General Education Electives

Human development across the lifespan will be studied by exploring the interrelationship between biological, psychological and sociocultural influences from conception to end of life. Upon completion of the course, learners will have an understanding of individual development, in addition to the impact of lifespan development on families and communities. Learners will have the opportunity to follow an individual's development throughout the lifespan, using a variety of biopsychosocial factors.

The course explores the impact AI has on creative arts such as writing painting, music, film, and photography. Artificial Intelligence relies on computer science as it is uses algorithms, data sets and computer code. The course will explore the implications Artificial Intelligence technology is having and will continue to have on social, economic, and philosophical aspects of society.

This course will introduce students to the field of Anthropology and facilitate their critical thinking skills over a broad range of subject matters in order to better understand the human experience as a whole. While learning about the four fields of Anthropology, students will explore the biological and evolutionary roots of humankind, the rise and fall of complex civilizations, the importance of linguistics and symbolism, the role of social structure, inequality, gender, ethnicity as well as a focus on the experience of Canadian Indigenous groups. Students will engage with course material as well as their own ideas and experience to better understand what it means to be human.

Conspiracy theories have exploded in popularity in recent years as the world we live in becomes more strange and alarming. Are UFO's real? Are drug companies withholding vital cancer treatments? Can you really trust the government? Is your phone spying on you? This blended course will consider a wide variety of conspiracy theories from critical, psychological, political, and historical perspectives (or will it?).

This online course explores the nature and meaning of deviance in examples ranging from murderers and terrorists to white-collar psychopaths, political dissidents and controversial social activists. What exactly is "normal"? Is criminal behaviour always wrong? Is it always right to conform? Are serial killers born, or made? How accurate are popular portrayals of criminals and profiling in film and the media? Utilizing a multidisciplinary and multimedia approach, this course asks students to engage with some of the most disturbing and challenging questions in modern society.

This blended course explores the history, symbolism, politics and future of what we eat and drink. The familiar comforts of the kitchen are examined to personalize and reveal our complex connection to (and impact upon) global culture.

This hybrid course draws on historical, theoretical, cross-cultural and life cycle perspectives of intimate relationships, sexual attitudes, behaviours, development and experiences. Topics will include gender roles, types of love, interpersonal attraction, human sexuality, sexual health, and issues of conflict and power in intimate relationships. Throughout this course students will have the opportunity to examine their own values related to human sexuality and intimate relationships both through online discussions and face-to-face instruction.

This course introduces students to Indigenous ways of knowing through engagement with Indigenous philosophies and worldviews as well as Indigenous intellectual and cultural traditions. Multidisciplinary in nature, the structure of Indigenous Knowledges provides a context for students to identify with and gain respect for their practical and sustainable applications.

This course explores the world of literature for children from infancy to adolescence. You'll read and talk about past and present classics in children's literature, some of which may be your own favourites. Through reading, discover what makes good literature and what makes it controversial. Look at authors, illustrations, and children's literature on the web and in other media. This course meets the General Education requirements in arts and language, cultural understanding, and personal and social development.

This course introduces students to Indigenous ways of knowing through engagement with Indigenous philosophies and worldviews as well as Indigenous intellectual and cultural traditions. Multidisciplinary in nature, the structure of Indigenous Knowledges provides a context for students to identify with and gain respect for their practical and sustainable applications.

This course is an introduction to the study of Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) peoples in Canada. Students will explore the complex historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The course will also guide students to begin to understand the diversity and depth of Indigenous societies, worldviews, and knowledge through a multi-disciplinary lens.

This course offers a systematic approach to exploring human behaviour. The concepts and empirical findings are examined using a variety of theoretical approaches. Major topics include perception, motivation, learning, memory, intelligence, and personality.

This course examines the role of popular music in contemporary society. Students will learn about various music genres and will reflect on the social and cultural influences that inform their own tastes and shape the evolution of popular music in a North American context. No training in music is required to take this course. Note: This is a blended course with some online components. Students enrolled in this course will complete some course work outside the regular class schedule and should be comfortable learning in an online environment.

This online course explores the experience of nature from the perspectives of film, art, music, popular culture, literature, and personal experience. We will explore our responses to nature as landscape, park, garden, and wilderness, as well as our relationships with animals both domestic and wild.

This hybrid course explores current research into the meaning and definition of happiness. Rather than offering religious or spiritual paths to happiness, this course focuses on the latest scientific data related to the field of personal understanding, awareness, fulfillment, contentment, and other common descriptions of happiness. Various theories of happiness will be explored, including Mindfulness, Flow, and Neuroplasticity. Activities will include a variety of quizzes, reflections, a presentation, and one essay. Join us in our exploration; you'll be happy you did!

Democracy requires a population to think clearly and vote responsibly. Examining how social media's influence on individuals can affect bigger public issues (good or bad), will be a part of the course. A course about social media will explore the virtual character of social interactions and how these virtual connections may contribute to culture or inhibit it. One's own social media use and the impact it has (psychological, social, etc.) will be a part of the course. An understanding of the technology that connects us with social media will be a smaller part of the course. The social sciences (psychology and sociology) will play a bigger part.

This course introduces students within the Practical Nursing and Social Service Worker programs, to the complex historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and the various colonial systems that have impacted their well-being. This course will explore Indigenous Social Determinants of Health to foster a better understanding of current trends in diverse Indigenous populations. This course also strengthens the student's ability to apply the knowledge from their field to address systemic barriers, and disparities in services. The course will work to foster an understanding of Indigenous traditions and philosophies in respect to health and well-being.

This course is designed to assist students' personal development and understanding of social relationships in a culturally diverse world. The emphasis is on the development of social and interpersonal skills to foster effective work teams and personal relationships.

There is no denying the profound impact of sports on the lives of millions of people around the world. Sport helps form our national and personal identity, and as nations, participants, coaches, parents, fans, and critics, we invest considerable time, energy, and money on sports. Some people cheat to win, but is winning everything? Should everyone have the right to play? Should performance-enhancing drugs be permitted? Should women be permitted to play in male dominated sports (and men in women's sports)? Should so much money be spent on the Olympics and professional sports? The purpose of this online course is to challenge students to think critically about sports in contemporary society from a range of perspectives. With a focus on student-led assessment, learners will use sport as a lens through which to view society and they will have the opportunity to bring their own ideas and experiences to the course as they explore issues in sports such as gender, race, and social class, media, economics, ethics, and the significance of psychological factors on sports and performance.

This course is a General Education elective. It explores the concepts of sustainable development and sustainability and the social, economic and environmental forces that shape the destiny of our community and planet. The course explores the issue of population growth, consumption patterns, Climate Change, and their role in the degradation of the natural ecosystem and biodiversity. Social, environmental and Economic considerations are examined in the broader framework of sustainability and social justice and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. The course also examine and explore selected sustainability measurements currently in use. This is a fully 100% online course.

This course offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, examining how its films and characters reflect, challenge, and influence contemporary issues of broad social relevance. Focusing on themes such as leadership, technology, colonialism and empire, the hero's journey, gender, environment, family, politics, artificial intelligence, ethics, conflict, science, and transhumanism, this course encourages students to engage with the MCU as a contemporary mythology whose popularity has redefined cinema in our time. Assessment in this course includes a variety of written assignments and oral presentations, both in individual and group formats.

"Truth and Lies" takes a practical, hands-on approach to dealing with life in the digital age. With a focus on both your professional and personal life, the course asks important questions about contemporary issues in science, medicine, politics, social media, and the family. The goal of the course is simple: to become more confident participants and decision-makers in our communities, families, and workplaces.

The Internet is a powerful tool that can take you places and expose you to experiences which you might not be able to enjoy in 'real-life'. Through Virtual Culture, you take excursions to the world of culture on the Internet. Explore your own culture and those of the people around you. Learn a new language and communicate across cultures. Go to art galleries, museums, concerts and movies. Read literature and listen to storytellers. See how the Internet can be used to challenge culture. Through these excursions, you will be able to reflect on how the Internet has an impact on learning about and enjoying many aspects of culture. This course meets the General Education requirements in cultural understanding, arts and language, and understanding technology.

This online course allows students to explore how their exposure to artistic expressions, such as painting, poetry, stories, theatre and music, has influenced their personal identity. Through the study of the arts, students will reflect on where they fit into the broader cultural, social and Indigenous contexts and develop an understanding of how their identities are impacted by various artists, writers, poets and musicians. Students are naturally curious to discover who they are as individuals and how their perception has changed from childhood to adulthood. Studying various art forms on their journey of self-exploration allows them to think about their lives, their identities, their destinies, and where they fit in.