Make your spring and summer count

Whether you want to jump on the fast track to graduation, reduce next year’s course load, satisfy a program requirement or pick up an elective, Brock’s Faculty of Social Sciences is offering a wide array of spring/summer course offerings from April to August to help you advance your area of study and explore topics of interest.

Learn more about some of the exciting 2025 Spring/Summer courses offered by Brock’s Faculty of Social Sciences.

LING 1P94: Introduction to General Linguistics I

Department of Applied Linguistics

SYN – SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Language is vital for human communication, helping us share ideas and establish relationships. Learn more about something you use everyday, in all kinds of ways. In this course, you’ll explore the nature and structure of language, including the relationships between sounds, words, sentences, and the meaning we as humans convey to them.

• Gain a deeper understanding of phonetics (the sounds we use in language), phonology (how we organize those sounds), morphology (the structure of words), syntax (the structure of sentences) and semantics (how we associate meaning to sentences).
• Develop the basic tools to engage with ongoing discussions regarding Indigenous language revitalization by explaining what a language is and how that impacts the process of revitalizing it.
• Learn more about the components that go into acquiring a first and second language.

Prerequisite(s): none

Required for all students within Applied Linguistics or students who are interested in switching to any Applied Linguistics program, those declaring a Minor in Applied Linguistics and for students entering the Speech Language and Hearing Sciences Certificate.

Recommended for prospective Speech-Language Pathology students seeking an Intro Linguistics ½ credit.

Restriction(s): Open to Applied Linguistics majors, CHYS (single or combined), CHYS BA Honours/BEd (Primary/Junior), Applied Linguistics Certificate students until date specified in Registration guide. Opens to non-Major per the restriction list on the timetable on March 19.

This course may also be of interest to students in Psychology, Child and Youth Studies, English Language and Literature, Education, and Modern Languages, Literatures and Culture. Relevant to students interested in the structure and meaning of English and other languages, and particularly to those contemplating careers in language teaching, literary studies, translation, psycholinguistics, speech-language pathology and audiology.

CHYS 3P39: Children, Youth and the Law

Department of Child and Youth Studies

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Interested in working with justice-involved youth and learning more about the ways in which children and youth are regulated through the law in Canada? In this course, you’ll examine complex and controversial issues in youth justice from critical and multidisciplinary perspectives.

• Study the various stages of the justice system including police, bail, diversion, trial, sentencing and restorative justice.
• Explore how law and justice are legal, economic, human, social and cultural systems.
• Watch interviews with justice professionals that highlight the strengths and challenges of the youth justice system from an insider’s perspective.

Required for all Year 3 Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice students.

Fulfills the CHYS Year 3 Cluster C requirement and/or a CHYS 300-389 requirement for CHYS 4 Year BA with Major students.

Prerequisite(s): CHYS 1F90 and CHYS 2P38.

COMM 2P96: Nonverbal Communication

Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film

ONM – ONLINE MIXED

How much of what we’re thinking and feeling is communicated without saying a word? In this course, you’ll decode the hidden language of nonverbal cues and gain greater insight into how people manage conversations and relationships across the channels of communication that escape our everyday attention.

• Examine how body language, facial gestures, clothing, tone of voice, proximity and other nonverbal cues convey emotions and intentions.
• Develop a deeper understanding of how you can tap into the power of nonverbal communication to support your personal and professional pursuits.
• Explore how nonverbal communication influences significant moments such as job interviews, first dates, boardroom negotiations, courtroom trials and police interrogations.

Recommended for Business Communication and Media Communication students looking to fulfill a third year COMM 290+ requirement.

Prerequisite(s): COMM 1P91 and COMM 1P92 (COMM 1F90) or permission of the department. Please email [email protected] to request permission.

This course may also be of interest to students in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Law Plus and Business.

ECON 2P17: Economic Development

Department of Economics

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Do you have an interest in global affairs and a desire to pursue development work in emerging markets? In this course, you’ll examine issues of income inequality, poverty, trade and economic growth from a developing world perspective.

• Study how factors such as education, urbanization, agriculture and international trade affect economic development.
• Explore trending issues such as the realignment of global trade, the impact of the World Bank and the IMF, and emerging trading blocs.
• Analyze different growth models and the historical emergence of today’s underdeveloped nations.

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1P91 and 1P92 but these can be waived. Please send override requests to Indra Hardeen at [email protected]

This course may also be of interest to students in Political Science, Law Plus and Business.

If you’re thinking about switching to ECON, get a head start this spring! All the required second year courses are being offered including ECON 2P21, 2P22, 2P30 and 2P90.

GEOG/TOUR 2P14: Geographies of Alcohol Production in Niagara

Department of Geography and Tourism Studies

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Interested in exploring how alcohol production in Niagara has influenced cultural and economic processes such as place-branding, regional development, and tourism? In this survey course, you’ll use geographical concepts to understand the history of alcohol production and wine tourism in Niagara.

• Explore social and cultural trends such as the rise of craft alcohol production and alcohol-related tourism.
• Examine the role of government policy on alcohol production, distribution and consumption.
• Study how health concerns, climate change and physical geography have impacted alcohol production.

Please note that you do not require any prior knowledge of geography or alcohol production and consumption to take this course.

Prerequisite(s): none

This course may also be of interest to students in Oenology and Viticulture, Economics, Sociology, Biology and History.

LABR 2Q96: Labour and Health

Department of Labour Studies

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

How is the gig economy, political action, social roles and the changing nature of work impacting the health and well-being of workers? In this course, we’ll explore how we can create healthier work-lives and workplaces.

• Examine how factors such as gender, race and immigration status shape the health impacts of work.
• Understand hazards workers face at work, their rights under occupational health and safety, and why the collective fight for health and safety protections at work is an ongoing struggle.
• Explore why today’s workplaces demand emotional labour from workers and how this impacts workers’ well-being.

Prerequisites: none

Crosslisting: also offered as HLSC 2Q96

A popular pick for students interested in pursuing a career in social work, healthcare, labour relations, occupational health and safety, labour law, human resources or social justice advocacy.

POLI 3P66: Environmental Policy, Law and Administration

Department of Political Science

ONM – ONLINE MIXED

Interested in examining growing environmental challenges such as water pollution, forest management, biodiversity preservation and pesticide regulation? In this course, we’ll analyze the socio-political, legal, policy and administrative dimensions of environmentalism at the global level and in the Canadian context.

• Understand the conflicting perspectives, ideologies and discourses of environmentalism by mapping out the key ecological debates and policy solutions.
• Examine environmental policy, law and administration within the context of Canada’s political system.
• Explore issues of public awareness and participation, governmental responses and policies, and the administrative challenges of implementing key policies and laws.

Prerequisite(s): one POLI credit or permission of the instructor. Please send override requests to Diane Leon at [email protected]

This course may also be of interest to students in Law Plus, Environmental Sustainability, Geography and Tourism Studies, Economics and Earth Sciences.

PSYC 2P12: Lifespan Development

Department of Psychology

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Planning a career in healthcare or social work? In this course, you’ll discover age-related changes in how people think, helping you to interact with people of all ages in a way that promotes healthy development.

Required for Recreation and Leisure students, Hearing Sciences and Speech Language Sciences students, students completing a Concentration in Music Therapy Foundations and several postgraduate programs that Medical Sciences and Nursing students are interested in. (Space in the fall/winter PSYC 2P12 course is limited, so the spring session is ideal for Medical Sciences and Nursing students who need it for postgraduate programs but do not have priority registration.)

Recommended for Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice students, as it is a prerequisite to a few courses that students must choose from in third and fourth year.

Prerequisite(s) and restrictions: PSYC 1F90. Open to PSYC (single or combined), HEAR, NEUR, RECL, SPLS majors and PSYC minors until date specified in Registration guide.

SOCI/CRIM 1P90 and 1P91: Introduction to Sociology I and II

Department of Sociology

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Do you want to learn more about the social institutions, relationships and conditions that shape our world? Develop foundational academic skills for future sociology and critical criminology studies in these introductory Spring classes!

• Analyze social interaction, social institutions, and social change across many contexts, such as work, politics, law, criminal justice, families, intimacies, education, race, gender, sexuality, health, the environment, religion, mass media and digital life.
• Study major theoretical paradigms, core concepts and research methodologies of sociology as a critical discipline with potential to inform social policy and influence societal change.
• Develop your critical thinking, research and writing skills.

Recommended for Majors in Sociology, Critical Criminology and Child and Youth Studies, and Minors in Black Studies, Sociology, Critical Criminology and Critical Animal Studies.

Prerequisite(s): none

These courses may also be of interest to students in Canadian Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Labour Studies, Psychology, Political Science, Environmental Sustainability and Law Plus.

WGST 1F90: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies

Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Interested in exploring how intersecting ideas about gender, colonialism, race, class, sexuality and the body shape experience, ideology, institutions and culture? In this meaningful introduction to the field of Women’s and Gender Studies, you’ll learn how to give voice to the many questions and concerns you have about today’s society. 

• Discuss sociocultural, political, and theoretical approaches to, and historical and philosophical foundations of the gendered experience.
• Explore how and why the rights of trans and gender nonconforming people are central to the well-being of all people in society.
• Discover how you, and many others before and after you, can be part of the solution to a more just world.

Prerequisite(s): none

Required Year 1 course for those in any WGST program, and those interested in declaring WGST as a Major or Co-Major, or a Minor in WGST.

This course may also be of interest to students in Sociology and Political Science.

Micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability Research Centre

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Are you passionate about understanding and tackling pressing issues such as climate change, resource depletion and pollution? Add a competitive edge to your resume with a micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability!

• Study sustainability issues from a transdisciplinary perspective and think outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline.
• Develop environmental awareness and fundamental skills that today’s employers seek and society needs.
• Explore the practice of environmental sustainability in a variety of fields such as agriculture, transportation and tourism.

Designed for anyone interested in environmental sustainability, to complement an existing degree pathway or as a standalone micro-certificate, the micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability is awarded upon completion of ENSU 2P01: Introduction to Environmental Sustainability (offered in the spring) and ENSU 2P02: Environmental Sustainability in Practice (offered in the summer) with a minimum 60 percent overall average. Please visit the ESRC website for more information about how you can apply for the micro-certificate as a new or returning Brock student.

The micro-certificate in Environmental Sustainability can complement degrees in Political Science, Geography and Tourism Studies, Earth Sciences, Economics, Business and others.

ADST 5P58: Social Policy in Disability Contexts

Applied Disability Studies

SYN – SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Do you want to learn more about Canadian social policies associated with disability issues? In this course, you’ll explore the role of social policies in advancing social justice for Canadian people, families and communities, with a focus on people with disabilities.

• Examine policies through different lenses including historical, ideological, economic, social and political contexts.
• Study diverse topics such as programs and services, funding approaches, employment equity, and promoting social change from a social policy perspective.
• Explore the relationships between researchers, policymakers and others to understand their roles in policy and social justice.

Prerequisite(s): ADST 5P00 or permission of the department. Please email Brandy Sokoloski at [email protected] to request permission.

Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice (FPAC) Program

Required courses and context credits

Courses of interest to FPAC students that are being offered this Spring/Summer include: