Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology

at Toronto Metropolitan University Canada

Spanning much of the period of recorded culture, courses in this program offer students a well-rounded understanding of philosophy's central debates. The program focuses on the history of philosophical ideas and develops students' critical argumentation skills. It also provides students with the chance to examine the practical applications of philosophical theories and methods.

By studying the great ideas of the past and present, along with their applications to the real world, students in this unique program acquire the analytical skills that will help prepare them for exciting careers in the future.

The core goals of the program are to:

• Develop students' analytical reasoning skills;
• Develop students' understanding of the broad intellectual contours and social relevance of our shared philosophical heritage
• Develop oral and written and communication skill
• Develop a sophisticated understanding of how philosophical theories and methods are applicable to contemporary political and social issues

Curriculum Information
The discipline of Philosophy draws on the theories, methods, and practices of a broad range of humanities and social sciences. Therefore, the Philosophy program builds on a common first-year platform shared with other programs in the Faculty of Arts, with specialization in Philosophy occurring in years two through four of the degree.

Semesters One and Two:  In the first year, which is shared with the programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Politics and Governance, Psychology, and Sociology, students take their first two university-level Philosophy courses from a number of options that explore the subject across a range of themes, time periods, and geographical contexts. In addition to taking further electives in a broad range of areas, students will also acquire skills and knowledge in two foundational courses: Academic Writing and Research and Critical Thinking.

Semesters Three through Six: In second year, students take their third foundational course, Research Design and Qualitative Methods. They will also take a number of Required Philosophy courses including Introduction to Modern Philosophy, Ancient and Modern Ethics, and senior seminars in the Analytic and Continental traditions of philosophical thought. Students will have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of Philosophy electives as well as electives from outside the discipline.

Semesters Seven and Eight: In the last year of the program, as students consider the opportunities they will pursue after graduation, they solidify their philosophical expertise and sharpen their professional competence by taking a senior seminar in Metaphilosophy or in one of two seminars dedicated to the social applications and relevance of philosophy. Other Philosophy and non-Philosophy electives are also taken to complete the 40 courses of the degree (of which 20 are in Philosophy).

First Year: The BSc (Hons) in Biology shares a point of entry with the programs in Chemistry and Medical Physics, through which new science students at Ryerson complete a common first year. This allows students to explore various science-based routes to degree completion before they commit to the Biology program. In addition to science foundation courses, the first year of studies will include an introduction to the use of computers as scientific tools, and an orientation course that will support students in making a successful transition to university and planning their steps to degree completion. Students in Science programs must enroll in SCI 180 in their first semester of studies.

Upper Years: In the upper years of the curriculum, students will focus on developing their technological expertise and exploring the research and industrial applications of biological science. Depending on the course sequence selected, students may pursue a BSc (Hons) in Biology, with a Minor, and with an Option in Biophysics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology or Environmental Biology. In the final year, they will consolidate their learning by undertaking an independent, faculty-supervised thesis project in their field of academic focus.

The four-year baccalaureate degree program in Criminology has as its major focus a critical understanding of the structural, administrative, political and professional context of the criminal justice system and broader agencies associated with social and legal regulation.

Students will learn to question the assumptions behind both administrative practice and policies that emerge from a variety of sources, and to evaluate them on a range of criteria, including the empirical, theoretical, and ethical bases. This will also include an analysis of the influence of race, class, gender, and other forms of social inequality on the administration of criminal justice and broader institutions. The tools to engage constructively with both state and non-state/community responses to crime will be a theme throughout. This will include analyses of events that initiate the criminal process, the various paths through which the criminal cases proceed, the professional roles and responsibilities of workers within that process, prospects of reform and the policies that provide the professional context in which decisions are made.

This program will prepare you to drive economic progress by leveraging cash flow and creating wealth. You’ll acquire in-depth knowledge of economics, financial instruments and statistical techniques, and establish a foundation in modern mathematics, financial accounting, managerial finance and computer science. Participate in case studies, an optional paid co-op, industry-relevant research projects be prepared to make an immediate impact in the financial sector.

Co-Operative Program
An optional co-operative program is available for students who wish to obtain work experience and receive a salary from an employer while studying at Ryerson. The program leads to a BSc (Hons) degree. In this option school terms alternate with four or five paid work terms starting from the second year (see the table below). This schedule is the same as that used by the rest of the science programs at Ryerson and is designed to ensure that students attend winter and fall semesters in the correct order.

Although neither the Department nor the Office of Co-operative Education can guarantee a placement, they provide major assistance in locating suitable positions and counseling of students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-operative program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of university education.

Students who have completed the first year of the program must apply through the Mathematics Department for admission to the co-op program before the beginning of the second year. Enrolment in the co-op program is limited and the department retains the right to deny access to the co-op program based on the number of available placements and student's grade point average. Once in the co-op program, the terms alternate between four months of study and four months of on the job experience. The co-op program usually takes an additional year to complete. The graduation requirements for the co-op program are the same as those for the BSc (Hons) in Financial Mathematics.

Information & Communication Technology (ICT) is crucial to the innovation and productivity of every industry, including energy, health care, life sciences, media and culture, publishing, advertising, natural resources, financial services, construction, retail or education. It is a critical tool for every level of government. It impacts the daily lives of every Canadian. ICT is an essential contributor to the creativity, innovation, customer satisfaction, productivity, safety, and competitive advantage of Canadian businesses.

For these reasons, demand for ICT-based solutions are projected to continue outpacing overall economic growth. This means a continued above-average demand for workers. However the nature of these jobs is changing. The popular image of an ICT worker as some sort of "nerdy" technologist is outdated and does not reflect today's reality. Canadian ICT industry leaders project that almost half of the future jobs demands in ICT will be for people who combine two sets of competencies such that they are:

• Business professionals who have the knowledge, skills and personal qualities to lead and support the effective, competitive use of information technologies; and
• Specialized technologists - IT-focused and/or multidisciplinary - who operate at the leading edge of innovation in every field.

The Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management is a leader in providing a degree that meets this need and, in 2010, it began offering Canada's newest and world-leading ICT degree - The Bachelor of Commerce in Business Technology Management. This degree has been developed with the close participation of Canada's leading employers and provides students with the education - the knowledge, skills and experience - that sets them up for success in their careers in this exciting field.

Students build their knowledge and skills on two foundations. They study the core business disciplines, such as marketing, operations, accounting, finance, human resources, and law. They receive a solid grounding in the world of ICT in subjects such as systems analysis and design, ICT architecture and infrastructure, and privacy and security. In their senior years, students integrate the knowledge from these two foundations to learn how ICT can make a difference in every business studying the strategic application of ICT, the role of ICT in activities such as supply chain, sales and customer relations. They learn about project management and the integration of ICT into business.

In addition to providing a broad and deep understanding of both business and ICT, the program also has an emphasis on building personal and interpersonal skills and on providing students with real-life work experience, with case competitions, in-depth consulting projects with real clients and employment opportunities in the field, including internships, part-time work practica and an optional Co-op program. In addition, students have access to a wide range of Minors, including Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Law, and Human Resources.

BTM graduates will learn how to analyze business needs, design appropriate technology-based processes and solutions, and communicate these effectively. They will learn to lead work-based teams, participate effectively in projects and understand best practices of organizational change. They will develop skills in interpersonal communications, collaboration, and leadership. Graduates will be ready for high demand jobs in business analysis, project management, sales, consulting, customer and supplier management, and marketing support.

Through the student International exchange program, opportunities are available for students to spend a semester studying abroad. International experience gained in this way gives undergraduates a significant advantage in the competitive global economy. The school's international partners include universities in England, Holland, Italy, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Australia.

The graduate of this program is a hybrid business and ICT specialist who can define business objectives clearly, identify technology options to meet those needs, develop appropriate systems, implement and manage them.

Typical employment areas include both profit and nonprofit organizations, which use information systems as well as large and small information technology, telecommunications, and multimedia product and service providers. Some typical job titles of the graduates of the program include:

• Business Analyst
• Marketing Specialist
• Systems Architect
• ICT Product & Service Sales
• Project Leader/Manager
• eBusiness Analyst
• Information Systems Consultant
• Telecommunications Analyst
• Management Consultant
• Systems Integrator
• Database Analyst/Administrator
• User Support Specialist
• Network Administrator
• Business & ICT Educator/Trainer

The combination of intensive practical training and academic university theory truly distinguishes Ryerson’s Performance programs. While learning to achieve their professional goals, students gain a well-rounded education in the humanities and liberal arts. They develop valuable skills in problem solving, adaptability, critical thinking, research, and communication. These skills are essential for success in the current arts and cultural industry and they enrich all facets of the student’s life.

The four-year Acting and Dance programs offer an intensive conservatory approach in performance complemented by academics which are a crucial part of the program curriculum. Actors and dancers spend a portion of each day in the studio, and each year brings fresh opportunities to perform in productions of original, innovative and established works. The program trains performers who are distinguished by their capacity to generate original artistic material and their ability to bring a rich mixture of skills into the multi-disciplinary environment. Graduates of the program will be ready for immediate entry into a wide range of performance-related careers and for future professional growth.

The Program of Study
The Performance program challenges students with creative study, critical analysis, and exciting traditional and innovative areas of application for their performance skill development.

In the tradition of all Ryerson programming, the program offers a very strong conservatory perspective to the theoretical exploration of dance or acting. There is a wide variety of practical/studio work, active learning projects, and performance-related assignments. Everyone has the opportunity to perform under the guidance of working professionals who are leaders in the artistic community.

The Core Years - Production
The first two general years of the Production program introduce the student to the multi-disciplinary and collaborative nature of production work. In core courses consisting of lectures and labs, students learn the basics of the skills required to mount a show and apply those skills in junior capacities on the School’s shows. Lecture courses include instruction in the management of the process, theatre history and the research skills required for critical thinking.

In the third and fourth years, through a large menu of lecture and lab electives, students concentrate on those areas where their interests are greatest. They take the gained knowledge with the skills learned in their first two years and apply both to their duties in more senior positions on the School’s various dance and theatre productions. Academic courses broaden the understanding of the holistic process required for producing. Students also take business and management electives to broaden their understanding of those issues.

Ready to become a skilled advocate and collaborator? When people can access the services and resources they need to more fully participate in society, it is often because of the efforts of social workers. Ryerson graduates promote social justice and equity by supporting individuals to meet their fundamental needs and accomplish their goals. They have a deep understanding of how gender, race, ethnic-cultural origin, class, sexual diversity, age, and physical and mental capacities shape the experiences of those who require social services.  

Why Social Work at Ryerson?

• Ryerson’s School of Social Work is a leader in progressive education for critically-engaged social work practice. We integrate anti-oppression and social justice into our teaching, with attention to marginalized populations and communities.
• We provide outstanding classroom and field learning opportunities to our students. Under the guidance of qualified field instructors, you spend a significant amount of your time with us — 840 hours — linking theory with practice in a variety of community-based, child welfare, social research, mental health and residential settings.
• Our faculty members take a collaborative and passionate approach. They continually adapt their teaching to equip you with the knowledge and experiences to pursue a meaningful career and create positive change.
• Plus — we support your success with:
  • Opportunities for leadership development
  • Undergraduate research assistant opportunities
  • Designated field placement officers
  • Undergraduate student lounge
  • Student union space

The computer revolution has created vast industries and countless jobs that employ professionals educated in electrical and computer engineering, computer science and information technology- all closely related disciplines involving the understanding and design of computers and computational processes. Computer profession specialties constitute a continuum. At one pole is computer science, which is primarily concerned with theory, design and implementation of software- the product being a computer program. At the other pole is computer engineering, primarily concerned with firmware (the micro-code that controls processors), hardware (the processors themselves, as well as entire computers), software (system-level and user/application-level) and interfacing systems (both at hardware and software level) that will allow computer systems to communicate with the outside world as well as with each other. It is not possible, however, to draw a clear line between the two disciplines; many practitioners function to at least some extent as both computer engineers and computer scientists. Computer Engineers distinguish themselves with their versatile set of skills: they can design and build computers, interface them with the outside world and make them talk to each other, develop firmware and also create system-level and user/application-level software.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering offers highly structured programs that emphasize not only the theoretical fundamentals but also the practical aspects of the engineering profession. The first-year courses will provide the students with grounding in engineering science fundamentals such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and the theory of electric circuits. The second year of the program introduces discrete mathematics, data structures and engineering algorithms, and electrical engineering core subjects such as analog and digital electronic circuits and systems. In the third year, students will further study computer architecture, microcomputer systems, object-oriented analysis and design, digital electronics, communication systems and control theory.

In the final year of the program, students will take courses in data communications, digital systems engineering, real-time operating systems, VLSI design and numerical techniques. The fourth year curriculum also allows students further specialization in a variety of subject areas through an extensive technical electives list. During this final year of the program all students must complete a mandatory group design project. The key objective of the Design Project is to encourage students to plan, design and implement their project while developing the skills to make key decisions independently.

Software Engineering Option
Students entering the 5th semester will have a choice as to whether they would like to continue on the regular Computer Engineering curriculum or to enroll in the Software Engineering option. Students in this option will gain training in software engineering concepts through a set of seven software focused and intensive courses spread over 3rd and 4th year.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering also offers graduate degree programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering. These graduate degree programs allow students to pursue advanced studies and independent research in the areas of signal processing and communications, computer systems engineering, and power engineering.

Optional Co-operative Internship Program (Co-op Internship)
Third year full-time students may be eligible to enrol in the optional Co-operative Internship Program. Upon successful enrolment in the program and securing an approved co-op job, students are required to spend a period of 8-16 consecutive months in a work placement. After completing the requirements of the co-operative internship work placement, students return to the academic program to complete their final year of studies. Enrolment in the Co-operative Internship extends the program length to five years.

Psychology is of fundamental relevance to our society. The discipline addresses important questions about the nature of human thought, emotion and behaviour, such as: How do we perceive, remember and process information? How do these processes change over our lifespan? How are addictions and brain chemistry related? How are psychological disorders and traumatic brain injury diagnosed and treated? How do we cope with stress in a changing world? The core goals of the Ryerson's Psychology program are to:

• Educate students in the science of psychology and its application to real-life situations;
• Prepare students for careers in which they will confront, elucidate, and solve problems that have psychological components;
• Provide the foundation for students who wish to pursue post-graduate studies in a variety of areas including Psychology.

Curriculum Information
Semesters one and two: The first year of the Psychology program is shared with the Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Politics and Governance, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy and Sociology programs. Students choose courses from these related programs, to gain exposure to different perspectives, in addition to their required Introduction to Psychology I and II courses, which reveal and explore the wide range of areas within their chosen field.

Semesters three through eight: In the final three years of the program, psychology students delve into experimental and clinical research methods and explore the programs core areas - cognition and neuroscience, development and social psychology, clinical and health psychology and the advanced research specializations. Students complete a combination of required and elective psychology courses that encompass topics from the many areas within the discipline.

In addition, students choose courses from a wide variety of other disciplines (including business, community services, the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences) that complement their psychology courses and broaden their career preparation. And, through a range of courses in all four years, students also develop core competencies necessary to succeed at the university level and in the modern workforce.

Students develop skills in basic quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, critical and analytical thinking, effective communication and strategies for life-long learning. Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in Psychology will have the option of taking advanced courses from the Advanced Methods and Independent Study Group and will conduct supervised research with a faculty member.

The Aerospace Engineering program is comprehensive and prepares students for careers in this dynamic industry. The program includes directly related studies in aerodynamics, stress analysis and structural design, flight mechanics, stability and control, and aircraft performance, together with courses in the fields of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.

The first year of study covers mathematics, basic sciences, computer programming and introductory courses in engineering. Second and third years include a wide range of aerospace and mechanical engineering courses together with courses in communications, advanced mathematics, electronics and electrical engineering. There is a strong emphasis on design and much of the analytical work is reinforced by computer and hardware laboratories. Studies in the humanities and social sciences complement the engineering courses and provide a rounded perspective.

Students are required to choose one of three streams in the sixth semester: Aircraft, Avionics, or Spacecraft. Also included in the fourth year is a capstone design course, a course in professional practice and a course which examines the impact of technology on society.

Optional Co-operative Internship
Third-year students with CLEAR Academic Standing may opt to enrol in the Optional Co-operative Internship Program. If they are selected by one of the partner corporations, they spend a period of 12-16 months, from May to September of the following year, as engineering interns at the corresponding corporations. After the completion of the Co-operative Internship, students return to the academic program to complete their final year of studies. Enrolment in the Co-operative Internship extends the program length to five years.

Co-operative Internship students will be enrolled by the Department in the course WKT 89A/B Co-operative Internship Program during the academic year in which they work as interns. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Completion of the Co-operative Internship will be identified on the student's transcript as WKT 89A/B Co-operative Internship Program.