Program Requirements
The Joint Honours program in African Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the African continent.
Students wishing to study at the Honours level in two disciplines can combine Joint Honours program components in any two Arts disciplines. For a list of available Joint Honours programs, see "Overview of Programs Offered" and "Joint Honours Programs". Joint Honours students should consult an adviser in each department to discuss their course selection and their interdisciplinary Honours thesis (if applicable). Joint Honours students are expected to maintain a program GPA of 3.30 and, according to Faculty regulations a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in general.
At least 9 of the 36 credits must be at the 400 level or above.
Required Courses (9 credits)
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AFRI 200 Introduction to African Studies (3 credits)
Overview
African Studies : The African experience and current approaches to African studies, through adopting multidisciplinary perspectives on topics that include political conflict, governance and democratization, environment and conservation, economic development, rural life and urbanism, health and illness, gender, social change, popular culture, literature, film, and the arts.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Nyariro, Milka (Fall)
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AFRI 480 Honours Thesis (3 credits) *
Overview
African Studies : Supervised reading, research and preparation of an undergraduate thesis under the direction of a staff member.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
Restriction(s): Open only to Joint Honours students.
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AFRI 598 Research Seminar in African Studies (3 credits)
Overview
African Studies : An interdisciplinary research seminar on topics of common interest to staff and students of the African Studies Program. As part of their contribution, students will prepare a research paper under the supervision of one or more members of staff.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Nyariro, Milka (Winter)
Prerequisite: an introductory course in any of the disciplines studying Africa
Restriction: Open to final year Program students, and to others by permission of Program Adviser
* Honours Thesis course must be taken for the AFRI Joint Honours component. Students must meet the specific requirements regarding Thesis credits of their second program in addition to the AFRI 480 Honours Thesis.
Complementary Courses (27 credits)
Group A
9 credits from:
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ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HIST 200 Introduction to African History (3 credits)
Overview
History : This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HIST 201 Modern African History (3 credits)
Overview
History : While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Monaville, Pedro (Winter)
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POLI 324 Comparative Politics of Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Douek, Daniel (Fall)
Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
Note: The field is Comparative Politics.
Group B
18 credits from the Group B course lists below drawn from at least 3 disciplines with no more than 9 credits from any one discipline.
African Studies
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AFRI 401 Swahili Language and Culture (3 credits)
Overview
African Studies : Basic knowledge of the Swahili language and culture with emphasis on handling circumstances that might be encountered in field research: everyday conversation, developing aural and oral skills and mastering basic grammar rules, understanding cultural norms and practices, issues of culture sensitivity and appropriateness.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kipchumba, Mathew (Fall)
Note: Priority to students in the African Studies Program and/or participants of the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program and to students with a demonstrable need related to internship or research. Approval by African Studies Program Adviser required.
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AFRI 481 Special Topics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
African Studies : Supervised reading in advanced special topics in African Studies under the direction of a member of staff.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: the completion of all available courses relevant to the topic, and permission of the instructor and Program Adviser prior to registration
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AFRI 499 Arts Internships: African Studies (3 credits)
Overview
African Studies : Internship with an approved host institution or organization.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: U2 and U3 students in good standing, normally after completing 30 credits of a 90-credit program or 45 credits of a 96-120 credit program, a minimum CGPA of 2.7, and permission from the departmental Internship Adviser. This course will normally not fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses.
Anthropology
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ANTH 212 Anthropology of Development (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Processes of developmental change, as they affect small communities in the Third World and in unindustrialized parts of developed countries. Problems of technological change, political integration, population growth, industrialization, urban growth, social services, infrastructure and economic dependency.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Kraichati, Cyntia (Winter)
Winter
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ANTH 222 Legal Anthropology (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Exploration of dispute resolutions and means of social cohesion in various societies of the world. Themes: dichotomy between law and custom, local definitions of justice and rights, forms of conflict resolution, access to justice, gender and law, universality of human rights, legal pluralism.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Rathee, Vineet (Winter)
Winter
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ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : The impact of colonialism on African societies; changing families, religion, arts; political and economic transformation; migration, urbanization, new social categories; social stratification; the social setting of independence and neo-colonialism; continuity, stagnation, and progressive change.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ANTH 355 Theories of Culture and Society (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Contributions to contemporary anthropological theory; theoretical paradigms and debates; forms of anthropological explanation; the role of theory in the practice of anthropology; concepts of society, culture and structure; cultural evolution and relativity; interpretive anthropology, post-modernism.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Stevenson, Lisa (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisites: one 200-level anthropology course and one other anthropology course at any level
Restriction: Honours, Joint Honours, Major and Minor students in Anthropology, U2 standing or above
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ANTH 411 Primate Studies and Conservation (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Critical evaluation of theories in primate behaviour, ecology, and conservation that emphasizes direct observations, research design, and developing field methods.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies, Introductory Biology, or permission of the instructor.
Restriction: Students must have completed at least two full semesters at their home university. Only open to students in the Canadian Field Studies in Africa program.
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ANTH 416 Environment/Development: Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Study of environmental effects of development in East Africa, especially due to changes in traditional land tenure and resource use across diverse ecosystems. Models, policies and cases of pastoralist, agricultural, fishing, wildlife and tourist development will be examined, across savanna, desert, forest, highland and coastal environments.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
Restriction: Open only to students in the Study in Africa program, a full-term field study program in East Africa
Prerequisite: One prior course in Anthropology, Geography or Environmental Studies
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ANTH 451 Research in Society and Development in Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Instruction focuses on three goals: 1) existing research in selected core thematic areas, 2) participating in interdisciplinary team research, 3) developing powers of observation and independent inquiry. Students will be expected to develop research activities and interdisciplinary perspectives, and to become conversant with advances in local research in their field.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Economics
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ECON 208 Microeconomic Analysis and Applications (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : A university-level introduction to demand and supply, consumer behaviour, production theory, market structures and income distribution theory.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: Xue, Licun; Dickinson, Paul; Baumann, Leonie; Sen Choudhury, Eesha (Fall) Sen Choudhury, Eesha (Winter)
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ECON 313 Economic Development 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : Microeconomic theories of economic development and empirical evidence on population, labour, firms, poverty. Inequality and environment.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Summer 2025
Instructors: Grimard, Franque (Fall) Ajzenman, Nicolas (Winter)
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ECON 314 Economic Development 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : Macroeconomic development issues, including theories of growth, public finance, debt, currency crises, corruption, structural adjustment, democracy and global economic organization.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Chemin, Matthieu (Fall) Grimard, Franque (Winter)
Prerequisite: ECON 313
English
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught.
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ENGL 320 Postcolonial Literature (3 credits) *
Overview
English (Arts) : A study of postcolonial literature.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Banerjee, Moinak (Fall)
For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at .
Winter
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ENGL 352 Theories of Difference (3 credits) *
Overview
English (Arts) : Introduction to a selection of theories that have influenced thinking about difference across the humanities and social sciences, including gender, sexuality, race, class and hierarchical structures, language, religion, ethnicity, and personal identity.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at .
Fall
Restriction: Limited to students in English Major and Honours Programs.
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ENGL 421 African Literature (3 credits)
Overview
English (Arts) : A study of African literature.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at .
Winter
Geography
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GEOG 216 Geography of the World Economy (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : The course introduces the geography of the world economic system. It describes the spatial distribution of economic activities and examines the factors which influence their changing location. Case studies from both "developed" and "developing" countries will test the different geographical theories presented in lectures.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Coomes, Oliver T; Breau, S茅bastien (Fall)
Fall
3 hours
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GEOG 302 Environmental Management 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : An ecological analysis of the physical and biotic components of natural resource systems. Emphasis on scientific, technological and institutional aspects of environmental management. Study of the use of biological resources and of the impact of individual processes.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Harris, Sarah (Fall)
3 hours
Prerequisite: Any 200-level course in Geography or MSE or BIOL 308 or permission of instructor.
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GEOG 403 Global Health and Environmental Change (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : Major themes and contemporary case studies in global health and environmental change. Focus on understanding global trends in emerging infectious disease from social, biophysical, and geographical perspectives, and critically assessing the health implications of environmental change in different international contexts.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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GEOG 404 Environmental Management 2 (3 credits) *
Overview
Geography : Practical application of environmental planning, analysis and management techniques with reference to the needs and problems of developing areas. Special challenges posed by cultural differences and traditional resource systems are discussed. This course involves practical field work in a developing area (Kenya or Panama).
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
3 hours
Prerequisite: GEOG 302 or permission of instructor
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GEOG 408 Geography of Development (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : Examines the geographical dimensions of development policy, specifically the relationships between the process of development and human-induced environmental change. Focuses on environmental sustainability, struggles over resource control, population and poverty, and levels of governance (the role of the state, non-governmental organizations, and local communities).
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Unruh, Jon (Fall)
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GEOG 410 Geography of Underdevelopment: Current Problems (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : An examination of the cultural, political, and economic mechanisms and manifestations of contemporary underdevelopment and the response to it from different regional and national peripheral societies within the dominant world economic system.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
3 hours
Prerequisite: GEOG 216 or permission of instructor
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GEOG 416 Africa South of the Sahara (3 credits) *
Overview
Geography : A synthetic overview of physical and cultural geography examining particularly the relation of African peoples to their landscapes, the causes and consequences of environmental changes, and the idea of sustainable development as it applies to African landscapes, resource systems and economies.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Bortolamiol, Sarah (Winter)
Winter
Offered in Kenya as part of the African Field Studies semester.
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GEOG 423 Dilemmas of Development (3 credits) *
Overview
Geography : Africa seems beset by development problems. Some of these appear to have no clear answer. Such dilemmas present significant barriers to moving forward with durable, effective development in Africa. This course will examine two primary and frequently interlocked dilemmas in East Africa with wide ranging impact - food security, and conflict.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Unruh, Jon (Winter)
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GEOG 451 Research in Society and Development in Africa (3 credits) *
Overview
Geography : Three intersecting components: 1) core development themes including culture change, environmental conservation, water, health, development (urban and rural), governance and conflict resolution, 2) research techniques for topics related to core themes, including ethics, risk, field methods and data analysis, 3) field documentation, scientific recording and communication.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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GEOG 493 Health and Environment in Africa (3 credits) *
Overview
Geography : Exploration of key diseases of development, as well as patterns and determinants of health and disease in East Africa. Topics will focus on population and environmental health.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
* Note: Normally offered as field courses (in African Studies Field Semester)
History
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HIST 200 Introduction to African History (3 credits)
Overview
History : This course stresses the interactions of the peoples of Africa with each other and with the worlds of Europe and Islam from the Iron Age to the European Conquest in 1880.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HIST 201 Modern African History (3 credits)
Overview
History : While covering the general political history of Africa in the twentieth century, this course also explores such themes as health and disease, gender, and urbanization.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Monaville, Pedro (Winter)
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HIST 382 History of South Africa (3 credits)
Overview
History : History of South Africa from precolonial times to the present. Topics include: precolonial societies; British and Dutch colonialism; slavery in colonial South Africa; the Zulu kingdom; mining capitalism; the Boer War; Afrikaner nationalism; apartheid; the anti-apartheid struggle; music, religion, and art; challenges of the post-apartheid state.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HIST 498 Independent Research (3 credits)
Overview
History : Exceptionally, and under the direction of a member of staff, advanced and highly qualified students who have an extensive background in the proposed area of study, may pursue this independent study.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Lewis, Brian D A; Monaville, Pedro (Fall) Anastassiadis, Tassos (Winter)
Prerequisite: Written permission from the instructor and the undergraduate program director.
Restriction: Open to History Major Concentration, Honours or Joint Honours students only. Not open to students who have taken HIST 413.
Students may only register for this course once.
Students may count a maximum of 3 credits of HIST 498 or HIST 499 toward the 6-credits of 400-level or higher courses required for the History Major Concentration.
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HIST 528 Indian Ocean World Slave Trade (3 credits)
Overview
History : The origins, structure and impact of the Indian Ocean World slave trade from early times to the present day. Enslavement, the trading structure, slave functions, reactions to slavery, emancipation and 'slave' diaspora. Comparisons will be made to the Atlantic slave system.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Campbell, Gwyn (Fall)
Islamic Studies
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ISLA 221D1 Introductory Arabic (4.5 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, including pronunciation and reading and writing of the Arabic script; and speaking and comprehension of basic sentences, commands, statements in the present tense.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Munir, Muhammad Ahmad; Gohar, Shokry (Fall)
Prerequisites: Permission of the Institute required.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ISLA521D1/D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
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ISLA 221D2 Introductory Arabic (4.5 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : See ISLA 221D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Gohar, Shokry (Winter)
Prerequisite: ISLA 221D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 221D1 and ISLA 221D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Students must register for both ISLA221D1 and ISLA 221D2.
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ISLA 360 Islam and Politics in Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Assessment of the relationship between Islam and politics in the contemporary Africa through various analytic themes, including political economy, social movement and gendered analysis.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ISLA 410 History: Middle-East 1798-1918 (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : A study of the Middle East from Napoleon's invasion of Egypt to the end of WWI. Emphasis will be on the emergence of nationalisms in the context of European imperialism; political, social, and economic transformation; religion and ideology; and changing patterns of alliances.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 hours
Political Science
* Note: Course is counted only when African materials are taught. Admission to this course will be subject to the Political Science departmental requirements and approval of the Departmental Honours Adviser. Priority will be given to Political Science students.
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POLI 227 Introduction to Comparative Politics - Global South (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : An introduction to politics across the Global South. A comparative examination of the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, and political and socio-economic development in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Topics include modernization, dependency, state-building, political violence, revolution, the role of the military, authoritarianism, and democratization.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Douek, Daniel (Winter)
Note: The field is Comparative Politics.
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POLI 324 Comparative Politics of Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : The government and politics of African states south of the Sahara with reference to the ideological and institutional setting as influenced by the forces of tradition and the impact of Western colonialism.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Douek, Daniel (Fall)
Prerequisite: A basic course in Comparative Politics or a course on the region or written permission of the instructor
Note: The field is Comparative Politics.
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POLI 522 Seminar: Comparative Politics 1
(3 credits) *
Overview
Political Science : Seminar on comparative politics.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wang, Juan (Fall)
Prerequisite: At least one upper-level course in comparative politics.
Restriction: Open to graduate students, final year honours students, and other advanced undergraduates with permission of the instructor.
Note: The field is comparative politics
Sociology
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SOCI 365 Health and Development (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Main concepts and controversies linking health to broader social and economic conditions in low income countries. Topics include the demographic and epidemiological transitions, the health and wealth conundrum, the social determinants of health, health as an economic development strategy, and the impact of the AIDS pandemic.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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SOCI 370 Sociology: Gender and Development (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Exploration of the main development theories and discussion of how gender is placed within them, analysis of the practical application of development projects and discussion of how they affect gender dynamics, and examination of power relations between development agencies and developing countries. Examples from Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America are used.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Pike, Isabel (Fall)
Prerequisite: SOCI 210
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SOCI 446 Colonialism and Society (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Forms that colonialism took, its impact on colonial societies, and its modern legacies, focusing on overseas colonialism between 1600 and the 1970s.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: SOCI 210 or permission from instructor.
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SOCI 484 Emerging Democratic States (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Focus on the sociological aspects of recent transitions to democracy within developing countries - particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Exploration of why democratization has taken place, to what extent it has been successful and the implications of democratization.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: SOCI 210
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SOCI 513 Social Aspects HIV/AIDS in Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Examination of the social causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gender inequality, sexual behaviours, marriage systems, migration, and poverty are shaping the pandemic as well as how the pandemic is altering social, demographic and economic conditions across Africa.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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SOCI 550 Developing Societies (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Comparison of alternative explanations of underdevelopment: the impact of social stratification, relations of domination and subordination between countries, state interference with the market. Alternative strategies of change: revolution, structural adjustment, community development and cooperatives. Students will write and present a research paper, and participate extensively in class discussion.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
