Course Descriptions

This course explores the changing relationships between business, society and government in contemporary Canada. You will

• examine the changing patterns of governance
• the privileged position of corporate Canada in society's power structure
• the phenomenon of globalization and the international extension of business power
• the role of the mass media in shaping culture and dominant ideas within society
• the restructuring of economic and social policy
• constitutional change
• the marketization of the state
• the transformation of citizen into customer
• the increased threat to social cohesion
• and the future of the public sector in Canada

This course helps you develop an understanding of some of the common and different elements that shape leadership in the public, voluntary and private sectors, and the implications that these have for interactions among the three sectors on public policy issues. You will learn about the basic ideas and debates on the nature of leadership in each sector, and how institutions and processes of management and governance shape the development of leaders and their roles.

The purpose of this course is to enable you to understand and think critically about innovations in public administration and management. It addresses contemporary challenges to administrative governance, and the powerful forces—such as globalization, technological change and the shifting public expectations and values—that have forced nation states to redefine both their political and administrative roles. It explores the global impact of comprehensive public sector reforms that began in Britain in the late 1970s, resulting in what came to be known as the New Public Management.

This course provides an overview of some of the central debates on law as governance in an increasingly globalized world, especially in relation to violence and the use of force, conceptions of political community, legal legitimacy, and democratic practices. Particular attention is paid to the impact of international organizations and social movements on the global regulation of violence, economics and politics. You will gain a sophisticated understanding of governance and law, and a critical understanding of some of the problems posed by globalization for governance and law in political life from a contemporary social theory perspective.

Accounting 250: Accounting for Managers focuses primarily on how to provide managers with the management information they need for making informed decisions. It also introduces the role accounting plays in providing reports to external bodies such as the federal government, banks, and other lenders of money.

This course is intended to provide managers and potential managers an overview of the subject of accounting. Students will learn financial and managerial concepts with an emphasis on management control in not-for-profit organizations. The course begins with the characteristics of not-for-profit organizations and the management control function. It then examines the nature and purpose of financial statements and introduces fund accounting. The course concludes with coverage of full cost accounting, the measurement and use of differential costs, and pricing decisions.

ADMN 232 translates administrative theory into effective administrative practice by examining what administrators do and how they do it. The course presents theories of administration applicable to the public and private sectors and then reconciles these theories with current practice.

Many people working in journalism, public relations and other communications fields need to be able to understand how statistics are used in order to present information and frame arguments. This course is designed for those who want to become critical consumers of statistical evidence. It emphasizes a conceptual rather than a computational approach to learning statistics. Using examples taken from popular media, the course explains how people use and abuse statistics for purposes of persuasion and influence.

This course focuses on the economic aspects of globalization but recognizes that political, social, and cultural perspectives are also important. In ECON 401, you will examine the theory, evidence, and policies related to globalization. As a result, you will develop a critical understanding of globalization issues.

Administrative Law discusses that branch of the law dealing with relationships between the individual citizen and government, whether at the federal, provincial or municipal level. It also deals with boards, authorities, commissions, and committees created by government. LGST 331 will be of particular interest to those who are either employed or interested in public administration or who have occasion to deal with government in their professional or private life.

POEC 393, written by leading Canadian political economist Professor Daniel Drache, and revised by Gunhild Hoogensen, is designed to give students the analytical tools they need to consider such questions. The course examines the rise of globalization and the institutional arrangements it has initiated in a worldwide and North American context.

Political Economy 483 International Political Economy: The Politics of Globalization is a senior-level, three-credit course in Political Economy and Global Studies. The course introduces highly contested issues and contradictory positions concerning the meaning and significance of globalization. Students will situate current global processes within the historical development of the world economy and learn to view these changes through a variety of theoretical lenses. The course materials critically engage the structural changes occurring between world regions, among international financial institutions—such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank—as well as multinational business corporations. Finally, students will be engaged with questions concerning the “developing world” and globalization and the “anti-globalization backlash” that appears to be growing in size and momentum.

This course explores the changing relationships between business, society and government in contemporary Canada. You will

• examine the changing patterns of governance
• the privileged position of corporate Canada in society's power structure
• the phenomenon of globalization and the international extension of business power
• the role of the mass media in shaping culture and dominant ideas within society
• the restructuring of economic and social policy
• constitutional change
• the marketization of the state
• the transformation of citizen into customer
• the increased threat to social cohesion
• and the future of the public sector in Canada

This course provides you with an overview of the scope and significance of the voluntary sector and how it operates. You will examine the sector's governance, leadership and management, its accountability and regulatory regimes, and its involvement in public policy development. The course is designed to grapple with some of the main theoretical perspectives as well as with practical issues of governance and management.

You will explore the processes of policy making and implementation at the national level of government.  The course has several objectives. First, it is to familiarize you with the actors, institutions and processes of public policy development and administrative governance in Canada. Second, you will develop the analytical skills necessary to think critically about matters associated with the making and implementation of public policy at the national level. Third, the course highlights a number of politically controversial themes, including the concentration of power in central state institutions, and the influence of private sector interests in policy making.

You will explore the dominant policy trend in an era of globalization, and the “internationalization” or globalization of public policy. You will examine the forces shaping the character and content of Canadian public policy in a global era, and gain the conceptual, theoretical and analytical tools required to study and assess critically Canadian public policy. You will also become sufficiently knowledgeable about the changing character of Canadian social policy such that you will feel confident assessing and commenting on the social policy decisions of our governments.

ANTH 362 provides an introduction to the study of North American Aboriginal peoples: Indian, Inuit, and Métis. As the subject matter of Anthropology 362 includes Aboriginal social organization and traditions, an introductory course in cultural or social anthropology is a recommended prerequisite for this course.

“This course provides students with critical insight into the origins and the ideological, social, political, legal and economics contexts of the rapidly changing nonprofit and voluntary sector allowing them to grasp the complexity, diversity and challenges facing nonprofit organizations today. Topics include: defining the scope and nature of this sector; the welfare state and the role of the non-profits; the political and legal operating environment of non-profits; and understanding the changing ideological and economic landscape.” (Ryerson calendar)

“The emphasis in this course, is on developing approaches that both employees and volunteers in nonprofit organizations can use to deal effectively with the issues facing their organizations. The course explores principles and practices of management and administration as they are adapted to board-staff relations, board governance, recruiting and motivating volunteers, human resource management, accountability, organizing for and managing growth and change, analysis of an organization's market and organizational strategic planning.” (Ryerson calendar)

“Voluntary and nonprofit organizations need to advocate effectively on behalf of their constituencies and their organization. The course provides hands-on, applied training that will enable those working in the third sector to advocate and lobby effectively on behalf of their specific constituency, and also as part of broader coalitions (social movements) for change. Topics include influencing the public policy process, identifying and accessing government bodies and resources, developing effective public and government relations strategies. ”
(Ryerson calendar)

This course surveys the historical development of federal arts policy and the related ideals of national culture. It uses this framework to discuss expanded perceptions of “culture” as social expression and the role of government policy in a diverse society. Finally, the course provides you with detailed studies of the interaction between symbolic and economic environments in key cultural industries.

The primary purpose of ECON 321 is designed to introduce you to the discipline of health economics, where the principles of economics are applied to the health care sector. Like other economics courses, Health Economics is primarily concerned with how scarce resources are allocated. Much of the material presented in this course is similar to that found in an introductory economics course, but the emphasis here is on how concepts such as supply and demand, cost, and utility are applied to the health care sector. This course looks at how the economic behaviours of health care consumers and suppliers, particularly in Canada, affect the manner in which resources are allocated.

ECON 385 examines the important roles that money, banking, and financial institutions play in the economy, and assesses wide-ranging institutional changes that affect banking and financial systems. This course reviews recent changes in the Canadian and world financial systems, and provides a theoretical framework with which to analyse problems such as bank failures, regulatory reform, the debt crisis, and the internationalization of financial transactions that affect all sectors of the Canadian economy.

GEOG 302 is a senior-level undergraduate, three-credit course in human geography. It is suitable for students who are interested in the geography, culture, and sustainable development of Canada's North. It presents an overview of the human geography of the Canadian North covering diverse topics such as imaginings of the North, the biophysical features of Canada's North, the history of European exploration and contact with indigenous northern populations, Aboriginal culture and society, political developments in the North, and natural resource developments in this region and their environmental impacts. There are no prerequisites for this course but, because it is a senior undergraduate course, there is an expectation that students will have good skills in critical social analysis, cultural analysis, and writing. As well, while not required, some exposure to geographical analysis and concepts will benefit students.

GEOG 310 introduces the historical and contemporary processes of urban growth in Canada, and places the Canadian experience in a global context. Credit in GEOG 310 can be applied to specific undergraduate degree programs but the course will also be of interest to students in other concentrations, to those involved in public and municipal administration, or real estate sales and development, and to those interested in current civic affairs.

Global Development Strategies, a three-credit, senior-level course which allows you to study in­depth strategies of development, particularly in the Global South. The course begins with an introduction to traditional western theories of development and various indigenous critiques. Next, it shifts to an examination of the main regions that comprise the global South, including Latin America and the Caribbean; Africa and the Middle East; and South and Southeast Asia. Together these regions comprise eighty percent of the world population and historically their participation in the world economy significantly predates the Industrial Revolution. Therefore, this course is conceptualised not just as a study of ‘Third World’ countries but as the interdisciplinary study of the challenges and successes of peoples in a world continually shaped by several types, stages, and layers of global and local interactions.

GLST 483 International Political Economy: The Politics of Globalization is a senior-level, three-credit course in Political Economy and Global Studies. The course introduces highly contested issues and contradictory positions concerning the meaning and significance of globalization. Students will situate current global processes within the historical development of the world economy and learn to view these changes through a variety of theoretical lenses. The course materials critically engage the structural changes occurring between world regions, among international financial institutions—such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank—as well as multinational business corporations. Finally, students will be engaged with questions concerning the “developing world” and globalization and the “anti-globalization backlash” that appears to be growing in size and momentum.

History 328 outlines the development of social programs in Canada and its provinces, assessing the social and political pressures that produced particular programs at particular times. It also examines the implementation of these programs, evaluating the extent to which they provided benefits to various groups of Canadians and the extent to which they either ignored needy groups or were used as social control measures over them.

Course materials analyze critically the impact of class, sex, and race prejudices in the design and implementation of major social programs at various points in Canada's past, and the impact of class-, sex-, and race-based pressures to change these programs.

HIST 329 examines the country's history by tracing the way in which particular societies were constructed and how they have changed over time. The course looks at specific societies, beginning with Native society at the time of the first contact with Europeans. Although the course adheres to a loose chronological approach, more general themes are explored as well, such as the significance of gender and ethnicity in each society. HIST 329 is little concerned with political development or biographical details of the various male Europeans who held political office.

This course takes a critical learning approach to the study of social policy as it affects the human services and considers the role of human services education in this emerging profession.

This course maps the policies and practices that shape human services in Western societies, from their antecedents in England and the United States through to the post-welfare social strategies of the present day.

IDRL 201 is an introduction to the nature and purpose of labour unions in Canada. The course places contemporary labour unions in a labour relations setting. It describes the institutional framework, relates theoretical issues with practical concerns, and encourages students to undertake their own investigations.

The course aims to relate students' knowledge and experience to the knowledge base of the course and to act as a "stepping stone" to other more senior-level Athabasca University labour relations and labour studies courses.

IDRL 312 is designed to explore the major issues in the theory and practice of industrial relations in Canada. It serves as a jumping-off point to explore other senior courses addressing issues of human resource management and industrial relations. There are three major themes in the course: Employment Relationships, Conflict and Accommodation, and Critical Analysis of Accommodation.

This course examines the field of labour studies and the place of working people and the labour movement in society. It provides an overview of Canadian labour history, a survey of the social organization of work, and an analysis of the role and function of trade unions.

LBST 413 investigates the theory and practice of trade unions in contemporary capitalist societies. The course requires students to read some theoretical and conceptual material on trade union behaviour in capitalist societies, two book-length case studies of unions, and a book-length case study of a strike.

LGST 390 is designed to introduce you to the history of women's engagement with the law as a tool to achieve social change. In this course, you will examine both traditional women's issues (abortion, pornography) and more cutting-edge issues (transgendered persons) which exemplify the feminist legal movement in Canada.

Canada's legal system provides the framework for the rules that govern many activities. It also provides a comprehensive system under which Canadians are given rights and incur obligations, and which allows them to resolve disputes in a peaceful manner. This course examines the basic concepts, principles, and precedents on which Canada's legal system is based.

Applied social psychology combines the science of social psychology with the practical application of solving problems in the real world. Applied social psychologists focus on social problems, such as violence, discrimination, stress, work satisfaction, the justice system, education, the environment, the health care industry, the welfare system, and the mass media.

The Sociology of Work and Industry is a three-credit, senior-level course. The focus of this course is work: how it developed into its present forms; how it is organized; how individuals experience it; and the social relationships and institutional frameworks so essential for it to occur.

This course examines the changing nature and patterns of women's work in Canada, the meaning work has for women, and the value of women's work to society. A central concern of the course is the extent to which work contributes to equality and disadvantage for women. It also considers how significantly gender shapes a common experience of work, and the extent to which women's working lives differ depending upon other social factors such as class, age, and race.

This course provides you with an overview of some of the central debates on law as governance in an increasingly globalized world, especially in relation to violence and the use of force, conceptions of political community, legal legitimacy, and democratic practices. Particular attention is paid to the impact of international organizations and social movements on the global regulation of violence, economics and politics. You will gain a sophisticated understanding of governance and law, and a critical understanding of some of the problems posed by globalization for governance and law in political life from a contemporary social theory perspective.

“Voluntary and nonprofit organizations need to advocate effectively on behalf of their constituencies and their organization. The course provides hands-on, applied training that will enable those working in the third sector to advocate and lobby effectively on behalf of their specific constituency, and also as part of broader coalitions (social movements) for change. Topics include influencing the public policy process, identifying and accessing government bodies and resources, developing effective public and government relations strategies.” (Ryerson calendar)

This course introduces communication and media professionals to the legal context within which they work. The course uses case studies to illustrate how such issues as freedom of expression, defamation, contempt of court, copyright, access to information, breach of privacy, and confidentiality affect the working life of the media professional.

The course is designed to provide you with an extensive and detailed investigation of Canadian labour and working-class history. It consists of eight units covering the period from 1763 to 2000.

HRMT 322 introduces students to Canadian individual employment law, which is concerned with rules that govern the relations between employers and employees, and is primarily applicable to non-unionized workers. Employment law includes rules developed and recognized by the common law, as well as the "floor of rights", normally proved by protective or prescriptive legislation. As such, this course includes such subject areas as identifying a contract of employment, creation and modification of the employment relationship, the common law obligations of employee and employer, the employer's statutory obligations to its employees, human rights legislation in the workplace, and the termination of employment.

The primary objective of this course is to equip students with a theoretical and practical basis for understanding, assessing, and analysing the legal and political aspects of Aboriginal government and law. To accomplish this objective, the course relies on information from two very different governance systems: traditional Aboriginal government and the Canadian government.

This course provides an introduction to the special ethical problems and issues associated with science, scientific research, applied science, and technology. For example, should research be conducted on animals, and if so, under what conditions? What ethical issues arise as a result of our increasing use of computers?

This course provides an introduction to the special ethical problems and issues associated with science, scientific research, applied science, and technology. For example, should research be conducted on animals, and if so, under what conditions? What ethical issues arise as a result of our increasing use of computers?

Philosophy 375 addresses core issues in philosophy of the environment and environmental ethics. The course is designed to familiarize students with issues concerning world view (cosmology), value conflicts, epistemology (ways of knowing) and principles involved in conflicts over our relationship with the environment. Policy issues such as sustainability and conservation are addressed in this light. Central issues addressed are anthropocentrism vs. ecocentrism, the intrinsic vs. the instrumental value of the environment, historical shifts and cross-cultural tensions involving world view, to name a few. The breadth of issues examined is indicative of the introductory nature of the course. But, as a senior-level course, a certain degree of understanding argument structures and principles and an ability to develop arguments is expected; the pedagogical focus is on developing principled arguments in support of a position on some issue addressed in the course. Students are strongly advised to take a junior-level philosophy course before registering in Philosophy 375.

Forensic Psychology is the fastest growing subspecialty in psychology. Social science impacts on most aspects of the legal process and psychologists are increasingly being asked to participate by providing knowledge to this system. This course examines the breadth of this participation and the application of psychological science to the Canadian justice system.

PSYC 435 examines human behaviours and mental phenomena that diverge widely from the normal.

SOCI 305 provides an introduction to the study of crime from a number of different sociological perspectives. The course covers topics related to crime and the criminal code in Canada: early history of Canadian narcotics legislation; analysis of a videotaped murder confession; a Mohawk viewpoint on the Oka crisis of 1990; and an analytical look at the Canadian prison system.

SOCI 365 is designed to acquaint you with sociological theories that will enable you to understand deviant behaviour. The course is also designed to help you build critical, analytical, and practical skills that will help you in other social science courses.

SOCI 381 examines ways in which different forms of social organization work to empower members of some social groups and disadvantage others, in systematic and regular ways, and examines a wide range of kinds of power — economic, political, sexual, cultural — in a variety of social and historical settings. Power is not something abstract and distant. In one guise or another, it permeates all human relationships and shapes who we are as individuals, and what we can become as social beings.

The course examines the subject of violence against women from a human rights perspective. The extent, forms, and impact of violence against women are explored from national and global perspectives. The course looks at the impact that specific social, cultural, political, and economic factors have on women's vulnerability to and experience of violence worldwide.

You will explore the processes of policy making and implementation at the national level of government.  The course has several objectives. First, it is to familiarize you with the actors, institutions and processes of public policy development and administrative governance in Canada. Second, you will develop the analytical skills necessary to think critically about matters associated with the making and implementation of public policy at the national level. Third, the course highlights a number of politically controversial themes, including the concentration of power in central state institutions, and the influence of private sector interests in policy making.

This course helps you develop an understanding of some of the common and different elements that shape leadership in the public, voluntary and private sectors, and the implications that these have for interactions among the three sectors on public policy issues. You will learn about the basic ideas and debates on the nature of leadership in each sector, and how institutions and processes of management and governance shape the development of leaders and their roles.

The purpose of this course is to enable you to understand and think critically about innovations in public administration and management. It addresses contemporary challenges to administrative governance, and the powerful forces—such as globalization, technological change and the shifting public expectations and values—that have forced nation states to redefine both their political and administrative roles. It explores the global impact of comprehensive public sector reforms that began in Britain in the late 1970s, resulting in what came to be known as the New Public Management.

This course will enable you to understand and to think critically about innovations in public administration and management. The course addresses the contemporary challenges to administrative governance and the powerful forces such as globalization, technological change and shifting public expectations and values that have forced nation states to redefine both their political and administrative roles. You will explore the global impact of comprehensive public sector reforms that began in Britain in the late 1970s, resulting in what came to be known as the New Public Management.

“In the current climate of increased demands for public accountability, nonprofit organizations need to develop sound program planning and evaluation skills. Both funding and public demands for internal and external accountability at the program and organizational levels will be explored. This course will focus on the development of knowledge and skills to plan and evaluate programs and services in a variety of human service organizations. Topics include models of evaluation and strategies for assessing accountability.” (Ryerson calendar)

“Setting measurable objectives and building plans at the organizational level is difficult for non-profits, but essential to address growing demands for accountability. This course teaches students how to develop and present annual goals and strategic plans for internal and external audiences. It also examines the ongoing process of adjusting strategic plans to ensure the organization achieves its annual objectives. Topics covered include mission statements, environmental analysis, goal formulation, strategic options, and organizational level evaluation.” (Ryerson calendar)

“...This course provides students with a clear understanding of the decisions that must be made to set up effective marketing and fundraising programs in the nonprofit sector. Topics include targeting specific markets, attracting resources, increasing awareness of offerings, and collaborating with other organizations.” (Ryerson calendar)

“...This course provides tools to plan for changes necessitated by economics and political restructuring, emerging informational technologies and increasing demographic diversity. Topics include environmental scanning, organizational diagnosis, planned change strategies, managing transitions, overcoming resistance, mobilizing commitment among volunteers, and changing the organizational culture....” (Ryerson calendar)

“The challenges facing organizations today require management, staff, and volunteers to work together collaboratively. Developing effective problem-solving skills and understanding group dynamics is key to addressing issues of diversity, change, and conflict. This course will explore diversity as it relates to patterns of communication, dynamics of team function, volunteer and staff recruitment and development, and various approaches to team building and conflict resolution. Teaching practical skills will be a key component in this course.” (Ryerson calendar)

“It is essential for those working in the nonprofit sector to understand the competitive funding environment in which they operate. Students will gain understanding of the fiscal environment, including discussions of different funding sources and mechanisms, financial information systems, and budgetary priorities and processes. This course also provides students with the financial analysis tools required to use the budgetary and financial information relevant to public and para-public organizations, as well as developing reporting and evaluation skills.” (Ryerson calendar)

The purpose of Corporate Communication is to give practitioners of corporate communication a broad framework that allows them to make effective decisions about communication approaches, priorities, and activities.

The course addresses organizational issues in the context of communication, and discusses corporate communication analysis in detail, to enable practitioners to provide advice on communication to leaders and teams. Students are exposed to applied communication problems, including issues of communication processes and ethics, among other current topics in this field. The course demands that students apply the concepts presented to real corporate settings and experiences.

To perform any administrative task, a manager must first be able to communicate effectively with others. COMM 243 introduces the techniques of effective communication and encourages students to develop and apply these skills to actual management settings and situations.

In today's world, the ability to communicate effectively has become an absolute necessity in many workplaces. COMM 277 focuses on building good group interpersonal communications skills by observing teams and groups at work. It challenges you to think critically about group communication problems and their effects, as well as the effectiveness of the course of action you implement. You also learn to use the concepts and principles of interpersonal communication to “plan ahead” to solve potential communication problems.

Environmental Studies 305: Environmental Impact Assessment, a three-credit, senior-level course designed to introduce you to a systematic process for predicting, and evaluating the significant environmental consequences of a proposed action or undertaking. This proces — environmental impact assessment — has been applied primarily to new infrastructure projects, such as power plants, highways, pipelines, dams, mines, airports, incinerators and landfills. Assessment processes have also been used to consider the implications of new technologies, plans, and policies that may result in significant social and biophysical effects. This course focuses on environmental assessment processes — what they are meant to accomplish, and how they are designed or should be designed to be effective, efficient and fair.

This introductory course looks at the practical aspects of managing a small business in Canada and examines the various functional components of a small business. The primary focus of the course is on providing small business owners with information on how they can improve and better manage both potential and existing businesses.

This course is intended to be of assistance to people who work with individuals seeking career development assistance, career professionals who want ideas for dealing with their clients, or groups of people who share a common interest in issues related to career development. The course is based on the premise that, regardless of their work settings, all career development professionals work with others to help produce change.

SOCI 300 is designed to introduce students to some of the representative concepts, definitions, typologies, and theories associated with the study of social organizations, and to show how these conceptual tools may be used to analyse several case studies of particular social organizations.