Social Sciences

Ensemble 1

Course Number	Course Name	C - L - H	Hrs
Geography
320-BWS-03	Geography and the Environment	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: The environment encompasses the natural world, of which we are a part, and the built world, which we have created. Geography studies both the changes taking place within the natural world and the changes in the way people organize their activities spatially in the social world. This course introduces students to the dynamic character of society and its interaction with the natural environment. The course will introduce basic geography skills such as map reading, mapmaking and the usefulness of geographic information systems (GIS). It will then explore key concepts relating to the geographic study of climate, environment, and of society, culture, demography and development.
History
330-BWS-03	History of Science and Technology	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: When we think of science and technology, we often think of the inventions and developments that have shaped our world into what it is - cellphones, vaccine development, cars, TikTok, hydroelectricity, etc. Media and advertising often frame science and technology as forces of progress and development. But is this always true? Have science and technology been used to benefit everyone or just a select few? And what about other species? What about the planet? Whose desires and whose interests are being fulfilled? This course will look at alternative histories of science and technology. It’ll ask questions such as: What are the costs of our way of life on people? What about the rights of other species and the integrity of our planet? How has our drive for “progress” in Canada affected Indigenous people? What other existing teachings, practices or visions of science, technology and the future could we learn from?
Philosophy
340-BWS-03	Introduction to Philosophy	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course will survey central philosophical questions and how influential philosophers have attempted to answer them. Major topics such as the nature of reality, truth, knowledge, justice, personal identity, freedom, responsibility, and meaning will be covered. In a broad sense, this course explores the human condition, and the ways we humans have tried to understand and define ourselves, our world and our possibilities. As this is an introductory course, students will also learn and practice the philosophical fundamentals of sound argumentation. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of basic problems of philosophy and their development. They will also have a sense of philosophy’s relevance and importance for the social sciences, the natural sciences, and contemporary issues.
Psychology
350-BWS-03	Psychology of Sexuality	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: The goal of this course is to encourage students to think and talk about issues of sexuality that are relevant to their lives, and to bring about a better understanding of sexuality from both an historical and contemporary point of view. Among the important contemporary issues discussed are normal and abnormal sexual behaviour, the sexuality of children and the shaping of attitudes towards sexuality. Class activities involve lectures, assignments, discussions and guest speakers.
Religion
370-BWS-03	Introduction to World Religions	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course introduces students to the major elements of religion, and how it contributes to an understanding of contemporary issues. It maps religious diversity by surveying the places and spaces that at least two major religious traditions regard as sacred. It investigates prominent aspects of both personal spirituality and the relationship between religion and society by analyzing selected ritual practices, symbolic representations (in art and decoration), texts, beliefs and social structures. This course will also introduce students to some major theorists of religion and some methods for analyzing selected religious phenomena.
Sociology
387-BWS-03	Individual and Society	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course introduces students to the contribution sociology can make to the understanding of the issues of current social, cultural and political discourse. Students will be introduced to the fundamental elements of the sociological perspective, and they will be taught to use sociological data to deepen their understanding of debates concerning ongoing changes in the structure and function of major social institutions.
Social Service
388-BWS-DW	The Power of Non-Violent Communication	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: Using the concept of non-violence as a basis, this 45 hour course will explore a structural analysis of this contemporary issue. The issue will be studied from both micro and macro levels. At the macro-level, the course will look at ways that social (service) work has conceptualised violence and its alternatives. At the micro-level, students will develop interpersonal non-violent communication skills. From a social (service) work perspective, the issue of non-violence and how we can promote a society based on valuing dignity and respect of individuals and groups will be explored. Looking at how individuals and groups can meet their needs using alternatives to violence will be a focus for this module. A brief look at how other social sciences have approached this issue will be discussed.
388-BWS-DW	The Power of Non-Violent Communication	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course will help you to build non-violent communication skills at both personal and community levels. From a social (service) work perspective, the issue of non-violence and how we can promote a society based on valuing dignity and respect of individuals and groups will be explored. Looking at how individuals and groups can meet their needs using alternatives to violence will be a focus. Students will be then introduced to, and practice, non-violent communication skills including assertiveness, listening, conflict-resolution and emotional management. The course will then ask students to explore how the issue of non-violence is being addressed at the community level. Students will familiarize themselves with community initiatives both within Dawson College and Montreal as well as other parts of the country and the world.
388-BWS-DW	The Power of Non-Violent Communication	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course will help you to build non-violent communication skills at both personal and community levels. From a social (service) work perspective, the issue of non-violence and how we can promote a society based on valuing dignity and respect of individuals and groups will be explored. Looking at how individuals and groups can meet their needs using alternatives to violence will be a focus. Students will then be introduced to, and practice, non-violent communication skills including assertiveness, listening, conflict-resolution and emotional management. The course will then ask students to explore how the issue of non-violence is being addressed at the community level. Students will familiarize themselves with community initiatives both within Dawson College and Montreal as well as other parts of the country and the world.
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Ensemble 2

Course Number	Course Name	C - L - H	Hrs
History
330-BXS-03	Ideology, Technology and Conflict	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course will focus on the causes and consequences of World War I and World War II. Technological innovations, including nuclear energy and the internet, will be discussed in addition to the concepts of nationalism, imperialism, capitalism, communism, fascism, and racism. Students will be required to write two tests, each including an essay of no less than 250 words, and a term paper of 750 to 1000 words. The term paper will be a review of a primary source, to be chosen from a set of documents provided by the instructor. The competency to be acquired is the ability “to analyze one of the major problems of our time using one or more social scientific approaches.” (Being that history is counted as a social science here at Dawson College, the approaches of historians will be applied.)
Psychology
350-BXS-03	Interaction and Communication (INTENSIVE)	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: Interactions and Communication is designed to allow students to examine problems of communication in our life. To this effect, principles and methods of interpersonal communication will be analyzed. We study, among other things, verbal and nonverbal communication, people perceptions, interpersonal relationships, and effective conflict resolution strategies. Students experience activities in small groups that allow them to identify real life communication issues plus develop and implement effective strategies that can improve communication in the different spheres of life.
Religion
370-BXS-03	Eastern Paths to Enlightenment - Buddha, Yoga and the Dao	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: In this course we will analyze the paths to enlightenment, or self-transformation, of some of the following Asian religions: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. After an initial survey of the beliefs and rituals of the religions chosen, the focus will be on: (1) religious, or mystical, experiences; and (2) the stages of personal transformation into a sage, saint, or enlightened being.
Anthropology
381-BXS-DW	Culture on Display (INTENSIVE)	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course examines the ways in which museum displays shape our understanding of culture. A museum is a place where we can be exposed to cultures of different peoples, times, and aspects of culture. However, what we see in museums is curated, chosen in order to tell a specific story. Selective stories of culture are thus created, where some narratives are emphasized and others are excluded. We will have guided visits to local museums as well as virtual visits to museums elsewhere in the world with the goal of exploring how museum displays are curated. Using comparative analysis we will examine how stories about culture are created and how each story leaves us with a different understanding of the culture we are exploring. The cost of this course is around $36, to cover guided tours at the museums. To offset this cost, there will be no textbook to buy. All readings for this course will be available to the students without charge via the Dawson College library website.
Economics
383-BXS-03	The Economics of Sex and Drugs	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This course will explore a series of social problems from an economic perspective. Students will discover how economic analysis provides useful insights into social problems. In the first quarter of the term, students will learn some of the basic economic concepts and theories that are essential in understanding social problems. They will apply these concepts and theories to examine a selected number of issues. The course discusses selected social issues, including prostitution, drug abuse, addiction, crime, and illegal organ transplant. The instructor may also cover one or more of the major global issues such as climate change, international conflicts, technological change, and income inequality. Students will understand how to apply economic analysis to a wide range of topics and how to assess the decisions of individuals, groups, firms, and governments. The course provides the theoretical framework for social and public policy to address the issues covered in the course.
Business Administrat
401-BXS-03	Starting a Small Business: Entrepreneurship	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This is a complementary course in Social Sciences developed to prepare students for the complexities of starting and managing a small business. The focus of the course will be the practical aspects of entrepreneurship by showing students how to develop an effective as well as realistic business plan that would greatly increase the probability of success.
401-BXS-03	Starting a Small Business: Entrepreneurship	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description: This is a complementary course developed to prepare students for the complexities of starting and managing a small business. The focus of the course will be the practical aspects of entrepreneurship by showing students how to develop an effective as well as realistic business plan that would greatly increase the probability of success.
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