Individualized Courses

Interested in a particular topic but don't see a course that matches? Consider working with a professor to design an independent study course.

SOC 401 and SOC 403 - Individual Study

Students wishing to enrol in SOC 401/403 must find a Department of Sociology Faculty member to serve as their course instructor. Note, only Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors in Sociology are eligible to oversee a SOC 401/403 course. Students should begin by considering an area of sociology that interests them and visit our Faculty Members page to learn more about the research areas of our Faculty members. Students should then contact the professor they would like to have as their course instructor to discuss the possibility of completing an Individual Study course under their supervision.

Once the student has a course instructor, the student and instructor must complete the online  at least 5 business days before the add/delete registration deadline for the term in which the course is to be taken. Once the course is approved by the Director, Undergraduate Programs, the Undergraduate Advisor will register the student in SOC 401/403.

NOTE: Sociology Honors students will register in the course code SOC 401. All other students will be registered in SOC 403.

What graded coursework is required for a SOC 401/403 course?
The graded course requirements for SOC 401/403 are decided upon in conjunction with the student and the course instructor. To help you in this process, we have provided examples of student's graded coursework from previously completed SOC 401/403 courses.

Example 1:
Discussion 10%
Annotated Bibliography 25%
Term Paper Outline 10%
Project 15%
Final Paper 40%

Example 2:
Weekly Reading Reflection (up to 1 pg/week) for ten weeks (5% each) = 50%
Weekly discussions 20%
Final paper 30%

Example 3:
Regular Discussion/Meetings 33.3%
Paper 1 33.33%
Paper 2 33.33%

Example 4:
Regular Meetings 30%
Building a Collection of Resources 20%
Run a Mock Workshop 15%
Finalized Worship Materials incorporating feedback from mock workshop 35%

Example 5:
Meetings/Discussions 30%
Reading List/Bibliography 10%
First Draft of Final Paper 15%
Second Draft of Final Paper 15%
Final Paper 30%

SOC 404 - Individual Empirical Research Project

For students interested in an individual research project conducted under the supervisor of a Faculty member. The course must involve empirical or applied research for which the student is responsible.  

Students wishing to enrol in SOC 404 must find a Department of Sociology Faculty member to serve as their course instructor.

Note, only Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors in Sociology are eligible to oversee a SOC 404 course. Students should begin by considering an area of sociology that interests them and visit our Faculty Members page to learn more about the research areas of our Faculty members.  Students should then contact the professor they would like to have as their course instructor to discuss the possibility of completing a research project under their supervision.

Once the student has a course instructor, the student and instructor must complete the online  at least ten business days before the add/delete registration deadline for the term in which the course is to be taken. Once the course is approved by the Director, Undergraduate Programs, the Undergraduate Advisor will register the student in SOC 404.