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Ethics
Students complete a minimum of 18 units, which includes three core courses in ethical theory (9-10 units) and three elective courses drawn from one of the streams listed below (9-12 units). In certain cases, students may devise their own stream in consultation with the philosophy undergraduate chair.
Students are responsible for completing prerequisites for any of the following courses. Note that students may gain entry to any of this certificate's philosophy courses by taking one of PHIL 120W (or equivalent), 121 or 221.
A minimum grade of C- is required in all courses that are used to fufill the requirements of the certificate. An overall 911³ԹÏ cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.25 must be maintained. All upper division philosophy courses must be completed at 911³ԹÏ.
Program Requirements
Core Courses
Students complete three of
An examination of the major ethical theories, including deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics. Applications of these theories and related topics in value theory may also be discussed. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 100, 100W, 120, 120W, 121, 144, 150, 151, or 300.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bruno Guindon |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
Introduces students to the ethical, legal, and privacy issues surrounding the collection and use of big data and the implications of these for vulnerable populations. Students with credit for SDA 270 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kino Zhao |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
This course would introduce students to the ethical, legal, and privacy issues surrounding the collection and use of big data and the implications of these for vulnerable populations. Students with credit for PHIL 270 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kino Zhao |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
An examination of an issue or selection of issues in social and political philosophy. Contemporary or historical readings or a mixture of these will be used. Possible topics include: justice, the law and legal systems, sovereignty, power and authority, democracy, liberty and equality. Sometimes the course will focus on the views of historically important political philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Bentham, Mill and Marx. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 120, 120W, 121, 220, 221, 270, SDA 270, ENV 320W, or REM 320W.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Endre Begby |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
An advanced investigation of central issues and theories in moral philosophy. In any given term, the course may focus on a general theory or concept or concern, for example meta-ethics, utilitarianism, or theories of rights. Sometimes it will focus on a particular problem or problems, such as medical ethics, moral personhood, or free will and moral responsibility. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 120, 120W, 121, 220, 221, 270, SDA 270, ENV 320W, or REM 320W.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alexandra King |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
|
|
Bruno Guindon |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An examination of an issue or selection of issues in the history of moral or political philosophy. Historical readings will be the primary focus and may include important figures such as Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, and Kant. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 120, 120W, 121, 150, 151, 220, 221, 270, SDA 270, ENV 320W, or REM 320W.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sam Black |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores in detail classic problems in the law using the methods and resources of philosophy. Topics may include: problems in professional ethics facing lawyers; philosophical issues in international law and human rights; constitutional interpretation and the philosophy of language; the assessment of evidence and formal epistemology; the intellectual origins of the theory of natural law and natural rights; or others. Students may repeat this course for further credit under a different topic. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 120, 120W, 121, 220, 221, 270, SDA 270, ENV 320W, or REM 320W.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chelsea Rosenthal |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Ethical issues related to public health as they are located in and influenced by a global context. Consideration of several ethical approaches including utilitarianism, deontic ethics, and the capabilities approach, as well as theories of justice. Application of approaches to topics ranging from global markets in human organs to international migration of health workers and pharmaceutical testing in the developing world. Prerequisite: 60 units and one of the following: PHIL 120, PHIL 120W, PHIL 121, PHIL 221, PHIL 270, HSCI 319, SDA 270. PHIL 327 is identical to HSCI 327 and students may not receive credit for both. Students who have completed HSCI 320 or the spring 2011 offering of PHIL 331 may not complete this course for further credit.
A survey of contemporary issues in environmental ethics. Topics may include: animal rights, the intrinsic value of nature, 'deep ecology', obligations to future generations, conservation, environmental justice, as well as relevant background materials in ethical theory. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 120, 120W, 121, 220, 221, 270, SDA 270, ENV 320W, or REM 320W. Students who have completed PHIL 318 may not take this course for further credit.
Explores in detail the relationship between the law and theories of justice. Topics range over: the philosophy of punishment, theories of moral responsibility, charter equality rights, and theories of distributive justice. Prerequisite: One of PHIL 120, 120W, 121, 220, 221, 270, SDA 270, ENV 320W, or REM 320W. Students with credit for PHIL 333 in Spring 2016 cannot take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stephen Bero |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
A highly focused, advanced examination of a selection of topics in normative or meta-ethics. May be repeated for credit when taught under a different topic. Prerequisite: Nine upper division PHIL units. It is strongly recommended that students in PHIL 421 have taken prior courses in moral theory (e.g., PHIL 120W, PHIL 221, PHIL 270, PHIL 320, PHIL 321, PHIL 322, PHIL 326, or PHIL 329).
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Evan Tiffany |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
any 300 or 400 division PHIL special topics course in ethics (consult the philosophy undergraduate advisor to confirm whether a given special topics course qualifies as an ethics course)
Concentration in Ethics, Justice and Law
The stream is primarily for students in the School of Criminology, or those who are majoring in political science who wish to focus their studies around issues of ethics and justice as it relates to law.
Students complete three of
Provides students with the basic legal and ethical principles and frameworks that are necessary when one is operating within a business context. The design of the course combines components of two core courses in the undergraduate business program, namely, Commercial Law (BUS 393) and Business Ethics (BUS 303). This course is not recommended for students admitted to the business administration major. Prerequisite: 12 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Adamson |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Involves detailed study of forms of deviance that have been commonly defined as constituting 'social problems.' Consideration of drug abuse (alcohol, nicotine, heroin and others), suicide, prostitution, obscenity, gambling and abortion. Justifications for present legislative policy and the relationship between these activities and the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: CRIM 101.
Critical examination of the impact of psychiatry and related clinical professions on the criminal justice system. Relationship between institutions of mental health and legal control. The relevance of psychiatric theory and decision-making for the processing of mentally disordered offenders. The role of forensic clinicians in the courts, prisons, mental hospitals and related agencies. Specific issues addressed in this course will include psychiatric assessment, criminal responsibility, fitness to stand trial, prediction of dangerousness, treatment of mentally ill criminals and the penal and therapeutic commitment of the insane. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Recommended: CRIM 131.
The course will contrast restorative justice with the dominant adversarial/retributive/punitive model of justice through a critical analysis of these two paradigms of justice. Several key principles, assumptions, and concepts necessary for understanding the foundation and practice of restorative justice will be introduced and explored. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brenda Morrison |
TBD | ||
| B101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| B102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| B103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Examines the history of commercial sex in Canada, the related laws and their impacts; research on the breadth of the commercial sex industry, sex sellers, sex buyers, and third parties; theories about commercial sex involvement and its role in society; legal approaches to addressing commercial sex in other countries; current legal framework, including jurisprudence, relevant Criminal, Immigration, and municipal law. Prerequisite: CRIM 101. Students with credit for CRIM 313 (Specific Types of Crime) prior to Summer 2007 may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tamara O'Doherty |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
In depth critical examination of select criminal offences and key legal principles covered in CRIM 230. Offers a deeper understanding of how certain crimes are defined in the Criminal Code and applied in case law, and how the criminal law has been amended to take account of new societal realities. Discusses challenges advanced under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in relation to certain crimes. Crimes examined will vary by student and faculty interest. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 230.
A study of the relationship between the government and the individual. Focus upon the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its interpretation by the judiciary. Examination of the issues of equality before the law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of expression. A study of human rights at the federal and provincial levels. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and CRIM 135.
Introduction to the philosophy of law. Concepts of law, constitution and sovereignty. The nature and sources of the law. Examination of natural law, legal positivism, Kelsen's pure theory of law, legal realism, modern normative and analytical theories, critical legal theory and feminist theory. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 and 135.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Amy Conroy |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| B101 | TBD |
An examination of how relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples framed and were framed by the development of international law from the 15th century onward. Prerequisite: CRIM 101 or FNST 101 or 201 or permission of instructor. Students with credit for CRIM 416, or 418 under the title "Indigenous Peoples and International Law" or "Indigenous Peoples and Evolving International Relations", or FNST 429 may not take this course for further credit.
An examination of how relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples framed and were framed by the development of international law from the 15th century onward. Prerequisite: INDG (or FNST) 101 or 201W, or CRIM 101, or permission of instructor. Students with credit for FNST 429, CRIM 429, or under CRIM 416 or 418 under the title "Indigenous Peoples and International Law" or "Indigenous Peoples and Evolving International Relations" may not take this course for further credit.
An in depth examination of the application of economic reasoning to the law. The course considers how legal relationships influence behavior and how economic models can explain the structure of the law. A selected number of topics will be covered, and may include the economic approach to common law; property rights; contracts; torts; criminal behavior; family law; and corporate bankruptcy law. Prerequisite: ECON 201 and ECON (or BUEC) 333 or ECON 302, all with a minimum grade of C-. Students with credit for BUEC 427 or BUEC 495 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
An introduction to labour and employment law in Canada, covering both union and non-union sectors. The course will focus variously on: the principles and practice of the BC Labour Relations Code, the Canada Labour Code, BC Employment Standards Act. BC Human Rights Code, the Workers Compensation Act (WorkSafeBC), and the contested history of labour legislation and related common law. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kendra Strauss |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An analysis of the Canadian constitution from a theoretical and comparative perspective. Amendment, entrenchment, civil rights. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
How can we best protect human rights? How do we define what is a human right and what is not? We examine these questions within countries and at the international level. We will look at the courts-based approach versus systems that give politicians the final say. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department. Students with credit for POL 330W or POL 339 under the title "Protecting Human Rights" may not take this course for further credit.
Sovereignty, nationality, jurisdiction, arbitration. Examination of selected cases exemplifying present trends in the international legal order. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Examines the origins and causes of several major conflicts during the last century. This course reviews various theories on the causes of conflict and war in the international system. It also examines the techniques of preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, crisis management and coercive diplomacy as they have been used to try to forestall open warfare and maximize the opportunities for peaceful change and the negotiated resolution of international disputes. Both documentary and feature films will be used to illustrate many types of conflict and warfare in the international system. Course simulations, when employed, will concentrate on the problems and risks that are involved in international efforts to contain and reverse the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Prerequisite: POL 141 and three lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Explores the governance challenges related to immigration and integration in Canada using a public policy approach. The course deals with topics concerning immigrant selection (including immigration categories, temporary/permanent Immigration, intergovernmental agreements, etc.) and focuses on immigrant's integration into society (such as nation-building strategies, integration Indicators and discrimination). Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department. Students who have taken Selected Topics course POL 359 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.
This course introduces students to the problems involved in the assertion of universal moral standards across political and cultural divides. These issues will be explored at a theoretical level, and in the context of specific human rights controversies. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
The course traces the evolution of Canadian thinking on national international security issues through an examination of pre-World War II isolationism, elite attitudes during the Cold War, the formative period of NATO, as well as Canadian involvement in the Korean and Indochina conflicts. More recent policies concerning ALCM testings, NORAD, and nuclear non-proliferation will also be explored in detail. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
An examination of the major theories of international political economy, and their application to such issues as the politics of trade, aid, monetary relations, and transnational corporations. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
The roles of experimental developmental, cognitive, and social psychology in the understanding of behaviour and perceptions of individuals in legal contexts. Topics may include eyewitness testimony, children and the law, interviewing, deception detection, wrongful convictions, interrogations and false confessions, and forensic science. Course can be repeated for credit when taught under a different topic. Prerequisite: PSYC 201W and PSYC 268. Recommended: PSYC 210.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Adele Quigley-McBride |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
|
Deb Connolly |
Online |
Concentration in Ethics, Business and Economics
This stream is intended for students in the Beedie School of Business, or those who are majoring in economics.
Students complete three of
Provides students with the basic legal and ethical principles and frameworks that are necessary when one is operating within a business context. The design of the course combines components of two core courses in the undergraduate business program, namely, Commercial Law (BUS 393) and Business Ethics (BUS 303). This course is not recommended for students admitted to the business administration major. Prerequisite: 12 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Adamson |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Common law, equity, and statute law; contracts, agency, and negotiable instruments; partnership and corporation law; international commercial law. Prerequisite: 45 units.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shafik Bhalloo |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D104 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
|
Robert Adamson |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
| D201 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
| D202 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
| D203 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
| D204 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
|
Robert Adamson |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D301 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D302 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D303 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D304 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
|
Shafik Bhalloo |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 5:30–7:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| E101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 7:30–8:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| E102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 7:30–8:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| E103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 8:30–9:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| E104 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 8:30–9:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Significance of multinational complexity and diversity (cultural, economic, demographic, etc.) to the human resource function. Interplay among human resource functions (employee procurement, allocation, utilization), types of employees, and countries of operation. Prerequisite: BUS 360W and one of BUS 272 or 381, all with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units. Recommended: BUS 346.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Neethu Parvathy |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
A critical examination of topics such as consumerism, marketing ethics, and social responsibility, efficiency of marketing or ecological marketing. The particular emphasis may vary depending on the interests of the class and instructor. Prerequisite: BUS 343 and 360W, or corporate environmental and social sustainability certificate students with BUS 343 and upper division Writing (W) course, both with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Christine Pitt |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Provides a solid foundation for students in understanding the legal obligations, statutes, and limitations within provincial legislation that govern employment relationships in non-union contexts. Additionally, will explore the legal aspects of matters of particular importance for managers faced with human resource policy decisions. Prerequisite: BUS 393, BUS 360W, both with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shafik Bhalloo |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Topics discussed in this course are: gains from trade in a classical world; the modern theory of international trade; factor price equalization; empirical tests and extensions of the pure theory model; economic growth and international trade; the nature and effects of protection; motives and welfare effects of factor movements; multinational enterprises; the brain drain; customs union theory; pollution control and international trade. Prerequisite: ECON 103 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 113 with a minimum grade of B-; ECON 105 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 115 with a minimum grade of B-; 45 units or permission of the department. Students with credit for ECON 442 cannot take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Victor Aguiar Lozano |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
People in small scale societies face numerous economic problems and have devised a variety of institutions to solve them. Using detailed case studies as a source of empirical information, we will develop economic concepts and models that help to make sense of these institutional arrangements. Prerequisite: ECON 103 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 113 with a minimum grade of B-; ECON 105 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 115 with a minimum grade of B-; 45 units. Students with credit for ECON 387 in Fall 1998 or Fall 1999, or ECON 383 in Fall 2001 or Fall 2003 may not take this course for further credit.
Analysis of theories of economic development. Consideration will be given to the requirements of successful development, to aspects of international co-operation, and to procedures of economic planning. Problems of emerging countries and models of various developing economies will be studied. Prerequisite: ECON 103 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 113 with a minimum grade of B-; ECON 105 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 115 with a minimum grade of B-; 45 units. Students with credit for ECON 355 or ECON 455 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chris Bidner |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D104 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Takes a broad approach to gender, placing it dialogue with race and ethnicity, class, nation, and space, to think through the complex dynamic between gender and labour from a variety of perspectives. Explores workers’ lived experiences of gender regimes while critically examining how gender ‘matters’ within the workplace. Prerequisite: 30 units including three units in GSWS or WS or GDST or LBST. Students who have taken GSWS 308, LBST 305, LBST 331 under the title Gender - Paid & Unpaid, or WS 310 under the title Women and Work may not take this course for further credit.
Examines issues where ideas about males and females either explicitly or implicitly influence policy makers. Focuses on current public policies and their relationship to women on topics such as sexuality and violence, economic security, race and inequality, and climate change. Prerequisite: 30 units. Students with credit for POL 350 may not take this course for further credit. Students who have taken this topic under GSWS (or WS) 320 may not take this course for further credit.
Takes a broad approach to gender, placing it dialogue with race and ethnicity, class, nation, and space, to think through the complex dynamic between gender and labour from a variety of perspectives. Explores workers’ lived experiences of gender regimes while critically examining how gender ‘matters’ within the workplace. Prerequisite: 30 units including LBST 100 or three units in GSWS or WS or GDST. Students with credit for GSWS 305 (or GSWS 308) may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for LBST 331 under the title Gender - Paid and Unpaid may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jeannie Morgan |
Online |
An exploration of critical and radical political economy traditions in Labour Studies with a focus on how these approaches have diverged from, and provided alternatives to, classical and orthodox economic understandings of labour and labour markets. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Amy Krauss |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An exploration of the expanding forms of unfree labour in capitalist economies as products of changing labour processes, global labour markets, and the policies of neoliberalism and 'austerity'. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maureen Kihika |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An introduction to collective bargaining: it will cover the legal requirements of the Labour Code, the bargaining process and the organizational structure and components of collective agreements, including the grievance-arbitration process. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101 and at least one other Labour Studies course.
Explores working class politics and the labour movement in the context of neoliberal economic and public policy, recurring economic crises, the changing nature of work, and declining union membership. Explores electoral politics and organized labour's relationship to political parties. Examines community unionism and workers' roles in social movements focused on civil rights, gender, and the environment, among others. Prerequisite: 30 units. Strongly Recommended: LBST 101. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Examines issues where ideas about males and females either explicitly or implicitly influence policy makers. Focuses on current public policies and their relationship to women on topics such as sexuality and violence, economic security, race and inequality, and climate change. Prerequisite: 30 units. Students with credit for GSWS (or WS) 350 may not take this course for further credit. Students who have taken this topic under GSWS (or WS) 320 may not take this course for further credit.
Concentration in Ethics and Global Justice
This stream is intended primarily for students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, or the Faculty of Health Sciences who wish to focus their studies around issues of justice in an international and multicultural context.
Students complete three of
The course will contrast restorative justice with the dominant adversarial/retributive/punitive model of justice through a critical analysis of these two paradigms of justice. Several key principles, assumptions, and concepts necessary for understanding the foundation and practice of restorative justice will be introduced and explored. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brenda Morrison |
TBD | ||
| B101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| B102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| B103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Takes a broad approach to gender, placing it dialogue with race and ethnicity, class, nation, and space, to think through the complex dynamic between gender and labour from a variety of perspectives. Explores workers’ lived experiences of gender regimes while critically examining how gender ‘matters’ within the workplace. Prerequisite: 30 units including three units in GSWS or WS or GDST or LBST. Students who have taken GSWS 308, LBST 305, LBST 331 under the title Gender - Paid & Unpaid, or WS 310 under the title Women and Work may not take this course for further credit.
Examines from interdisciplinary and international perspectives how development is gendered and creates differential impacts, meanings and processes for women and men around the world. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for GSWS 310 (or WS 310) Special Topic: Women and Development or GSWS 301 (or WS 301) Special Topic: Gender and Development or GSWS 309 (or WS 309) under the title Gender and Development may not take this course for further credit.
Examines the forces involved in displacements and global migration. Centring both the exploitation involved in the extraction of land and labor, and the modes of belonging and resistance of migrants and immigrants, the course explores the gendered, economic, border and racial regimes involved in contemporary global migration and nation-building. Prerequisite: 15 units.
An examination of feminist, Marxist and anti-racist theories pertaining to the historical development, social construction, and interactive nature of race, class and gender relations. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for either GSWS 301 (or WS 301) or GSWS 310 (or WS 310) as Special Topics: Race, Class and Gender may not take this course for further credit.
Explores interdisciplinary perspectives on the concept and experience of disability; situates disability as a formation of identity and power that differently intersects with gender, race, sexuality, nationality, and class; addresses disability as a key aspect of lived experience and a global vector of oppression and resistance. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for GSWS 321 Special Topic under the title Critical Disability Studies may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alice Nye Somayeh Bahrami |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| B101 | TBD |
Conceptualizations of sex have played a fundamental part in the development of evolutionary theories in biology and psychology. At the same time, feminist critiques of these conceptualizations have been a major factor in the development of Feminist Science Studies. The interactions amongst these three approaches are examined, including methodologies, communities of practice and societal implications. Prerequisite: 30 units.
Maps the field of masculinity studies and explores its intersections with feminist, postcolonial, queer, and critical race theories. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students who have completed GDST 300 may not complete this course for further credit.
Introduces students to current debates on gender identity and gender difference from the perspectives of queer subjects. Explores recent theoretical and cultural works on gender from queer, transgender, and feminist perspectives, while examining the challenges they pose to current understanding of sex, gender, sexuality, and the body. Prerequisite: 30 units, including three unist in GSWS. Students who have taken GDST 301, or WS 301 Special Topics: Theorizing Queer Genders may not take this course for further credit.
Explores the circulation of images and ideas that constitute pornography and study the anxieties that it has generated at various moments in time and how these anxieties are related to the disciplining and policing of sexuality. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students who have taken GSWS 320 or GSWS 321 under the title "Introduction to Porn Studies" may not take this course for further credit.
Explores recent debates and future directions of feminist thought and introduces students to different models of feminist writing. The writing-intensive component of the course trains students to develop analytical, writing, and research skills through a variety of writing activities and assignments. Prerequisite: 30 units including three units in GSWS or WS or GDST. Equivalent Courses: WS398. Writing.
Through an examination of the social construction of numbers and other forms of quantitative data will provide an introduction to measurement and its use within social justice movements and policy circles. In analyzing such topics as the relationship between professional, state and community conceptualizations of quantitative evidence, students will make use of introductory statistical concepts, methods and argument. Prerequisite: 30 units. Quantitative.
Bodies are composed of matter and are given to matter. This course situates embodiment socially, historically, technologically, biologically, politically, and economically. Prerequisite: 45 units, including 6 units in GSWS. Students who have taken GSWS 411 or GSWS 831 in Fall 2018 or Fall 2017, or GSWS 320 or GSWS 830 in Spring 2016 under the title "Dude, Where's My Body?" may not take this course for further credit.
We examine how racial and sexual norms and expectations converge in everyday ways and places. Centring critiques queer theory and politics by Indigenous queer, Two-Spirit and feminist, Black, and queer of colour scholars, we ask how racial and sexual logics come together in the spaces we interact with daily. Prerequisite: 45 units, including six units in GSWS. Students who have taken GSWS 411 under the title "The Everyday and Everywhere of Race and Sexuality" may not take this course for further credit.
A seminar-based, interdisciplinary course providing a gendered analysis of violence and resistance, to violence, focusing on political states, conflict and war, individual experiences, and institutional situations through feminist and critical masculinities lenses. Prerequisite: 45 units, including six units in GSWS or WS or GDST. Students with credit for special temporary topics (STT) course GDST 303 Gender, Violence and Resistance may not complete this course for further credit.
New formations of wealth and power that contribute to international health disparities and consideration of the relations of power both between and within nation-states that make some people sick and keep others well. Economic and political collusions that make people sick. Infectious disease and child survival, health implications of war, biotech, and the politics of food and water. Prerequisite: 45 units. Recommended: HSCI 130.
Practical ethical and legal issues in health sciences, emphasizing population and public health. Case studies approach highlighting current ethical dilemmas and decision-making in the context of global to local legal frameworks. Prerequisite: 75 units including nine HSCI units with a minimum grade of C-, one of which must be a 200-division course. Writing.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jean-Christophe Belisle-Pipon |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D101 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D103 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D104 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D105 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Thu, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Examination of the health and health problems of Indigenous peoples from a global perspective. Comparative study of social and historical factors affecting Indigenous peoples that contribute to health conditions and health status. Efforts of Indigenous peoples to restore health to their Nations. Prerequisite: 60 units and completion of HSCI 305 with a minimum grade of C- and either HSCI 340 or HSCI 319W, with a minimum grade of C-.
Themes and issues relating to the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous women in Canada: Indigenous theories of gender; evolution and political function of stereotypes of Indigenous women in Canada; history of Canadian legislation regulating Indigenous identity; relevance of feminist analysis; and history of activism. Prerequisite: 45 units and one of INDG (or FNST) 101 or 201W, or permission of the instructor. Students who have taken INDG (or FNST) 322 under this topic may not take this course for further credit. INDG (or FNST) 327 and GSWS 327 (or WS 327) are identical and students may not take both courses for credit.
Examines written works on sexuality and gender including the history of representations of the sexualized savage; the discussion of Indigenous concepts of gender, including discussions of two-spirit versus gay identity; homophobia and sexual violence as tools of colonization; the emancipatory potential of erotica. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students with credit for FNST 329 or INDG (or FNST) 322 may not take this course for further credit.
Examines issues that arise when Indigenous people must balance economic development and cultural integrity. Topics include self-reflexive internalist research, ethics and best practices in representing Indigenous heritage, public laws and land claim agreements affecting heritage, the exhumation and repatriation of human remains and religious freedom and access to sacred sites and objects. Prerequisite: 45 units or permission of the instructor. Students who have taken INDG (or FNST) 322 previously under this topic may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for FNST 353W or INDG 353W may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bryan Myles |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An examination of Indigenous peoples' perspectives on political, social and legal issues involving their rights as first citizens of Canada and North America, and the practical and political relations with various levels of government. Issues examined include: Indigenous rights and title, self government models and concepts, constitutional matters, the impact of federal government policies, including their impact on women's lives, and Indigenous communities and politics. Prerequisite: 45 units, INDG (or FNST) 101 and one of INDG (or FNST) 201W or 250, or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for FNST 401 may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Natahnee Winder |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An in-depth examination of Aboriginal/Indigenous conceptions of justice in dealing with crime and other trouble in Indigenous communities, and in relations among peoples. Prerequisite: INDG (or FNST) 101 or 201W, or CRIM 101, or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for CRIM 416, CRIM 418, CRIM 419, or FNST 419 may not take this course for further credit.
An examination of how relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples framed and were framed by the development of international law from the 15th century onward. Prerequisite: INDG (or FNST) 101 or 201W, or CRIM 101, or permission of instructor. Students with credit for FNST 429, CRIM 429, or under CRIM 416 or 418 under the title "Indigenous Peoples and International Law" or "Indigenous Peoples and Evolving International Relations" may not take this course for further credit.
Examines contemporary writings regarding Indigenous environmental logic and environmental concerns of contemporary times. Studies effects of resource extraction upon Indigenous nations, globalization, genetic modifications, health, intellectual property, spiritual beliefs, culture and society, art and language and compares these with specific Indigenous logic at the time of contact. Prerequisite: 45 units and one of INDG (or FNST) 101 or 201W, or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for FNST 433 may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Annie Ross |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Traces the development of legal doctrine pertaining to Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the United States, including its shared roots in British colonial law and policy. Prerequisite: 45 units including INDG (or FNST) 101, 201W and one other INDG (or FNST) course; or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for INDG 443W, FNST 443W, HIST 443, or HIST 485 or HIST 486 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Examines contemporary security and governance challenges by drawing on insights from across the social sciences. Includes such topics as: war, nuclear proliferation, genocide, human trafficking, and global health threats. Explores the role of international organizations (the UN, EU, NATO and others) in addressing security challenges and advancing global governance. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nicole Jackson |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D101 |
Nicole Jackson |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
| D102 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
| D104 |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Analyzes some of the historical reasons for the great divergence in world economic development, and undertakes a cross-country, cross-regional perspective of world economic development using a historical approach to long-run economic growth. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Explores how international actors respond to humanitarian emergencies, such as famine, displacement, and genocide. Examines the political, legal, and ethical challenges of humanitarian action by focusing on contemporary cases and on key types of response, from the delivery of aid to sanctions and the use of military force. Prerequisite: 45 units. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brenda Lyshaug |
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
VANCOUVER |
Surveys the ethnic minorities of Southeast Asia, focusing on their relations with other ethnic groups, especially majority populations, and governments. Examines the treatment of ethnic minorities and the responses of the minorities, including ethnic-based secession movements. Reviews cross-border and broader international issues relating to minorities, such as their status as refugees and cross-border support for insurgencies. Prerequisite: 45 units.
Examines various forms of resistance and protest, including everyday resistance and organized activism, with an emphasis on civil resistance. Investigates the conditions and outcomes of protest, focusing on a range of cases which may include Solidarity in Poland, the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and the American Civil Rights Movement. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have taken POL 339 or IS 309 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Examines ethical issues of global concern, with a focus on debates about poverty, environmental change, and armed conflict. Introduces students to relevant political and ethical theories, such as cosmopolitanism and nationalism, utilitarianism, theories of human rights, and ethics of care. Assesses various policy responses to these global challenges. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have taken IS 319 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Examines ideas and practices that affect experiences of forced migration and responses to these situations. What does it mean to live as a refugee? And what needs to change to alleviate the hardships and suffering of so many displaced people? Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have taken IS 329 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.
Examines "International Development" within a series of historical frames, including the history of imperialism, the history of international relations, globalization, and the cultural and intellectual history of North-South relations. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have credit for HIST 358 may not take IS 358 for further credit.
The quality of institutions' exercises a crucial influence on the prospects for development. Aims are to interrogate this claim through analysis of different paths of economic growth and change across the developing world. Examination of the ways in which politics influences economic growth and distribution; the relationships between political systems and patterns of development; and the politics of institutions and state formation. Prerequisite: 90 units.