General Studies in Social Science (with or without math)

What is research? What is science? How do the disciplines of Anthropology, Economics, Geography,
History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology contribute to our understanding of human life? To answer these
questions, students explore the process of scientific research and communication in the social sciences. Specifically,
they learn to carry out a literature search, evaluate the relevance and reliability of varied information sources, summarize these sources using scientific conventions and communicate their ideas clearly, both orally and in written form.
Throughout, students also learn about, and experience, the role of teamwork and feedback in the research process.

What connects humans throughout history? Discover fascinating people and events that changed
the world and tie it together. After setting the scene with premodern global history, dive into the state of the
world in the 1500s, including colonialism, imperialism, slavery, and cultural assimilation. In the Modern Era,
juxtapose Enlightenment ideals and global revolutions with the slow and difficult application of human rights
and creeping industrialization. Conclude your journey with the past century, its conflicts, authoritarianism,
nationalism, decolonization, technological revolutions, globalization, and fights for the environment and civil
rights. Along the way, add to your historical, research, and writing skills.

How do people learn? What is memory and why do we forget? How does the brain work? You get to
answer these and many more questions in Introduction to Psychology. The topics discussed help you understand
how various factors can influence your behaviour and brain processes in different situations and give you a new
perspective on some of your own experiences. Strategies to help with your memory, study habits, and learning
methods are discussed, which will help you apply course topics to your own life.

Linear algebra studies linear equations and their manipulations and applications. It has extensive applications in the social sciences, especially since nonlinear models can often be approximated by linear ones. Topics include:
systems of linear equations, matrices, determinants, vectors, and vector geometry. Applications include: optimization
problems, Leontief models and Markov chains. Examples and other applications will be drawn from economics, business, and social sciences.

How do we collect and quantify data? How does the data we gather help us understand the social
world? In Quantitative Methods, we learn descriptive and inferential statistical operations, and how to analyse
statistics in popular media and scholarly texts. Summarizing, interpreting and critically evaluating quantitative information, we become familiar with the fundamental concepts and basic techniques of the quantitative methods
in the Social Sciences.

Differential calculus studies instantaneous rates of change. Mathematically, it answers the question: what
is the slope of a curved line? Topics include: limits and continuity, the derivative and differentiation, curve sketching,
rates of change, and extrema. Applications include: marginal analysis, optimization, and demographics. Examples and
other applications will be drawn from economics, business, and social sciences.

One of the following (Student Choice):
385-S01-LA Introduction to Political Science
381-S01-LA Introduction to Anthropology
387-S01-LA Introduction to Sociology
401-S01-LA Introduction to Business

Learn the principles and tools of macroeconomic analysis and apply them to understand real world
economic events and policies. Topics include: economics systems, economic incentives, macroeconomic indicators (such as inflation, unemployment, and gross domestic product), business cycles, economic growth, fiscal and
monetary policies, and the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model.

Every day we interact with the world around us and we unknowingly leave a trace. These patterns can be explored in global, regional, and local contexts to better understand our role in the world, both as
individuals and collectively within society. Geographic perspectives on cultural, socio-economic and physical
landscapes enable us to address contemporary issues in society and to prepare ourselves for environmental
challenges. Through active learning, the unique aspects of geographic spatial relationships and human-environment interactions are experienced.

How do we distinguish between scientific and non-scientific knowledge? What are the ethical guidelines that direct research in the social sciences? What are the theories and techniques used by social scientists to
obtain and analyze qualitative data? Investigate the social world using qualitative research methods such as interviews, participant observation and thematic analysis. Apply your critical thinking skills to contextualize research
results and produce scientific research papers.

One of the following (Student Choice):
201-SC2-LA Calculus 2
Level 1 Concentration Course (Student choice)
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)

One of the following (Student Choice):
101-SHB-LA Human Biology
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)

Scholarly conventions of the social sciences dictate how we plan, carry out and evaluate academic
work, including following ethical guidelines and expressing ideas clearly. The final integrative research project
is a guided multidisciplinary comprehensive assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired through the social
science program. It offers a broadened understanding of the social world and the chance to evaluate one’s own
learning journey in the Social Sciences.

What is research? What is science? How do the disciplines of Anthropology, Economics, Geography,
History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology contribute to our understanding of human life? To answer these
questions, students explore the process of scientific research and communication in the social sciences. Specifically,
they learn to carry out a literature search, evaluate the relevance and reliability of varied information sources, summarize these sources using scientific conventions and communicate their ideas clearly, both orally and in written form.
Throughout, students also learn about, and experience, the role of teamwork and feedback in the research process.

What connects humans throughout history? Discover fascinating people and events that changed
the world and tie it together. After setting the scene with premodern global history, dive into the state of the
world in the 1500s, including colonialism, imperialism, slavery, and cultural assimilation. In the Modern Era,
juxtapose Enlightenment ideals and global revolutions with the slow and difficult application of human rights
and creeping industrialization. Conclude your journey with the past century, its conflicts, authoritarianism,
nationalism, decolonization, technological revolutions, globalization, and fights for the environment and civil
rights. Along the way, add to your historical, research, and writing skills.

Learn the principles and tools of macroeconomic analysis and apply them to understand real world
economic events and policies. Topics include: economics systems, economic incentives, macroeconomic indicators (such as inflation, unemployment, and gross domestic product), business cycles, economic growth, fiscal and
monetary policies, and the aggregate demand and aggregate supply model.

How do people learn? What is memory and why do we forget? How does the brain work? You get to
answer these and many more questions in Introduction to Psychology. The topics discussed help you understand
how various factors can influence your behaviour and brain processes in different situations and give you a new
perspective on some of your own experiences. Strategies to help with your memory, study habits, and learning
methods are discussed, which will help you apply course topics to your own life.

How do we collect and quantify data? How does the data we gather help us understand the social
world? In Quantitative Methods, we learn descriptive and inferential statistical operations, and how to analyse
statistics in popular media and scholarly texts. Summarizing, interpreting and critically evaluating quantitative information, we become familiar with the fundamental concepts and basic techniques of the quantitative methods
in the Social Sciences.

One of the following (Student Choice):
385-S01-LA Introduction to Political Science
381-S01-LA Introduction to Anthropology
387-S01-LA Introduction to Sociology
401-S01-LA Introduction to Business

Every day we interact with the world around us and we unknowingly leave a trace. These patterns can be explored in global, regional, and local contexts to better understand our role in the world, both as
individuals and collectively within society. Geographic perspectives on cultural, socio-economic and physical
landscapes enable us to address contemporary issues in society and to prepare ourselves for environmental
challenges. Through active learning, the unique aspects of geographic spatial relationships and human-environment interactions are experienced.

How do we distinguish between scientific and non-scientific knowledge? What are the ethical guidelines that direct research in the social sciences? What are the theories and techniques used by social scientists to
obtain and analyze qualitative data? Investigate the social world using qualitative research methods such as interviews, participant observation and thematic analysis. Apply your critical thinking skills to contextualize research
results and produce scientific research papers.

Two of the following (Student Choice):
101-SHB-LA Human Biology
Level 1 Concentration Course (Student choice)
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)

Scholarly conventions of the social sciences dictate how we plan, carry out and evaluate academic
work, including following ethical guidelines and expressing ideas clearly. The final integrative research project
is a guided multidisciplinary comprehensive assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired through the social
science program. It offers a broadened understanding of the social world and the chance to evaluate one’s own
learning journey in the Social Sciences

Three of the following (Student Choice):
360-QM2-LA Quantitative Methods 2
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)
Level 2 Concentration Course (Student choice)