Honours BA with Major
in Leadership, Ecology and Equity

Introduction to theoretical approaches in the Humanities and to the methods that are applied to interpret the multiple expressions of human experience, particularly those expressed in important works of art and literature.

Social and ecological challenges facing humanity today, and related issues of social justice. These questions will be examined from a perspective of community building and efforts towards ecological and social transformations for a hopeful future.

Development of abilities to critically read and understand academic works. Focus on formal writing skills: techniques of clear expression and construction of texts, argument development and organization. This course also includes a library laboratory component with focus on research skills, citations, and academic integrity.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on the First Peoples of Canada, cultural diversity, traditional practices and beliefs, relationship with the environment, changing roles and structures influenced by colonization. Contemporary issues faced by First Nations, Métis and Inuit, including cultural genocide and trauma.

Introduction to key concepts and foundations of integral ecology. Overview of the multidisciplinary fundamentals of Environmental Humanities, and the interconnected fields of leadership, ecology and equity.

Study of the multiple connections between social and ecological issues and their potential solutions. This examination will take the form of empirical evidence and case studies, followed by social, political and ethical analyses of these connections. Examples will be drawn from local, regional, national and global perspectives to reveal the complex intersections of social and ecological issues.

Study of several intersections between ecological issues, justice, conflicts and efforts for effective eco-justice. Various examples will be studied to understand the issues involved in, for example, protracted conflicts, climate change and social impacts, resource scarcity. The purpose is also to assess various responses: conflicts, nonviolent resistance, peaceful resolutions. Insights from recent work in the fields of Environmental Humanities and ecojustice will be discussed.

Many scholars and activists are connecting ecological sustainability with peace and nonviolent conflict resolution. Further exploration of these approaches, including themes of politics, governance, ethics and theories of social change.

Social innovation basics, methodological foundation to study the field and best practices.

Main contemporary theories of social justice (liberal, critical, catholic, etc.) and issues related to redistribution, recognition, capabilities and accessibility.

Analyzing social situations through the lens of concepts developed by the most important schools of critical thinking and the approaches in social movement studies.

Major issues and debates concerning ecology and environmental justice, examined through the lens of specific cases.

Analysis of the trajectory and dynamics of social movements focused on issues of colonialism and racism.

Study of the fundamentals of democracy and governance, and of its principal thinkers and critics, starting from Plato. Distinction between ancient and modern forms of democracy. Overview of the principles of political liberalism underpinning contemporary democracies. Comparison between democracy and other forms of government. Study of different models of governance and of the implications of a managerial conception of politics.

Explores, from the perspective of social justice theories, issues such as social inequalities, poverty, refugees, war, and environmental degradation. Examines criticisms of this perspective.

Examination of the development of critical theories and new ethical models in different feminist currents. How these ethics take into consideration the marginalized voices of oppressed groups.

Explores ethical issues concerning non-human animals and the environment, such as harvesting non-human animals for food production and the social problems arising from global warming.

Ethical issues relating to the public sector. Definitions of the common good and of public service. Study of the role of public policy in the functioning of various states and governments, and the implications of their coherence or conflict in the social, political and economic realms.

Study of a particular topic, thinker or tradition. Critical analysis of the link between ethics and politics.