Instruction offered by the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts.
Junior Courses
Law and Society 201
Introduction to Legal Studies
Overview of the role of law in society. Examination of different concepts of law. Study of legal rules, institutions, processes and personnel in social context. Discussion of construction and exercise of the power of law. Emphasis on Canadian law and legal system. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0)
This course examines the philosophy and science of law as tools of social engineering. Students will be introduced to tort, contract, property and criminal law and will review different schools of thought and legal movements specific to these areas of law. Current legal developments (including decided Canadian cases) will be covered to illustrate how concepts such as risk, negligence, neighbour principle, contractual obligations, offer and acceptance, consideration, remedies and punishment play out in contemporary Canadian society. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0)
An examination of the ability of the law to guarantee equality. Issues of gender, racial and class equality will be explored. Topics may include employment law, civil law, criminal law, reproductive rights and family law. All material is studied as it pertains to the Canadian legal culture. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0)
Examines how individuals and groups create, maintain, and follow non-legal codes of conduct and, in turn, regulate themselves and society. Students will be introduced to concepts of self-governance and moral regulation found in聽 social manners, community聽standards, religious beliefs, as well as, consciously "legislated" group mechanisms such as professional codes of conduct, mission statements, and corporate governance practices. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):Law and Society 201.
An examination of selected topics in Law and Society. See聽Schedule of聽Classes聽for current topic(s). Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0) MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
An examination of the fundamental conceptions of rights and freedoms in the works of J.S. Mill and twentieth- and twenty first-century philosophers. The treatment of these concepts in contemporary law and their role in contemporary legal and social issues are explored as well. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):Law and Society 201, 60 units (10.0 full-course equivalents) and admission to the Law and Society program. Antirequisite(s):Credit for Law and Society 413 and 412 will not be allowed. Notes:Preference in enrolment is given to students who have completed at least 90 units. Registration for students who have completed fewer than 90 units but more than 60 units will open on a date specified by Enrolment Services.
Socio-legal Issues in Contemporary Liberal Societies
An examination of the ways in which fundamental premises of legal liberalism, such as fairness, equality, and individual liberty, intersect with each other and with other key social values and premises. Contemporary challenges that may be explored in this course include privacy, the nature of the rights attached to property, the different understandings of democracy operating in different countries, and the extent to which the state should support religion. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):Law and Society 413, 60 units (10.0 full-course equivalents) and admission to the Law and Society program. Antirequisite(s):Credit for Law and Society 415 and 412 will not be allowed. Course is not open to students who have completed fewer than 60 units.聽聽 Notes:Registration for students who have completed fewer than 90 units but more than 60 units will open on a date specified by Enrolment Services.
Examines the relationship between law and legal institutions on the one hand, and science and technology on the other. Through close readings of texts and in-depth class discussion, students will investigate thematic issues such as the role of law in regulating science and technology; challenges to law raised by scientific discoveries and new technologies; and the influence of science and technology on law and legal institutions. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):48 units (8.0 full-course equivalents).
Supervised individual study of a special topic. Course Hours:3 units; H(3-0) Prerequisite(s):Consent of the Program Co-ordinator. Notes:Students should contact the Department of Sociology at least two weeks prior to the first day of classes to arrange an independent study course. MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
Students will conduct an independent research project under the direction of a supervisor. In the seminar, students will discuss and present their projects and other topics relevant to conducting research. Course Hours:6 units; F(3S-0) Prerequisite(s):3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) from Communications Studies 313, Geography 340, History 300, Sociology 313, Political Science 399 or Psychology 312; admission to the Law and Society Honours program; and consent of the Department.
An advanced seminar integrating philosophical, theoretical, social, and legal approaches to understanding the relationship between law and society. Course Hours:3 units; H(3S-0) Prerequisite(s):Law and Society 413 and 415, 90 units (15.0 full-course equivalents) and admission to the Law and Society major. Notes:Students may be required to attend court proceedings outside of class time.