Degree Students

Courses are first come, first served—there are no waiting lists for courses that are full! We strongly advise you to register in your General Education course as soon as possible. This list of courses does not update when courses are full. When completing your registration you may need to try several courses before you find one that still has room for you to register. 

Please note: Course options are subject to change without notice due to changes in planning. Please double-check course lists prior to completing your registration to ensure specific courses are still offered. 

SOSC-7042-60 - Mind and Behaviour

(Introductory level)

Have you ever wondered why you think the way you do? Why you behave the way you do? And why others are so similar yet so different from you? In this introductory psychology course, we examine the biological, social, and cognitive factors that make us who we are. We discuss our development,the power of our brain, how we learn and remember, and how we interpret the world around us. We delve into our complex thought processes, the motivations behind our behaviours, and the influence of social relationships, emotions, and stress on our health and well-being. Finally, we examine the causes and treatments of psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety,schizophrenia, and antisocial personality disorder. Through this course, students will gain insight into the factors that influence the way they think and behave.

All students can choose an online General Education elective course. International students should verify they have the appropriate number of in-person hours before registering for an online course. 

Courses are first come, first served—there are no waiting lists for courses that are full! We strongly advise you to register in your General Education course as soon as possible. This list of courses does not update when courses are full. When completing your registration you may need to try several courses before you find one that still has room for you to register. 

Please note: Course options are subject to change without notice due to changes in planning. Please double-check course lists prior to completing your registration to ensure specific courses are still offered. 

HUMA-7035-80 - Haunted Landscape

(Upper level)

In an era of globalization, mass resource extraction, and human interference in natural environments, some scholars are asking an important question: Does wilderness exist anymore? If evidence of human presence can be found almost anywhere on earth from the garbage that has accumulated on Mount Everest, to the discarded beer can inhabited by a hermit crab at the bottom of the ocean, to the hum of airplanes overhead, do we need to change our classification of wilderness as that which is untouched by human activity? This course will examine how traces of technological interference create ghostly landscapes, where the artifacts of human presence haunt the subsoil to reveal just as much about the past as it does about the future. We will examine humanity's impact on natural environments by considering how the ghostliness of abandoned things and places (e.g., the ivied ruins of a castle, an abandoned factory, a vacated farmhouse choked with vines, a rusty car in a forest) facilitate artistic, literary, and cultural interest when perceived within natural landscapes.

SOSC-7012-80 America & the Bomb

(Upper level)

The nuclear bomb cast a long shadow over American culture throughout much of the twentieth century. In this course, we will examine the historical aspects of this phenomenon and imaginative responses to it; these responses include science fiction, film, poetry, short stories, and Dr. Seuss. The students in this course will gain an appreciation for the degree of fear generated by the Cold War, and for how this fear shaeped artists, including those who were racially marginalized.

PHYS-7008-80 - The Martian Way

(Introductory level)

Exploration is the driving force behind scientific advancement but it constantly seeks new frontiers for inspiration. Mars is the ideal Terre Nouveau- a literal 'new Earth' where the spirit of exploration, coupled with enterprise, could fuel the next giant leap in the evolution of our scientific knowledge. This course will enable the student to form a vision of Mars based on up-to-date exploratory missions and appreciate the scale and variety of the challenges we could potentially face in taming the Martian wilderness, using existing and probable future technologies. The student will also have the opportunity to analyze the portraits of Mars that exist in literature, documentaries and films, and understand the difficulties in transforming scientific fantasy into reality. The Martian journey began distinctly with the search for extraterrestrial life; it is leading us to the brink of realizing the potential of transfusing our own species on a new world.

SOSC-7006-90 - Personality, Popularity & Persuasion 

(Introductory level)

Do you prefer to go out with friends or stay home with a good book? Are you shy, stubborn, or easygoing? Have you been told that you have a 'great personality'? In this course we examine how personality develops, why each person's personality is unique, the common traits of 'winners', and what happens when our personality is damaged. We discuss the psychological theories that explain personality, the factors that mould our personality, and the dangers of personality disorders, such as anti-social, paranoid, and narcissistic behaviours. Finally we debate the power of personality in success, power, popularity, and persuasion.

SOSC-7011-90 - Social Implications of Addiction

(Introductory level)

As an introductory and interdisciplinary survey of the role of addiction in human cultures, this course is designed to expose students to how narcotic as well as non-narcotic- related addictions manifest themselves within various individual and institutional practices. In particular, students will explore the major biological, psychological and social/cultural theories applied to addiction. Focus is given to the nature of drug use, conceptions of 'the addict,' how drugs impact the brain, the impact on family, and consequences for changing social drug behaviors. This course also explores current theoretical and practical treatment approaches and education and prevention strategies. Emphasis will be given to special issues and hot topics in drug addiction, including youth, women, media portrayal of drug use and current debates on the war on drugs. Finally, understanding common perspectives on treatment and prevention strategies related to drug dependence and education will be studied.