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[anon]

Does anyone know anything about York University in Canada, particularly in the social sciences?

All I know is that it is the third largest in Canada (student numbers) and is relatively 'new' being 59 years old.

It seems to ranked as a 'comprehensive university' but I am unsure as to what this means.

Was thinking of applying there for a position.

[anon2]

York U has a top psychology department in North America. Clinical psych produces world class research and is by far the best program worldwide in a couple of subfields (experiental psychotherapy and qualitative research in psychotherapy).

[a canadian]

York was founded in 1959. That makes it 46 years old, not 59.
Suburban campus. Hard to get to via public transit. On the other hand, you can live out of town and commute from the countryside pretty easily. Big campus.
" Those in the Comprehensive category have a significant amount of research activity and a wide range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional degrees." From Macleans ratings, for what they are worth (not much). it is #10 across all programs but some programs are excellent.

What field of social sciences are you in? Sociology is pretty good. So is environmental studies.

[me]

46, 59--who cares? Those 13 years are hardly going to push it into the 'old' 'established' universities, now will they?

Why are people so excruciatingly picky on these fora?

Seeing as some universities in Canada (and the US) are over 100 years old and others in England over 1000 (discounting of course as always do in the West that he oldest university in the world is reportedly in India at well over 5000 years), it's a drop in the mighty ocean.

Get a grip and try to be more helpful rather than showing off your arithmetic skills!

[anon]

It's a commuter campus. Classes are mainly in 3-hour blocks and people are rarely asked to show up on non-teaching days, which makes the commute bearable. Many faculty live in
downtown TO (45-55 minutes via subway + "express" bus), other farther  away.

[Brianrietta]

A few years ago there was a nasty strike (not sure what the issue was) and classes were cancelled for weeks.

Overall, it's a very good school, and it seems to be improving still.

[original anon poster]

thanks all--that sounds really encouraging

what is the research atmosphere like? i hear that some of the younger profs are getting more an dmore grants in the social sicences--

i don't really want to say what department i'm looking into

[Anon Cda.]

There are three universities in Toronto -- York, Toronto and Ryerson.  Alhtough the largest, Toronto is the generally the most difficult school to get into, both for students and for prospective professors.  

York and Ryerson are both commuter campuses but in different parts of the city.  Ryerson is right downtown, at Gerrard and Yonge.  York is in the northern part of the city at Keele and Steeles.  It is not possible to get to the campus by subway.  You need to take the bus or drive.

The area immediately around the campus doesn't offer a lot of alluring housing options for faculty.  It is a combination of high density apartment complexes and commercial areas.

It is a large, sprawling self contained campus, clearly demarcated from the surrounding commercial/residential area.  Many of the buildings are functional and spartan (1960's design) and some are showing their age.

It is a fairly large school (about 35,000 students).  In general, it has a mid-level reputation amongst Canadian universities.  The law school and the business school are well regarded.

[%sig%]

[anon]

Actially, from downtown TO, to get to York one takes the subway to the end of the line at Downsview and then  an express bus (10 minutes, no additional charge) to campus. Buses and trains are quite frequent at peak hours. All the faculty I know commute -- courses are normally scheduled in 3 hours blocks to facilitate  commuting.

The benefits and pay are good, if not spectacular, library facilities adequate (and York faculty can get borrower cards at U. of Toronto libraries). The campus is '60s prison/school/hospital bland modern -- overcrowded and not a place you would want to spend non-teaching hours.  For US applicants, another benefit is that the terms are shorter than the US ones -- York starts in September and ends in early April.

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[the guy]

Ahh York....  It's a commuter school as was mentioned. There was a strike a few years ago and TA's almost went on strike last year around November.  Suprisingly no one mentioned how the campus is in a terrible area (ie Jane and Finch) and the campus is too spread out for my liking. Comprehansive general means no medical program and fewer phd. programs than McGill, Western, Queen's, UBC etc.