Curious about people, society and the world around you? Social Sciences I gives you the flexibility to explore before choosing your major.
In this first-year pathway, you can take courses across the social sciences and discover the subjects, ideas and questions that interest you most. Explore how people make decisions, why societies work the way they do, how policies shape our lives and how we can create meaningful change.
Along the way, you’ll build skills that can take you almost anywhere, including critical thinking, research, communication, data analysis and problem-solving. These are skills valued across careers in business, government, law, technology, health, the non-profit sector and more.
At the end of your first year, you’ll choose the program that fits your interests and goals, with the experience and support to make a confident decision. Think of Social Sciences I as your launchpad: a year to explore different subjects, discover what excites you and build skills that will prepare you for wherever your degree takes you next.
McMaster’s Faculty of Social Studies offers a number of programs and majors, including:
*co-op options available
Students can also choose a specialization that is built into some of our programs – everything from Mental Health & Addictions in Health & Society to Public Law and Judicial Studies in Political Science.
Learn by doing! In the Social Sciences, you’ll be given hands-on experiences and engagement opportunities both inside, and outside the classroom. This learning style is incorporated into many of our undergraduate courses. You can participate in field courses where they go out into the community and are supervised by an industry expert, tackle real world issues and research topics in the classroom and gain volunteer employer experience through an internship.
You will apply to your co-op program at the end of your first year (just like your regular level II program/major). If you are selected, you will be in your Bachelor of Arts Co-op Option program for five years. You will participate in three professional co-op terms at different businesses or organizations.
The beauty of learning at one of Canada’s top research universities is that you will have access to world renowned researchers and research facilities. We incorporate research elements and research problems into many of our programs and courses – you will get the chance to hone your research skills using real, community-based research problems.
Are you interested in doing research alongside a professor? We have Undergraduate Research Awards! You can apply for a bursary and spend four – six weeks doing research alongside a professor in your field or interest of choice.
From Welcome Week to peer mentor opportunities, Social Sciences is your home away from home.
As an incoming student you will have access to hundreds of clubs across campus, including our Social Sciences program societies and our McMaster Social Sciences Society. These clubs facilitate events and activities and connect you with endless opportunities to meet fellow social sciences students.
What intrigued me about Social Psychology was the small program size, program-specific content, and exploration of Psychology and Sociology as their own independent programs.
The benefit of my program allowing for broad fields of study meant I had options when I graduated.
The Social Sciences program is unique because of how much flexibility it gives in first year.
I recently graduated from the Labour Studies program with a minor in Geography and Earth Studies. Right out of school I was hired by the City of Hamilton as their Youth Engager. The Social Sciences program is unique because of how much flexibility it gives in first year.
SOC SCI 1SS3 – Inquiry in the Social Sciences
SOC SCI 1SS3 is taught in small seminar classes of about 30 students and provides an opportunity for students to learn how to ask good questions, search out and evaluate evidence, develop well-reasoned conclusions and present their outcomes to the class.
This class provides valuable foundational research and writing skills. Research has shown that?students who complete SOC SCI 1SS3 receive higher grades in university courses, complete their degrees on time?and are more likely to obtain Dean’s Honour List standing.
Recent SOCSCI 1SS3 topics include:
SOC SCI 1T03 – Life, the University and Everything
This course is taught in the fall term, and has a goal of helping our incoming students develop the most crucial skills and habits needed to succeed during their adjustment to university.
Learn more about Social Sciences I requirements.
After Level I you will further develop your academic interests. The Faculty of Social Sciences offers three and four-year Bachelor of Arts and four-year Bachelor of Social Work degrees. You can choose from one (or two) of our innovative programs:
Through our partnership with Mohawk College, you can earn a college certificate while completing your degree. Earn a Mohawk College certificate in one of the following areas:
For a full list of courses that can be available in this program, please consult the academic calendar.