Diploma Students: Part-time & Overload — All Courses

Location: 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. London, Ontario

PSYC-1132-60PT Exploring Trauma & Violence 

Many, even most, people you come across will have lived through and may still be experiencing traumatic or violent events or living conditions. This course focuses on learning about the impact of trauma and violence on people and how to create physical, cultural, and emotional safety for everyone. Trauma and violence informed principles could be practiced on the macro level in health and social services, schools, and colleges and the micro level in interaction with our family and friends. Trauma and violence informed principles encourage a universal approach to collective care and wellness. Please be advised that the content of this course could be triggering for individuals with post traumatic stress disorder/complex trauma background. 

Location: 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. London, Ontario

Location: 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. London, Ontario

ENGL-1065-60PT Crime Stories

Stories of crime and detection have been among the most popular narratives produced from the 19th century to the present. While popular crime stories have often been derided as cheap escapism, this course investigates a variety of fictional criminals and crime-fighters to show popular narratives holding up society's moral mirror to dark and horrible deeds and raising questions about the social and individual complexities of guilt, innocence, crime, and the means of punishment.

ENVR-1038-60PT Climate Change, Adaptation & Innovation

To mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, we must minimize the human activities driving climate change and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Communities must also implement resilient strategies to adapt to the changing climate and impacts already being felt around the world. Covering emerging, innovative solutions in energy, food, agriculture, land use, industry, transportation, buildings, carbon sinks, health, and education, this course invites students to explore creative responses to address climate change and its impacts locally and beyond. All of humanity is predicted to be impacted by climate change, albeit not equally. In this course, students will be encouraged to explore why climate change disproportionally impacts vulnerable communities and how multiple intersecting identity factors influence how individuals are affected by the changing climate. While we have faced, and will continue to face, many challenges to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate, our successes will not only benefit the planet, but our society and economy as well.

FILM-1020-61PT Film Genres: Intro

This course is designed to examine North American culture through the lens of genre films. Movies reflect the values, beliefs, hopes, and fears of the times in which they are produced. Analysis of genre cinema provides insight into historical and contemporary ideologies and increases our understanding of the society in which we live and work. 

INDS-1081-62PT Personal Wellness 

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth.

INDS-1135-60PT TikTok and Popular Culture

This course examines the intersection of popular culture and contemporary media platforms, including TikTok, social media, film, and advertisements. Students will explore how various forms of digital media shape trends, identities, and social interactions while reflecting broader societal themes. Through a blend of theoretical frameworks and media analysis, we will analyze the role of user-generated content in constructing cultural narratives, the impact of
algorithms on visibility and virality, and the implications of digital creativity across different contexts. The course encourages students to engage with various media as cultural artifacts and mediums of expression, fostering the necessary critical skills to navigate and understand the complexities of our modern culture.

PSYC-1124-60PT The Dark History of Psychology

What communities do you belong to? Belonging to a family, neighbourhood, religious organization, sports team, etc., provides us with valuable social relationships and human connection. Community psychology examines how various aspects of belonging to a community can impact our psychological, social, and physical well-being. In this course we will explore several fascinating topics, including the relationship between stress, social support, and sense of community; the impact of discrimination on individual and community well-being; the importance of diversity, empowerment, prevention, and health promotion; the history of self-help and community mental health; the role of community-based, qualitative research methods; as well as the significance of community development and organization with the goal of understanding how to create a more socially responsible and healthy society for all. 

Location: 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. London, Ontario

ENGL-1030-60PT Mystery and Suspense

This course surveys the development of the mystery and suspense genre through a variety of short stories, television episodes, and films. We focus on historical context, characteristics and dominant themes of popular mystery and suspense genres from the late 19th century to modern day in exploring the enduring appeal of this genre. In addition to completing quizzes, students will also engage in creative assignments and write analytically about some of the texts in this course. 

FILM-1007-60PT - Hollywood: The Viewer's Perspective

This course explores film from an audience perspective by analyzing both how and why our culture watches movies. The course examines the Hollywood formula and its appealing offer of comfort, closure, and familiarity to viewers. In addition, the degree to which cinematic rules can be bent and/or broken before an audience loses interest is a primary focus of the course. Focusing on four categories of film theory - Character Identification, the Male Gaze, Narrative, and Historical Context- this course examines the way mainstream film has influenced patterns of spectatorship, and promotes critical analysis of contemporary media. 

HIST-1051 -60PT Modern History - 1945 to Present

This course surveys the significant political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic developments that define the modern period, from 1945 to the present day. While maintaining a predominantly North American perspective, this course introduces students to the major world events that define the latter half of the twentieth century. 

INDS-1081-63PT Personal Wellness

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self-responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth. 

PHIL-1011-60PT Bioethics

Medical ethics is the study of the moral issues that arise out of the unique relationships between healthcare practitioners, patients, research scientists and the general public at large. All of us will be part of these relationships over the course of our lifetimes - and many of the questions raised in this course will be faced directly by students. Should my doctor tell me the truth when the truth might hurt me? How much impact should my family's wishes have on my medical care? Is it right to test my unborn children for genetic diseases? Should a patient's confidentiality be kept at all costs? Is access to health care a human right? Is it right to perform medical research on animals? Should we alter our DNA to enhance ourselves? How do we define "Disease" and "Illness"? By thinking through these sorts of questions in the context of this course, students will be better prepared to tackle them as they arise in their lives.

POLI-1022-60PT - Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom from discrimination. Where do those rights come from? And what happens when your freedoms begin to restrict mine? This course will investigate the important role that constitutions play in democratic society. Current examples will be explored to study how laws can be made, changed, and struck down by the courts. 

PSYC-1055-60PT Positive Psychology

This course explores the nature of well-being, happiness, and the good life. Course content includes a sampling of psychological theories, research and measures of personal strengths that impact well-being. We will examine ways to enhance appreciation of life through mindfulness, gratitude, creativity, and flow and apply these experiences in a personal way. Students in this course should expect to learn and participate in personal gratitude and growth, prosocial behaviours, and savouring experiences. 

Location: 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. London, Ontario

ANTH-1010-60PT The Human Condition

People are fascinating! It is the goal of cultural anthropologists to increase our understanding of humanity, especially the diversity and complexity of human life and cultures. This course introduces students to the study and research methods of cultural anthropology. Students will study small-scale, prestate societies, including bands and tribes. Examining the consequences of globalization for the inhabitants of the underdeveloped world will comprise a significant portion of this course. Students will investigate how anthropological principles and knowledge can be applied towards the solution of global problems. 

Think you don't have time to read for pleasure? Think again! This course examines short, short stories that are under 1000 words, yet still manage to pack in complex plots, characters, narrators, settings, themes, and language. Although short short fiction is quick and easy to read (from 1 minute to 15 minutes), the form requires an enormous amount of skill, so we will explore what it takes to create successful short short fiction, and evaluate stories based on common elements.

FILM-1029-60PT Film Genres – Science Fiction

This course traces the emergence of science-fiction in film and other audiovisual media. The course pays special attention to the oscillations of the genre's status, from respectable work of the imagination ("speculative fiction") to despised escapist entertainment ("pulp") and back, before becoming a spectrum of subgenres (cyberpunk, weird, "literary," etc.). The interpretation of science fiction films is set within the history of science fiction readers, publishers, writers, from the earliest SF pulps to massive "convergence culture" science fiction that straddles books, film, TV, and internet fandom.

INDS-1033-60PT Video Game Theory

This course will analyze the cultural and artistic significance of video games, and also the ways gaming reflects our larger relationships with technology. This course aims to discuss the relationship between video games and other media; gamers and the gaming community; and the important sociological, cultural, industrial, and economic issues that surround gaming.

Note: Students in the Video Game Design and Development program (VGD) or Animation (ANI) cannot take this course as their General Education elective. 

INDS-1081-64PT Personal Wellness 

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self-responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth. 

POLI-1024-60PT American Politics

This course will provide an introduction to the American political system. Beginning with the first colony in Jamestown, we will study the institutions and people that helped transform America into the global superpower it is today. Topics of study include elections, foreign policy, and the bill of rights. Special attention will be given to contemporary political issues and conflicts.

Location: 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. London, Ontario

FILM-1020-61PT Film Genres –Intro

This course offers students an overview of major aspects of film as an artistic and communication medium. We examine film types, styles, and genres; major aspects of film technique such as editing, mise-en-scène, camera movement, sound, etc., and the way they may influence meaning; major theoretical approaches to film; and aspects of the film industry of increased relevance today, such as access vs. discrimination and exclusion. These aspects of film will be illustrated through a selection of films produced in North America, as well as in other parts of the world. 

INDG-1003-60PT Traditional Ways       

The 1990s are sometimes understood as a period of time between major events. Occurring between the end of the decades-long Cold War and prior to the 9/11, retrospective analyses of the 90s often describe it as a decade of relative peace and prosperity; the rise of the Internet ushered in a new era of technological advances while the dot-com bubble enriched many. However, by contextualizing the supposed irreverence of the 90s against Kuwait and the first Gulf War, civil right activism and neoliberal economics in the West, the freeing of Nelson Mandela, the end of apartheid South Africa, and the Bosnia and Rwandan genocides-among others- this course invites students to reconsider this era as a period of formative change with significant reverberations across the 2000s. In this course, students will analyze a range of 90s cultural media including  music videos, TV show episodes, movies and documentaries, songs, magazine articles, and advertisements as they seek to understand why the 1990s were a decade of profound change and how those changes continue to impact popular culture in the 2020s.

INDS-1049-60PT Experimental Music      

This course introduces students to the key composers and artists in experimental music from the early 20th century to the present and provides an overview of the central movements in experimental music. Students analyze and evaluate a broad variety of musical compositions and written sources.

INDS-1081-65PT Personal Wellness

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self-responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth.

INDS-1085-60PT Sci-Fi Anime

This course introduces students to the academic study of science fiction, or SF anime. Focusing on the works from such influential creators as Tezuka Osamu (Astro Boy), Miyazaki Hayao (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind), Otomo Katushiro (Akira), Oshii Mamoru (Ghost in the Shell), Anno Hideaki (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and CLAMP (Chobits), this course not only provides a brief history of SF anime from its beginnings to the early 2000s, but also examines trends in anime scholarship since its inception in the 1990s. Special attention will be paid to anime, as a form of limited animation, and to how this form is ideal for exploring both postmodern aesthetics and post-human concerns. No knowledge of Japanese is required. 

PSYC-1155-60PT Positive Psychology     

This course explores the nature of well-being, happiness, and the good life. Course content includes a sampling of psychological theories, research and measures of personal strengths that impact well-being. We will examine ways to enhance appreciation of life through mindfulness, gratitude, creativity, and flow and apply these experiences in a personal way. Students in this course should expect to learn and participate in personal gratitude and growth, prosocial behaviours, and savouring experiences. 

Weekday Time: Wednesday 4:00pm to 6:00 pm - (2HRS In-Person + 1HR online)

FILM-1020-62PT Film Genres - Intro

This course is designed to develop a critical approach to the medium of film by looking specifically at the genres that have developed over the 20th Century; to examine individual creative expression in the films of important directors from Hollywood, with emphasis on cinematic history and theory; to develop the ability to identify technical aspects of film and to discern mediocre and excellent use of film making technique.  

INDS-1022-60PT Global Citizenship 

This course will help students understand the interconnectivity of global and local issues. An interdisciplinary and thematic approach will introduce students to the roles, responsibilities, and impact that individuals can have within their local, national, and international communities. The course will define 'citizenship' and 'global citizenship', as well as use ethical reasoning as a mechanism for analyzing thematic topics. We will examine topics such as health, race/diversity, nationalism, wealth and poverty, technology, migration, global economics, conflict and the environment. Finally, the course will conclude with a discussion of areas of action for global citizens, including work, study and travel. 

INDS-1081-66PT Personal Wellness 

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self-responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth.

INDS-1082-60PT Science of Music   

This course explores some of the ways in which our understanding of music has been shaped through science, from research into how humans perceive musical sound to how our perception of music has changed alongside technological developments. Musical examples will be used to illustrate the connections between science and music. No prior background in music or ability to read music is required.

ANTH-1005-40PT The Story of Us

Where did humans come from? What is our relationship with the rest of the animal world? How did we become a species that walks upright, and has an unusually large brain? Why are we so diverse today? These are the sorts of questions asked by physical anthropologists, as they seek to understand 'what it means to be human'. This course will introduce this discipline, and assist students in gaining an understanding of: human inheritance; an appreciation of human diversity; primatology; the origins of humanity; and the development of early human culture. 

CRIM-3001-40PT Criminology

This course introduces students to the study of crime and delinquency within a Canadian context. Topics included for study are: the making of laws, the elements of crime, crime statistics, correlates and theories of crime, specific forms of crime and strategies for crime control.

ENGL-1047-40PT Children's Literature

This course offers an introduction to literature for children from toddlers to young adults, including traditional classics and modern favourites. Required readings will include picture books, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and excerpts from longer works. The focus will be on the critical appreciation of the meaning, theme, style, and appeal of each selection. The course will end in a culminating final project; please note there is no final exam. 

ENGL-1063-40PT Science Fiction and Fantasy

This course introduces students to the tropes and conventions of science fiction and fantasy, exploring such themes as "progress," Otherness, the ethics of bioengineering, the conflict between good and evil, fate and free will, and the quest. Students will explore the history of the two genres, including various subgenres such as first contact stories, cyberpunk, dystopian literature, portal fantasy, high and low fantasy, and urban fantasy. 

ENGL-1067-40PT Murder & Mayhem

From Shakespeare's Macbeth and Poe's Tell-Tale Heart to Natural Born Killers, American Psycho, and The Dark Knight, literature and film have frequently explored the notion of the dark side or primitive instincts within us all. Often satirical, occasionally literal, such artistic expressions of our baser natures seem to hold universal appeal. The works studied in this course feature either a crazed killer or an innocent person drawn into a world of mayhem by the madness of society. We will discuss questions like, what circumstances or events lead human beings to abandon the conventional rules of civilization and to follow a more twisted path and how is art particularly well suited to reveal the psychology of misbehaviour? 

ENVR-1038-40PT Climate Change, Adaptation & Innovation

To mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, we must minimize the human activities driving climate change and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Communities must also implement resilient strategies to adapt to the changing climate and impacts already being felt around the world. Covering emerging, innovative solutions in energy, food, agriculture, land use, industry, transportation, buildings, carbon sinks, health, and education, this course invites students to explore creative responses to address climate change and its impacts locally and beyond. All of humanity is predicted to be impacted by climate change, albeit not equally. In this course, students will be encouraged to explore why climate change disproportionally impacts vulnerable communities and how multiple intersecting identity factors influence how individuals are affected by the changing climate. While we have faced, and will continue to face, many challenges to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate, our successes will not only benefit the planet, but our society and economy as well. 

FILM-1009-40PT Film Genres: Comedy 

This course is for movie lovers who want to study the presentation of comedy on the silver screen. An analysis of different approaches to humour will show how audience interpretation is shaped by various directors. We will also study the ways in which comedy reflects the social tastes and anxieties of our times. Students will be required to watch one weekly film outside of class hours. Some of the films which we will study are Horrible Bosses, 21 Jump Street, Bridesmaids, and Groundhog Day. 

GEOG-1007-40PT/41PT Environmental Geography 

This geography and sustainability course is designed to offer students an introduction to issues of environmental science and human activities that affect the wellbeing of the planet as a whole. Current and problematic issues will be explored through time and across space using case studies from both Canadian and global locations. The course will examine these issues from environmental, economic, and social perspectives in an attempt to better understand them and to recommend individual lifestyle choices to encourage positive change. Specific subjects to be investigated will include ecosystems and biodiversity, climate change, renewable energy resources, air and water pollution, food production, globalization, recycling and waste, and sustainable cities.  

HIST-1037-40PT A History of the World in 15 Machines 

This course examines the history of technology by surveying some of the most significant inventions in human history. Students learn not only about the machines themselves, but also about the inventors responsible for their creation. Topics include the invention of the printing press, telescope, plow, cotton gin, automobile, and computer. By placing these inventions in their historical contexts, students gain an understanding of the social, economic, and political impact of each invention.

HIST-1052-40PT The Ancient World 

This course focuses on the history of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Near East, Greece and Rome. Emphasis is placed on the growth and decline of ancient societies, as well as on their contributions to the development of social and cultural traditions, many of which have survived into the modern world. 

INDG-1022-40PT Indigenous Women

This course will examine the role of Indigenous women in customary Indigenous society and trace how the perspective of Indigenous woman has been drastically changed with contact with European people, through attempts at colonization, and objectifying and disrespecting the sacred role of Indigenous women in media. This course also responds to the request of the local Indigenous community to offer more courses with Indigenous content. 

INDS-1033-40PT Video Game Theory 

This course will analyze the cultural and artistic significance of video games, and also the ways gaming reflects our larger relationships with technology. This course aims to discuss the relationship between video games and other media; gamers and the gaming community; and the important sociological, cultural, industrial, and economic issues that surround gaming. 

INDS-1040-40PT Conspiracy Theories 

This course explores the psychological and historical circumstances that have helped popularize conspiracy theories. Through an analysis of issues like the "fake" moon landing, "flat earth," 9/11 Truth, as well as various other conspiracies (some not-so-crazy, some very outlandish!), our course develops a philosophy of clear, rational thinking and then applies it to our contemporary world, asking difficult questions about how to explain, justify, and rationalize the stories we believe. Above all else, this course is about engaging intelligently, logically, and skeptically with stories presented to us, and it does so by teaching strategies for living skeptically with both the world and, more importantly, with ourselves. 

INDS-1058-40PT Foodonomics: Starving for the truth

How can we have an epidemic of obesity when most of the world is starving? How can the very thing that's supposed to bring us strength and longevity make us ill? The answer is simple: Food is big business. In this course we discuss foodonomics or the business of food. We examine what we really know about the food we eat, the way food defines cultures and traditions, the plight of the local farmer, and controversies such as bioengineered and drug crops. We also discuss the validity of the organic and buy local movements, the positive and negative effects of globalization, and how and why our food is making us sick. Finally, we examine the true power of agriculture and why some are starved while others are stuffed. 

INDS-1060-40PT Robots, Cyborgs & Androids in Fiction

From early notions of clockwork humans to contemporary concerns about the possibilities of cloning and artificial intelligence, the idea of mechanically enhanced or replicated human beings has continually challenged the ways we think about what it means to be human. This course looks at how our hopes and fears of technologically reproducing and enhancing humans have been explored in fiction-short stories, films, and a play-from the 19th century to the present. 

INDS-1061-40PT Technology & Culture

Does technology make our lives easier? When we gain benefits from new innovations, is there always something lost? Should we draw a line on how far we want technology to go? This course will help answer these questions through an exploration of technological innovations that change the way we live both at home and at work.

INDS-1066-40PT Technologies of Torture

The brazen bull, the rack, tongue clips, electro-shock weapons: all technologies of torture, ancient or modern, deadly or not, attest to the dark side of human creativity. Since recorded history, those in power have examined the human body and mind in order to discover the most effective methods of violating both. In this course, we will compare past technologies of torture to present ones in an attempt to shed light on crucial transformations in the manipulation of power. We will also be exploring representations of torture in diverse cultural productions (literature, film, television, and other contemporary media) in order to open up a critical debate over the interplay between technology, torture, and power.  

INDS-1075-40PT Digital Identity

What is the cultural impact of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter? How important is having an online identity? In this course, students will engage with issues of new media integration and take up questions of online identity. While the digital realm is often complicated and chaotic, this course explores the space(s) that subjectivity takes up and in turn reflects onto broader issues of identity. Beginning with theories originating in the late 19th century, students will consider the online world in and outside of the classroom both on a personal and on a social level. This course aims to help students critically reflect on the ever shrinking line between online and offline identity and its impact on culture at large. 

INDS-1077-40PT Queer As Folk

How does one define sexual desire and/or gender identity, particularly when it differs from that of the majority? This interdisciplinary course will introduce students to the field of sexuality studies specifically, representations of LGBT culture through the lens of literature, film, art, news media, advertising, and television, as well as changing conceptions of gender identity throughout history, and contemporary legal and political issues. Students of all orientations and gender identities will have the opportunity to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the multifaceted nature of the society within which we live. 

INDS-1081-40/41 Personal Wellness 

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self-responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth. 

INDS-1088-40PT The Ever-Changing Workplace 

It sometimes seems like the terms "job" and "career" mean the same thing. In fact, they have very different meanings. In this course students will learn the difference between both, culminating in a journey that lasts a lifetime! Students will participate in self-reflection and careers and skills exploration. Furthermore, students will gain an understanding regarding key issues around the new world of work, diversity, communication and workplace expectations and etiquette. This course will give students the opportunity to explore the sociological trends, as well as historical shifts, regarding employment standards and evolution of workplace communication. 

INDS-1092-40PT It's About Time

Many people find themselves obsessed with something they can't actually explain - Time! There have been great movies and TV shows with time as a focus of the story - but where did the writers get their ideas? This course will help students develop an understanding of time by looking at some of those stories (anything from The Time Machine to the time loop-comedy Groundhog Day) while exploring the scientific (does time exist), philosophical (how time progresses) and psychological (objective vs. subjective experiences) theories of time shaping those stories. Students will also be introduced to various time management strategies in order to spend the time they have effectively.

INDS-1093-40PT The Global Drug Trade 

This course examines addictive substances as a global commodity, tracing their impact on issues of race, empire, and inequality. Beginning with the opium wars of the nineteenth century and concluding with narco violence in present-day Mexico, students will gain an understanding of the various impacts of the drug trade on the modern world. Beyond simple issues of criminality and policing, transnational flows of licit and illicit drugs shape how societies interact with one another and reveal persistent power imbalances. During the course, students will be introduced to an extensive and surprising cast of characters - from imperial administrators to Colombian drug lords; CIA agents to Central American villagers; mafia dons to pharmaceutical sales reps. 

INDS-1095-40PT History of Rock & Roll - 70's & 80's 

This course examines the social, cultural, and musical history of rock and roll in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. It examines the fragmentation of rock and roll which took place in the 70's and 80's when rock no longer dominated the pop charts. It also examines in detail how punk affected the evolution of rock and roll. 

INDS-1103-40PT King Arthur

This course introduces students to the origins of King Arthur stories and to Arthurian symbols such as Excalibur, the Round Table, and the Holy Grail. We will read some traditional and contemporary stories about King Arthur; we will also view some contemporary films. As the course progresses, students will better understand the ongoing appeal of characters such as King Arthur, Guinevere, Morgan la Fay, Merlin, Lancelot, and the Lady of the Lake. 

INDS-1105-40PT Technology and War

From chariots thousands of years ago to drones today, humans have always used technology to gain an edge over their opponents in battle. This course will survey some of the major innovations and developments, such as the introduction of iron, the use of gunpowder, or the invention of the airplane, and examine how various peoples have employed military technology from Antiquity to the present. 

INDS-1107-40PT Hip-Hop Music and Culture

What began as a grassroots cultural movement at society's margins in the 1970's, quickly became a powerful force by the 80's and 90's. Hip-Hop refers to a variety of complex elements that inspire everything from music to dance, movies, fashion, advertising & sports. Influenced by jazz and blues, poetry, jailhouse toasts & West African beats, this course will explore Hip-Hop as an art form, a business, a myth, an attitude, and a moral force. 

INDS-1109-40PT Fake News

In this engaging and innovative course, students will learn to identify, track, and interpret the online phenomena of 'fake news.' These practical internet skills will help us answer the difficult questions raised by 'fake news.' Is there a difference between 'fake news' and propaganda? Is 'fake news' a new phenomenon, or simply an amplification of existing media trends? Have we entered what some people have called a 'post-truth' era? What critical thinking skills do we need to navigate this new media landscape? Students will be asked to research and reflect on these questions, provide examples, and produce their own online content. 

INDS-1111-40PT Weeding through the cannabis

Since its legalization on October 17th, 2018, there has been a great deal of public interest in recreational & medicinal cannabis use. After decades of prohibition, there are many questions that need to be answered: What are the benefits of cannabis use? The risks? Why was it illegal in the first place? Although cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years, it feels like we are just beginning to understand its effects. This introductory course surveys the history and culture of cannabis production and prohibition, through current understandings of its medical, sociocultural, psychological, and spiritual aspects.

INDS-1124-40PT The Secret History of Aliens & UFO 

It has been over seventy years since U.S. pilot Kenneth Arnold encountered what he described as a string of nine shiny unidentified flying objects flying past Mount Rainier in Washington State, at speeds exceeding 1,930 km/h. Subsequent to the sighting, the press of his day called these unidentified flying objects 'flying saucers.' In response, the general public became captivated with the idea, setting off a wave of reported UFO and extraterrestrial encounters that have persisted up until the present and its recent promises of Governmental Disclosure. Since those early day in the late 1940s, aliens have burned a deep imprint into the collective psyche of our culture at large. This course will examine the forgotten historical and cultural precursors to the phenomenon, the history of its more popular elements, and the many more obscure and repressed beliefs and aspects of the wider genre that remain unknown to the larger public. 

INDS-1126-40PT From Slavery to Freedom: An Intro to Black Studies

Want to know more about the history, culture, key figures and leaders, and major struggles of the black experience in North America? Can you see the overt oppression of the black subject that started 400 years ago still operating covertly today? How does popular culture (sports, music, film) combat or, more troublingly, reinforce the oppression of the black person? This introductory course will explore key moments in black studies including the slave trade, the middle passage, the black military experience, the civil rights and black power movements, the blues, jazz, and hip-hop, blaxploitation, and the black is beautiful movement. Throughout the semester you will discover if you are simply not-racist or are actively anti-racist, whether you believe in Martin Luther King's non-violence or Malcolm X's militant resistance, and whether the cycle of oppression has begun to be resolved or if we are simply seeing a disturbing continuation of that oppression, a move from the plantation to the penitentiary.

PSYC-1055-40PT Positive Psychology 

This course explores the nature of well-being, happiness and the good life. Course content includes a sampling of psychological theories, research and measures of personal strengths that impact well-being. We will examine ways to enhance appreciation of life through mindfulness, gratitude, creativity and flow and apply these experiences in a personal way. Students in this course should expect to learn and participate in personal gratitude and growth, prosocial behaviours and savouring experiences. 

PSYC-1067-40PT/41PT A Culture of Addictions 

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 addiction 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. 

PSYC-1072-40PT Mind Your Mouse: Psychology of the Internet 

In this course we explore psychology in the context of the internet. We examine classic psychological concepts such as impression management and self presentation, helping behaviours, aggression, group dynamics, love and relationships, and online addiction. We form and maintain relationships online, we shop online, we work online, we seek out help online, etc. The internet has become a crucial part of human existence; to fully understand human behaviour we must also be able to understand our online behaviour. 

PSYC-1094-40PT Bring your "A" Game: Psychology of Sport

Have you ever wondered why the USA Olympic hockey team was more upset when they received a silver medal than the team who won the bronze? How do athletes maximize performance potential and what are the unwritten rules of retaliation and fighting in sport? This course delves into the principles of psychology that drive emotion, motivation, expectation, self-worth, and relationships of athletes and explores the different aspects of Sport Psychology. 

PSYC-1100-40PT Altered States of Consciousness 

The average adult will spend about 600 hours each year dreaming and have more than 100,000 dreams over a typical lifetime. We will spend 25 years of our lives sleeping. Have you ever wondered how consciousness changes while we sleep and dream? Why do some people dream in colour while others dream in black and white? How do hypnosis and medication and drugs alter consciousness? This course will familiarize students with some of the main issues in consciousness. Topics covered will include daydreaming, sleep, dreams, psychedelics, hypnosis, trance and meditation, and death. This is a theory-and research-based course into the world of consciousness, including various theories such as clinical and cognition. 

PSYC-1105-40PT Community Psychology

What communities do you belong to? Belonging to a family, neighbourhood, religious organization, sports team, etc., provides us with valuable social relationships and human connection. Community psychology examines how various aspects of belonging to a community can impact our psychological, social, and physical well-being. In this course we will explore a number of fascinating topics, including the relationship between stress, social support, and sense of community; the impact of discrimination on individual and community well-being; the importance of diversity, empowerment, prevention, and health promotion; the history of self-help and community mental health; the role of community-based, qualitative research methods; as well as the significance of community development and organization  with the goal of understanding how to create a more socially responsible and healthy society for all. 

PSYC-1119-40PT  Unravelling Youth

In this course we unravel the mystery of youth. We focus on critical issues including the development of personality, sexuality, morality, and identity. From a psychology perspective, we discuss how cognitive, emotional, physical, and social changes affect youth both positively and negatively. We examine the factors that can lead to social and behavioral problems, such as aggression, eating disorders, addictions, anxiety, and depression. This course provides valuable information that is applicable to careers in developmental psychology, social work, and other human services dealing with youth. It also provides information for those interested in their own development or in the development of the youth in their lives. This course provides an excellent opportunity to gain insight and to reflect upon one’s own experiences as a youth in Canada. 

PSYC-1122-40PT  Psychology of a Liar

In this course, we discuss the many ways we deceive others, the reasons we choose to tell lies, the benefits and consequences of our deceptive acts, and the behaviours that reveal our deceptions. We examine why some people are better liars than others, the morality of lying, and how we define the truth. Finally, we debate the role of deception and whether it is a necessary part of our lives. 

RELG-1003-40PT  World Religions - Intro

This course seeks to explore some of the world's major religious traditions. We will look at the historical, social, and cultural legacies of these faith-based traditions with an eye toward understanding how religion has helped to define our world. This introductory course will address many world religions including but not limited to Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. No religious affiliation is presumed. Moreover, the fundamental assumption for the course is that it is possible to learn about and from a variety of different religious traditions without seeking to make students adherents of a single religious tradition or adherents of the notion that all religious traditions are basically the same. 

PSYC-1123-40PT  Art of Intelligence

This course introduces students to the various forms and theories of intelligence. Topics include creativity, emotional intelligence, non-verbal intelligence, social intelligence, mindfulness, learning disabilities and exceptionalities. This course comprehensively examines the role of intelligence for personal and professional success, as well as the application of both verbal and non-verbal forms. 

PSYC-1132-40PT  Exploring Trauma and Violence

Many, even most, people you come across will have lived through and may still be experiencing traumatic or violent events or living conditions. This course focuses on learning about the impact of trauma and violence on people and how to create physical, cultural, and emotional safety for everyone. Trauma and violence informed principles could be practiced on the macro level in health and social services, schools, and colleges and the micro level in interaction with our family and friends. Trauma and violence informed principles encourage a universal approach to collective care and wellness. Please be advised that the content of this course could be triggering for individuals with post traumatic stress disorder/complex trauma background.

SOCI-1073-40PT/41PT Building Sustainable Societies 

The world's population has recently surpassed seven billion, and communities worldwide are facing numerous social, environmental, and economic problems. While gloomy headlines dominate environmental news, there are solutions. Building sustainable societies looks at current problems like urban sprawl, pollution, climate change, and suggests ways to reverse unsustainable trends. From growing food and gardens to developing more efficient transportation, to reducing waste and developing green buildings, sustainable societies move beyond diagnosing the problems to finding solutions. A key part of the course is to give students the insight and confidence to encourage sustainability in their own lives and communities. 

SOCI-1083-40PT Women & Violence 

Women and Violence will explore the understandings, forms and impacts of violence against women in a Canadian context. This course will provide an overview of both the theory and practice of anti-violence work and the controversies and debates - among both scholars and practitioners - that continue to surround this issue. Some of the themes covered in this course include: prevalence, forms, and understandings of violence against women; the intersectionality of gender, race, class and sexuality; the role of media; masculinities and violence; and politico-legal and socio-cultural approaches to address violence against women. 

SOCI-1093-40PT Homicide Section 

This 'Homicide' course will provide students with definitions of homicide and theoretical explanations from both the sociological and criminological traditions. Homicide can be described as the killing of one person by another. Society generally describes this act as murder. Homicide rates in Canada are reasonably low; however, certain individuals and groups are disproportionately at risk for this violent event. Through a criminology lens, this course aims to understand the relationship between social factors and crime. It combines theoretical perspectives with case studies to uncover who is at risk of being a homicide victim and how their life chances are impacted by social structures and inequality. Throughout the course, we will critically examine concepts including stereotypes, discrimination, rehabilitation, restorative, and social justice. 

SOSC-1012-40PT/41PT Discovering the Social Sciences

This course connects the exciting world of social science to our everyday experiences. By highlighting discipline-specific tools and concepts used by anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists, students gain insight into how people function and how relationships develop between individuals, society, and the global world. Discussions focus on current and controversial topics that deal with individual, social, and global concerns, allowing us to understand the origins and consequences for some of life's most pressing issues. This interdisciplinary approach leads to a better understanding of social science and gives students the foundation for future learning in all areas of study. 

ANTH-1005-40PT The Story of Us

Where did humans come from? What is our relationship with the rest of the animal world? How did we become a species that walks upright, and has an unusually large brain? Why are we so diverse today? These are the sorts of questions asked by physical anthropologists, as they seek to understand 'what it means to be human'. This course will introduce this discipline, and assist students in gaining an understanding of: human inheritance; an appreciation of human diversity; primatology; the origins of humanity; and the development of early human culture. 

CRIM-3001-40PT Criminology

This course introduces students to the study of crime and delinquency within a Canadian context. Topics included for study are: the making of laws, the elements of crime, crime statistics, correlates and theories of crime, specific forms of crime and strategies for crime control.

ENGL-1047-40PT Children's Literature

This course offers an introduction to literature for children from toddlers to young adults, including traditional classics and modern favourites. Required readings will include picture books, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and excerpts from longer works. The focus will be on the critical appreciation of the meaning, theme, style, and appeal of each selection. The course will end in a culminating final project; please note there is no final exam. 

ENGL-1063-40PT Science Fiction and Fantasy

This course introduces students to the tropes and conventions of science fiction and fantasy, exploring such themes as "progress," Otherness, the ethics of bioengineering, the conflict between good and evil, fate and free will, and the quest. Students will explore the history of the two genres, including various subgenres such as first contact stories, cyberpunk, dystopian literature, portal fantasy, high and low fantasy, and urban fantasy. 

ENGL-1067-40PT Murder & Mayhem

From Shakespeare's Macbeth and Poe's Tell-Tale Heart to Natural Born Killers, American Psycho, and The Dark Knight, literature and film have frequently explored the notion of the dark side or primitive instincts within us all. Often satirical, occasionally literal, such artistic expressions of our baser natures seem to hold universal appeal. The works studied in this course feature either a crazed killer or an innocent person drawn into a world of mayhem by the madness of society. We will discuss questions like, what circumstances or events lead human beings to abandon the conventional rules of civilization and to follow a more twisted path and how is art particularly well suited to reveal the psychology of misbehaviour? 

ENVR-1038-40PT Climate Change, Adaptation & Innovation

To mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, we must minimize the human activities driving climate change and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Communities must also implement resilient strategies to adapt to the changing climate and impacts already being felt around the world. Covering emerging, innovative solutions in energy, food, agriculture, land use, industry, transportation, buildings, carbon sinks, health, and education, this course invites students to explore creative responses to address climate change and its impacts locally and beyond. All of humanity is predicted to be impacted by climate change, albeit not equally. In this course, students will be encouraged to explore why climate change disproportionally impacts vulnerable communities and how multiple intersecting identity factors influence how individuals are affected by the changing climate. While we have faced, and will continue to face, many challenges to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate, our successes will not only benefit the planet, but our society and economy as well. 

FILM-1009-40PT Film Genres: Comedy 

This course is for movie lovers who want to study the presentation of comedy on the silver screen. An analysis of different approaches to humour will show how audience interpretation is shaped by various directors. We will also study the ways in which comedy reflects the social tastes and anxieties of our times. Students will be required to watch one weekly film outside of class hours. Some of the films which we will study are Horrible Bosses, 21 Jump Street, Bridesmaids, and Groundhog Day. 

GEOG-1007-40PT/41PT Environmental Geography 

This geography and sustainability course is designed to offer students an introduction to issues of environmental science and human activities that affect the wellbeing of the planet as a whole. Current and problematic issues will be explored through time and across space using case studies from both Canadian and global locations. The course will examine these issues from environmental, economic, and social perspectives in an attempt to better understand them and to recommend individual lifestyle choices to encourage positive change. Specific subjects to be investigated will include ecosystems and biodiversity, climate change, renewable energy resources, air and water pollution, food production, globalization, recycling and waste, and sustainable cities.  

HIST-1037-40PT A History of the World in 15 Machines 

This course examines the history of technology by surveying some of the most significant inventions in human history. Students learn not only about the machines themselves, but also about the inventors responsible for their creation. Topics include the invention of the printing press, telescope, plow, cotton gin, automobile, and computer. By placing these inventions in their historical contexts, students gain an understanding of the social, economic, and political impact of each invention.

HIST-1052-40PT The Ancient World 

This course focuses on the history of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Near East, Greece and Rome. Emphasis is placed on the growth and decline of ancient societies, as well as on their contributions to the development of social and cultural traditions, many of which have survived into the modern world. 

INDG-1022-40PT Indigenous Women

This course will examine the role of Indigenous women in customary Indigenous society and trace how the perspective of Indigenous woman has been drastically changed with contact with European people, through attempts at colonization, and objectifying and disrespecting the sacred role of Indigenous women in media. This course also responds to the request of the local Indigenous community to offer more courses with Indigenous content. 

INDS-1033-40PT Video Game Theory 

This course will analyze the cultural and artistic significance of video games, and also the ways gaming reflects our larger relationships with technology. This course aims to discuss the relationship between video games and other media; gamers and the gaming community; and the important sociological, cultural, industrial, and economic issues that surround gaming. 

INDS-1040-40PT Conspiracy Theories 

This course explores the psychological and historical circumstances that have helped popularize conspiracy theories. Through an analysis of issues like the "fake" moon landing, "flat earth," 9/11 Truth, as well as various other conspiracies (some not-so-crazy, some very outlandish!), our course develops a philosophy of clear, rational thinking and then applies it to our contemporary world, asking difficult questions about how to explain, justify, and rationalize the stories we believe. Above all else, this course is about engaging intelligently, logically, and skeptically with stories presented to us, and it does so by teaching strategies for living skeptically with both the world and, more importantly, with ourselves. 

INDS-1058-40PT Foodonomics: Starving for the truth

How can we have an epidemic of obesity when most of the world is starving? How can the very thing that's supposed to bring us strength and longevity make us ill? The answer is simple: Food is big business. In this course we discuss foodonomics or the business of food. We examine what we really know about the food we eat, the way food defines cultures and traditions, the plight of the local farmer, and controversies such as bioengineered and drug crops. We also discuss the validity of the organic and buy local movements, the positive and negative effects of globalization, and how and why our food is making us sick. Finally, we examine the true power of agriculture and why some are starved while others are stuffed. 

INDS-1060-40PT Robots, Cyborgs & Androids in Fiction

From early notions of clockwork humans to contemporary concerns about the possibilities of cloning and artificial intelligence, the idea of mechanically enhanced or replicated human beings has continually challenged the ways we think about what it means to be human. This course looks at how our hopes and fears of technologically reproducing and enhancing humans have been explored in fiction-short stories, films, and a play-from the 19th century to the present. 

INDS-1061-40PT Technology & Culture

Does technology make our lives easier? When we gain benefits from new innovations, is there always something lost? Should we draw a line on how far we want technology to go? This course will help answer these questions through an exploration of technological innovations that change the way we live both at home and at work.

INDS-1066-40PT Technologies of Torture

The brazen bull, the rack, tongue clips, electro-shock weapons: all technologies of torture, ancient or modern, deadly or not, attest to the dark side of human creativity. Since recorded history, those in power have examined the human body and mind in order to discover the most effective methods of violating both. In this course, we will compare past technologies of torture to present ones in an attempt to shed light on crucial transformations in the manipulation of power. We will also be exploring representations of torture in diverse cultural productions (literature, film, television, and other contemporary media) in order to open up a critical debate over the interplay between technology, torture, and power.  

INDS-1075-40PT Digital Identity

What is the cultural impact of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter? How important is having an online identity? In this course, students will engage with issues of new media integration and take up questions of online identity. While the digital realm is often complicated and chaotic, this course explores the space(s) that subjectivity takes up and in turn reflects onto broader issues of identity. Beginning with theories originating in the late 19th century, students will consider the online world in and outside of the classroom both on a personal and on a social level. This course aims to help students critically reflect on the ever shrinking line between online and offline identity and its impact on culture at large. 

INDS-1077-40PT Queer As Folk

How does one define sexual desire and/or gender identity, particularly when it differs from that of the majority? This interdisciplinary course will introduce students to the field of sexuality studies specifically, representations of LGBT culture through the lens of literature, film, art, news media, advertising, and television, as well as changing conceptions of gender identity throughout history, and contemporary legal and political issues. Students of all orientations and gender identities will have the opportunity to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the multifaceted nature of the society within which we live. 

INDS-1081-40/41 Personal Wellness 

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspect of their lives. Through traditional lectures and learning activities, they learn through both individual and group processes. They investigate wellness as it applies to mindfulness, self-responsibility, social/emotional development, stress-management, physical activity, spirituality, substance abuse, nutrition, and complementary health. This course provides the opportunity for students to evaluate their present lifestyle, identify successes, and develop areas requiring personal growth. 

INDS-1088-40PT The Ever-Changing Workplace 

It sometimes seems like the terms "job" and "career" mean the same thing. In fact, they have very different meanings. In this course students will learn the difference between both, culminating in a journey that lasts a lifetime! Students will participate in self-reflection and careers and skills exploration. Furthermore, students will gain an understanding regarding key issues around the new world of work, diversity, communication and workplace expectations and etiquette. This course will give students the opportunity to explore the sociological trends, as well as historical shifts, regarding employment standards and evolution of workplace communication. 

INDS-1092-40PT It's About Time

Many people find themselves obsessed with something they can't actually explain - Time! There have been great movies and TV shows with time as a focus of the story - but where did the writers get their ideas? This course will help students develop an understanding of time by looking at some of those stories (anything from The Time Machine to the time loop-comedy Groundhog Day) while exploring the scientific (does time exist), philosophical (how time progresses) and psychological (objective vs. subjective experiences) theories of time shaping those stories. Students will also be introduced to various time management strategies in order to spend the time they have effectively.

INDS-1093-40PT The Global Drug Trade 

This course examines addictive substances as a global commodity, tracing their impact on issues of race, empire, and inequality. Beginning with the opium wars of the nineteenth century and concluding with narco violence in present-day Mexico, students will gain an understanding of the various impacts of the drug trade on the modern world. Beyond simple issues of criminality and policing, transnational flows of licit and illicit drugs shape how societies interact with one another and reveal persistent power imbalances. During the course, students will be introduced to an extensive and surprising cast of characters - from imperial administrators to Colombian drug lords; CIA agents to Central American villagers; mafia dons to pharmaceutical sales reps. 

INDS-1095-40PT History of Rock & Roll - 70's & 80's 

This course examines the social, cultural, and musical history of rock and roll in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. It examines the fragmentation of rock and roll which took place in the 70's and 80's when rock no longer dominated the pop charts. It also examines in detail how punk affected the evolution of rock and roll. 

INDS-1103-40PT King Arthur

This course introduces students to the origins of King Arthur stories and to Arthurian symbols such as Excalibur, the Round Table, and the Holy Grail. We will read some traditional and contemporary stories about King Arthur; we will also view some contemporary films. As the course progresses, students will better understand the ongoing appeal of characters such as King Arthur, Guinevere, Morgan la Fay, Merlin, Lancelot, and the Lady of the Lake. 

INDS-1105-40PT Technology and War

From chariots thousands of years ago to drones today, humans have always used technology to gain an edge over their opponents in battle. This course will survey some of the major innovations and developments, such as the introduction of iron, the use of gunpowder, or the invention of the airplane, and examine how various peoples have employed military technology from Antiquity to the present. 

INDS-1107-40PT Hip-Hop Music and Culture

What began as a grassroots cultural movement at society's margins in the 1970's, quickly became a powerful force by the 80's and 90's. Hip-Hop refers to a variety of complex elements that inspire everything from music to dance, movies, fashion, advertising & sports. Influenced by jazz and blues, poetry, jailhouse toasts & West African beats, this course will explore Hip-Hop as an art form, a business, a myth, an attitude, and a moral force. 

INDS-1109-40PT Fake News

In this engaging and innovative course, students will learn to identify, track, and interpret the online phenomena of 'fake news.' These practical internet skills will help us answer the difficult questions raised by 'fake news.' Is there a difference between 'fake news' and propaganda? Is 'fake news' a new phenomenon, or simply an amplification of existing media trends? Have we entered what some people have called a 'post-truth' era? What critical thinking skills do we need to navigate this new media landscape? Students will be asked to research and reflect on these questions, provide examples, and produce their own online content. 

INDS-1111-40PT Weeding through the cannabis

Since its legalization on October 17th, 2018, there has been a great deal of public interest in recreational & medicinal cannabis use. After decades of prohibition, there are many questions that need to be answered: What are the benefits of cannabis use? The risks? Why was it illegal in the first place? Although cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years, it feels like we are just beginning to understand its effects. This introductory course surveys the history and culture of cannabis production and prohibition, through current understandings of its medical, sociocultural, psychological, and spiritual aspects.

INDS-1124-40PT The Secret History of Aliens & UFO 

It has been over seventy years since U.S. pilot Kenneth Arnold encountered what he described as a string of nine shiny unidentified flying objects flying past Mount Rainier in Washington State, at speeds exceeding 1,930 km/h. Subsequent to the sighting, the press of his day called these unidentified flying objects 'flying saucers.' In response, the general public became captivated with the idea, setting off a wave of reported UFO and extraterrestrial encounters that have persisted up until the present and its recent promises of Governmental Disclosure. Since those early day in the late 1940s, aliens have burned a deep imprint into the collective psyche of our culture at large. This course will examine the forgotten historical and cultural precursors to the phenomenon, the history of its more popular elements, and the many more obscure and repressed beliefs and aspects of the wider genre that remain unknown to the larger public. 

INDS-1126-40PT From Slavery to Freedom: An Intro to Black Studies

Want to know more about the history, culture, key figures and leaders, and major struggles of the black experience in North America? Can you see the overt oppression of the black subject that started 400 years ago still operating covertly today? How does popular culture (sports, music, film) combat or, more troublingly, reinforce the oppression of the black person? This introductory course will explore key moments in black studies including the slave trade, the middle passage, the black military experience, the civil rights and black power movements, the blues, jazz, and hip-hop, blaxploitation, and the black is beautiful movement. Throughout the semester you will discover if you are simply not-racist or are actively anti-racist, whether you believe in Martin Luther King's non-violence or Malcolm X's militant resistance, and whether the cycle of oppression has begun to be resolved or if we are simply seeing a disturbing continuation of that oppression, a move from the plantation to the penitentiary.

PSYC-1055-40PT Positive Psychology 

This course explores the nature of well-being, happiness and the good life. Course content includes a sampling of psychological theories, research and measures of personal strengths that impact well-being. We will examine ways to enhance appreciation of life through mindfulness, gratitude, creativity and flow and apply these experiences in a personal way. Students in this course should expect to learn and participate in personal gratitude and growth, prosocial behaviours and savouring experiences. 

PSYC-1067-40PT/41PT A Culture of Addictions 

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 addiction 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. 

PSYC-1072-40PT Mind Your Mouse: Psychology of the Internet 

In this course we explore psychology in the context of the internet. We examine classic psychological concepts such as impression management and self presentation, helping behaviours, aggression, group dynamics, love and relationships, and online addiction. We form and maintain relationships online, we shop online, we work online, we seek out help online, etc. The internet has become a crucial part of human existence; to fully understand human behaviour we must also be able to understand our online behaviour. 

PSYC-1094-40PT Bring your "A" Game: Psychology of Sport

Have you ever wondered why the USA Olympic hockey team was more upset when they received a silver medal than the team who won the bronze? How do athletes maximize performance potential and what are the unwritten rules of retaliation and fighting in sport? This course delves into the principles of psychology that drive emotion, motivation, expectation, self-worth, and relationships of athletes and explores the different aspects of Sport Psychology. 

PSYC-1100-40PT Altered States of Consciousness 

The average adult will spend about 600 hours each year dreaming and have more than 100,000 dreams over a typical lifetime. We will spend 25 years of our lives sleeping. Have you ever wondered how consciousness changes while we sleep and dream? Why do some people dream in colour while others dream in black and white? How do hypnosis and medication and drugs alter consciousness? This course will familiarize students with some of the main issues in consciousness. Topics covered will include daydreaming, sleep, dreams, psychedelics, hypnosis, trance and meditation, and death. This is a theory-and research-based course into the world of consciousness, including various theories such as clinical and cognition. 

PSYC-1105-40PT Community Psychology

What communities do you belong to? Belonging to a family, neighbourhood, religious organization, sports team, etc., provides us with valuable social relationships and human connection. Community psychology examines how various aspects of belonging to a community can impact our psychological, social, and physical well-being. In this course we will explore a number of fascinating topics, including the relationship between stress, social support, and sense of community; the impact of discrimination on individual and community well-being; the importance of diversity, empowerment, prevention, and health promotion; the history of self-help and community mental health; the role of community-based, qualitative research methods; as well as the significance of community development and organization  with the goal of understanding how to create a more socially responsible and healthy society for all. 

PSYC-1119-40PT  Unravelling Youth

In this course we unravel the mystery of youth. We focus on critical issues including the development of personality, sexuality, morality, and identity. From a psychology perspective, we discuss how cognitive, emotional, physical, and social changes affect youth both positively and negatively. We examine the factors that can lead to social and behavioral problems, such as aggression, eating disorders, addictions, anxiety, and depression. This course provides valuable information that is applicable to careers in developmental psychology, social work, and other human services dealing with youth. It also provides information for those interested in their own development or in the development of the youth in their lives. This course provides an excellent opportunity to gain insight and to reflect upon one’s own experiences as a youth in Canada. 

PSYC-1122-40PT  Psychology of a Liar

In this course, we discuss the many ways we deceive others, the reasons we choose to tell lies, the benefits and consequences of our deceptive acts, and the behaviours that reveal our deceptions. We examine why some people are better liars than others, the morality of lying, and how we define the truth. Finally, we debate the role of deception and whether it is a necessary part of our lives. 

RELG-1003-40PT  World Religions - Intro

This course seeks to explore some of the world's major religious traditions. We will look at the historical, social, and cultural legacies of these faith-based traditions with an eye toward understanding how religion has helped to define our world. This introductory course will address many world religions including but not limited to Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. No religious affiliation is presumed. Moreover, the fundamental assumption for the course is that it is possible to learn about and from a variety of different religious traditions without seeking to make students adherents of a single religious tradition or adherents of the notion that all religious traditions are basically the same. 

PSYC-1123-40PT  Art of Intelligence

This course introduces students to the various forms and theories of intelligence. Topics include creativity, emotional intelligence, non-verbal intelligence, social intelligence, mindfulness, learning disabilities and exceptionalities. This course comprehensively examines the role of intelligence for personal and professional success, as well as the application of both verbal and non-verbal forms. 

PSYC-1132-40PT  Exploring Trauma and Violence

Many, even most, people you come across will have lived through and may still be experiencing traumatic or violent events or living conditions. This course focuses on learning about the impact of trauma and violence on people and how to create physical, cultural, and emotional safety for everyone. Trauma and violence informed principles could be practiced on the macro level in health and social services, schools, and colleges and the micro level in interaction with our family and friends. Trauma and violence informed principles encourage a universal approach to collective care and wellness. Please be advised that the content of this course could be triggering for individuals with post traumatic stress disorder/complex trauma background.

SOCI-1073-40PT/41PT Building Sustainable Societies 

The world's population has recently surpassed seven billion, and communities worldwide are facing numerous social, environmental, and economic problems. While gloomy headlines dominate environmental news, there are solutions. Building sustainable societies looks at current problems like urban sprawl, pollution, climate change, and suggests ways to reverse unsustainable trends. From growing food and gardens to developing more efficient transportation, to reducing waste and developing green buildings, sustainable societies move beyond diagnosing the problems to finding solutions. A key part of the course is to give students the insight and confidence to encourage sustainability in their own lives and communities. 

SOCI-1083-40PT Women & Violence 

Women and Violence will explore the understandings, forms and impacts of violence against women in a Canadian context. This course will provide an overview of both the theory and practice of anti-violence work and the controversies and debates - among both scholars and practitioners - that continue to surround this issue. Some of the themes covered in this course include: prevalence, forms, and understandings of violence against women; the intersectionality of gender, race, class and sexuality; the role of media; masculinities and violence; and politico-legal and socio-cultural approaches to address violence against women. 

SOCI-1093-40PT Homicide Section 

This 'Homicide' course will provide students with definitions of homicide and theoretical explanations from both the sociological and criminological traditions. Homicide can be described as the killing of one person by another. Society generally describes this act as murder. Homicide rates in Canada are reasonably low; however, certain individuals and groups are disproportionately at risk for this violent event. Through a criminology lens, this course aims to understand the relationship between social factors and crime. It combines theoretical perspectives with case studies to uncover who is at risk of being a homicide victim and how their life chances are impacted by social structures and inequality. Throughout the course, we will critically examine concepts including stereotypes, discrimination, rehabilitation, restorative, and social justice. 

SOSC-1012-40PT/41PT Discovering the Social Sciences

This course connects the exciting world of social science to our everyday experiences. By highlighting discipline-specific tools and concepts used by anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists, students gain insight into how people function and how relationships develop between individuals, society, and the global world. Discussions focus on current and controversial topics that deal with individual, social, and global concerns, allowing us to understand the origins and consequences for some of life's most pressing issues. This interdisciplinary approach leads to a better understanding of social science and gives students the foundation for future learning in all areas of study. 

TRAV-1039 -  Cultural Crossroads: History and Travel in Portugal and Spain 

This course offers an immersive exploration of the rich histories, cultures, and landscapes of Spain and Portugal. Through a combination of academic study and in-person travel, students will journey through key cities-Lisbon, Seville, Évora, Córdoba, Madrid, and Barcelona-each showcasing centuries of political, religious, and artistic development. We will examine how these cities have been shaped by a multitude of influences, with special attention to the interplay of Islamic, Christian, and Jewish legacies, as well as the impact of empire, trade, and globalization on these regions. Students will engage with living history by visiting landmarks such as the Castle of São Jorge, the Royal Alcázar of Seville, La Giralda bell tower, and the Mezquita of Córdoba. Alongside historical exploration, participants will experience modern-day culture through activities like a bike tour of Madrid, a Flamenco lesson, or attending a soccer match. This course offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of Iberian history while enjoying the architectural marvels, art, and vibrant street life that define Spain and Portugal today. The course ends with an 11 day trip to Portugal and Spain. There is an added cost for the all inclusive trip, and there is also a travel bursary for Fanshawe students.