Senior-level & NO Pre-requisites! (Betcha didn’t even know you could take classes on some of these topics.)
Winter 2022 in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta.
If you’re looking to make a few changes to your course schedule for your upcoming academic year, consider one of the Winter term, senior-level Arts courses featured below — none of which require any pre-requisites!
*Please note that course content, delivery method and instructors are subject to change. Refer to the course syllabus for full and final details.
ARAB 399 — B1, Special Topics — Introduction to Arab Culture (Lecture)
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Iman Mersal
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T/R from 3:30–4:50PM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: With a core population of some 400 million, a large and influential global diaspora, and a central role in world affairs, the Arab world is an important subject of study for any well-informed student today. This course explores conceptual frameworks and interdisciplinary tools for understanding Arab culture as a geographical and intellectual space through literature, cinema, theatre, music, and other popular media. Arab 399 offers a rich source of representations of the Arab colonial past and post-colonial present, while introducing you to topics, theories, and debates in post-colonial studies, through four themes:
1. The discovery of the West and the onset of Colonialism.
2. Tradition and Modernity.
3. Colonialism, Post-colonialism, and Identity.
4. Feminism, gender, and Sexuality.
Other Themes Covered: Identity | Conflict and adversity | Social change | Beliefs and values | Power and authority | Social concerns, issues | Current Events and Pop Culture | Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Decolonization
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: Business | Education | History | Political Science | Literature | Psychology | Film Studies
Sociology 302 (SOC 302-B1 )— TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY — Population Transitions (Lecture)
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Professor Frank Trovato
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: W from 2–4:50PM
Pre-requisite: Sociology 100 or consent of the instructor
Course Description: Interdisciplinary analysis of demographic, epidemiologic, mobility and urban global transitions in historical and contemporary contexts. Students will learn how population history relates to contemporary demographic trends and variations in health and disease, urbanization, migration, family formation and reproduction.
Main Themes: Social Change
Other Themes Covered: Beliefs and values | Time, cycles of life | Social concerns, issues
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: ALES | Business | Education | Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation | Native Studies | Science | Computing Science | Social Sciences
Philosophy 357 (PHIL 357) — Philosophy of Religion
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Jack Zupko
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T/R from 12:30–1:50PM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: Is it possible for humans to know God? We’ll take a philosophical approach to religious questions such as the existence of God, divine attributes, the problem of evil, religion and science, and the relationship of faith to reason. We’ll also consider what evidential value should be attached to scriptural authority and religious or mystical experience? When (if at all) should reason and ordinary considerations of evidence be rejected as inappropriate?
There are no prerequisites — just bring an open, inquiring mind and a willingness to discuss these important questions with others.
Main Themes: Beliefs and values
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: Education | Science
History 449 (HIST449) — Advanced Topics in Middle East History (Special Topics: History of Islamic States)
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Jairan Gahan
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T from 12:30–3:30PM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: Learn about different forms of political formations in the Muslim world from the time of the prophet to the contemporary period.
Main Themes: Colonialism
Other Themes Covered: Identity | Social change | Beliefs and values | Power and authority | Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Decolonization
Modern Languages and Cultural Studies 299 (MLCS 299-B2 (76770)) - Special Topics: Taboo & Censorship
Number of Sections Offered: 2 unique sections - this information is for LEC-B2-76770 only (other sections cover other topics)
Professor/Instructor: Sofia Monzon Rodriguez
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T/R from 12:30–1:50PM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: In the midst of a pandemic world where the post-cold war global order is being challenged by the forces of isolationism, censorship, and resurgent nationalism, exploring historical and current taboos is more timely and relevant than ever. A historical exploration of the taboo, its normative boundaries, the institutional enforcement that it is prone to via censorship, and the way society deals with its acceptability can be directly observed in literature, the media, or even in our daily communication. In this course, we will examine the major historical and existing taboos related to the human body, the use of offensive language, and the boundaries of political correctness by looking at examples from literature, art, media, cinema, music, and advertising. In addition, we will tackle examples from different periods and places where censorship has been used to repress the expression of such taboos in order to limit and define what is acceptable for consumption: from tacit censors acting under the United States Hays Code for cinema, to censorship boards overtly operating on behalf of the twentieth-century European authoritarian regimes such as Spain, Portugal, the Soviet Union, and Germany; China; as well as the Central/South American military dictatorships, for instance in Cuba, Argentina or Chile. Ultimately, we will address the challenges faced by contemporary society with censorship and freedom of speech in a digital age.
Main Themes: Taboos and censorship in different times and places
Other Themes Covered: Identity | Conflict and adversity | Social change | Beliefs and values | Time, cycles of life | Power and authority | Social concerns, issues | Current Events and Pop Culture
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: ALES | Business | Education | Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation | Native Studies | Science | Computing Science
Philosophy 385 (PHIL 385) — Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Howard Nye
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: M/W/F from 2–2:50PM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: Artificial intelligence systems are revolutionizing our world, and raising many difficult ethical issues that we will explore in this course. How can we address the impacts that AI systems are having upon our social relationships, privacy, employment and economic power relations, and political freedoms? How can we responsibly govern the use of AI systems to ensure they are used in ethical ways and prevent governments and corporations from using them to wield undue power? To what extent must we worry about the possibility that we may create powerful AI systems that we cannot control?
Main Themes: Social Concerns
Other Themes Covered: Social change | Technology, Power and authority,
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: Business | Science
Anthropology 491 (ANTHR 491) — Stone Tools
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: John W. (Jack Ives)
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T/R from 2–3:20PM
Pre-requisite: ANTHR 206* — Intro to Archaeology. *Students from other disciplines can contact the instructor about enrolling.
Course Description: A practical course involving learning how to make stone tools like those of early hominids through to those from recent human history; consideration of the links between stone tool use and human evolution; analysis of stone tool manufacture in world prehistory; familiarization of methods for analysis ranging from the geochemistry of sourcing studies to aggregate analysis of debitage.
Main Themes: Technology
Other Themes Covered: Nature and the environment | Has significant Indigenous content
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: Education | Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation | Native Studies | Science
History 292 (HIST 292-B1 (76555) )— MEDIEVAL INDIA 500 TO 1500 CE
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Dagmar Wujastyk
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T/R from 2–3:20PM
Pre-requisite: This course has no prerequisites, though it thematically follows on from HIST 289 — Classical India to 500 CE.
Course Description: What happens after a Golden Age ends? This course surveys a period in Indian history that begins with the collapse of the Gupta Empire and that is characterized by an entangled history of competition and accommodation between an established Sanskrit culture with an emerging Persianate culture. Focussing on daily life, the arts, and crafts in India, we will examine both political upheaval and the sweeping cultural changes that came with it, as well as the creative and scientific advancements of this era.
Main Themes: Cultural change
Other Themes Covered: Identity | Conflict and adversity | Social change | Industry, Invention, Progress | Beliefs and values | Heroes and Leaders | Technology | Power and authority
Philosophy 202 (PHIL 202) — Indian Philosophy
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Dr. Neil Dalal
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: T/R from 9:30–10:50AM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: Have you ever wondered what kind of insights and valuable ideas non-European philosophers have to offer us? Indian philosophies such as Yoga, Buddhism, and Vedanta parallel their Western counterparts in several familiar ways, yet formulated fascinatingly different philosophical perspectives on self-identity, mind and consciousness, metaphysics, and the ethics of non-violence and compassion. We will address such topics in this introduction to Indian philosophy, focusing on the ancient and classical periods. We will also critically assess the concepts and arguments we encounter, and consider the philosophical controversies between these Indian traditions.
Main Themes: Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Decolonization
Other Themes Covered: Beliefs and values | Time, cycles of life
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: Education | Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation | Science
Drama 247 (DRAMA 247) — Speaking in Public: Presentation and Presence.
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Michel Fleiger
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: M/W from 9–10:50 AM
Pre-requisite: None
Course Description: Students will learn first and foremost about communication and connection. Speaking in front of a group can be a daunting task that students may dread or simply want to get better at. Through vocal and physical warmups, exercises aimed to reveal personal styles of expression, and a lot of practice, students will become more comfortable than they ever imagined they could. Students will learn how to be clear, concise, and meaningful speakers and active listeners; skills that are valuable in any field.
Why Take This Course: This course will prepare you for a career working in Law, Teaching, or Business.
Other Themes Covered: Identity | Beliefs and values | Heroes and Leaders | Fantasy and imagination | Technology | Power and authority | Social concerns, issues | Current Events and Pop Culture
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: ALES | Business | Education | Science
History 488 (HIST 488-B1 / 698-B1) — Topics in the History of Medicine (Special Topics: Ayurveda: the Science of Life in Ancient India)
Number of Sections Offered: 1
Professor/Instructor: Dominik Wujastyk
Delivery Method: In-person, Entirely or mostly synchronous/real-time
Course Time: W from 10AM-12:50PM
Pre-requisite: None. HIST 289 would be an advantage.
Course Description: India developed a practical and scholarly form of medical therapy two thousand years ago. You will discover about ancient surgery, models of the human body, causal ideas about disease, the Sanskrit literature on medicine (in translation!) and how Ayurveda has modernized within Indian and internationally
Main Themes: History of medicine; history of scienceOther Themes Covered: Social change | Nature and the environment | Beliefs and values | Social concerns, issues
Other faculties/programs that would take this as an option course: Education | Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation | Science | Anyone with an interest in Indian or South Asian Culture
