Courses

Three interdisciplinary, interactive courses enable you to learn about leadership, public policy, ethics, and contemporary culture from fully qualified professors. You benefit from the insight of guest speakers who are leaders in government and industry. And because your courses are taught from a Christian world view, you discuss how you can integrate your faith into politics, business and communications.

POLS/HIST/SOCI 391: Canadian Governmental Leadership (3 sem. hrs.)

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In this course, you will discuss the nature and styles of leadership within Canadian politics and government, both in a historical context and drawing on events as they unfold right on your doorstep.  Examine how political parties choose their leaders and how leadership differs in the main political parties, as well as the leadership role played by various institutions in and around government, such as the media, lobbyists, the public service and the Supreme Court.  The question of how Christians ought to interact with politics and government is considered throughout the course and as a specific topic in its own right.

Topics include:

• What is political leadership?
• Selecting party leaders
• Leadership tradition and practice in the Liberal, Conservative and NDP parties.
• Leadership from Members of Parliament, the Public Service, the media, the Supreme Court, lobbyists/advocacy groups
• Fiscal leadership: the budget process
• Christians and political leadership

POLS/SOCI 392: Ethics and Public Affairs (3 sem. hrs.)

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This course explores the philosophical basis for and nature of ethical decision-making. Recent and contemporary ethical issues facing leaders in the political, business, and communication fields. Observe firsthand how leaders engage in ethical dilemmas in the Ottawa setting of their discipline.

Topics include:

• Why be good? What is good? Theoretical bricks and mortar for ethical dialogue
• Can we be good? Moral education, Christians and character ethics
• What do we do when our job ethics and personal ethics conflict? Roles and professional ethics.
• What is good for society? Developing a biblical perspective on the issues of our times.

IDIS/POLS 393: Law, Public Policy, and Cultural Change - IDIS 400 Equivalent (3 sem. hrs.)

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In this course, you will consider the historical and contemporary debate in Canada on what constitutes culture and our contemporary cultural challenges; how Christians interface with that culture and the role of organized religion; Christian critique of culture and the methodologies and perspectives of various entities that seek to influence culture. Observe firsthand how Canadian culture is formed within the Ottawa setting in their discipline.

Topics include:

• How has Christianity participated in western culture?
• Changing demographics and psychological realities in Canadian culture.
• The evolution of religion in public life.
• Love, Marriage and Sex.
• Science and Technology
• How the media impacts culture.
• How the courts impact our culture.
• Immigration and Multiculturalism
• Living the Christian commitment.