Diploma Students: Full-time — Online Courses

ANTH-1005-40: 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.

ENGL-1065-40: 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.

ENGL-1067-40: 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 misbehavior?

ENVR-1038-40: Climate Change, Adaptation, and 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-1009-40: 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.

FILM-1020-40: Film Genres: Introduction

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.

HIST-1009-40: Contemporary History

Only knowing where we came from can we being to know where we are going. This course explores the important events of the 20th century or what has been referred to as the 'revolutionary century.' Though a global perspective, we will examine such monumental events as the First and Second World Wards, the Russian Revolution, the rice of Fascism, the Cold War, and how they shaped the world today. The course will also focus on the economic, political, and cultural significance of these events globally, focusing on a number of different countries.  

INDS-1058-40: Foodonomics

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-1081-40/41: Personal Wellness

This course introduces students to the concept of wellness. Students develop strategies for a healthy lifestyle in all aspects 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-1093-40: 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-1095-40: History of Rock & Roll: 70s/80s/90s 
This course examines the social, cultural, and musical history of rock and roll in the 70s, 80's, and early 90s. It examines the fragmentation of rock and roll which took place in the 70s and 80s when rock no longer dominated the pop charts. It also examines in detail how punk affected the evolution of rock and roll.

INDS-1105-40: Technology & 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-1132-40: Stay Sexy & Solve Stuff

For many, "true crime" has been a longtime guilty pleasure. But where did this fascination come from - and is it okay to enjoy this sort of thing? This course will attempt to make sense of our collective interest in the macabre of real life by examining the growth of the true crime genre across two centuries to the present day, with its "murderinos," true-crime conventions, and even the occasional unravelling of unsolved cases by so-called "citizen detectives." We'll also explore the way gender, race, and class frequently impact how the story is told, all with the aim of trying to understand how representations of criminality serve, in their own twisted way, to define culture.

INDS-1133-40: Korean Culture

This course offers students the opportunity to delve into the impact of Korean popular culture within the social and historical context of contemporary global society. Students will critically analyze the domestic and international effects of Korean Wave (Hallyu), with a particular focus on North America. The course examines K-culture, including language, food, beauty, and entertainment (e.g., music, online games, cinema, TV dramas). By exploring these topics in depth, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance of Korean popular culture in today's globalized world.

PHIL-1009-40: Ethics & Society 

What is the right thing to do? Although this turns out to be a remarkably difficult question to answer, it is the central focus of this course, and we will try to come at it from two different directions. On the one hand, we will consider a number of ethical theories that attempt to give a general, theoretical underpinning for morality. On the other hand, we will approach the question of the right thing to do from the context of particular moral problems that confront modern society such as world poverty, euthanasia, and the freedom of speech. If you want to be better prepared to debate ethical topics by understanding the issues behind them, then this course is for you.

PHIL-1013-40: Philosophy & Humour 

In this course, students will discover that there is no single or universal theory that can adequately explain the impact humour has on society, culture, or politics. Granted, there are many competing theories that examine the relationship between humour, satire, and laughter. Attempts to adequately understanding each one are as old as philosophy itself. In fact, the absence of a single unifying theory underlines the humour-as-criticism. Once we examine the role of humour as a critical response to social situations, students will be able to answer the quintessential question: can we be both humorous and politically correct?

POLI-1026–40: Government & Politics in Canada 

This political science course will explore the fundamental ideas and concepts that shape Canada's governing institutions. Students will explore the significance of federalism, the Constitution, political parties, and the electoral system in Canada. Electoral behaviour and public opinion will also be examined. 

PSYC-1055-40: 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 savoring experiences.

PSYC-1067-40: 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-1077-40: Psychology of Evil 

Evil has been a focus of study since time immemorial. Recently psychologists have attempted to examine and explain why certain people act in destructive and horrific ways toward others. This course is an examination of the darker side of human behaviour and how psychology attempts to define and understand evil. Topics discussed in this course include discovering how we decide if an action is evil or not, psychopaths and why they commit evil, how big business can unknowingly (or knowingly) commit evil, and how people can be convinced to kill their neighbour (genocide).

PSYC-1132-40: 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.

SOCI-1073-40: 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-1093-40: Homicide 

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-1012-40: 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.

SOSC-1033-40: Mysteries of Sleep 

Have you ever wondered why we dream? Why do our eyes sometimes twitch during sleep? What are the consequences of sleep deprivation? Through a variety of learning activities, students will navigate this complex and fascinating topic to uncover some of the mysteries of sleep. Drawing on fields of inquiry including neuroscience, psychology, and sociology, we will investigate some key theories on sleep and dreams and cover topics such as the circadian rhythm, sleep disorders, and sleep across the lifespan. Through self-reflection, students will also examine their own thoughts and behaviours around sleep with the purpose of fostering improved sleep hygiene.