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International Studies Honours
The program is primarily for students with a background or interest in political science, history, economics, geography, sociology, anthropology, and humanities, as well as other areas. Students can specialize in international issues through a curriculum which integrates training and experience concerning the complex and challenging issues that are central to global affairs. Public or private sector employees who wish to specialize in specific dimensions that are necessary to understand and address international issues may also be interested in this program. This program is for those who wish to refine their discussion skills, and their expository writing and critical thought with an international context.
間眅埶AV Requirements
The school limits admission to its honours program. Students must first apply for a major in IS based on a competitive application process. Students are eligible to apply for entry after successfully completing 30 units, which includes
- IS 101 Introduction to International Studies: Studying Global Conflict and Co-operation (3)
and two of
- IS 200 Historical Perspectives on Diplomatic Relations, International Security and Law (3)
- IS 210 Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges (3)
- IS 220 Wealth and Poverty of Nations (3)
- IS 230 Transnationalism and Society (3)
Application for admission should be made in the first day of the term. Criteria for selection are the student's CGPA and performance in IS courses.
Once approved into the major, with a grade point average of 3.4 and 12 upper division IS units complete, students can apply to the honours program director for admission. Students must have a faculty supervisor identified who will work with them.
Appeal Procedure
Applicants denied admission to the honours program may appeal in writing to the school's director. If that appeal results in a negative decision, a written appeal to the dean of the faculty may be submitted. Appeals will be granted only in very exceptional circumstances.
Required Grades
Students must obtain a C- grade or higher in all required lower division and upper division courses used toward an international studies major program. In addition, those admitted to the honours program must maintain a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA.
Concurrent Bachelor's-Masters Program
Students enrolled in the concurrent degree program may use up to a maximum of 10 graduate units of courses listed below towards the upper division level requirements of their bachelor's degree and towards the requirements of their master's degree.
'The quality of institutions' is now said to exercise a crucial influence on the prospects for development, and the course interrogates this claim both through analysis of different paths of economic growth and change across the developing world, and in regard to public administration and development management. It examines development policies and institutional theories, the politics of institutions and state formation, and the relationships between political systems, institutions and patterns of development. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Examines the historical political economy of development. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream A of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
The challenges posed by the 'new wars' and by state failure, and their consequences, the needs of humanitarian intervention, and the tasks of reconstructing or building viable states, involve critical security dimensions that are of both a military and non-military nature. It will explore the extensive body of literature on state formation and decay, and on intervention, in various regional settings with an emphasis on the causes of state failure, and the prospects of state rebuilding. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream B of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Examines the specific development experience of a selected region, taking account of the historical context, of state capacity, development strategies and of the political economy of development - as well as of the particular problems of development across different sectors of the economy, and the outcomes in regard to poverty and levels of well-being. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream A of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Introduces important patterns of economic development in Africa with an emphasis on the post-colonial period. Basic economic theory, and the practical application of these in African economic development will be explored. We will see how dominant theoretical paradigms influenced the formulation of development policy in Africa and how in turn these led to rethinking development theory. Prerequisite: enrolment in the MA in International Studies Program.
A synthetic introduction to historical and contemporary theories of development in Latin America. Topics include political economy of development, sociological theories of development, an introduction to neoliberalism, and the contemporary experience of globalization and development in Latin America. This course is identical to LAS 815 and so students may not receive credit for both courses.
A general overview of social and political change in Latin America, including revolutions, independence, transition to democracy, and contemporary social movements. Theoretical approaches may include social-movement theory, democratic theory, etc. This course is identical to LAS 835 and students may not receive credit for both courses.
or other courses as may be recommended by the Graduate Program Committee of the School.
The following two core undergraduate courses cannot be substituted with graduate level courses:
An interdisciplinary course which aims to bring together different disciplinary perspectives on international affairs through the study of in-depth particular contemporary problems. Prerequisite: International Studies major or honors students. 90 units. Writing.
An interdisciplinary course which aims to bring together different disciplinary perspectives on international affairs through the study of influential texts which, between them, involve study of core themes to the program: development, governance and civil society, war and peace, human rights and questions of culture and ethnicity. Prerequisite: International Studies major or honors students. 90 units.
Program Requirements
Students complete a total of 132 units, as specified below.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 24 lower division units including all of
Introduces international studies historically, tracing the patterns of conflicts and co-operation between nations, states and social groups in the world of the last half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Examines important problems in the contemporary world from the perspectives of different social science disciplines: poverty and development aid; war; and environmental change. Considers the challenge of global governance. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Provides an introduction to the research enterprise in international studies with a particular focus on quantitative methods. Prerequisite: IS 101 and 12 units. Students who have taken POL 201 may not take IS 240 for further credit. Quantitative.
and 18 to 20 lower division units as determined by stream 1, 2, or 3 (see below).
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete 50 upper division units including all of
An interdisciplinary course which aims to bring together different disciplinary perspectives on international affairs through the study of in-depth particular contemporary problems. Prerequisite: International Studies major or honors students. 90 units. Writing.
An interdisciplinary course which aims to bring together different disciplinary perspectives on international affairs through the study of influential texts which, between them, involve study of core themes to the program: development, governance and civil society, war and peace, human rights and questions of culture and ethnicity. Prerequisite: International Studies major or honors students. 90 units.
Intended for the research and preparation of materials for the honors graduating essay. Students must complete this course before taking IS 499. Open only to students who have been accepted into the honors program. Prerequisite: 間眅埶AV is by permission of the instructor and the School.
In addition to regular meetings with their supervisors, students will be required to submit a major paper on a topic to be selected in consultation with the School. 間眅埶AV is by permission of the instructor and the School. Open only to students who have been accepted into the honors program. Prerequisite: IS 490.
The remaining 24 units are chosen from one of the three streams (see below).
The additional eight upper division units can be from any of the streams or foreign cultural component
Foreign Cultural Component
Students must also fulfil the foreign cultural component as specified below.
Language Proficiency
An acquaintance with a language other than English is required. Those without this requirement should complete language courses either at the Language Training Institute or the Department of French. Demonstrated proficiency in a second language will consist of one of the following.
- the equivalent of two 200 division courses within the same language in a 間眅埶AV language program (either through completion of courses, course challenge, or placement tests)
- completion of high school equivalence in a language other than English in a foreign country.*
- completion of high school in a francophone educational system within Canada (i.e. French immersion or in a Francophone province).
* the School for International Studies will require a copy of the high school transcript, officially translated where necessary.
Language Courses
See , , , , , , in this Calendar.
Semester Abroad Programs
The requires a minimum of one semester abroad, preferably in the third or fourth academic year. Options include
- 間眅埶AV field school
- 間眅埶AV foreign exchange program
- 間眅埶AV international co-operative education placement
- short-term foreign visits, e.g. international conferences, colloquia or research**
- international internship or volunteer experience **
**subject to the approval of the international studies undergraduate committee
Streams
Students complete upper and lower division requirements in each stream. No more than two of the required upper division courses can be fulfilled with courses from any one department, except the School for International Studies. As well, the advisor may approve selected international field school or exchange courses for credit toward a stream when the topic is appropriate. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all prerequisites are met for upper division requirements.
Stream 1 International Security and Conflict
Lower Division
Students complete
An introduction to the study of diplomacy, security and the development of international law. Emphasis will be on the 19th and 20th centuries, preceded by a general survey of early notions of sovereignty, concepts of total war and primitive diplomatic institutions, as well as the role of religion in politics. Prerequisite: IS 101, or permission of the department.
and one of
An overview of the broad economic trends in the development of the world economy over the last five decades with reference to the major debates related to economic interdependence, development and growth, globalization, and the role of the major multilateral economic institutions (IMF, World Bank, OCED, ILO, UN). (lecture/tutorial). Students with credit for Economics courses at the 200 (or higher) division (excluding ECON 200 and 205) may not take ECON 102 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The principal elements of theory concerning money and income, distribution, social accounts, public finance, international trade, comparative systems, and development and growth. Students with credit for ECON 205 cannot take ECON 105 for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Soc.
and two of
Introduces students to the variety of systems of governance in the world today, examines the historical and cultural sources of their different developmental trajectories, and assesses the challenges they face in the future. Prerequisite: IS 101 or consent of the department. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Analyzes some of the historical reasons for the great divergence in world economic development, and undertakes a cross-country, cross-regional perspective of world economic development using a historical approach to long-run economic growth. Prerequisite: IS 101 and ECON 105. Students with credit for INTS 220 may not take this course for further credit.
Provides a survey of the basic issues relating to the study of transnationalism and society. Topics covered include identity and ethnicity, urbanization, migration, social networks, politics, and religion. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
and two of
additional IS 210, 220 or 230 (whichever course is not completed to fulfil above requirement)
Current world-scale problems are examined in their regional and global contexts, with emphasis being placed on the importance of dynamics of the natural environment in human affairs. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A survey of the history of the world, with a focus on global historical phenomena of the last six centuries. Breadth-Humanities.
An introductory survey of the changing societies of the Middle East since 1800. Emphasis will be placed on familiarizing students with the basic aspects of Islamic society, the influence of European imperialism, the modernization of traditional societies, the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the social and political ferment in the period since the Second World War. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of Japanese history from 1868 until 1952 which will examine, among other topics, the establishment of the Japanese colonial empire, the wars with Russia, China and the United States, and the post-war Allied Occupation. Recommended: HIST 205. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of Latin American history from Independence (1808-24) to the present: post-Independence political collapse and reconsolidation; Latin America in the world trade system and the changing conditions of economic dependency; nationalist reform (Mexico) and socialist revolution (Cuba), liberalism, populism, and the rise of modernizing military. Treatment by topics and broad historical period rather than country by country. Recommended: HIST 208. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of European history from the First World War emphasizing the origins and effects of the World Wars, the emergence of the Soviet Union and of fascism. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of the history of China from the end of the eighteenth century, when traditional Chinese society was arguably at its height of development, to the end of the twentieth century when the social revolutions promised by the Communist regime have clearly failed to materialize. The main objectives are to provide students with vocabularies and tools to understand and interpret the political, social and cultural transformations in modern China and to initiate them in the art and techniques of historical analysis. Breadth-Humanities.
Introduces students to the variety of systems of governance in the world today, examines the historical and cultural sources of their different developmental trajectories, and assesses the challenges they face in the future. Prerequisite: IS 101 or consent of the department. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Analyzes some of the historical reasons for the great divergence in world economic development, and undertakes a cross-country, cross-regional perspective of world economic development using a historical approach to long-run economic growth. Prerequisite: IS 101 and ECON 105. Students with credit for INTS 220 may not take this course for further credit.
Provides a survey of the basic issues relating to the study of transnationalism and society. Topics covered include identity and ethnicity, urbanization, migration, social networks, politics, and religion. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A critical examination of the relationship between violence and structural inequalities. Focus will be on different forms that violence assumes in war and peace and how acts of violence are remembered, collectively denied or misrecognized. Particular case studies may include colonization of indigenous people, Holocaust, South African Apartheid, India's Partition, the genocide in Rwanda, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 9/11 and its aftermath along with everyday suffering, including gender violence. As well, special attention will be given to anthropological witnessing. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An introduction to culture, social structure and the processes of social, economic, and political transformation in contemporary China. Topics may include recent development of Marxism, feminism and neoliberalism in China; Western debates on China's rise and images of China as threat; human rights. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150. Students with credit for SA 293 in 2000-1 term may not take SA 275 for further credit.
+ whichever course is not completed to fulfil above requirement
Upper Division
Students complete 24 units from
An examination of the history of the Soviet Union from its creation to its collapse, emphasizing its ideology, culture, role in global politics, and social and economic transformations. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
An introduction to the history of the origins and course of the second world war. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 225.
An examination of this century's major themes in the history of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well as other states of the Arabian peninsula. Topics to be investigated include the origins of Arab nationalism and Islamic reformism; the origins and development of the Lebanese question; the emergence of the politics of the military in Iraq and Syria, and the special role of the Jordanian and Arabian monarchies. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history credit. Recommended: one of HIST 151, 249, 251.
Covers the period in Japan from the 1930s to the 1950s and will introduce students to topics such as wartime atrocities, the dropping of the atomic bombs and the prosecution of war criminals. It will also attempt to explain why so much controversy surrounds interpretations of events arising from Japan's last war, the Asia-Pacific War. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: at least one course on modern Japan.
Examines the cycle of violence that followed the Axis occupation of Greece and created a political schism that lasted until the 1980s. The course will focus on Greek resistance, foreign relations and relations with the British intelligence services. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
A discussion of the modern history of nation-building in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The topics discussed include Zionism, the British Mandate in Palestine, the creation of the state of Israel, the rise of modern Palestinian nationalism, and the role of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute in regional and international affairs. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history and one of HIST 151, 249, 251, 350, 354, 355 or permission of the department.
An interpretive discussion of the course of modern Egyptian history. This may range from the advent to power of Muhammed Ali Pasha until recent times, or may focus on specific periods of revolutionary change. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history and one of HIST 151, 249, 251, 350, 354, 355 or permission of the department.
Investigates complex emergencies and the outcomes of conflict, specifically forced migration by refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs). Prerequisite: IS 200 and 45 units.
Surveys the ethnic minorities of Southeast Asia, focusing on their relations with other ethnic groups, especially majority populations, and governments. Examines the treatment of ethnic minorities and the responses of the minorities, including ethnic-based secession movements. Reviews cross-border and broader international issues relating to minorities, such as their status as refugees and cross-border support for insurgencies. Prerequisite: IS 200 and 45 units.
Introduces the Russian Federation's foreign and security policies. Reviews key actors, institutions, and stages in the development of Russian foreign policy development as well as the gap between rhetoric and realities in Russian foreign policy. Prerequisite: IS 200 and 45 units.
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term. Prerequisite: IS 200 and 45 units.
Introduces the political, economic, and ideological dynamics of contemporary Middle Eastern states. Examines the legacy of colonialism, state formation, central ideological trends such as Arab nationalism and political Islam, the dynamics of state-society contention, and the challenges of economic development. Prerequisite: IS 200, 210, or 220, and 45 units. Students with credit for IS 419 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Explores patterns of economic development in Africa with an emphasis on the post-colonial period, showing how dominant theoretical paradigms influenced the formation of development policy in Africa and how these in turn led to rethinking development theory. Prerequisite: IS 200, 210 or 220, and 45 units. Students who have completed IS 429 in this topic may not complete this course for further credit.
Independent research in a selected international studies area, under the supervision of at least one faculty member. A research report is required. Prerequisite: By application to the undergraduate chair. May only be taken once for credit towards a degree or diploma.
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term. Prerequisite: IS 200 and 45 units.
Examines the new states of post-Soviet Central Asia, the Transcaucasus and Russia, with particular reference to the relationship among democratization, development, autocracy and conflict, and the role of external actors in transnational security issues in the region. Prerequisite: IS 200 or 210, and 45 units.
Focuses upon the political Islamist movements that have swept much of the Middle East and North Africa since the mid-1970s. Examines a broad range of movements, from liberal to militant trends, drawing on the experiences of countries throughout the region. Prerequisite: IS 315 or HIST 151, and 45 units. Students with credit for IS 419 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
A multidisciplinary study of a selected country or region. Prerequisite: Completion of 45 units and permission of the department.
An examination of the principal methods of empirical research in political science. This course is equivalent to SA 355. Prerequisite: POL 201, or SA 255 or STAT 203 (formerly 103). Students with credit for POL 315 may not take SA 355 for further credit. Quantitative.
Nationalist movements and intrastate ethnic conflict around the globe. It begins with an overview of nationalism, including its historical emergence, its roots, and different types. It then moves on to ethnic conflict, focusing on its sources and potential solutions to this problem. Prerequisite: POL 201 and three additional lower division political science units or permission of the department. Students who have taken Selected Topics course POL 339 with this topic may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.
Problems arising from the disparities in power and wealth between the highly industrialized countries of Europe and North America, and the under-industrialized countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Sovereignty, nationality, jurisdiction, arbitration. Examination of selected cases exemplifying present trends in the international legal order. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An examination of the structures and processes and the main substantive decisions of the United Nations and related international organizations. Based upon in-depth study of the UN Charter, the Security Council, General Assembly, Secretary-general and Secretariat and their constitutional and political interactions since 1945, with special attention to the theory and practice of international organization advanced by the principal Western countries, the Soviet Union and Soviet bloc, the People's Republic of China and leading Third World countries. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An overview of Canadian foreign policy post World War II. Various perspectives are discussed including realism, economic nationalism, liberal internationalism and political economy/dependency analysis. A variety of analytical perspectives are used to examine issue-areas such as foreign trade including the role of NAFTA, defence policy and alliance relations, foreign investment, foreign aid, immigration policy, energy policy and the role of domestic political factors in foreign policy decision-making. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Examines the origins and causes of several major conflicts during the last century. This course reviews various theories on the causes of conflict and war in the international system. It also examines the techniques of preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, crisis management and coercive diplomacy as they have been used to try to forestall open warfare and maximize the opportunities for peaceful change and the negotiated resolution of international disputes. Both documentary and feature films will be used to illustrate many types of conflict and warfare in the international system. Course simulations, when employed, will concentrate on the problems and risks that are involved in international efforts to contain and reverse the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Six lower division units in Political Science or permission of the department.
This course introduces students to the problems involved in the assertion of universal moral standards across political and cultural divides. These issues will be explored at a theoretical level, and in the context of specific human rights controversies. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department. Recommended: PHIL 220 or 320.
The course traces the evolution of Canadian thinking on national international security issues through an examination of pre-World War II isolationism, elite attitudes during the Cold War, the formative period of NATO, as well as Canadian involvement in the Korean and Indochina conflicts. More recent policies concerning ALCM testings, NORAD, and nuclear non-proliferation will also be explored in detail. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Provides an overview of the evolution of US and Soviet strategic policies since World War II. The political and doctrinal bases of national strategic debates are closely examined, as are the various obstacles to a more stable international arms control regime for nuclear weapons. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in Political Science or permission of the department.
Examines US foreign policy in the post World War II era. Topics to be covered will include the formation of foreign policy, 20th century American security issues, alliance relations, crisis management and international economic relations. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in Political Science or permission of the department.
An overview and analysis of international relations in East Asia. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in Political Science or permission of the department .
An introduction to the political economy and culture of capitalism in relation to global problems. Case studies may focus on issues of population, famine, disease, poverty, environmental destruction, social inequality, and nation-state violence. Resistance, rebellion and social movements in response to these problems also will be addressed. Students who took SA 294 in 03-1, 04-1 and 04-2 may not take SA 302 for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
One course from stream 2 or 3
Stream 2 Comparative World Politics, Culture and Society
Lower Division
Students complete
Introduces students to the variety of systems of governance in the world today, examines the historical and cultural sources of their different developmental trajectories, and assesses the challenges they face in the future. Prerequisite: IS 101 or consent of the department. Breadth-Social Sciences.
and one of
An overview of the broad economic trends in the development of the world economy over the last five decades with reference to the major debates related to economic interdependence, development and growth, globalization, and the role of the major multilateral economic institutions (IMF, World Bank, OCED, ILO, UN). (lecture/tutorial). Students with credit for Economics courses at the 200 (or higher) division (excluding ECON 200 and 205) may not take ECON 102 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The principal elements of theory concerning money and income, distribution, social accounts, public finance, international trade, comparative systems, and development and growth. Students with credit for ECON 205 cannot take ECON 105 for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Soc.
and two of
An introduction to the study of diplomacy, security and the development of international law. Emphasis will be on the 19th and 20th centuries, preceded by a general survey of early notions of sovereignty, concepts of total war and primitive diplomatic institutions, as well as the role of religion in politics. Prerequisite: IS 101, or permission of the department.
Analyzes some of the historical reasons for the great divergence in world economic development, and undertakes a cross-country, cross-regional perspective of world economic development using a historical approach to long-run economic growth. Prerequisite: IS 101 and ECON 105. Students with credit for INTS 220 may not take this course for further credit.
Provides a survey of the basic issues relating to the study of transnationalism and society. Topics covered include identity and ethnicity, urbanization, migration, social networks, politics, and religion. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
and two of
additional IS 210, 220 or 230 (whichever course is not completed to fulfil above requirement)
An introduction to East, Southeast or South Asian art, literature, history or philosophy. The emphasis will be on the cultural importance of the themes covered and on their relationship to contemporary societies. Prerequisite: 15 units.
Current world-scale problems are examined in their regional and global contexts, with emphasis being placed on the importance of dynamics of the natural environment in human affairs. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The focus will be on the situation of women in cross-cultural perspective using literary, historical, anthropological and other appropriate sources. Students who have completed WS 200 may not complete this course for further credit.
A survey of the history of the world, with a focus on global historical phenomena of the last six centuries. Breadth-Humanities.
An introductory survey of colonization, of social, political and environmental change under colonial rule, and of the stormy history of state-society relations in Africa since independence. Breadth-Humanities.
An introductory survey of the changing societies of the Middle East since 1800. Emphasis will be placed on familiarizing students with the basic aspects of Islamic society, the influence of European imperialism, the modernization of traditional societies, the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the social and political ferment in the period since the Second World War. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of Japanese history from 1868 until 1952 which will examine, among other topics, the establishment of the Japanese colonial empire, the wars with Russia, China and the United States, and the post-war Allied Occupation. Recommended: HIST 205. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of Latin American history from Independence (1808-24) to the present: post-Independence political collapse and reconsolidation; Latin America in the world trade system and the changing conditions of economic dependency; nationalist reform (Mexico) and socialist revolution (Cuba), liberalism, populism, and the rise of modernizing military. Treatment by topics and broad historical period rather than country by country. Recommended: HIST 208. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of European history from the First World War emphasizing the origins and effects of the World Wars, the emergence of the Soviet Union and of fascism. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of the history of China from the end of the eighteenth century, when traditional Chinese society was arguably at its height of development, to the end of the twentieth century when the social revolutions promised by the Communist regime have clearly failed to materialize. The main objectives are to provide students with vocabularies and tools to understand and interpret the political, social and cultural transformations in modern China and to initiate them in the art and techniques of historical analysis. Breadth-Humanities.
An introduction to the study of diplomacy, security and the development of international law. Emphasis will be on the 19th and 20th centuries, preceded by a general survey of early notions of sovereignty, concepts of total war and primitive diplomatic institutions, as well as the role of religion in politics. Prerequisite: IS 101, or permission of the department.
Analyzes some of the historical reasons for the great divergence in world economic development, and undertakes a cross-country, cross-regional perspective of world economic development using a historical approach to long-run economic growth. Prerequisite: IS 101 and ECON 105. Students with credit for INTS 220 may not take this course for further credit.
Provides a survey of the basic issues relating to the study of transnationalism and society. Topics covered include identity and ethnicity, urbanization, migration, social networks, politics, and religion. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
This course provides students with an overview of global environmental change and its causes from a social science perspective, historically and at the present time. Population growth, an increasing ecological footprint and changes in ideology, social organization, economy and technology will be critically reviewed. New ways of thinking in natural and social science will be considered in relation to specific issues such as land, soil and food; energy, raw materials and solid waste; air pollution and transportation; water, oceans and fisheries; climate change; forestry and biodiversity; urbanization, and alternative futures. Breadth-Social Sciences. Equivalent Courses: ENPL100. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The study of basic concerns of sociology, such as social order, social change, social conflict and social inequality. Breadth-Social Sciences. Equivalent Courses: PSA.101. Breadth-Social Sciences.
A critical examination of the relationship between violence and structural inequalities. Focus will be on different forms that violence assumes in war and peace and how acts of violence are remembered, collectively denied or misrecognized. Particular case studies may include colonization of indigenous people, Holocaust, South African Apartheid, India's Partition, the genocide in Rwanda, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 9/11 and its aftermath along with everyday suffering, including gender violence. As well, special attention will be given to anthropological witnessing. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An introduction to culture, social structure and the processes of social, economic, and political transformation in contemporary China. Topics may include recent development of Marxism, feminism and neoliberalism in China; Western debates on China's rise and images of China as threat; human rights. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150. Students with credit for SA 293 in 2000-1 term may not take SA 275 for further credit.
++ whichever course is not completed to fulfil above requirements
Upper Division
Students complete 24 units from
A critical study of selected cultural landscapes, practices and meanings in light of recent theoretical developments in geography. Prerequisite: GEOG 325 or 381 or 387.
Examines the global division of labor where migrant women as well as immigrant women tend to be exploited in numerous forms, ranging from lack of citizenship rights and erosion of skills to the risk of sexual assault, due to immigration/migration and social policies of various countries. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for WS 320 Special Topics: Immigrant Women and Economic Security may not complete this course for further credit.
An examination of the history of the Soviet Union from its creation to its collapse, emphasizing its ideology, culture, role in global politics, and social and economic transformations. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
An introduction to the history of the origins and course of the second world war. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 225.
An examination of the economic, social and political history of 20th century South Africa. Particular attention will be paid to the factors which led to the rise of apartheid. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: at least one of HIST 146, 231.
The intellectual and social history of greater Iran from the Safavids to the twentieth century. Emphasis will be on the relationship between religion and politics. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: one of HIST 151, 249, 251.
This course examines the role of imperialism in the transformation of societies in the Middle East and North Africa over the last two centuries. Focusing mainly on the cases of Ottoman, British and French empire building, the course discusses the socio-economic, cultural and political changes brought about by the interaction of various segments of local societies with these imperial powers. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: one of HIST 151, 249, 251.
An examination of this century's major themes in the history of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, as well as other states of the Arabian peninsula. Topics to be investigated include the origins of Arab nationalism and Islamic reformism; the origins and development of the Lebanese question; the emergence of the politics of the military in Iraq and Syria, and the special role of the Jordanian and Arabian monarchies. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history credit. Recommended: one of HIST 151, 249, 251.
A survey of Chinese society from circa 1800 to the early twentieth century. The course begins with an introduction to Chinese society in the mid-Qing period and then moves on to discuss intellectual, social, cultural, and political changes that are often associated with the 'impact of the West.' Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history including HIST 255. Prerequisite: REQ-45 units including nine units of lower division history including HIST 255.
Analyzes the history of the PRC from 1949 to present. Special emphasis on ideology, inequality, diversity, the Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution, and economic reforms. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Students with credit for HIST 256 may not take this course for further credit.
A writing-intensive examination of selected topics in the history of Asia, Africa and/or the Middle East. The content will vary from offering to offering. See department for further information. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Students may not take selected topics within HIST 368 for further credit if duplicating content of another history course and vice versa. Writing.
Covers the period in Japan from the 1930s to the 1950s and will introduce students to topics such as wartime atrocities, the dropping of the atomic bombs and the prosecution of war criminals. It will also attempt to explain why so much controversy surrounds interpretations of events arising from Japan's last war, the Asia-Pacific War. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: at least one course on modern Japan.
An examination of select topics in Christianity and globalization, with an emphasis on the early-modern period. Students will explore the connections between regions rather than individual regional histories. Prerequisite: 45 units, including nine units of lower division history credit.
Advanced analysis of specific problems in social, intellectual, and political history of modern Russia. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 224 or 225.
An examination of how the Russian Empire grew, was maintained, and came to an end, if it did end, through a study of imperial and colonial policies and practices and the responses to these by the area's diverse peoples. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
Greece and Greek society will serve as a case study of a Balkan country that underwent several political and social transformations. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
Examines the cycle of violence that followed the Axis occupation of Greece and created a political schism that lasted until the 1980s. The course will focus on Greek resistance, foreign relations and relations with the British intelligence services. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
Examines the political, social, and cultural transformation in Turkey from the end of World War I to the present. Topics may include the Ottoman legacy in the Turkish Republic, issues of nation building, national identity and ethnicity, the role of the military in Turkish politics, changing concepts of gender, the role of political Islam, and Turkish diasporas. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 151 and 249. Students with credit in HIST 486 D100 in Fall 2005 may not take this course for further credit.
Advanced concepts and methodology applied to the study of traditional and contemporary institutions (the church, the great estate, the peasantry, elite structures) and/or political movements (agrarian revolution, populism, the modernizing military). Emphasis placed on changing historiographical interpretations. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: one of HIST 104, 208, 209, LAS 200.
A discussion of the modern history of nation-building in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The topics discussed include Zionism, the British Mandate in Palestine, the creation of the state of Israel, the rise of modern Palestinian nationalism, and the role of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute in regional and international affairs. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history and one of HIST 151, 249, 251, 350, 354, 355 or permission of the department.
An interpretive discussion of the course of modern Egyptian history. This may range from the advent to power of Muhammed Ali Pasha until recent times, or may focus on specific periods of revolutionary change. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history and one of HIST 151, 249, 251, 350, 354, 355 or permission of the department.
An advanced examination into the concepts and methodology of world history. Selected themes may include globalization, modernization, migration, religious expansion, colonialism, imperialism, and the teaching of world history. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
An examination of the way in which South African society evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries. Particular attention will be paid to the problem of race relations. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 231, 348.
Focuses on underprivileged and disenfranchised groups -- farmers, workers, women, ethnic minorities, etc. -- and on the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion that structure modern Chinese society. Note that the seminar covers mainly continental China. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Chinese diaspora will be discussed only in passing. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history, including HIST 255 or 365, or permission of the department.
An examination of the differing narratives of nation and modernity in the struggle for independence from colonial rule in India, and their implications for the post-colonial state, for politics and for India's economic development. Prerequisite: IS 210 or 220, and 45 units. Writing.
Provides an overview of national and political issues in Southeast Asia. Surveying politics in individual countries and regional political institutions, focus is given to particular themes such as democratization and civil society, communism and other forms of authoritarianism, the role of the military, decentralization, religion and politics, the impact of China on the region, and security concerns. Prerequisite: IS 210 and 45 units.
Introduces the political, economic, and ideological dynamics of contemporary Middle Eastern states. Examines the legacy of colonialism, state formation, central ideological trends such as Arab nationalism and political Islam, the dynamics of state-society contention, and the challenges of economic development. Prerequisite: IS 200, 210, or 220, and 45 units. Students with credit for IS 419 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term.
Explores patterns of economic development in Africa with an emphasis on the post-colonial period, showing how dominant theoretical paradigms influenced the formation of development policy in Africa and how these in turn led to rethinking development theory. Prerequisite: IS 200, 210 or 220, and 45 units. Students who have completed IS 429 in this topic may not complete this course for further credit.
The quality of institutions' exercises a crucial influence on the prospects for development. Aims are to interrogate this claim through analysis of different paths of economic growth and change across the developing world. Examination of the ways in which politics influences economic growth and distribution; the relationships between political systems and patterns of development; and the politics of institutions and state formation. Prerequisite: IS 210 or IS 220, 90 units and permission of department.
Examines the new states of post-Soviet Central Asia, the Transcaucasus and Russia, with particular reference to the relationship among democratization, development, autocracy and conflict, and the role of external actors in transnational security issues in the region. Prerequisite: IS 200 or 210, and 45 units.
Reviews important current regional issues in Southeast Asia with particular attention to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Prerequisite: IS 303 or 314.
Focuses upon the political Islamist movements that have swept much of the Middle East and North Africa since the mid-1970s. Examines a broad range of movements, from liberal to militant trends, drawing on the experiences of countries throughout the region. Prerequisite: IS 315 or HIST 151, and 45 units. Students with credit for IS 419 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Independent research in a selected international studies area, under the supervision at least one faculty member. A research report is required. May only be taken once for credit towards a degree or diploma. Prerequisite: By application to the undergraduate chair.
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term. Prerequisite: IS 210 and 45 units.
A multidisciplinary study of a selected country or region. Prerequisite: Completion of 45 units and permission of the department.
An examination of the principal methods of empirical research in political science. This course is equivalent to SA 355. Prerequisite: POL 201, or SA 255 or STAT 203 (formerly 103). Students with credit for POL 315 may not take SA 355 for further credit. Quantitative.
An examination of the political development of China in modern times with special emphasis on political culture and its relationship to political institutions, political processes and political behavior. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Nationalist movements and intrastate ethnic conflict around the globe. It begins with an overview of nationalism, including its historical emergence, its roots, and different types. It then moves on to ethnic conflict, focusing on its sources and potential solutions to this problem. Prerequisite: POL 201 and three additional lower division political science units or permission of the department. Students who have taken Selected Topics course POL 339 with this topic may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.
Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Considers Africa in the historical development of the modern global political economy, from the transatlantic slave trade to the present. Examines contemporary issues associated with Africa in the neo-liberal world order and the politics of resistance and alternative pathways or models of development. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
The political system of Japan, including an analysis of political culture, political institutions, political behavior and both formal and informal political processes. Emphasis will be placed on the pre-World War II political development of Japan. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An examination of the processes by which governments are created, maintained, and destroyed in democratic systems. The effects of different regime types, electoral arrangements, and party systems will be highlighted. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in Political Science or permission of the department .
Examines the impact of identity politics on the dynamics and organization of political systems. topics include the impact of ethnic, racial and/or religious diversity on modes of political representation, the formation of public policy, and the quest for political stability and national identity. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
An introduction to the political economy and culture of capitalism in relation to global problems. Case studies may focus on issues of population, famine, disease, poverty, environmental destruction, social inequality, and nation-state violence. Resistance, rebellion and social movements in response to these problems also will be addressed. Students who took SA 294 in 03-1, 04-1 and 04-2 may not take SA 302 for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
A study of the sources, development and effects of social movements in transitional and modernized societies. Specific types of movements will be analysed. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of the social and political implications of the global economy. Topics to be considered include the influence of neo-liberal economics, the decline of the national welfare state, transnational political agencies and public policy, the internationalization of culture, the global labour market, the 'world city' hypothesis, ethnic resurgence and alternatives to these developments. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of selected aspects of the social structure, culture and the processes of social change in varying regional areas. The focus will vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
The social and cultural patterns of aboriginal populations within various modern nation-states. Their relations with majority societies and with other indigenous groups across the world. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An introduction to the peoples and institutions of Latin America in historical and contemporary perspective, emphasizing macro-level patterns of similarity and diversity. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W. Students with credit for SA 391 or LAS 392 may not take this course for further credit.
An examination of selected aspects of social structure, culture and processes of social change in a specific regional area. The focus will vary from term to term. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An investigation of the social, cultural, and political issues that contribute to problems of ill-health in resource-poor countries and the major efforts in international public health to address these problems. It explores the application of knowledge about social, and especially gender relations in international health, with particular attention to local perspectives and grassroots initiatives. Institutional frameworks intended to promote health development are examined in historical and contemporary perspective through case studies on topics such as: malaria, population control, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Prerequisite: 90 credit hours, which must include SA 101 or 150. Highly recommended: SA 218, 302 and 318. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Through a program of focused readings, case studies, and films, this course offers a new perspective on the study of globalization. It balances classical themes with contemporary approaches to global processes of economic, political, and cultural transformation. The course tackles such topics as the material aspects of cooperation and coercion, class relations in structures of capital accumulation and global governance, and cultural dynamics. Alternatives to Euro-American centrism are explored through the examples of citizenship, cultural politics, ethnic and religious conflicts, human rights, indigenous rights, and women's rights. Prerequisite: Minimum of 72 units including either SA 101 or 150 or 201W. Students with credit for SA 463 completed in 2004-3 may not complete this course for further credit.
one course from stream 1 or 3
Stream 3 International Development, Economic, and Environmental Issues
Lower Division
Students complete all of
The principal elements of theory concerning utility and value, price and costs, factor analysis, productivity, labor organization, competition and monopoly, and the theory of the firm. Students with credit for ECON 200 cannot take ECON 103 for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Soc.
The principal elements of theory concerning money and income, distribution, social accounts, public finance, international trade, comparative systems, and development and growth. Students with credit for ECON 205 cannot take ECON 105 for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Soc.
Analyzes some of the historical reasons for the great divergence in world economic development, and undertakes a cross-country, cross-regional perspective of world economic development using a historical approach to long-run economic growth. Prerequisite: IS 101 and ECON 105. Students with credit for INTS 220 may not take this course for further credit.
and three of
An overview of the broad economic trends in the development of the world economy over the last five decades with reference to the major debates related to economic interdependence, development and growth, globalization, and the role of the major multilateral economic institutions (IMF, World Bank, OCED, ILO, UN). (lecture/tutorial). Students with credit for Economics courses at the 200 (or higher) division (excluding ECON 200 and 205) may not take ECON 102 for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Economic analysis of environmental problems (water and air pollution, etc.). Evaluation of market failures due to externalities and public goods. Market and non-market regulation of environmental problems. Prerequisite: ECON 103 or 200. Students with credit for ECON 360 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
Current world-scale problems are examined in their regional and global contexts, with emphasis being placed on the importance of dynamics of the natural environment in human affairs. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The basic concepts of economic geography, involving consideration of the spatial organization and development of economic and resource based systems. Prerequisite: GEOG 100.
An introduction to the study of diplomacy, security and the development of international law. Emphasis will be on the 19th and 20th centuries, preceded by a general survey of early notions of sovereignty, concepts of total war and primitive diplomatic institutions, as well as the role of religion in politics. Prerequisite: IS 101, or permission of the department.
Introduces students to the variety of systems of governance in the world today, examines the historical and cultural sources of their different developmental trajectories, and assesses the challenges they face in the future. Prerequisite: IS 101 or consent of the department. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Provides a survey of the basic issues relating to the study of transnationalism and society. Topics covered include identity and ethnicity, urbanization, migration, social networks, politics, and religion. Breadth-Social Sciences. Breadth-Social Sciences.
This course provides students with an overview of global environmental change and its causes from a social science perspective, historically and at the present time. Population growth, an increasing ecological footprint and changes in ideology, social organization, economy and technology will be critically reviewed. New ways of thinking in natural and social science will be considered in relation to specific issues such as land, soil and food; energy, raw materials and solid waste; air pollution and transportation; water, oceans and fisheries; climate change; forestry and biodiversity; urbanization, and alternative futures. Breadth-Social Sciences. Equivalent Courses: ENPL100. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Upper Division
Students complete 24 units from
Topics discussed in this course are: gains from trade in a classical world; the modern theory of international trade; factor price equalization; empirical tests and extensions of the pure theory model; economic growth and international trade; the nature and effects of protection; motives and welfare effects of factor movements; multinational enterprises; the brain drain; customs union theory; pollution control and international trade. Prerequisite: ECON 103 or 200 and 105 or 205; 60 units or permission of the department. Students with credit for ECON 442 cannot take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
Foreign exchange markets; determination of spot and forward exchange rates; Euro currency markets; balance of payments statistics; international adjustment theory; income price and exchange rate effects; the role of international short term capital flows; the international monetary system: gold standard, freely floating rates, dollar gold exchange standard, centrally created reserves. Prerequisite: ECON 103 or 200 and 105 or 205; 60 units or permission of the department. Students with credit for ECON 445 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
Analysis of theories of economic development. Consideration will be given to the requirements of successful development, to aspects of international co-operation, and to procedures of economic planning. Problems of emerging countries and models of various developing economies will be studied. Prerequisite: ECON 103 or 200 and 105 or 205; 60 units. Students with credit for ECON 355 or ECON 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.
Application of economic analysis to natural resource problems and efficient management practice; public policy considerations in respect to development and conservation; benefit-cost analysis. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 301; 60 units. Quantitative.
Focus will vary from term to term. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 301, ECON 305 and ECON 342.
Focus will vary from term to term. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 301, ECON 305 and ECON 345. Quantitative.
Topics in economic development. Prerequisite: ECON 302 and 305. Students with credit for ECON 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.
An introduction to the occurrence and origin of natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, landslides, etc. Interaction between the relevant natural processes and society will be examined, as well as prediction of natural events and the amelioration of the effects of such events within different cultural contexts. Prerequisite: GEOG 111 or EASC 101. Students with credit for GEOG 212 may not take this course for further credit.
An analysis of the use and development of natural resources from a geographic, economic and institutional perspective. Prerequisite: At least 30 units including GEOG 221. Students with credit for GEOG 322W may not take this course for further credit.
Factors underlying the changing geography of tourism. Issues of demand, supply and impact are examined. Prerequisite: GEOG 221 or 241, or permission of the instructor.
A survey - from geographic perspective - of data, concepts, themes, and debates in the study of population. Particular concern for population numbers, fertility, mortality, and migration over space and time. Prerequisite: GEOG 221 or 241.
A survey - from geographic perspective - of data, concepts, themes, and debates in the study of population. Particular concern for population numbers, fertility, mortality, and migration over space and time. Prerequisite: GEOG 221 or 241.
An examination of the relationship between agricultural production systems and the biophysical environment, with emphasis on the origins of, and potential solutions to, agri-environmental degradation. Prerequisite: GEOG 221.
Examines the relationship between nature and society, covering the dominant geographical approaches to human-environment interaction, and their social, spatial, and political economic effects. Prerequisite: GEOG 221 or GEOG 241 (Students who received credit for EVSC 200 before 2011 may use it to meet the prerequisite requirement for this course). Writing.
A geographic study of 'development' and 'underdevelopment' with particular references to selected lesser developed regions. Prerequisite: At least 60 units including GEOG 111, 221, and 241. Students with credit for LAS 422 may not take this course for further credit.
Comparative analysis of forest industries, ecosystems and policies, and their lessons for forest management in British Columbia. Topics include tropical deforestation and carbon sequestration, the wilderness debate, and forests in culture and the visual arts. Prerequisite: GEOG 315, or 322, or 389.
The course introduces students to a geographical analysis of patterns of Latin American development and planning. It is divided into two sections: geographical/historical development of selected countries; and analysis of common Latin American developmental models. A geographical perspective is used which stresses the interconnectedness of spatial and socio-economic structures. Prerequisite: 60 units including eight of upper division geography.
An examination of environmental issues facing rural people and their livelihoods in China from a political ecology perspective. Topics include: environmental history and concepts of nature; property rights in land and trees; agriculture; forests; wildlife and biodiversity; grasslands; and water. Prerequisite: GEOG 389W.
Examines from interdisciplinary and international perspectives how development is gendered and creates differential impacts, meanings and processes for women and men around the world. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for GSWS 310 (or WS 310) Special Topic: Women and Development or GSWS 301 (or WS 301) Special Topic: Gender and Development or GSWS 309 (or WS 309) under the title Gender and Development may not take this course for further credit.
An examination of the differing narratives of nation and modernity in the struggle for independence from colonial rule in India, and their implications for the post-colonial state, for politics and for India's economic development. Prerequisite: IS 210 or 220, and 45 units. Writing.
Introduces the political, economic, and ideological dynamics of contemporary Middle Eastern states. Examines the legacy of colonialism, state formation, central ideological trends such as Arab nationalism and political Islam, the dynamics of state-society contention, and the challenges of economic development. Prerequisite: IS 200, 210, or 220, and 45 units. Students with credit for IS 419 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Explores patterns of economic development in Africa with an emphasis on the post-colonial period, showing how dominant theoretical paradigms influenced the formation of development policy in Africa and how these in turn led to rethinking development theory. Prerequisite: IS 200, 210 or 220, and 45 units. Students who have completed IS 429 in this topic may not complete this course for further credit.
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term.
The quality of institutions' exercises a crucial influence on the prospects for development. Aims are to interrogate this claim through analysis of different paths of economic growth and change across the developing world. Examination of the ways in which politics influences economic growth and distribution; the relationships between political systems and patterns of development; and the politics of institutions and state formation. Prerequisite: IS 210 or IS 220, 90 units and permission of department.
Develops an understanding of the interactions between international organizations, economic theory, and implementation of economic policies. Explores as well the impact of their interventions in some chosen countries. Prerequisite: IS 220, and one of IS 210, 200 or 230, and eight upper division units within stream 3; or permission of the department.
Analyzes the origins and the economic consequences of globalization and the uneven process of economic development around the world in relation to poverty, by considering the measurement of poverty, its causes and dynamics, as well as public policy for poverty reduction. Prerequisite: IS 220 and 45 units.
Independent research in a selected international studies area, under the supervision of at least one faculty member. A research report is required. Prerequisite: By application to the undergraduate chair. May only be taken once for credit towards a degree or diploma.
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrolment each term. Prerequisite: IS 220 and 45 units.
A multidisciplinary study of a selected country or region. Prerequisite: Completion of 45 units and permission of the department.
An examination of the principal methods of empirical research in political science. This course is equivalent to SA 355. Prerequisite: POL 201, or SA 255 or STAT 203 (formerly 103). Students with credit for POL 315 may not take SA 355 for further credit. Quantitative.
Problems arising from the disparities in power and wealth between the highly industrialized countries of Europe and North America, and the under-industrialized countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An introduction to the study of the international political economy, with an emphasis on the interaction between the state and markets, and the basic political-institutional relationships of trade, money and finance, international investment, foreign debt and foreign aid. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Considers Africa in the historical development of the modern global political economy, from the transatlantic slave trade to the present. Examines contemporary issues associated with Africa in the neo-liberal world order and the politics of resistance and alternative pathways or models of development. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An examination of the major theories of international political economy, and their application to such issues as the politics of trade, aid, monetary relations, and transnational corporations. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
Examines the politics and policies of energy, including historical and technical perspectives. Topics include alternative energy, climate change, regulatory policy, and the economics of energy, as well as practical case studies. Students who have completed POL 459 in 2009 and 2010 may not complete this course for further credit. Writing.
An introduction to the political economy and culture of capitalism in relation to global problems. Case studies may focus on issues of population, famine, disease, poverty, environmental destruction, social inequality, and nation-state violence. Resistance, rebellion and social movements in response to these problems also will be addressed. Students who took SA 294 in 03-1, 04-1 and 04-2 may not take SA 302 for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
An examination of tourism from the perspectives of sociology and anthropology, focusing primarily upon the social and cultural impacts of tourism and the social policy implications of tourism development in different societies. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201w.
An examination of the social and political implications of the global economy. Topics to be considered include the influence of neo-liberal economics, the decline of the national welfare state, transnational political agencies and public policy, the internationalization of culture, the global labour market, the 'world city' hypothesis, ethnic resurgence and alternatives to these developments. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of sociological and anthropological theories of development and underdevelopment as applied to the Third World. The nature and consequences of world system linkages; colonialism and decolonization; patterns of social change in selected societies and regions. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of environmental issues in their social context. Environmental issues are on the leading edge of contemporary public concern and public policy debates. This course will examine such issues as the relationship between social organization and mode of subsistence, the politics of hunger, and the way in which human societies in their particular social, historical, and cultural contexts view and interact with the natural world. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
one course from stream 1 or 2
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Major Requirements
For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs (except the honours program), students complete 120 units, which includes
- at least 60 units that must be completed at 間眅埶AV
- at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at 間眅埶AV
- at least 65 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
- satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
- an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0, and a program (major, joint major, extended minor, minor) CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to 間眅埶AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit
Requirement |
Units |
Notes | |
W - Writing |
6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at 間眅埶AV within the student’s major subject | |
Q - Quantitative |
6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division | |
B - Breadth |
18 |
Designated Breadth | Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division 6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc 6 units Humanities: B-Hum 6 units Sciences: B-Sci |
6 |
Additional Breadth | 6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements) |
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 as upper division work.
Elective Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.
For calendar technical problems or errors, contact calendar-sfu@sfu.ca | Calendar Changes and Corrections