Graduate Program Course Descriptions

Courses at Guelph are designated as Anthropology (prefix ANTH*-), Sociology (prefix SOC*-), either Anthropology or Sociology (ANTH*- or SOC*-), and Geography (prefix GEOG*).

Required Courses

ANTH*6000 Public Issues Anthropology F [0.50]

This course will examine the interface between anthropological and public understandings of public issues, with sensitivity to the presence or absence of anthropological insights. The course will assure that students become well versed in how to synthesize the resources of various branches of the discipline.

ANTH*6080 Anthropological Theory F [0.50]

An examination of classical and contemporary anthropological theory, including an emphasis on the most recent directions in the discipline.

ANTH*6140 Qualitative Research Methods W [0.50]

An examination of the methods of qualitative research, including participant observation and unstructured interviews, as well as the ethical considerations of fieldwork. Other topics, such as comparative and historical methods, may be included.

UNIV*7100 Academic Integrity for Graduate Students S,F,W [0.00]

Academic integrity is a code of ethics for teachers, students, researchers, and writers. It is fundamental to the University of Guelph’s educational mission and to ensuring the value of the scholarly work conducted here. This course provides definitions, examples, and exercises to help graduate students understand the importance of academic integrity and learn how to avoid academic misconduct in their own work. This course required of all graduate students has to be completed within 20 days of commencing their graduate program at the University of Guelph.

ANTH*6700 Pro-seminar F-W [0.00]

The pro-seminar concerns matters involved in graduate studies and later work as a professional anthropologist, including how to form a graduate advisory committee, assistantship responsibilities, presentation skills, exploration of careers in anthropology, writing grant proposals, reports and articles, and teaching.

Sample Elective Courses

Some of these courses are offered only once a year or once every two years. When making your course selections, please check with the department offering the course you are interested in taking. You can also speak with your Advisor or the PIA Graduate Co-ordinator about other courses which you think may be suitable or relevant to your research.

ANTH*6270 Diversity and Social Equality U [0.50]

This course will examine a range of approaches used in the study of intergroup relations, with special emphasis on struggles over influence and power. Students will acquire a deeper understanding of the complex intersection, as well as the overlap among forms of identity and group mobilization based on ethnic, linguistic, regional, class, gender, racial and other forms of social division. The course may also cover native issues and policies related to multiculturalism, equity and local or regional autonomy.

ANTH*6420 Environment, Food and Communities U [0.50]

This course will reflect recent sociological interests in food studies and global agro-food systems, resources and the environment, community sustainability, rural-urban linkages, the transnationalization of labour regimes, and social movements in the rural context. The course will encourage students to take a comparative and historical approach, focussing on cross-national and inter-regional studies where possible, and to examine how class, gender, race and ethnicity play out in each particular substantive topic comprising the rural field.

ANTH*6460 Gender and Development W [0.50]

Cross-cultural and historical changes in gender relations and the roles/positions of women brought about by industrialization and the development of the world system. Critical examination of the predominant theories of gender relations, in so far as these inform development research and action in societies with different socio-economic systems. Introduction to the latest theories and research in the area of women and development, as well as with social and political actions undertaken by women themselves. This is one of the two alternative core courses for the Collaborative International Development Studies program.

ANTH*6480 Work and Change in a Global Context U [0.50]

This course will consider some of the theoretical frameworks available for examining work, workers and work places in the context of globalization, economic restructuring, and shifts in public policy. Using case studies of particular work worlds, the course may include topics such as changing patterns of work and employment in comparative contexts, labour regimes, industrial and organizational change, organizations and protest, education for work, and the regulation of work. The course will focus on the dialectical relationship between the configurations of gender, class, race and ethnicity and the transformation of work.

ANTH*6550 Selected Topics in Theory and Research U [0.50]

This course will be offered with varying content focusing on theory or research.

ANTH*6600 Reading Course U [0.50]

A program of directed reading, complemented with the writing of papers or participation in research. Reading courses are arranged by students through their advisors or advisory committees and must be approved by the chair of the department. This course may be repeated provided different content is involved.

ANTH*6660 Major Paper U [1.00]

The major paper is an extensive research paper for those who do not elect to complete a thesis. It may be taken over two semesters.

GEOG*6340 Human-Environment Relations U [0.50]

A critical review of philosophies, concepts and analytical methods for analysis and management of systems involving the interaction of environmental processes and human spatial activity.

FRAN*6200 Community Engaged Scholarship W, S [0.50]

Community engaged scholarship (CES) is scholarship that involves 'the university' in a mutually beneficial – and collaborative – partnership with 'the community' in the attempt to address and solve community-identified problems. This course engages students in collaboratively-developed CES projects.