Learn more about Indigeneity, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with these Laurier courses
Looking to learn more about the issues and injustices facing our society?
Explore some of Laurier’s undergraduate courses that address Indigeneity, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We’ve put together a list with more than 35 Laurier courses open for registration in the fall 2020 and winter 2021 terms. Additional courses are available depending on your program and year of study. Consult the 2020/21 undergraduate academic calendar for more courses.
Course registration for returning Laurier students is open. Remember, most fall 2020 courses will be offered in an online or remote format.
If you have questions about how these courses support your degree requirements or progression, please contact your academic advisor or visit mydegree.wlu.ca. Be sure to check the prerequisites and restrictions for each course to ensure you meet the requirements before you register.
Courses About Indigeneity
Faculty of Arts
EN230: Introduction to Indigenous Literature
An introduction to the rapidly growing body of literature by Indigenous authors, in dialogue with their social, political and historical contexts. This course is designed to appeal to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, and includes a range of genres such as songs, poems, novels, short stories, graphic novels, government legislation, and videogames.
HI258: Indigenous Peoples and Empires
This course examines the historical experiences of Indigenous societies as they came into contact and interacted with empires. Such encounters encompassed first contacts, commercial networks, cultural exchanges, “colonial projects,” legislative frontiers, violence, and diverse forms of resistance (among many other things) over several different centuries and geographic regions of the world. Selected topics for the course may include: representations of Indigenous peoples; inter-Indigenous relations; contact zones; conquest; violence and resistance; trade and work; “colonial projects”; missions; and governmental policies towards Indigenous peoples.
RE211: Indigenous Religions
A study of Indigenous practices and worldviews. Examples are selected from North, Central or South America. The course considers current writings, controversies and basic methodological problems in studying the traditions of people indigenous to the Americas. Cross-listed with AN211.
Faculty of Liberal Arts
ID207: Gender and Indigenous Communities
This course explores the role of gender in Indigenous communities from theoretical perspectives and through lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. Students will learn about Indigenous theories of gender, including Indigenous feminism, queer/two-spirit theory and work on Indigenous masculinities. The work of Indigenous peoples to address patriarchy through writing, political action and the revitalization of traditions and artistic creativity will be examined as evidence of the struggle to return to the respectful egalitarian traditions where women were valued for their contributions.
Prerequisite: CT/ID120 and senior student status.
ID/LY308: Indigenous Forms of Justice
Indigenous justice systems, customary laws and institutions are being rejuvenated globally by Indigenous peoples. This course will examine Indigenous perceptions of justice that may pose challenges to Western ideas and practices of law justice. It will also examine the influence of Western demands of rule of law and economics on Indigenous justice systems, specifically in terms of producing justice systems that have meaning to indigenous peoples and preserving ancestral values for future generations.
Note: senior students only.
ID/YC401: Indigenous Allyship and Kinship
This course encourages students to think critically about the process of allyship and Indigenous conceptions of kinship. Students will learn about the importance of building and maintaining lasting relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations through practical volunteer experience.
Prerequisites: ID120/CT120; Year 3 or Year 4 status.
Courses About Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Faculty of Arts
EN211: Roots, Race, Resistance: Post-Colonial Literature
This course explores global and postcolonial literature from Africa, Asia and the Americas, in light of questions of migration (roots), identity (race) and power (resistance) in the 20th and 21st centuries.
EN213: The Child in African Literature and Popular Culture
A study of the representation of the "African" child in Western and African literature, film and cultural production. Special emphasis will be placed on teen/young adult novels, and on topics related to education and pedagogy. This course fulfills the "multicultural" component needed for admission to most Ontario teacher's colleges. Exclusion: 209J.
HI208: Liberty, Work and Power: U.S. History, 1607-1877
Why did the U.S. take the shape that it did? This course focuses on liberty, work, and power in the U.S. from its colonial origins to 1877. Contemporary U.S. debates often ask how early Americans thought about culture, government, rights, and religion. We will investigate those matters. Themes include: the Atlantic world; colonial societies; race and conquest; the American Revolution; political institutions; class and gender shifts; slave societies; industrialization; westward expansion; the Civil War and Reconstruction.
HI330: Slavery and Emancipation in the United States
This course examines the history of American slavery, beginning with the arrival of the first slaves in Virginia in 1619, and concludes with the process of emancipation during and following the Civil War. Themes include: the development of slavery, slave economies, and African-American culture in the American colonies, and later, the United States. Topics include: the gradual abolition of slavery in northern states, slave society and culture in the South, anti-slavery activity in antebellum America, emancipation and reconstruction. Exclusion: HI371.
HI331: The African-American Experience since 1877
Significant themes include: the black family, community, and society in the segregated South; the "Great Migration" to Northern cities, urban life, wartime experiences, and the role of African-Americans in the arts. Students will also explore the history of African-American political activism and the struggle for civil rights.
NO105: Billionaires, Beavers and Banditos
This course combines online and in-class learning to examine issues and ideas important to understanding how North America and its constituent countries (Canada, the United States, and Mexico) are understood. Key themes include Indigenous Peoples: colonization and resistance; culture and identity: race, art, and sport; business and society: international trade, labour and migration; and public policy: drug wars, healthcare, and citizenship.
NO211: Canadian Identities and Cultures
This lecture/tutorial course examines how class, gender, race, and a sense of place contribute to the dynamic process of identity construction in Canada. The concepts of community and region are examined, and a series of case studies reveal how identity formation takes place across Canada, both in contemporary and historical terms. The significance of race and racism is central to the course and is explored using film and interdisciplinary scholarship.
NO230: Decolonizing North America
This course critically examines the nature of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples in the settler societies of North America. Among the key themes that may be addressed are land, education, language, and the justice system.
Note: Waterloo campus students only.
PO220: Poverty and Inequality in the Global South
An examination of the causes and consequences of global social and economic poverty and inequality, and what sustainable solutions exist. With case studies drawn from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, we will explore questions like: Why is poverty so persistent, and what can be done about it? How can international aid be more effective? Why is corruption so pervasive? What is the status of women's rights? What are the impacts of globalization?
PO326: The Global Politics of Human Displacement and Refugee
This course will introduce students to the issues of human displacement and refugees in global politics. It will address the causes, effects and domestic/international responses to these issues in historical and contemporary contexts. Students will critically engage with key theoretical, political and ethical questions related to these issues and will in turn use these debates to reflect upon the state of contemporary global politics.
RE202: Liberation and Oppression
This course will explore the social attitudes and movements that have been inspired by readings of the Bible. It will consider how textual sources have served to anchor both progressive and conservative causes at various historical junctures, including feminism, slavery, social justice, homophobia, peace and racialism.
RE339: Dynamics of Islamophobia
What are the historical roots of this form of oppression? How does an Islamophobia industry support the ideologies that justify and legitimate policies and practices that subjugate and oppress Muslims globally? How do gendered and other intersectional forms of Islamophobia manifest? What are some strategies for countering Islamophobia through education and the arts? This course explores these issues and many more facets of this global phenomenon. Exclusion: RE349G.
Note: senior students only.
RE374: Religion and Sexuality
Explores the constructions, regulations and resistances of sexual norms within religious contexts.
WS208: Violence Against Women
This course explores from a feminist perspective the systemic violence women and other sexual minorities experience. Topics may include state violence, institutional violence, gender violence in the media, constructions of masculinity, theories of gender violence, justice system responses and violence in the workplace.
WS209: Women and Leadership
An introduction to the study of women and leadership. This course examines major approaches and debates in organizational theory from a variety of feminist perspectives. Focus will be on women's leadership within the internal workings of organizations, including community organizations, non-profits and non-government organizations, and their roles within broader society.
Note: senior students only.
WS211: Diverse Masculinities
This course, rooted within feminist studies, considers how marginalized masculinities, transnational identities, and women’s experiences, have shaped diverse masculinities. Topics include the theorization of masculinity in relationship to sexuality, violence, homophobia, race, ethnicity, colonialism, postcolonialism, militarization, Indigenous cultures, the family, the law, sports, science, men and feminism. Some restrictions apply.
WS213: Women and Reproductive Justice
This interdisciplinary course introduces the history and contemporary politics of the body from a reproductive justice framework as informed by feminist theories, perspectives and activism. We consider how issues of sexuality, gender, race, class, and disability, or experiences of systemic violence and environmental racism affect our degree of reproductive justice. Particular attention is paid to the experiences of Indigenous women, and although reference is made to these issues internationally, whenever possible the focus is on a Canadian context.
Note: senior students only.
WS306: Women and Social Justice
The history, theory and practice of women’s activism, advocacy, and community involvement at the local and global levels.
Note: Year 3 and 4 students only.
Faculty of Education
EM202: The Educational Divide
Teachers, students, and school systems can either perpetuate or change circumstances of injustice, both locally and globally. This course examines these dynamics and how teachers and students work toward building just societies. Global educational philosophies, research, and practices will be examined through a social justice lens. Exclusions: all Bachelor of Education programs.
Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
CC211: Restorative Justice
This course offers a basic introduction to the concept and practice of restorative justice. It explores the origins, development, values and principles of restorative justice. It examines the role of key stakeholders such as victims, offenders, and the community. The course highlights the program models and practices of restorative justice including mediation with focus on their application in Canada. It also explores the challenges and limitations of restorative justice.
Prerequisites: CC100 or CC102.
HS200: Social Determinants of Health
This course explores the nexus between social justice and health. How do various social, economic and environmental influences impact health? How can addressing inequities relating to issues such as socioeconomic status, race, gender, social support, food security and living and working conditions, improve population health?
Note: Brantford campus students only.
HS344: Health and Gender
This course will explore the gendered nature of health and illness by examining how the construction of masculinity and femininity contribute to different experiences of health, illness and the healthcare system. The course will cover a range of health-related issues for which gender has been of special importance. Topics may include mental health, reproductive health, sexual health and sexuality, occupational health and work, and health policy.
Prerequisite: HS200.
PD201: Intercultural Communications in Policing
Intercultural Communication in Policing introduces students to the field of intercultural communication in order to recognize the challenges faced by law enforcement officials in understanding and interpreting the behaviours, actions and attitudes of individuals in conflict within their own communities, within the larger community and with the law. Topics include postmodern theory, cultural studies, critical race theory, race, racism and representation.
Note: offered online only.
Faculty of Liberal Arts
HR261: Multiculturalism
This course will introduce students to the issue of cultural diversity and to multiculturalism as a political response to cultural diversity in Canada and elsewhere. The course will focus on the historical development of cultural diversity and multiculturalism policy as well as contemporary controversies. This course requires students to participate in experiential learning outside of the classroom and to produce a written assignment(s) based on their experiences.
Notes: This section has a community service-learning (CSL) component; senior students only.
HR/OL251: Workplace Diversity in the 21st Century
Canada continues to experience profound demographic shifts. This course examines the transformations, challenges, and opportunities related to diversity facing today’s leaders and organizational members. This course will address such topics as: understanding diversity, self-cultural awareness, privilege and identity, systematic oppression, working with others, and intercultural communications, among other issues.
HR/SOJE355: Advancing Racial and Ethnic Equality
Contemporary society is a complex network of relations among racial and ethnic groups and other minorities that occupy unequal economic, political and social positions in Canadian society and the world over. This course will examine how these relations are constantly negotiated and renegotiated. It will also consider efforts to advance equality and overcome social exclusion.
Note: senior students only.
HR/YC365: Immigrant and Ethno-Racial Youth
This course applies an interdisciplinary approach to the study of immigrant and ethno-racial youth in Canada and, to a lesser extent, the United States. The course will cover such topics as: challenges faced by immigrant youth and how they differ from second- and third-generation immigrant youth; marginality, racism, and exclusion; and the critical role played by the educational experience on the outcomes of ethno-racial youth.
HS344: Health and Gender
This course will explore the gendered nature of health and illness by examining how the construction of masculinity and femininity contribute to different experiences of health, illness and the healthcare system. The course will cover a range of health-related issues for which gender has been of special importance. Topics may include mental health, reproductive health, sexual health and sexuality, occupational health and work, and health policy.
Prerequisite: HS200.
Faculty of Music
MU275: Music of the World
An introduction to the musical cultures of the world. The course will focus on the relations between music and society.
Note: open to music and non-music majors.
Faculty of Science
HS219: Critical Disabilities Studies
This course takes disability as both the subject and object of inquiry. In order to critically examine the meaning of impairment and disability in contemporary culture, this course will draw from multiple disciplinary perspectives, including critical social theory, legal studies, human rights and biomedicine. Topics may include the history of disability studies, disability rights, advocacy and activism, biomedical and bioethical dilemmas regarding disability and impairment, and an exploration of disability as a social, rather than physical, construction.
Note: must be Year 2 student or later.
PS282: Community Psychology
An introduction to both a conceptual and an experiential understanding of issues and topics in community psychology. Topics include: the history of community psychology; stress and social support; oppression and social intervention; primary prevention and health promotion; self-help; mediating structures; community mental health; alternative settings; organizational change; community organization and community development.
Prerequisites: PS101 and PS102.