Business and Society BA Honours
Honours Degree Overview: Four Years
Gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of business on society and the relationships between business, social structures and government. Learn about how economic power affects the distribution of wealth and opportunity. Benefit from the way our program blends philosophical, historical, economical, geographical, sociological and political approaches to studying the relation between business and society.
Unlike a traditional business school, our program is a critical, interdisciplinary program that equips you with practical, essential skills to give you a solid foundation for success in a range of career paths. You have the opportunity specialize in either ethics and capitalism; the environment; the firm and organization; the global economy; law and governance; or the social economy.
As a graduate, you can explore careers that include green business development, social investment, public policy, social enterprises, the non-profit sector, NGOs and social accounting.
First year will introduce you to the university environment, provide you with an introduction to Business and Society along with introductory economics, and provide you with general education courses.
First year required courses include:
- SOSC 1340 9.0 (students starting in the Fall term)
- SOSC 1340 6.0 (students starting in the Winter term)
- ECON 1000 3.0
- ECON 1010 3.0
- Statistics Requirement: SC/MATH 1532 3.0 (recommended)
General Education Requirements:
- 9.0 credit from Humanities or Social Science
- 6.0 credit from Humanities or Social Science (whichever is not taken in 1)
- 6.0 credit from Natural Science
In your second year, you will complete your introductory tour with Intermediate Business and Society, and select two of the program's six streams for specialization. In the streams, students specialize in the relations between and impact of business on an aspect of the social world.
Students must choose two of the following streams: The Social Economy, Law and Governance, The Firm and Organization, The Global Economy, Ethics and Capitalism, The Environment.
Second year required course:
- SOSC 2340 6.0
Courses from the streams:
- Social Economy
SOSC 1341 9.0 - Law and Governance
SOSC 2330 6.0 - The Firm and Organization
SOSC 2342 6.0 - The Global Economy
SOSC 2345 6.0 - Ethics and Capitalism
SOSC 2346 6.0 - The Environment
SOSC 2347 6.0
In the third year, you will continue to explore your two chosen streams while deepening your knowledge in the field.
Courses from the streams:
- Social Economy
SOSC 3041 6.0 - Law and Governance
SOSC 3040 6.0 - The Firm and Organization
SOSC 3043 3.0
SOSC 3045 3.0 - The Global Economy
SOSC 3042 3.0 - Ethics and Capitalism
SOSC 3046 6.0 - The Environment
SOSC 3044 3.0
SOSC 3047 3.0
In the fourth year, your classes will be smaller, and you will have several elective course options. Students in the Social Economy stream will complete a placement course where they will gain work experience in a social economy organization.
Courses from the streams:
- Social Economy
SOSC 4046 6.0 - Law and Governance
SOSC 4043 6.0 - The Firm and Organization
SOSC 4043 6.0 - The Global Economy
SOSC 4047 6.0 - Ethics and Capitalism
SOSC 4044 6.0 - The Environment
SOSC 4048 3.0
SOSC 4049 3.0
Other fourth year options include:
- SOSC 4040 6.0
- SOSC 4056 3.0