Department of Sociology

Sociology teaching award nominations now open  

The Department of Sociology is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Sociology Undergraduate Excellent Teaching Awards (SUETA), which recognizes outstanding teaching in sociology at an undergraduate level.   Presented annually, the three awards celebrate instructors who demonstrate innovation, dedication and a commitment to enhancing the student experience in sociology classrooms. Students and alumni may submit nominations individually or as a group.  Award recipients receive a framed certificate and are invited to participate in […]

The Department of Sociology invites the York community to an engaging public lecture with guest speaker V. Geetha on Sept. 29

Renowned scholar and writer V. Geetha will present Democracy, Anti-Caste Movements and India's New Left Agenda, an exploration of one of the most significant social justice movements in modern India. Drawing on the legacy of the anti-caste movement that gained momentum in the 1970s, Geetha will examine how grassroots activism continues to shape contemporary democratic […]

Department of Sociology to host Indigenous Lecture series with guest speaker Keith Richotte Jr.

The Department of Sociology invites the York community to attend its 2026 Indigenous Lecture on Wednesday, October 7 from 2:30 - 5 p.m. The lecture, The Worst Trickster Story Ever Told: Understanding American Law Through an Indigenous Lens, will be delivered by Keith Richotte Jr. He will examine how the U.S. doctrine of plenary power—granting sweeping authority over Native American nations—came to be understood as constitutional, despite its origins […]

Department of Sociology to host 2026 Annual Lecture with guest lecturer Veena Dubal 

The Department of Sociology invites the York community to attend its 2026 Annual Lecture on Thursday, September 24 from 4-6 p.m. The lecture, titled Pre-Determined Purchasing Power: Governing Algorithmic Price and Wage Discrimination, will be delivered by Professor Veena Dubal of Irvine School of Law, University of California. Dubal will discuss how data-driven systems increasingly determine wages and prices and how workers and consumers are governed by the […]

Department of Sociology’s lecture series, Celebrating the Book, highlights new ideas and latest research 

This fall, the Department of Sociology will continue its new lecture series, Celebrating the Book, showcasing the work of its faculty members and their recent publications. Each author will discuss the key themes, questions and contributions of their latest book, showcasing a variety of research happening in the department. The book series is open to the York community with events running throughout the fall and winter.   Upcoming lectures include:  September 9: The Reality of Knowledge: Towards a […]

LA&PS Professor Marcello Musto receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Sociological Association

Marcello Musto, a professor in the Department of Sociology, is the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Section on Marxist Sociology of the American Sociological Association, recognizing his extensive contributions to the study and global dissemination of Marxist thought.  According to the award committee, Musto has “published extensively in English and other languages, for both academic and non-academic audiences.” He has published his […]

Five LA&PS Alumni on York's 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30

York University has announced its Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2026, with five of the alumni coming from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. This incredible group under the age of 30 were selected based on their work creating real-world impact and positive change. They continue to use their skills developed through […]

Department of Sociology hosts guest lecture by Kazuo Shii

On Monday, May 4, the Department of Sociology will host a lecture by Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party, titled The Japanese Left Today and the Return to Marx’s Capital. Shii will discuss why dominant social and economic systems require profound transformation and why Karl Marx’s Capital remains relevant in the contemporary world. […]

LA&PS professors lead research on how epidemics affect Black communities

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, York University launched a new research cluster titled Overcoming Epidemics in Transnational Black Communities – Response, Recovery and Resilience. The cluster is made up of Black scholars from five York faculties who have been working to understand how structural inequalities influence the way that Black communities experience, respond to and recover […]

Philip Walsh writes new book about the sociology of knowledge

Philip Walsh, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, has written a new book titled The Reality of Knowledge (Routledge, 2026). The book proposes new approaches to the sociology of knowledge and the theories that influence the field by looking at the history of the discipline its key themes and social meaning. Furthermore, it […]