Sociology

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The Department of Sociology provides facilities for students intending to proceed to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.

Inquiries: 905 525-9140 Ext. 23613
E-mail: socgrad@mcmaster.ca
Website: https://sociology.socsci.mcmaster.ca/

Faculty/Fall 2026

Professors

Tina Fetner, B.A. (California, Santa Cruz), M.A., Ph.D. (New York)/ Chair, Department
Melanie Heath, B.A. (California, Berkeley), M.A. (California State, Sacramento), Ph.D. (Southern California)/Associate Dean, Graduate, Faculty of Social Sciences
Gregory Hooks, B.A. (Kent State), M.S. (Ohio State), Ph.D. (Wisconsin, Madison)
Neil McLaughlin, B.A., M.A. (Cleveland), Ph.D. (CUNY)
Karen Robson, B.A. (Alberta), M.A. (Calgary), Ph.D. (Essex)/ Ontario Research Chair in Educational Achievement and At-Risk Youth/Chair, Graduate Program
Victor Satzewich, B.A., M.A. (Saskatchewan), Ph.D. (Glasgow)
Marisa Young, B.A. (Calgary), M.A. (Calgary), Ph.D. (Toronto)/Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Work-Life Transitions

Associate Professors

Luca Berardi, B.A. (Toronto), M.A. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Alberta)
Phillipa Chong, B.A. (Toronto), M.A. (Toronto), Ph.D.(Toronto)
Jeffrey Denis, B.A. (Toronto, Trinity College), M.A.(Harvard), Ph.D. (Harvard)   
Paul Glavin, B.Sc. (Strathclyde, Scotland), M.A. (Kent State), Ph.D. (Toronto)
Lisa Kaida, B.A.(Tokyo), M.A. (Tokyo), M.A. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Toronto)
Geraldina Polanco, B.A. (British Columbia), M.A. (Concordia), Ph.D. (British Columbia)
Vanessa Watts, B.A. (Trent), M.A. (Victoria), Ph.D. (Queen’s)/MacPherson Chair in Indigenous Studies

Assistant Professors

Anne-Marie Livingstone, B.A. (Concordia), M.A. (McGill), Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins)
Zhifan Luo, B.A. (Fudan, China), Ph.D. (SUNY, Albany)

Research in Sociology

The Department has the capability of supervising MA major papers and theses and PhD dissertations in the research areas of Gender, Sexuality and Family; Political Sociology, Social Movements and Policy; Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; Social Inequality; Social Psychology; and Sociology of Work and Occupations. These areas are broadly defined and a variety of approaches and topics are possible within each. Students normally select more narrowly focused topics under the general rubric of these areas.

In order to ensure proper supervision, the Department attempts to match as closely as possible the research interests of incoming students with those of the faculty. Applicants should consult the Department’s website for the most current areas of expertise and research activities of the faculty.

While the Department has specialized in its areas of Ph.D. supervision, students are nonetheless encouraged to pursue their studies more broadly in the courses taken.  Details about which of these courses will be offered in any particular year, the actual course content and the name of the instructor can be obtained from the Department of Sociology or the department website.

Programs

• Sociology, M.A.

• Sociology, Ph.D

• Sociology Courses

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