WELCOME to the Department of Sociology

Sociology at Acadia is your gateway to understanding and shaping the world around you. Here, you’ll explore the forces that shape human behaviour, communities, and institutions, learning to think critically, question assumptions, and see the connections between personal experiences and broader social patterns. Through hands-on research, community engagement, and lively classroom discussions, you’ll gain practical skills and theoretical insight that prepare you for graduate studies, professional careers, or meaningful social impact. Our program encourages you to “commit sociology”: exploring real-world issues and developing solutions that matter in everyday life.

Sociology at Acadia University is recognized nationally for offering critical studies in race and ethnic relations, social justice, food, health, gender and sexuality, research methodology and ethics, social theory, development, labour and migration, political economy, criminology and law, and culture. Students benefit from small class sizes, close faculty mentorship, and opportunities to combine theory with practice.

We offer a range of program options, including a Bachelor of Arts, Double Major, Honours, and co-op opportunities, allowing you to tailor your degree to your goals.

With smaller classes, particularly at the senior levels, students work closely with individual faculty. Faculty members mentor students to develop their learning and research interests and help students plan their future education and career goals.

A degree in Sociology helps prepare students for a range of possible careers including: academics, law, policy, government, teaching, research, social services and social work, health care, criminology and various types of community work.

Students wishing to transfer to the sociology major must have a grade point average of 2.0.

If you have any questions about our programme or about sociology in general we invite you to contact the Head of Department Dr. Liam Swiss.