Graduate Studies in Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers three graduate level programs

Our programs emphasize the importance of good scholarship and trains students in current developments in the field of Sociology in Canada and internationally.

There are around 40 graduate students enrolled in the department (21 MA and 22 PhD) and 17 professors active in graduate supervision.

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Our strength is the quality of our faculty and our diverse fields of study

The department has a strong research focus and we pride ourselves on the impact of our research. In the Sociology Department at McMaster research strengths include:

Gender, Sexuality and Family
Race, Ethnicity and Immigration
Political Sociology, Social Movements, and Social Policy
Social Inequality
Social Psychology
Sociology of Work and Occupations

More on our researchers and fields of study

Erika Clark

Research Assistant at a social research consultancy firm in Toronto

See what Erika has to say.

Stephanie Howells

Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph

See what Stephanie has to say.

Deena Abul Fottouh

Canadian Sociological Association Outstanding Graduating Student Award 2017 & holder of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship

See what Deena has to say.

Funding

Financial support from the university is available to full-time students on a competitive basis. Doctoral students will receive annual funding which meets or exceeds an annual minimum value equal to full-time tuition plus $13,500 plus tuition for the first twelve terms of full-time enrolment. McMaster's Department of Sociology offers numerous scholarships, teaching assistantships, external awards, travel scholarships and bursaries.

Every PhD student and many MA students are offered a Teaching Assistantship or a Research Assistantship in lieu of a Teaching Assistantship totalling approximately $5978 for a one term position or 11,956 for a two term position (2021-22 rates).

Scholarships & Awards

Graduate Student Life

Here in Graduate Sociology, we have a vibrant student community. When we think of graduate school, we think of taking classes, writing exams and papers, and doing research. However, there is much more to graduate school than scholarly activities and in McMaster Sociology, we are committed to making the graduate student experience a positive one.

Student Life