Social Sciences I

Our general Level I program gives you the opportunity to study and explore the diverse and multidisciplinary areas in the Social Sciences. It provides you with a year to discover and focus your academic interests, so you can then feel ready to apply to a program or combined program within the Social Sciences, or to combine your passion for Social Sciences with other subject areas outside of Social Sciences. Social scientists at McMaster come from a variety of backgrounds. They share a curiosity about individuals and society and use a number of approaches and research methods to advance our understanding of individuals, groups and social relationships and activities.

Study in the Social Sciences at McMaster will help you to engage with some of the most compelling questions in contemporary society: How did we get here? Where should we be going? How should we organize our economy? How do different institutions in society shape our experiences? How might we achieve a just society? Studying the Social Sciences will stimulate your curiosity, encourage you to seek the answers to important questions and develop the skills you need to engage the world around you.

The Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University offers you an educational experience of the highest quality. After our students complete their studies, they enjoy considerable success whether they go to graduate school, continue their education in some other way or enter the job market.

The flexibility of your first year in the Faculty of Social Sciences will help you to discover your interests by giving you the opportunity to take courses from a wide variety of disciplines.

First-year courses are designed to provide an overview of each discipline and to help you to choose a major (or majors) best suited to your interests and learning style. Elective courses taken to complement your studies may be selected from other Faculties, subject to meeting prerequisites.

Know your deadlines

Mark your calendars with all your important application dates.

Explore your options

McMaster has 25 direct-entry undergraduate programs. Find the one that’s right for you.

Check your admission requirements

Research and compare program requirements with our Admission Requirements tool. Use the drop-down menus to start looking at and comparing programs.

Get ready to apply

You’ve picked your programs. Now it’s time to get everything together.

Connect with us

Webinars, live events, chat and virtual meetings. Our team is here to help you at every step. Connect with us to get more info, have your questions answered and to learn more about Mac. If you have extenuating circumstances that you believe have impacted your academics, and you would like to share this information with us, please use the Request for Special Consideration form. Contact us via the live chat and we can walk you through the process.

Apply on OUAC

To apply, you’ll need to visit the Ontario University Application Centre. Learn how here.

Complete your applicant checklist

Learn how to submit documents, complete supplementary applications, submit English language proficiency and more.

Accept your offer

Congratulations on your offer of admission! You’re one step closer to becoming a Marauder.

Clear your conditions

After you accept your offer, you’ll need to clear any conditions. Let’s look at what those might be and how to complete this penultimate step.

Join the incoming class

It’s time to join your fellow Marauders and get ready for your first semester!