Gaming and Gender: The Digital Divide (Degree Level)
This degree elective breadth course combines the study of digital games and psychological, sociological, cultural, aesthetic and literary influences characteristic in online gaming. Students explore parallels between modern societal values related to gender and those occurring in the gaming world. Through experiential learning opportunities involving gameplay, students examine a variety of elements and how they converge or diverge from socio-cultural norms. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
Gender and Sexuality in World History (Degree Level)
Historically, women and men have been expected to behave in gender appropriate ways. Yet, what is considered appropriately feminine or masculine is not fixed; instead, these ideals are socially constructed and depend on time and place and are influenced by other categories of identity like status or class, and race and ethnicity. In this course, we will examine the construction of gender ideals and consider the impact of these ideals on aspects of life ranging from the most private (sex, sexual identity, sexual regulation, family formation) to the most public (work, citizenship and political power, war, conquest). Covering the classical period to the modern period and including societies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, this course will take a comparative approach and will analyze the impact of cultural contact on gender ideals. Whether accepted, adapted or rejected, gender expectations have affected every aspect of men’s and women’s lives in world history. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
The world of politics can be difficult to understand without some theoretical training. Yet it is vital for citizens of a democracy to understand how politics works. For all its complexity and frequent inelegance, politics is what allows humans to manage their differences, share their resources, protect their rights, and change their governments. In this course political science methodologies, approaches and theories will be introduced, allowing students to learn how the state, the structures of government and the political process impact their daily lives. Students will deepen their understanding of politics and political ideologies and learn how they are relevant to securing or advancing their material interests. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
World Civilizations: Bronze Age to the 15th Century (Degree Level)
Students will develop a broad understanding of world civilizations that have contributed to our sense of world history. Students will explore the development and interactions of various societies over time by examining world historical processes and using a range of disciplinary approaches (i.e. history, philosophy, sociology, art history, etc.). In this course students will discover how this complex tapestry of narratives has culminated in our modern understanding of the world as a global village. This course includes mandatory group work. We recommend viewing the course schedule immediately upon logging into the course to view course and group work requirements. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
The course provides an introduction for students to a variety of dramatic works from around the world. This course will present art and history of theatre as it has evolved from pre-historic times to our post-modernist world. We will examine the literature of theatre-structure, form, genre and style and how a play text is transformed into theatre. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
Selected Themes in Canadian History (Degree Level)
This course introduces students to selected issues in Canadian history. Using the methodology of social history, learners will analyze a variety of contemporary issues from a historical perspective. Topics include Canadian government and the constitution, aboriginal peoples, industrialization and urbanization, religious life, culture, and women in Canada. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
Digital Communications & Professional Identity (Degree Level)
Every day, millions of people share their opinions with a global audience via Tweets, #s, blogs, wikis, videos, likes, tags, text messages and online comments. Digital spaces and mobile technologies allow us to be connected to our personal and professional networks and communities 24/7. In what ways does this hyper-connectivity impact the ways in which people regard their place in the world and define themselves? In this course we will analyze the social, ethical, political and cultural ramifications of societies that are increasingly mobile and digital. The impact of new genres and forms of expression on our identities will be explored as we actively participate in online networks and create materials for social media. This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.
World Civilizations: 16th Century to Modern Times (Degree Level)
Students will develop a broad understanding of world civilizations that have contributed to our sense of world history. Students will explore the development and interactions of various societies over time by examining world historical processes and using a range of disciplinary approaches (i.e. history, philosophy, sociology, art history, etc.). In this course students will discover how this complex tapestry of narratives has culminated in our modern understanding of the world as a "global village." This is a degree level General Elective that is approved for BSCN students only.