical skills students enrolled in criminology will learn that will enable them to thrive in a work environment. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who is passionate about crime and eager to examine the challenges surrounding crime that face our global society today.