Courses

Description

This course is an introduction to research in the social sciences that will develop students' research and analytical skills. Specifically, the course will focus on theoretical inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research logics, and the process and structure of research, including: research design, data collection and analysis, and an introduction to report writing.

Description

Lab

Description

The course will provide analytical and theoretical tools for the study of contemporary cultural phenomena using anthropological methods. Popular culture (film, television, music, Internet, etc.) in modern nation-states will be examined to understand how popular culture shapes ideas of culture and community. In addition, the relationship between popular culture and personal identity and gender construction will be explored. Examples will be drawn from contemporary North American culture as well as from countries around the world.

Description

This course explores anthropology's role in understanding the connection between culture and crime, punishment, conflict, and social justice within a globalized, muticultural context. Cross-cultural examples of conflict and justice will highlight similarities and differences between traditionally 'non-violent' societies and 'complex violent' societies to explore alternative justice resolutions. In addition, cross-cultural case studies will demonstrate the interconnectedness of culture and human rights.

Description

This course explores the social construction of masculinities and men's lives in conjuction with the analysis and rac/ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. Masculinities, in its various forms, shapes the lives of both women and men and this course will examine the construction, reproduction, and impact of masculinities on the institutions of education, work, religion, education, sport, family, media, and the military, to name a few. This course will interrogate how masculinities shape individual lives, groups, organizations, and institutions, and will analyze the ways in whcih power functions within these cultural formations.

Description

This is a survey course that will intorduce students to Canada's military history from Confederation through to the Afghanistan War. Students will examine several aspects of Canadian military history including early internal and external defense problems, participation in imperial conflicts, and Canada's involvement in major wars, peacekeeping and alliance efforts, and interventions. There will also be some discussion of race and gender issues in the military.

Description

Design Thinking investigates "Individual as Innovator" by working on design problems in a human, interactive, collaborative, and prototypical way. Students will gain an understanding of the methodology and language used in human-centred design as they problem solve for real and fictitious clieents. Participants will empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test their way to solutions for business, visual, online, and print media using traditional tools and industry standard software programs. Project-based assignments will develop a foundation in design thinking suitable for those going on to study in a variety of design disciplines.

Description

Visual Communication focuses on developing an understanding of the reasons and ways in which people have chosen to communicate. Students will investigate a variety of visual communication examples from the historical to the contemporary and use them as catalyst for their own work. The course will survey work from a variety of different cultures, including Canadian First nations. Students will use those investigations to create their own case studies of techniques both past and present, and will share their projects through a variety of presentations.

Description

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of website design. Students will learn how to design, develop, optimize, publish, and troubleshoot basic HTML and CSS based websites. Students will create websites with standard text editors and with industry leading website development and image editing software. The class is taught with a focus on current and emerging web standards and best practices. Students will analyze and assess other websites to gain insight into the design of their own websites.

Description

This course is a continuation of WEGD 141 and focuses on intermediate concepts around designing, developing, optimizing, publishing, and troubleshooting HTML and CSS based websites. More advanced concepts around user experience, interactive design, and search engine optimization will be discussed. Learners will gain experience in integrating other forms of media into their websites including animation, audio and video. Students will become proficient using industry-leading website development and image editing software. Students will gain an awareness of other technologies that, while beyond the scope of this course, are important components of the current website development landscape.

Description

This course will provide the students an introduction to historical and contemporary sociological thinking about the body. Topics will include a consideration of the body as object or discipline across the life span, as gendered, sexed, classed, racialized, sexualized, abled/disabled etc., constructions, and as a means of expression and experience. This course also draws on sociological theories of the body, critical race theory, queer theory, feminist theory, and postcolonial theory to highlight and ask questions about ways bodies are racialized, gendered and sexualized.

Description

A must for all who wish to design visual solutions that present clear messages, this course will discuss, evaluate and research aspects of Typography as the most basic element of design. Students will learn the role of type in communication as they investigate 'meaning aesthetics' and 'functionality' of letterforms, individually and in word, sentence and paragraph formations. Through the study of typography's graphic and communicative elements, the class will examine letterform anatomy and analysis, form and counter-form, hierarchy, legibility, type conveyance of voice, mood, and meaning and the use of grids. The knowledge gained in this class can be applied to solving any visual problem that involves the typographic form whether it will be presented on a sheet or screen.

Description

Students from multiple disciplines will have an opportunity to work together to extend their knowledge of digital software by practicing and improving their digital literacy skills in authoring software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver. Assignments will challenge students to apply intermediate and advanced concepts in composition, construction, and a variety of digital image manipulation techniques to their ongoing assignments from other classes. Rotating faculty, each with their own area of expertise will facilitate demonstrations, critiques and evaluations.

Description

The practice of Graphic Design through the lens of sustainability will be the focus of this class. Students will work ethically while considering sustainable practices that favour longevity and renewal for the human and his/her environment. Assignments will encourage the development of solutions that feature alternatives to printed materials - like digital and social media, lightweight use of printed materials, and the use of recycled, recyclable and compostable materials for publications, promotions and packaging.

Description

Visual Showcase leads students in creating a set of self-promotional publications that include personal branding, marketing collaterals and a portfolio of their own work. Students will begin by doing an audit of their visual work, choosing those pieces that best demonstrated their skills and reflect their career goals, then critiquing and adapting them into a refined body of work. Opportunities will be presented where students can promote themselves, presenting their portofolio and talking about their work. As a final project, students will set up a visual showcase where they will display their work in a public venue.

Description

This course introduces students to interactive digital media production. Participants will plan, design, develop, optimize, test and deploy interactive digital media projects produced with industry standard software. Students will gain experience working in a variety of digital environments, noting the similarities and differences between program interfaces, methods of production and development proactices. An emphasis will be placed on overarching foundational concepts related to interactive digital media production such as working with timelines, layers and object properties. The basics of producing digital audio, video and motion graphics for online delivery will be explored with a focus on producing informational content.

Description

This course continues to reinforce overarching foundational concepts related to interactive digital media production while providing the space for students to focus on refining skills and conceptualizing, developing and re-developing projects in areas of personal and professional relevance. Opportunities will exist for participants to engage in actual client work with a preference given to non-profit and not-for-profit organizations and institutions in the region. Extra attention will be placed on further developing and applying knowledge related to user experience testing, user feedback and data driven design. Student's will be introduced to stand-alone motion graphic for video software. Students will be encouraged to reassess, reinterpret and improve projects from previous semesters.

Description

This course applies the advanced web councepts introduced in WEGD 142, Students will gain experience in creating web sites that utilize client side and server side technologies including PHP and JavaScript. Participants will develop dynamic websites with content management systems (CMS) and will become proficient customizing them, in part, through plugins, themes and by leveraging skills already developed in HTML and CSS. There will be an emphasis on cultivating professional practices that encourage continued development.

Description

WEGD 242 prepares students for educational, personal and professional opportunities after graduation. Students will develop the skills to cultivate and maintain a professional online presence, in part, through the strategic selection and creative presentation of unique, quality, interactive digital media projects. This self-promotional effort will involve participants marketing themselves to self selected audiences through career-relevant, individualized strategies which will include the creation and promotion of an interactive digital portfolio. As a final project, students will set up a visual showcase where they will display their work in a public venue.

Description

This course takes a narrative approach to drawing while continuing to build on the student's solid base of drawing skills. Human figures are drawn in a variety of posiitons, settings and scenes. Emphasis will be placed on expressive and emotional line drawing for the development of character and story. Additionally, work will be done to learn techniques for placing the figure into a narrative using the storyboard. Suitable for the fine artist interested in exploring narrative artwork, or the student wanting to work in graphic novels, animation or character design. This class focuses on building a knowledge base for future explorations of narrative and the human form.