About Master’s Program,
Studying sociology at the graduate level can be an exciting endeavour. When you enter into a graduate program, you are starting an adventure of discovery where you will learn about the social world in far greater depth than you could imagine in your undergraduate studies. You will find yourself challenged both by your community of peers and by your instructors. You will also learn new skills as our program transforms you from a consumer of sociology to a producer of new social knowledge.
The University of Toronto stands out among its peer institutions for the strength, number and breadth of its faculty members, the opportunities for cross-disciplinary studies, and for the department’s holisitic approach to graduate education.
Because we believe that graduate students should devote their time to their studies, the University of Toronto offers a guaranteed funding package for five years of graduate study. We also require that students apply for external funding. This not only increases the student’s income for the year, it also helps to develop valuable skills in proposal writing – skills that will be useful in many academic and non-academic careers.
Through a combination of course work, independent and collaborative research, teaching assistantships, and participation in seminars and workshops, our students develop from critical consumers of sociology to sociologists conducting their own high quality research that will have an impact on the field for years to come.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
The objective of the MA program is to guide students in developing strong theoretical foundations in sociology alongside great research design and methodological expertise. The program provides excellent training for those who plan to work in positions requiring research and analytic skills in the public and private sectors. It also provides a fantastic foundation in sociological training for those who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in sociology. Students achieve the objectives of the MA program by successfully completing a well-designed sequence of courses, participating in seminars organized in the department, and often working as research assistants or teaching assistants to professors. Some of our MA students also complete the Master’s Research paper, a thesis which is of publishable quality.
All master’s students are required to take the following three courses as part of their course requirements:
- SOC 6001H Classical Sociological Theory
- SOC 6302H Statistics for Sociologists
- SOC 6712H Qualitative Methods I
In addition to these courses, students have two options for completing the MA program. The first option requires students to take five more half-year courses (eight total). The second option requires students to take three more half-year courses (six total) and write the Master’s Research Paper (MRP).
Students must maintain a B average throughout their coursework to be recommended to receive their MA degree.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The School of Graduate Studies publishes an annual schedule of fees in June. Please consult the SGS Tuition and Fees page for the up-to-date schedule.
The Department of Sociology funds MA students in Year 1 and Ph.D. students from Years 1 – 4. For details on the Base Funding Package, please visit:
Both the Province of Ontario and the federal government, through the Tri-Agency (SSHRC, CIHR and NSERC), provide funding to support outstanding students in Masters and Ph.D. programs. Many of our students receive multiple years of funding from the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and from SSHRC or CIHR. Students should also check the SGS funding database for opportunities that may fit their particular needs or that are designed for specific research areas. Both the department and SGS offer training to help students develop their proposal-writing skills.\
Application Requirement,
English Language Proficiency Scores (if applicable)
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2025
Application Fee,
Application Fee: $125.00 CDN
