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A summary of each course to help with your selection.
Course ID
Course
POLS 310
POLS 310
Issues in Social Justice
Course Credits: 3
An examination of ethical issues that pertain to social justice, addressing such topics as the distribution of wealth, the difference between equality and equity, the effects of globalization, and the morality of war.
Cross-listed: PHIL 310
Prerequisite(s): 3 sem. hrs. of Political Studies or Philosophy; or third-year standing
POLS 330
POLS 330
Law & Canadian Politics
Course Credits: 3
This course provides students with an overview of important themes in Canadian law: its sources, theories of jurisprudence, federalism and the courts, and how the legal framework and the Supreme Court decisions shape public discourse in Canada on political issues. Through the examination of milestone court cases, particularly Supreme Court decisions since the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982), the symbiotic relationship between the judiciary and the legislative branches of government are established.
Prerequisite(s): POLS/SOCI 234, HUMA 130 or BUSI 245
POLS 334
POLS 334
Canadian Government & Politics
Course Credits: 3
Provides the student with a detailed examination of the political issues that divide and unite Canadians. Course topics encompass the discussion of political structures including regionalism, federalism and elections; political actors including the Executive in Canada, political parties, the media, and citizen engagement; constitutional politics including Western alienation, Quebec separatism, patriation of the constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and key elements of Canadian political culture including political ideologies, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and Indigenous reconciliation.
Cross-listed: HIST 334
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of Political Studies including POLS 234, or instructor's consent
POLS 383
POLS 383
Public Administration in Canada
Course Credits: 3
An overview of public administration in Canada - its importance, structure, functions, key issues, best practices, and practical applications. Course content focuses on municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government. Special attention is placed on practical applications to areas of current public and student interest.
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of Political Studies including POLS 234, or instructor’s consent
NB: Not offered every year. See department chair.
POLS 493
POLS 493
Law, Public Policy & Cultural Change
Course Credits: 3
This course will provide students with theoretical and practical frameworks in the areas of law and public policy to engage with social and global issues. Students will explore the intersection of law, politics and culture in the setting of Canada's capital. Students will critique culture and identify positive ways Christians engage and shape culture, particularly in public policy and law. They will explore how law and public policy are developed through observing courts and Parliament in action. Students will identify a critical problem in society and suggest ways to resolve this problem through law and public policy that is consistent with core Christian beliefs.
Cross-listed: IDIS 493
Prerequisite(s): Third- or fourth-year standing
SOCI 234
SOCI 234
Canadian Government & Politics in Comparative Perspective
Course Credits: 3
Provides the student with an overview of the Canadian system of government in a comparative approach that includes study of British, American, and Canadian political and government institutions and practices. A comparative study of how basic concepts, principles, and institutions associated with different expressions of liberal-democratic governments highlight the diversity of political experience, reveal the interdependence of political systems and show the uniqueness of Canada's political system. Particular attention is given to the manner in which Parliament attempts to facilitate and develop public policy which reflects the diverse interests and aspirations of its citizens.
Cross-listed: POLS 234
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 101
SOCI 280
SOCI 280
Intro to Criminal Justice & Law
Course Credits: 3
Analyzes the nature, scope, and purpose of criminal law in Canada. This includes the Criminal Code of Canada, crime types, fundamental legal concepts, participants in the criminal justice system, criminal procedure and court processes, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the unique relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canadian law.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 101.
SOCI 380
SOCI 380
Criminology & Justice
Course Credits: 3
An introduction to key concepts and issues in criminology and to operational practices of the Canadian criminal justice system. Topics include principal criminological theories, the social construction and elements of criminal behaviour, policing, crime prevention, offenders and victims of crime, the criminal justice system, sentencing, corrections, restorative justice and other alternative measures, and social issues that intersect with crime.
Prerequisite(s): 6 sem. hrs. of Sociology including SOCI 101