Learn more about the academic programs we are delivering in Summer 2024. If you have any questions about part-time studies, please contact us.

 

Liberal Studies Degree-level Credits

 

Core Information


More Information


 

Filter Classes: In Class     Online     Correspondence     Hybrid     Availability   

Part-time Studies courses are being offered in either of the following four formats: Online, Flexible, In-person, Hybrid. Click Availability below to see current offerings.

Courses

Lower Level

INS100
Introduction to the Social Sciences I
Availability
 

This course provides a foundation for further study in the social sciences by introducing students to their basic subject matter and theory. It is designed for students in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Program, forming a basis for upper level courses in any of the relevant social sciences. It will also serve as a Liberal Studies course suitable to provide an introduction to social science topics for the broader body of Seneca College students. The course is unified via a focus on a central theme or themes of relevance to all the social sciences, such as power and human nature. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments, this course will offer a comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to these central issues, integrating diverse social science approaches to the topic. The course emphasizes the development of critical thinking and writing skills, facilitates the practical application of student learning, and promotes the integration of social science insights into students' broader understanding of themselves and their world.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INS200
Introduction to the Social Sciences II
Availability
 

This course provides a foundation for further study in the social sciences by introducing students to their basic subject matter and theory, focusing in particular on political science and economics. It is designed for students in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, forming a basis for upper level social science courses. It will also serve as a Liberal Studies course suitable to provide an introduction to social science topics for the broader body of Seneca College students. The course is unified via a focus on central themes relevant to all the social sciences, such as power and human nature. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments both online and in-class, this course offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to these central issues, integrating diverse social science approaches to the topic. The course emphasizes the development of critical thinking and writing skills, facilitates the practical application of student learning, and promotes the integration of social science insights into students' broader understanding of themselves and their world. Introduction to the Social Sciences 1 is not a prerequisite.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INT100
Quantitative Reasoning
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

Previous experience in university stream mathematics or permission of the coordinator.

This is a one-semester mathematics course designed to introduce some important topics in mathematics. It is intended to provide students with the prerequisites for a further course in Statistics. The course will engage students in meaningful mathematics through discovery, problem solving and discussions.

Please note: INT100 is not accepted as a Liberal Studies elective.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INT202
Statistics
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

INT100 or permission of the coordinator.

This course provides an introduction to basic statistical concepts and techniques that are common to various disciplines. Statistical methods of data collection, analysis, presentation and interpretation for making generalizations, projections and decisions will be introduced. Both descriptive and inferential techniques will be explored.

Please note: INT202 is not accepted as a Liberal Studies elective.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INW100
World Civilizations: Bronze Age to the 15th Century
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

Affiliation in a Degree program.

Students in INW100 will develop a broad understanding of world civilizations that have contributed to our sense of world history. Students will explore the development and interactions of various societies over time by examining world historical processes and using a range of disciplinary approaches (i.e. history, philosophy, sociology, art history, etc.). In INW100 students will discover how this complex tapestry of narratives has culminated in our modern understanding of the world as a "global village".




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INW200
World Civilizations: 16th Century to Modern Times
Availability
 

Students in INW200 will develop a broad understanding of world civilizations that have contributed to our sense of world history. Students will explore the development and interactions of various societies over time by examining world historical processes and using a range of disciplinary approaches (i.e. history, philosophy, sociology, art history, etc.). In INW200 students will discover how this complex tapestry of narratives has culminated in our modern understanding of the world as a "global village".




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INX100
Introduction to the Natural Sciences
Availability
 

This survey course is intended to give students a broad understanding of those sub-disciplines that comprise the natural sciences and to provide students with an understanding of the history, philosophy and social contributions of science. It will introduce students to current issues of particular concern to both science and society.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INX117
Global Sustainability
Availability
 

This course examines the challenges and opportunities that face sustainable development across the world. Students will become familiar with the concepts and methods that inform sustainable development.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO102
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Availability
 

This course provides a broad overview of the fascinating field of Forensic Psychology. Students will gain an understanding of the application of psychology within the criminal justice system. Topics to be discussed include police selection, interrogations, criminal profiling, lie detection, eyewitness identification, jury decision-making, and psychopathic, sexual, and violent offenders.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO115
Spanish Language and Culture
Availability
 

This course provides an introduction to the cultural and language traditions within the Spanish-speaking world from an interdisciplinary perspective. The course focuses on the interaction between language and the cultures that underlie it, paying equal attention to the Spanish language (studied both experientially and theoretically) and the distinct societies that speak it. Consequently, to study the Spanish language as a cultural product provides the student a more meaningful way to gain cultural and linguistic proficiency.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO120
Introduction to Sociology
Availability
 

Sociology is the scientific study of society. This course is a general introduction to the concepts, theories, and major perspectives of sociology. An examination of research studies drawn from Canadian society and beyond our borders will highlight the significance of utilizing a sociological perspective or sociological imagination.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO121
Introduction to Political Science
Availability
 

The world of politics is often difficult to understand without some theoretical training. Yet, it is vital, particularly for citizens of a democracy, to understand how politics works. For all its complexity and frequent inelegance, politics is what allows humans to manage their differences, to share their resources, to protect their rights, and to change their governments. Political science methodologies, approaches and theories allow students to learn how the state, the structures of government and the political process impact their daily lives. Find out why consumer advocate Ralph Nader said that you should "turn on to politics before politics turn on you". Discover the value of being a "good citizen". Now more than ever, the citizens, especially, those from socially-marginalized sectors of the population need to develop a deep understanding of politics and ideologies and how they are relevant to securing or advancing their material interests.
And find out why the late Brazilian educator Paulo Freire had this to say about political participation, leaders and the citizenry, "Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people--they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress." Pedagogy of the Oppressed




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO165
Social Consciousness: Equity and Social Justice
Availability
 

This course examines contemporary issues and key concepts of equity/inequity and social justice in a global context. It provides students with the opportunity to critically consider and evaluate social responsibility and participation in local, national and international communities. The course unpacks and seeks a deeper understanding of the following topics/issues: social analysis, media literacy, cultural values, social exclusion, power and privilege, gender, class and social action.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO172
Introduction to Art History
Availability
 

Focusing primarily on Western European art, this course is an introduction to art history. Moving chronologically from the pre-modern era to post-modernity, students will engage with the ways in which works of art act as windows into the historical contexts that inform them. This course will examine how artworks at once build on and transform classical definitions of visual culture, including also the artistic styles and forces that animate them. Students will be encouraged to consider what constitutes "Art" and how art deeply affects human lives, experiences and ways of being in the world.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO220
Selected Themes in Canadian History
Availability
 

This course introduces students to the complexities, variations and background of selected issues in Canadian History. Using the methodology of social history, learners will analyze a variety of contemporary issues from an historical perspective. This will include an examination of Canadian Government and the Constitution, of Aboriginal Peoples, of Industrialization and Urbanization, of Religious Life and Culture and of Women in Canada.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO230
Modern Social and Political Thought
Availability
 

This course introduces students to the seminal ideas of major western thinkers of the modern period. This course provides an historical and integrated inter-disciplinary perspective on the development of those ideas that have shaped the thought of our own time.
The twenty-first century begins with the promise of new ideas, new technologies as well as the challenges associated with these apparent changes. This course is designed to facilitate the development of students' capacity to think both critically and historically about their own time, the past and social movements. It will introduce students to the ideas that have shaped our age and our ways of thinking thereby placing their own thinking within a larger context and increasing the clarity of that thought.
In addition to the professor responsible for and the primary lecturer of the course, students will be active participants through class discussions, presentations, and debates.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO245
Media and the Information Age
Availability
 

The average person in Canada spends about 230 minutes per day watching TV and 200 minutes per day on the Internet. That's about 325 eight-hour days, a full-time job! We spend another 70 minutes per day with other media, including newspapers, magazines, and traditional radio. That's more than 3,000 hours per year of media use, more time than we spend on anything else, including working or sleeping. This consumption of information sustains our economy, and most of the economic activity in North America now involves producing, processing or distributing information including the output of the mass media, Internet, telecommunications and computer industries. The goal of this course is to prepare students to thrive in today's increasingly integrated communications and information environment.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO256
Film Wars: The Warner Brothers vs. The MGM Lion
Availability
 

Any art form is a product of the society and/or culture in which it is created, and as such, reflects and/or challenges the prevailing values and beliefs. "Film Wars" takes a cinematic look at the social and cultural history of North America from the silent film era to today. By examining the films of two major rival Hollywood studios, Warner Brothers and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, we will discover that the stories they chose to bring to the screen and the stylistic and cinematic techniques and devices that they used, were dramatically different. By looking at several of the classic films from each of these studios, we will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of both film style and cultural history.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO260
Principles of Psychology
Availability
 

As we move through the world and interact with those around us, we all play the role of "psychologist", trying to understand why we and others do what we do, feel what we feel, and think what we think. This course is designed to introduce you to the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. By understanding how psychological research is conducted, by examining the evidence that has been accumulated in the field, and by using critical thinking and analysis, it is hoped that the assumptions and intuition you have gained through your own experience with the world will be re-examined and re-evaluated in a new and interesting light. A variety of areas within this broad and fascinating field will be examined. These may include learning, memory, social psychology, developmental psychology, stress and health, personality, and abnormal psychology.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO290
Queer Studies
Availability
 

As an introduction to queer studies, this course will explore the history of sexuality, in particular shifting concepts of male-male desire, as well as related issues pertaining to queer sexuality and identity through the medium of literature, theory, and film.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSP240
Micro Economics - Theory and Practice
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent

This course explains how prices are determined and resources allocated under different market forms, and diverse economic environments. It focuses on actual economic problems, and develops the theoretical structure to analyze these problems. Careful consideration is given to "soft" factors such as culture, economical legislation and trade regulation, which influence decision-making.

Note: This is a mandatory course for multiple degree programs, so check your program overview to determine if this course is required for degree completion.

LSP240 does not qualify as a Liberal Studies Option credit towards degree completion.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

Upper Level

INC300
Social Media & Professional Identity: The Web of Influence
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

Every day, millions of people share their opinions with a global audience via Tweets, #s, blogs, wikis, videos, likes, tags, text messages and online comments. Digital spaces and mobile technologies allow us to be connected to our personal and professional networks and communities 24/7. In what ways does this hyper-connectivity impact the ways in which people regard their place in the world and define themselves?
In this course we will analyse the social, ethical, political and cultural ramifications of societies that are increasingly mobile and digital. The impact of new genres and forms of expression on our identities will be explored as we actively participate in online networks and create materials for social media.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INH300
The Contradictions of Modern Sport
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course

Examining sport as both a phenomenon in its own right and as a metaphor for our contemporary world, reveals the often paradoxical nature of modern, and post-modern, living. Individuals and communities invest personal time and expenditure, along with significant emotional capital, in apparently ephemeral activities, whose financial rewards and honours most often accrue to a wealthy sponsor and an elite playing class of performers. Public and private resources, extensive media attention, and national identity are either additional beneficiaries or victims of this phenomenon.

 




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INH301
Gender and Sexuality in World History
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

Historically, women and men have been expected to behave in gender appropriate ways. Yet, what is considered appropriately feminine or masculine is not fixed; instead, these ideals are socially constructed and depend on time and place and are influenced by other categories of identity like status or class, and race and ethnicity. In this course, we will examine the construction of gender ideals and consider the impact of these ideals on aspects of life ranging from the most private (sex, sexual identity, sexual regulation, family formation) to the most public (work, citizenship and political power, war, conquest). Covering the classical period to the modern period and including societies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe, this course will take a comparative approach and will analyze the impact of cultural contact on gender ideals. Whether accepted, adapted or rejected, gender expectations have affected every aspect of men's and women's lives in world history.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INH302
Political Ideology: Theory and Practice
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG 106 and one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

This course is divided into two parts: theory and practice. In the first part, we examine the philosophical foundations of the defining political ideologies of our time: liberalism, conservatism, communism, socialism, and their intellectual heirs and hybrids. Authors include John Locke, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant, Edmund Burke, Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, among others. In the second part, we turn to questions of public policy and to the ways in which various ideologies approach, and attempt to solve, difficult political questions. Issues include education, health care, immigration and citizenship, among others.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INS300
Love: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG 106 and one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

What is the nature of love? In his novel La Nouvelle Héloïse, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's female protagonist, Julie, states: So many people speak of love, and so few know how to love.... The experience of romantic love raises several philosophical concerns. Is love an emotion or a feeling? Why do we say? I fell in love? Is love irrational or can one deliberately choose to love? Is there a difference between love and its trashy cousin lust? As one commentator explains, Love thrives on candlelight and conversation. Lust is equally happy in a doorway or a taxi. Is love at first sight? logically possible? Is love necessarily exclusive (i.e. can you be in love with two persons at the same time)? Is true or genuine love possible, or is love perhaps an illusion, a chimera? In this course, we will probe and interrogate your most intimate intuitions and notions of love as they are defined historically and characterized contemporarily.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INS301
Introduction to the Cognitive Sciences
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent.

Although philosophers have considered the nature of the mind for millennia, a new interdisciplinary approach developed in the 20th century: cognitive science. After millennia of study, the problems remained the same: Is the mind different from the brain? What is consciousness? How can I tell if other people have minds? Is it possible to create an artificial intelligence? Are humans truly rational? Cognitive science includes approaches from computer science, linguistics, anthropology, philosophy and psychology in an attempt to answer these ancient questions. Students will be introduced to central themes in cognitive science by reading key articles and excerpts from books from important cognitive scientists across the various disciplines.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INS302
Ethics for the 21st Century: Theory and Practice
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

This course examines some of the most influential ethical theories, emphasizing practical application in real world situations. Starting with timeless issues affecting persons throughout history, the main focus will be on current ethical problems unimaginable to the founders of western ethical thought along with future scenarios at the boundaries of our own imaginations. Students will explore how to make ethical choices in our complex, technologically mediated, and rapidly changing world.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INS394
Voices from the Front: Contemporary Indigeneity
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 and one lower level Liberal Studies (LSO) course

This course combines classroom discussion, guest lectures, and cultural experiences to raise awareness and help students gain a deeper understanding of varied contemporary experiences. We will explore significant issues related to colonization, justice, the contemporary indigenous experience, gender, through guest speakers, documentaries, current events, podcasts, literature, and art.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INX300
Astronomy
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG 106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

This course introduces students to the science of Astronomy. They will study the planets, stars, galaxies, the structure of the observable universe and our place in it. Students will understand the Earth's motions, the reason for seasons, tides, and eclipses. They will learn about modern views of the solar system, the nature of stars and their evolution. Students will gain understanding of galaxies and the history of the observable universe. As a result, they will develop a better appreciation of the beauty of the cosmos and the scientific quest to understand it.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

INX500
Strange New World: Science, Society and Technology
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 and one lower level Liberal Studies (LSO) course

This course will look at how Canadian society will be shaped by technologies that are at the cutting edge of current research. These may include self-driving autos, crispr gene editing, social media engineering, and auto-diagnostic artificial intelligence. We will focus on the proven accomplishments in these fields and expert opinion on the likely course of development, using sociological concepts to draw conclusions about how Canadian society will be impacted.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO312
The Graphic Novel
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent or permission of the coordinator

The graphic novel emerged in the last quarter of the twentieth century as a complex narrational medium, powerfully combining telling and showing. From its antecedents in comic strip and comic book, the graphic novel evolved, through a sequence of thematically, narratively, and semiotically challenging comics, into a full-fledged narrative art form. This course surveys a range of graphic novels, both mainstream and independent. The emphasis, however, will be on the independent graphic novel. Secondary readings in history and criticism will help students understand better the context from which the graphic novel emerged, and to grasp more firmly their visual and textual aesthetics.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO329
Exploring the Physics of Light and Sound
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent.

This course analyzes physical phenomena related to light and sound and their manifestations in nature and in the arts. Students will discuss examples of reflection and refraction, and will examine optical devices and the human eye. They will learn about colours, colour mixing and applications. Students will review the nature of sound waves and analyze wave behaviour in nature. Throughout the course students will apply their theoretical knowledge to solving numerical problems of light and sound phenomena in everyday life.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO330
International Trade - The Canadian Perspective
Availability
 

Real time information systems have resulted in a high degree of economic interdependence among nations. Canada has an opportunity to push forward the production possibilities frontier and obtain a higher level of equilibrium with help of the international trade.
This course is designed to provide a theoretical and analytical framework for understanding the complexities of international trade. It will provide insight into the effects of ever changing economic and political order on international trade, with particular reference to the Canadian economy. Implications of the current Canadian international trade policy and our multilateral agreements will be also analyzed. In addition, students will develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of exchange rate determination. Students will explore issues such as: Is free trade beneficial for a country? Why do some countries adopt protectionist's policies? What are the effects, short-run and long-run, of major trade agreements on the Canadian economy? Why does the exchange rate fluctuate constantly?




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO375
Introduction to Drama
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent or permission of the coordinator.

The course provides an introduction for students to a variety of dramatic works from around the world. The course will present the art and history of theatre as it has evolved from pre-historic times to our post-modern world. We will examine the literature of theatre - structure, form, genre and style and how a play text is transformed into theatre.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO403
Group Dynamics
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

This course offers a comprehensive analysis of theory and research related to group dynamics. Student explore social processes in groups and their impact on individual behaviour and are introduced to the following group elements: norms, roles, coherence and dissonance, group think, validation, types of groups and membership, referencing, group symptoms, leadership styles. The student will practice leading and participating in groups where observation and recording skills will be stressed.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO430
Gaming and Gender: The Digital Divide
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent.

This degree elective breadth course combines the study of digital games and psychological, sociological, cultural, aesthetic and literary influences characteristic in online gaming. Students explore parallels between modern societal values related to gender and those occurring in the gaming world. Through experiential learning opportunities involving gameplay, students examine a variety of elements and how they converge or diverge from socio-cultural norms.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO431
Global Justice: Ethics in an Interconnected World
Availability
 

In this course, we examine the ethics of globalization: What is justice in our globally interconnected world? Do obligations of justice extend beyond national borders? If they do, how can justify, and then act upon, our duties to distant others? A key theme throughout the course is the issue of global poverty: we begin with an historical assessment of how the world came to be so economically unequal, and then turn to the ethical consequences of such inequality. On what philosophical grounds can we condemn the world as it is? The course then concludes with the question of reform: What, exactly, would a more just world look like? And how can we bring that world into being, practically speaking?




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO440
Globalization in the 20th Century and Beyond
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

This course focuses on the examination of contemporary patterns of globalization in all its forms. The 20th century has experienced great social upheaval and transformation. We fought two world wars, saw the rise and fall of the Soviet communist regime, and witnessed the formal dismantling of European empires. We experienced dramatic technological change and the ascendancy of corporate capitalism as the primary global economic model. We have also witnessed unprecedented economic disparities and ecological hazards from air, water and soil pollution to global climate change. The 21st century promises to see these trends accelerate and intensify.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO441
Disability: Re-imagining Access and Inclusion
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

One lower-level liberal studies or English or Critical Thinking course.

This course critically explores the lived experience of disability as reflected in various theories and models for understanding disability and society. Students will reflect on disability discourse through narratives, essays, media, and from community members (i.e., guest speakers with lived experience and knowledge of disability). Students' critical thinking skills and awareness of systemic oppression and the impact of policies and practices will be emphasized. Particular attention is given to applying intersectional framework to looking at disability, which includes race, age, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, ethnicity and Indigenous status. Students from any discipline and without prior knowledge of disability studies are welcome to participate in this course.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO445
The Image Age
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or equivalent.

We negotiate the world through visual culture, whether we are sighted or have low vision that requires adaptive or assistive technologies, and whether we live in urban spaces saturated with surfaces covered in advertisements and signs or remote places in which we depend on our screens to connect with "the world". The term "visual culture" encompasses many media forms ranging from fine art to film and television to advertising to visual data in fields such as the sciences, law, and medicine. In this class we will examine what it means to study these diverse forms together. We will also discuss how we attach meaning to these visuals and how they impact our culture and society.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO460
Social Psychology
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

LSO260 or equivalent or permission of the coordinator

It is universally recognized in art, literature, history and individual experience that human beings are social beings. Who we are, how we think, how we feel, and how we behave are all subject to the influence of the situation in which we find ourselves. Social psychology is the science that attempts to examine, describe, and explain the impact of social situations on individuals and on groups. This course will examine topics within the field such as how we see ourselves and others in a social context, how attitudes are formed and changed, and the power of social situations to influence our behaviour. Building on the knowledge the learner has of psychological research methodology, this course aims to improve the student's understanding of how psychologists study social influence and interaction. Both group and individual processes will be examined in depth to encourage critical analysis of a variety of theoretical viewpoints, and to develop the learner's ability to investigate and report on current perspectives in social psychology.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO478
Movies and Meaning
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG 106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

This course explains how the elements of film structure create meaning. Film is a complex collaborative art form with its own structural and syntactical patterns. Audiences' subliminal and conscious absorption of meaning depends on elements of film structure. This subject will provide an introduction to how movies work. It will present examples to help students grasp each production element and get a sense of film's history. Students will follow a structured approach to understanding how meaning is relayed through light, sound, and motion and the language of visual media products. To "see" and "read" a film, television production, or music video with critical awareness requires learning how film technology creates and shapes meaning.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO510
Indigenous Awareness: Towards Truth and Reconciliation
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

In response to the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, this course provides students with an introduction to the values, beliefs, and practices that shape the cultural identity of Canada's Indigenous peoples. The marginalizing intergenerational effects of historical colonization and contemporary issues of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples in Canada are examined. The individual and collective responsibility for reconciliation with Indigenous children, families, communities, and colleagues is emphasized.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO530
The Plastic Brain: Harnessing its Potential
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking (degree-level) course.

How does the brain control our thoughts, feelings, and actions? Can the brain improve with training? How does it repair itself after illness or injury? Such questions are at the basis of the topic of brain plasticity.
Students examine the relationships between the brain and mental processes, such as language, reasoning, and planning. They explore how thoughts change the structure and functions of the brain and how these changes alter thinking. They examine the various therapies used for brain injuries and mental disorders.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO540
Labour Economics
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 and one lower level Liberal Studies (LSO) course

This course is designed to provide theoretical and analytical framework for understanding the structure and conduct of labour markets with particular reference to Canadian economy. It draws on contemporary methods to model and analyze key aspects of labour supply and labour demand. It also reviews labour legislation, labour market data and important trends that affect organizational, individual and government decision-making. These aspects are combined to explore the determination of wages, alternative pay schemes and the implication of major policies such as minimum wage legislation, non-wage benefits, alternative income maintenance schemes and unionization on the labour market. The acquired tools are applied to discuss current topics such as human capital investment, immigration, discrimination and unemployment.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO580
Extinction: Biodiversity and Human Action
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 (or equivalent) and one lower level Liberal Studies course, preferably from the Science category.

If current trends persist, one half of all species on earth will be extinct in less than 100 years. The results of such a loss would be devastating for humans. Biodiversity is essential to support the ecosystem services that we depend on for our wellbeing, such as food, fresh water, clean air, raw materials for construction, fuel, medicine, and the pollination of crops. Understanding the links between human wellbeing and biodiversity is essential knowledge for the 21st century. In this class, students learn the benefits of, and threats to, biodiversity, and evaluate some of the possible solutions to the current extinction crisis. Students critically examine the role of hunting and fire suppression, and identify best practices in the design of protected areas and strategies for the conservation of endangered species.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO750
I Might Be Wrong: Falsity and the Fallible Mind
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

One lower-level liberal studies or Degree level English (such as ENG106) or Critical Thinking course.

Why is it easier to believe falsehoods when they're voiced by celebrities and powerful authority figures? How can we avoid falling for unsupported and often dangerous medical advice? Why is it so hard to acknowledge weaknesses in our own social and political perspectives while effortlessly finding faults in the views of others?
As humans, much of our thinking is fast, intuitive, and relatively effortless-we take mental shortcuts by necessity, and this often results in predictable mistakes. Cognitive errors shape who we vote for, what we fear, and our responses to emergency situations. To better cope with and thrive in our increasingly complex social environment-a world of virtually unlimited information and connectivity-we need to understand the limitations of our miraculous yet fallible minds. By developing greater awareness of pervasive heuristics and biases, this course aims to lay the foundation for identifying, avoiding, and responding to some of the errors to which we regularly fall prey.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSO802
Criminal Psychology: Psychopaths & Serial Killers
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

ENG106 or one lower-level liberal studies (LSO) or Critical Thinking course.

Are psychopaths born or made? This course provides students both with an analysis of the development of criminals and in particular that of psychopaths and serial killers. The biological, developmental, learning and situational factors that contribute to criminal antisocial behaviour will be explored in detail. Since there is sound research on psychopaths, a particular focus will be placed on psychopaths. The diagnosis of psychopathic personality, connections between psychopathic and normal personalities, neuroscience findings and research on emotion and thought processes in psychopaths will be examined. Case studies will be examined to bring the research to life.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

LSP340
Macroeconomics - Theory & Practice
Availability
 

Prerequisite(s):

LSP240 - Micro Economics

This course concentrates initially on the definition and measurement of the principal aggregate economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product, unemployment and inflation. It then explains how the level of economic activity, prices, interest rates and the value of the Canadian dollar are determined, under different internal and external environments, and alternative government policies. A basic open-economy model is constructed, and the impact of alternative fiscal, monetary and trade policies on macro economic variables are analyzed and appraised.

Note: This is a mandatory course for multiple degree programs, so check your program overview to determine if this course is required for degree completion.

LSP340 does not qualify as a Liberal Studies Option credit towards degree completion.




Loading availability...
If the availability does not load please click here.

 

Please note: INT100 and INT202 are not accepted as Liberal Studies electives.

Program Contacts

Marianne Tang
Program Assistant
Marianne.Tang@senecapolytechnic.ca
437-312-0357


Rosemare Mariaseelan
Academic Program Manager
Rosemare.Mariaseelan@senecapolytechnic.ca
416-764-9890