Faculty of Social Sciences

www.socsci.mcmaster.ca

HAMILTONO N T A R I OC A N A D Amcmaster.ca/future

The Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University offers you an educational experience

of the highest quality. After our students complete their studies, they enjoy considerable

success whether they go to graduate school, continue their education in some other way or

enter the job market.

The flexibility of your first year in the Faculty of Social Sciences will help you to discover your

interests by giving you the opportunity to take courses from a wide variety of disciplines.

First-year courses are designed to provide an overview of each discipline and to help you to

choose a major (or majors) best suited to your interests and learning style. Elective courses taken to

complement your studies may be selected from other Faculties, subject to meeting prerequisites.

You should also feel free to make use of the extensive academic advising offered through the Office

of the Associate Dean. While some students have well-defined academic plans, others are unsure

of their academic interests and may find it useful to talk to one of our academic advisors.

Inquiry As a first-year student you are encouraged to complete Inquiry 1SS3. Taught in small classes of 30 students, it provides an opportunity for students to learn how to ask good research questions, search out and evaluate evidence, develop well-reasoned conclusions and present outcomes to the class. Research has shown that students who complete Inquiry 1SS3 receive higher grades in university courses, complete their degree on time and are more likely to obtain the Dean’s Honour List standing.

FACuLTy OF SOCIAL SCIeNCeS

www.socsci.mcmaster.ca

2

Introduction to University through Experiential LearningOur new six-week, non-credit course, SOC SCI 1EL0, presents information and activities to assist first year students with the transition into university. Topics include learning strategies, academic planning, goal setting and career options. An introduction to campus and community resources is also covered.

Experiential Education The Faculty of Social Sciences offers an education that combines academic study with hands-on experience – we call it Experiential Education. This unique blend provides you with the opportunity to:

take our tuition-free course, Social Sciences 2EL0, which provides an introduction to career planning through experiential learning

participate in the diverse learning strategies used by our award-winning professors, including: field trips, simulations, computer-mediated experiments and academic placements within the community

pursue a placement or practicum that allows you to develop professional skills in the field while earning academic credit

test drive your career choices before graduation through our paid internships, career placements or volunteer opportunities.

Develop After Level I you will further develop your academic interests. The Faculty of Social Sciences offers three- and four-year Bachelor of Arts and four-year Bachelor of Social Work degrees. You can choose from one (or two) of our innovative programs:

Anthropology

Economics

Geography

Gerontology

Health Studies

Labour Studies

Political Science

Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

Religious Studies

Social Psychology

Social Work

Sociology.

Putting It All Together Hi-tech CEOs, university chancellors and others who know the virtues of a social sciences degree have said: ‘our students develop a broad range of transferable skills that adapt easily to a changing workplace.’

These skills include:

critical thinking

communication skills

problem-solving

research and data analysis skills

teamwork

confidence with presentations

abstract reasoning

expository writing

time management.

3

New for 2012 – An Integrated Business Studies Certificate* with a Social Sciences Degree!Beginning in September 2012, McMaster University and Mohawk College plan to launch a new Integrated Business Studies Certificate as an option with a Social Sciences degree. The Business Studies Certificate will provide practical skills that are attractive to future employers in all aspects of work in both the private and public sector. This specialized certificate is exclusive to Social Sciences students and provides a valuable opportunity to attain foundation knowledge in the key aspects of Business, which our students might not normally have the opportunity to acquire. These courses balance the theoretical knowledge you expect from a university education with the practical application traditionally offered at the college level.

The Business Studies Certificate will be available to all Social Sciences students in a three -level Bachelor of Arts or four-level Honours Bachelor of Arts program. This specialized certificate will be issued by Mohawk College at the time of graduation from the degree program based upon successful completion of the six approved Business Studies courses for Social Sciences students.

Courses will include:

Introductory Business

Marketing

Financial & Managerial Accounting

Human Resources Management

Personal Financial Management

Entrepreneurial Training

Students will also be permitted to take courses individually as electives.

*Subject to approval

4

LeveL I Program Students in Level I Social Sciences have a great deal of flexibility in their course selection from within the Faculty of Social Sciences and from other Faculties across the campus.

Total = 30 units Required: 12 units (from the Faculty of Social Sciences) Electives: 18 units

Level I Course DescriptionsNote: The last digit of the course code indicates the unit value of a particular course (e.g. 1A03 = 3 units).

Anthropology 1A03 Introduction to Anthropology: Culture and Society

An introduction to the comparative study of culture and society. Anthropology began as a discipline devoted to the study of the ways of life in “primitive” or tribal societies. The nature of anthropology has changed in the last thirty years; today, the scope of anthropology extends far beyond the few remaining societies that have experienced minimal cultural change. Examples are drawn from a broad range of societies at all levels of social and technological complexity in order to explore some fundamental issues about human knowledge and behaviour.

Anthropology 1B03 World Archaeology

An overview of the long-term archaeological history of humanity, with an emphasis on historical processes that include migration, technological and stylistic change, intensification of food production, social differentiation and political integration. The course will examine some of the scientific methods and theories currently implemented by archaeologists in their search for answers.

Anthropology 1Z03 The Human Species: Becoming and Being Human

The study of interaction between biology and culture based on examination of human biological variation and evolution, past and present. The course takes an anthropological approach to investigating humans within the biological world; that is, it aims to study humans as biological organisms who have culture. Topics may include: human origins, non-human primates, the concept of race, disease, sex and gender. It will explore the role played by culture, diet and disease in shaping contemporary human biology and will ponder the expanding human footprint on earth.

Economics 1B03 Introductory Microeconomics

Microeconomics is the study of the economic behaviour of individual households, business firms and the manner in which they interact in the markets for goods, services and labour. This course pays particular attention to market structure (e.g. monopoly vs. competition) and the roles of government. The governmental roles considered include those of market regulation (such as controls for pollution and public utilities), provision of services (such as health and education) and income transfers (such as unemployment insurance and public pensions). The goals of the course are to help the student understand why we have the types of markets and the roles for government that we observe today and what would be the consequences, both good and bad, of alternative economic policies. The course makes extensive use of graphical analysis.

Economics 1BB3 Introductory Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics concentrates on overall economic activity and on such aggregate measures as the unemployment rate, the inflation rate and gross domestic product. The main issue in this course is whether and how changes in government expenditure, taxation and monetary policies may affect the economy in the short and long term. There is considerable discussion of the policy choices involving such issues as unemployment, inflation, government spending and taxes, international trade and others. The course makes extensive use of graphical analysis and simple equations.

Geography 1HA3 Human Geographies: Society and Culture

This course provides an introduction to the theories and methods of human geography by providing an overview of the field and acts as a foundation for subsequent human geography courses. Topics covered include: culture (including language, ethnicity and religion); cities and urban society; symbolic landscapes; and environment and health. There will also be an opportunity to conduct fieldwork in the local area.

5

Geography 1HB3 Human Geographies: City and Economy

This course provides an introduction to the theories and methods of human geography in the area of urban/economic geography. The course provides an overview of the field and acts as a foundation for subsequent courses in urban/economic geography. Topics include: world population; environmental issues; theories of location and world urbanization trends. There will also be an opportunity to conduct fieldwork in the local area.

Health, Aging and Society 1AA3 Introduction to Health Studies

Health, illness and health care are concepts that have many social, cultural, political and economic dimensions that go beyond the biomedical perspective. This course will focus on those issues through a critical social scientific perspective. Themes may include ways of understanding health and illness, social justice and health and the politics of health care systems.

Health, Aging and Society 1BB3 Aging and Society

This course examines issues in aging from a multidisciplinary perspective including such topics as: myths and stereotypes of aging, social ties in later life and the aging of the Canadian population. It provides a deeper understanding of aging and the changing body, mind and self, as well as the meaning and experiences, challenges and opportunities of aging and later life.

Inquiry 1SS3 Inquiry in the Social Sciences

Inquiry is the art and skill of developing understanding through the process of asking good questions, searching out evidence and arriving at well reasoned conclusions. In sections of only 30 students, the course will help develop critical abilities in conducting an inquiry in the social sciences. Students find these skills invaluable as they progress in other university work. The course is unique in that it takes the process of learning to be crucial. It emphasizes a participatory approach with the development of the ability to be self-directed and features small group instruction.

Labour Studies 1A03 An Introduction to the Canadian Labour Movement

Why do some workers form unions while others don’t? Why do some advocate reforming the current economic system while others have more radical political goals? How have workers been affected by economic booms and busts, political crises and war? This course will explore these questions and more by examining the history of the Canadian labour movement. Students will look at how workers, by forming trade unions and political parties, have shaped working life, political participation, legal employment rights and social welfare in Canada. Students will also examine how the earlier activities of the labour movement continue to have an impact on contemporary Canadian society.

Labour Studies 1C03 Voices of Work, Resistance and Change

How is work shaped by gender, race, class and culture in a global world? How are workplace cultures of community and resistance built? Do they transform our experience of work? In this course, questions will be raised about why work is satisfying or not and under what conditions people construct communities of work, at work. In order to study these issues, the course will introduce students to information on where people work, the segmented structures of the labour market and the changing form of employment relations towards more precarious, risky jobs.

Political Sciences 1G06 Politics and Government

This course introduces students to the theoretical and practical aspects of politics. Students will develop an understanding of the origins and significance of basic political science concepts, such as democracy, citizens’ rights and responsibilities and political power, among others. The course will also introduce students to contemporary political issues, such as controversies associated with Canadian politics, international politics, multiculturalism or the justice system.

Psychology 1X03 Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

This course explores the central theme that rigorous research methods are required to understand the broad topics of experimental psychology. Students will explore learning and cognitive functions, higher order processes, social psychology, personality and psychopathology through interactive web modules, class reviews, weekly small group discussions and live lectures.

Psychology 1XX3 Foundations of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

This course builds on the themes of Psychology 1X03 to understand that modern approaches to problems in psychology use multiple levels of analysis. Students will explore how methods of neuroscience, evolution and behaviour contribute to our understanding of sensory systems and behaviours critical to survival as we interact with the environment.

Religious Studies 1B06 World Religions

A study of the world’s major religious and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The course introduces major texts, thinkers and practices to increase the student’s knowledge and appreciation of these traditions and allows them to develop a deeper understanding of the academic study of religion.

Religious Studies 1D06 Modern Study of the Bible

This course is designed to introduce students to the writings of the Bible, and to the study of the Bible as an academic discipline. Substantial portions of the Bible, in a modern English translation, will be read. Attention will focus on the circumstances in which, and the process by which, various parts of the Bible came to be written; also on how the Bible can be used to illuminate the history of ancient Israel and early Christianity.

Religious Studies 1J03 Great Books in Asian Religions

This course introduces foundational books of the major religious traditions of Asia, including: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto, in their historical and cultural contexts.

Social Sciences 1EL0Introduction to University through Experiential Learning

This new six-week, non-credit course, presents information and activities to assist first year students with the transition into university. Topics include learning strategies, academic planning, goal setting, and career options. An introduction to campus and community resources is also covered.

Social Work 1A06 An Introduction to Social Work

Have you ever wondered how personal problems are caused or affected by society? Ever wanted to understand or do something about injustice? This course introduces students to new perspectives on current issues, emphasizing the social context of what many see as personal struggles. Students examine our world, our communities and ourselves in relation to issues such as poverty, violence, racism, sexism, heterosexism and ableism. Students will also consider the roles of social work and social workers in service provision, advocacy, organizing and policy development. The course can provide a basis on which to decide whether a career in Social Work is for you.

Sociology 1A06 An Introduction to Sociology

This course is designed to give students a broad understanding of sociological inquiry. The instructor will provide an overview of the basic concepts and themes of sociological analysis. Students will explore various issues, such as deviance and crime, the world of work, social movements, political organizations, gender relations, race and racism, the family, and popular culture.

Typical Timetable – Term 1Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m. Psychology 1X03 – Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (lecture)

Health, Aging and Society 1AA3 (tutorial)

Psychology 1X03 (lecture)

10:30 a.m. Economics 1B03 – Introductory Microeconomics (lecture)

Economics 1B03 (lecture) Psychology 1X03 (lecture)

11:30 a.m. Health, Aging and Society 1AA3 – Introduction to Health Studies (lecture)

Health, Aging and Society 1AA3 (lecture)

12:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m. Sociology 1A06 – An Introduction to Sociology (lecture)

Sociology 1A06 (lecture)

2:30 p.m. Inquiry 1SS3 Inquiry in the Social Sciences (lecture)

Economics 1B03 (lecture)

3:30 p.m. Sociology 1A06 (lecture)

4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6

Level I Course Descriptions

Anthropology today is part of an interdisciplinary endeavour that studies four dimensions of humankind: the past of humanity, the cultures of present-day peoples, the biological component of human beings and language in a cross-cultural perspective. It differs from other social sciences in terms of its breadth

(which is global), its methods and its outlook, which is comparative, humanistic and – increasingly – both practical and applied.

In the words of Margaret Mead, a founding ancestor of cultural anthropology, “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Focus of Study Our anthropology programs provide grounding in the three sub-fields of anthropology:

archaeology

biological (or physical) anthropology

cultural (or social)anthropology

Admission to Level IIStudents must complete the requirements of any Level I program, including at least two courses (6 units) from Level I Anthropology 1A03, 1B03, 1Z03.

Skills knowledge about biological, ecological

and cultural factors that influence human behaviour

theoretical approaches and practical methods for enhancing cross-cultural understanding

an understanding of particular cultures and ethnic groups from a global perspective

skills in social research, qualitative interviewing and fieldwork

an understanding of the elements of human evolution and genetics

experience in writing both descriptive reports and analytical papers

the ability to analyze the root causes of social problems, and to work towards solutions with people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds

Did You Know... The Department of Anthropology has a state-of-the-art ancient DNA

laboratory, perhaps the finest one of its kind in Canada?

Our department has long term involvement in applied HIV/AIDS research in the African countries of Zimbabwe, Uganda and Malawi?

Ann Herring’s Anthropology 4S03 - Anthropology of Infectious Disease class has published its 5th book on an infectious disease and its implications for Hamilton?

Each summer, through Anthropology 3CC6, an intensive 6-week field course in archaeological field and laboratory methods, students are provided with the necessary training to work in professional archaeological consulting? Students learn how to excavate an archaeological site and receive hands-on instruction in such techniques as mapping, field recording and laboratory analysis.

7

ANTHROpOLOgy

Economics is the study of how individuals, businesses and governments make decisions, and of how they might make better decisions. Economists analyze behaviours in most areas of human activity. What is

the most efficient and fair way to provide health care and education? What are the benefits

and costs of free trade among countries? What are the benefits and costs of pollution

control strategies?

Focus of Study Our general interest field courses, which require only introductory economics as a prerequisite, examine issues such as those associated with public expenditure and taxation policies, labour markets and environmental regulation. More advanced courses have additional prerequisites and cover such policy areas as labour problems, health care, natural resources, money and banking, finance, industrial organization, the aging society, international trade and finance and development. Economics provides an excellent preparation for graduate training not only in economics but also in law, business administration, public administration, health administration and other areas.

Admission to Level II Students must complete the requirements of any Level I program including Economics 1B03, 1BB3. Calculus may be required later in the program (if Calculus and Vectors 4U was not completed).

Did You Know... Members of the Department of Economics participate in several major research initiatives at McMaster:

The Research Institute of Quantitative Studies in Economics and Population

The Program for Socio-Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population

The Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis

The McMaster Experimental Economics Laboratory

The Public Economics Research Data Laboratory

The Statistics Canada Research Data Centre

The Research Program on the Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population?

Research projects coming from these initiatives support classroom discussions on:

the advantages of using tradable pollution permits rather than pollution taxes to effectively regulate the emission of environmental pollution

effective ways to manage fisheries or forest resources

the extent to which globalization limits independent policy making by governments in countries that engage extensively in international trade such as Canada

how large will the pension and health care burden be on today’s young workers when the baby-boomers retire

sensible long-run targets for the size of the Canadian government debt

the pros and cons for Canada of free trade with the USA and Mexico

selecting the best taxes to cut from – among the HST, income taxes and payroll taxes – in order to help reduce unemployment.

8

eCONOMICS

PossIbLe Careers Recent graduates have found employment as: economic analysts researchers financial planners

economic forecasters managers (government/business) economic consultants.

“ The need for an education in geography – knowing where things are, why they are, and why this knowledge matters – has always been paramount in all societies. It is no different today. Both geographic knowledge and an appreciation of the value of geographic perspective are essential to help

individuals and groups make sense of the changing worlds in which we live.”

William Norton, 2007

Focus of Study McMaster offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Geography, Geography and Environmental Studies and Geography and Another Subject (Combined Honours). Upon entry into an honours program in Level II students are required to take two methods courses (Statistical Analysis and Research Methodologies in Geography). Students will also select courses from the following themes:

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis

Urban Geography

Health and Population

Location and Transportation

Environment.

Human geography examines the spatial organization of people and their activities. There are three recurrent themes in human geography:

Humans and the land: the evolution of the human world with reference to people, their cultures and physical environments

Regional studies: the study of regional variation in human societies

Spatial analysis: the study of why phenomena are located where they are and the explanation of spatial patterns of human activity.

PossIbLe Careers Recent graduates have found employment as: environmental analysts

assistant controllers

GIS analysts consultants policy analysts

research assistants teachers urban planners.

Many others have gone on to graduate studies or professional programs.

Admission to Level II Students must complete the requirements of any Level I program including six units of Level I Geography or Environmental Science courses.

As a complement to lectures, students benefit from inquiry components in most courses, methods courses (including GIS), and a variety of field courses and trips. Experiential education is an important component of the Geography programs. During this past year, students taking Geography 4MF3 travelled to San Francisco, California to conduct supervised field research focusing on urban development and change, the regional economy, and socio-political challenges in the city and the wider Bay area.

Did You Know... McMaster’s School of Geography and Earth Sciences offers:

a state-of-the-art GIS lab

an outstanding collection of more than 140,000 maps

access to Statistics Canada Research Data Institute?

Current research projects of the department’s faculty members include:

environmental issues in the Hamilton area

psychosocial impacts of exposure to environmental contaminants

the roles of the public in health-care decision-making

environmental health

urban economic and regional migration modeling

urban transportation energy use and emissions migration

integration of disabled persons in the workplace

teaching and learning in geography and environmental studies?

9

geOgRApHy

Programs in Health, Aging and Society focus on the significance of health and aging in institutional and cultural contexts. The perspectives of the social sciences are brought to bear on the diverse means and practices associated with health, aging and society.

Students will learn methodologies associated with the approaches, debates and representations of aging and health in a variety of

contexts (e.g., media, policy, literature). Special emphasis will be placed on the development of the students’ ability to critically analyze

and interpret information. In our Honours program two fields of study are available: Gerontology and Health Studies. There is also a BA

program and a minor in Health Aging and Society that combines the best of both areas of study.

Gerontology Gerontology is the interdisciplinary study of aging, a fascinating and complex area of investigation that requires integration of biological, psychological, social, health and economic knowledge. Gerontology examines issues related to an aging population and explores the meaning, experiences and context of later life and growing old.

10

HeALTH, AgINg AND SOCIeTy

Did You Know...

McMaster was the first university to offer an undergraduate Gerontology program in Canada?

Health, Aging and Society 1BB3 students have the opportunity to attend tutorials led by older adults from the community?

Research interests of faculty who teach Gerontology courses include: old age security policies, health economics, homecare workers and family inheritance?

Focus of Study At McMaster, Gerontology is studied from a wide variety of perspectives. We offer courses on topics such as:

social aspects of aging

the aging mind

issues in aging families

social and health policy for an aging society

aging, work, retirement and pensions

images of aging in literature

aging and health

the aging body

diversity and aging

aging and mental health

issues in long term care homes

research methods in gerontology.

Admission to Level II Enrollment in Honours Gerontology is limited. Admission is competitive based on academic achievement. To be considered, students must complete the requirements of any Level I program, including Health, Aging and Society 1AA3 and 1BB3.

Strengths of the Program Faculty come from diverse academic

backgrounds with a wide range of research interests and expertise

Provides a multi-disciplinary focus on the study of aging and in-depth knowledge on a wide range of topics and issues in gerontology

Community professionals are involved in the classroom, as placement supervisors and as thesis advisors

Small class size allows for a high level of student-faculty interaction and fosters a “sense of community” among students in the program

Experiential learning, with practical and applied components, is available in several courses

Health StudiesHealth Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary background in the social and cultural dimensions of health, illness and health care. Health Studies examines the contributions of Western medicine in the Canadian context, explores other ways of understanding health and illness, and examines health and health care from an international perspective.

Focus of Study The broad aims are:

to introduce questions that social scientists ask in the study of health and illness

to understand some of the implications of the social and cultural study of health and illness for health services and policies

to help students critically analyze and interpret health-related information, debates and representations in such contexts as: the media, public policy, community activism, literature and the arts.

Beyond first year, courses include:

Mental Health

Work and Health

Environment and Health

Ethical Issues

Disabilities and Chronic Illness

Health Economics

Social Aspects of Reproductive Health

Social Identity, Health & Illness

Health, Illness and the Body

Health Policy

Health in Cross Cultural and International Perspectives.

As a minor, Health Studies complements any four-year program.

Admission to Level II

Enrollment in Honours Health Studies is limited. Admission is competitive based on academic achievement. To be considered, students must complete the requirements of any Level I program, including Health, Aging and Society 1AA3 and 1BB3.

Research Research interests of faculty who teach in the program include:

the impact of environmental pollutants on child health

cultural representations of health and illness

migration of health care workers

social organization of cancer care

international comparison of disability policy systems

complementary therapy use and health care decision-making among people living with HIV/AIDS

midwifery and maternity care

how religious beliefs influence and shape illness and healing experiences

how social marginalization affects people’s experiences of illness

rehabilitation policy.

PossIbLe Careers Health Studies provides a solid basis for informed engagement in community, cultural and political contexts concerned with health and illness. The skills that students learn will be valuable preparation for many different areas of work and study, including:

health-related occupations other careers where health and health care may be of interest, such as journalism, public policy or law

further professional studies such as nursing, social work or medicine

graduate studies.

11

Labour Studies may be of interest to you if you would like to know:

how work is changing in a global economy

how unions are renewing themselves

the impact of corporate strategies on workers

how labour markets are being transformed

how the role of women in the paid and unpaid labour market is changing

whether changes in the workplace are improving the quality of life at work.

LAbOuR STuDIeS

Focus of Study Work is studied as one component of a larger life experience that includes family life, community relations, gender relations, and state policy. The subject is broadly defined to include those in paid and unpaid work, and in traditional and non-traditional workplaces. Course materials range from medieval roots of modern labour markets to discussions of how to deal with problems created by globalization.

Admission to Level II Enrollment in Honours Labour Studies is limited. Students must complete the requirements of any Level I program including Labour Studies 1A03 and 1C03

PossIbLe Careers community outreach workers international aid work labour lawyers human resource managers union research officers

public policy analysts arbitrators employment equity officers labour educators

Did You Know... students are able to become involved in research projects with faculty? The Labour Studies

Online Learning Centre (www.labourstudies.mcmaster.ca) is one such student led project.

research activities of the unit are housed in the Institute on Work in a Global Society? Projects include:

a major study of the relationship between work organization and heart disease

the impact of globalization on social cohesion amongst workers

examining the treatment of contract workers globally

how reorganization of the public sector has affected workers

a study of international campaigns to improve working conditions in less developed economies

work reorganization and work/family balance in the public sector.

Honours students may complete a fourth-year field placement course where they gain practical experience in an area of interest? You might:

– sit at the bargaining table while GM and the Canadian Automobile Workers hammer out a deal

– see what happens to workers when a firm downsizes or introduces new technology

– help implement policies aimed at reducing health and safety risks.

A number of students have gone on to law school, completed Masters in Industrial Relations or Masters in Work and

Society, taught by Labour Studies faculty at McMaster.

12

Who gets what, when and how? Who rules? Where does the power lie in Canada? What drives globalization? Can it be stopped? In political science, we consider these and other questions in looking at the future of Canada and other countries around

the world. We also look at issues such as justice, freedom and democracy and the relationship between

individuals and governments. At the international level, students examine the cause of conflicts, the

conditions for peace and the impact of regionalization and globalization on individuals and communities.

pOLITICAL SCIeNCe

Focus of Study The department covers all aspects of political science with particular emphasis on:

Canadian Politics: public policy formation, social movements, political parties, organized interests, foreign defense and economic policy.

Comparative Politics: theories of comparative politics, methodology of comparative analysis, knowledge of selected geographic areas and political systems, human rights, regional integration and state policies.

International Relations: covering globalization, international relations theory, international organizations and international political economy.

Political Theory: examines political theory and the questions and ideas that provide a basis for political action. Major areas of study include the political thought of the ancient Greeks, liberal-democratic theory including theories of the market and the political economy critique of liberal theory.

Public Policy: studies the way in which governments, citizen groups, business, and other actors interact in the development and implementation of government policies. Students specializing in public policy learn how to analyze government efforts to address public policy problems.

Admission to Level II Students must complete the requirements of any Level I program including Political Science 1G06.

PossIbLe Careers journalists policy analysts data analysts lawyers media and communication coordinators

political assistants public affairs managers human resource personnel teachers civil servants

Did You Know... Some of our faculty research includes:

the impact of globalization and the reasons for anti-globalization demonstrations

racism and tolerance in the United States and France

private non-governmental authorities in the international system (for example, private authority of the Internet)

restoration of the environment around the Great Lakes

the political experience of refugees

reasons for economic success of East Asia?

Political Science students have the opportunity to combine theoretical and practical learning:

in Political Science 3N06 Research Methods, Statistics and Political Analysis, as they conduct a general social survey of the student body and analyze the data

when they attend various UN simulations held each year around North America?

13

Admission to Level II Enrolment in the Honours BA program is

limited. Students must complete any Level I program including Psychology 1X03, 1XX3 with a minimum grade of B- in each; and a credit in Biology and Calculus.

For the BA program, students must complete any Level I program including Psychology 1X03 with a minimum grade of C- and Calculus must be completed by the end of Level II.

14

Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour is the scientific study of brain and behaviour. It covers topics from perception (how we see objects, process speed, hear music); to

cognition (how we think); to emotion and social behaviour (how we feel, how we interact with others); to psychopathology (how

and why behaviours sometimes go wrong); to development and evolution (how organisms develop in various domains, the role of

genetics in development, the role of environment), how the brain develops and how experience influences its development.

pSyCHOLOgy, NeuROSCIeNCe &

beHAvIOuR

Focus of Study Animal Behaviour: the use of ecological, evolutionary, physiological and psychophysical approaches to understand behaviour and cognition.

Cognition & Perception: considers how people mentally represent their experience and then use these representations to operate effectively. Perception research seeks to understand how natural and artificial stimuli interact with our sensory systems.

Developmental Psychology: is concerned with factors that affect physical, perceptual, cognitive, emotional and social development across the lifespan. The relative contributions of innate and experiential factors in development are studied.

Evolution & Social Behaviour: Evolutionary psychology is where the study of social cognition, development and behaviour is integrated with the study of animal behaviour, physiology and the evolution of behaviour.

Systems and Behavioural Neuroscience: The question of how the brain works is a major focus of this research area. Sensation, perception, learning, memory, reasoning, emotion and all other aspects of brain functioning depend on cellular communication within the nervous system.

PossIbLe Careers Graduates are well prepared to pursue postgraduate training as well as careers in medicine, neuroscience, law, speech and hearing pathology, clinical psychology, forensics, business, teaching and environmental and biomedical research. The types of entry-level jobs for which graduates are typically prepared include those that use writing, analytical, people and research skills.

Did You Know...

The 90,000 square foot Psychology Building provides state-of-the-art human and animal research facilities, including: an optical imaging laboratory, a transgenic procedure suite, neurochemistry suites, a computer lab, advanced eye-tracking and virtual reality systems, equipment for transcranial magnetic stimulation and the largest number of electroencephalography (EEG) systems in one department in Canada?

The Music Cognition Specialization is a multidisciplinary program which brings together science and the arts in a unique and innovative way; studying questions about: the neural processing of music, the performance and perception of music, how music induces emotional reactions and how musical experience and training affect brain development?

The Intro Psychology courses use a blended learning environment combining online learning technology with traditional face-to-face instruction?

15

All known civilizations, cultures and nations have been deeply affected by religion.

Religions have variously shaped peoples’ ideas of what is real and important about themselves and the world; created institutions such as temples, schools, synagogues and churches; produced literature in which

they have recalled their history, instructed their followers and poured out their devotion; organized rites and rituals for the ordering

of both the continuities and the changes of individual and communal life; crowned kings and queens and inspired revolutions. The

study of religion, then, is one of the most comprehensive ways of understanding humankind and human visions of reality.

ReLIgIOuS STuDIeS

PossIbLe Careers The usefulness of a religious study degree is not limited to those who seek employment in religious organizations and may include:

community workers journalists teachers religious educators public relations officers civil servants.

Focus of Study McMaster specializes in:

Asian religions: both religious traditions and the religion and culture of the geographic area.

Biblical Studies: courses focus on the Judaeo-Christian scriptures and the history of early Judaism and early Christianity.

Western Religious Thought: courses cover Christian thought from all historical periods, Jewish history and philosophy, and Islam; the encounter between religious thought and modernity.

Contemporary and comparative religions: cross-cultural study of religious phenomena including cults in North America; health, healing and religion; death and dying.

Western religious thought: Christian thought of all periods and the encounter of religious thought (both Christian and Jewish) with the science and secularism of the modern world.

Admission to Level II Completion of any Level I program including six units of Religious Studies courses.

Did You Know... Faculty in Religious Studies at McMaster are engaged in research on:

anthropology of pilgrimage, focusing on an unofficial Catholic pilgrimage shrine in Brittany

technology and ethics

Buddhism, alcohol and tea in Medieval China

new Jewish healing groups

Japanese religions

Buddhist monastic law

the emerging dialogue between theology and the new physics and biology

the publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls

new approaches to Jewish-Christian relations in late antiquity?

16

Students examine various aspects of social psychology from a multidisciplinary perspective to gain an understanding of how individuals behave, how small groups and communities interact and how societies develop practices and priorities.

SOCIAL pSyCHOLOgy

Focus of Study Students will learn how to locate themselves in the complex fabrics of their cultures, their geographies and their power relationships. Students who are interested in many social science perspectives on how people develop over the lifespan and how they behave both individually and socially in different environments and circumstances should consider this program.

Admission to Level IIEnrolment in this Honours program is limited. Students must complete any Level I program including Psychology 1X03 and Sociology 1A06 with a minimum grade of C in each; and a credit in at least nine units of other Social Sciences courses from the following list:

Anthropology 1A03, 1B03, 1Z03

Economics 1B03, 1BB3

Geography 1HA3, 1HB3

Health, Aging and Society 1AA3, 1BB3

Inquiry 1SS3

Labour Studies 1A03, 1C03

Political Science 1G06

Psychology 1XX3

Religious Studies 1B06, 1D06, 1J03

Social Work 1A06

PossIbLe Careers behaviour analyst career counsellor health care coordinator human resources specialist marketing research parole officer teacher volunteer services

Did You Know... Some of our faculty research includes:

child and adult development

human sexuality

intergroup relations

ethnopolitical conflict

the relationship between psychology and sociology

community versus individuality

the social and personal impact of, and response to, economic crises?

Social Psychology students have the opportunity to combine theoretical and practical learning:

in Social Sciences 3ZZ3 (Complex Problems From a Multidisciplinary Social Psychology Perspective), as they examine social problems from a multidisciplinary social psychology perspective

in Social Sciences 4ZZ6 (Integrative Studies in Social Psychology), when they get to participate in a seminar, an experiential education opportunity, an internship, a group thesis, or some combination of experiences which result in a capstone learning opportunity?

17

Have you ever wondered how personal problems are caused or affected by society? Ever wanted to understand and do something about injustice? Social Work might be for you. Social Work emphasizes the social context of what many see as personal problems.

Social workers use their skills and knowledge to facilitate change with and for people who are experiencing difficulties in

their lives and who struggle with the impact of injustice and oppression.

As social workers, we see personal troubles as inextricably linked to oppressive structures. We believe that social workers must

be actively involved in the understanding and transformation of injustices in social institutions and in the struggles of people to

maximize control over their own lives.

SOCIAL WORk

Focus of Study Our program prepares graduates for the general practice of social work by developing:

how to analyze personal, community, family and societal problems – including how social work and social welfare institutions affect and respond to these problems

practical skills such as interviewing, counselling, community development, social action and advocacy

Admission to Level II Social Work offers two limited enrolment programs, a combined BA/BSW and a BSW (for students who already have a degree). The BA/BSW program requires:

completion of the requirements of any Level I program with a minimum average of 67%

one of: Sociology 1A06 or Social Work 1A06

six additional units from: Social Sciences I courses, Indigenous Studies 1A03, 1AA3, Women Studies 1A03, 1AA3, Peace Studies 1A03, 1B03

submission of an application form to the School of Social Work by March 1st of the year you plan to start the program, and completion of the Social Work Admissions Test (S.W.A.T.)

Aboriginal applicants may request an alternative admission process.

For detailed instructions on applying and dates for the S.W.A.T. go to our website www.socialwork.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate-program/admissions-1

Experiential Education You will have two field placements during your degree. Working in a community organization you will:

gain real-life experience working with service users and community groups

apply skills and knowledge acquired in academic courses

understand how social organizations and networks work

collaborate with other professionals and learn social work values and ethics

learn from and be supervised by a practicing social worker.

PossIbLe Careers Social workers work with and for all kinds of people – people living in poverty, people who are ill, living with disabilities, experiencing mental health difficulties or addictions, those in conflict with the law, people who are young or old, refugees, new immigrants and Indigenous people. Social workers make vital contributions to the community by working as:

counsellors and advocates community organizers administrators

social planners, researchers and policy analysts

Sociology is the study of individuals, groups, patterned behaviours, and social institutions such as the family, education, health and health care, the criminal justice system, media, paid and unpaid work, and politics.

At the core of sociology is a concern with various types of social inequality and movements for social change. Sociologists study a wide

range of issues in a way that helps to explain the relationship between our personal experiences and the wider organization of society.

SOCIOLOgy

Focus of Study The Sociology Department at McMaster offers expertise in several core areas:

Aging: provides students with a strong sociological foundation of knowledge on aging.

Deviance & Social Problems: focuses on social factors contributing to deviant behaviours and social problems in society.

Education: describes the nature of the educational system.

Gender: examines the role of gender in society, and focuses on the relationships among gender, sexuality, family, work, and broader political and economic institutions in society.

Health & Health Care: examines the effectiveness of the delivery of health care in Canada and other countries.

Ideology & Culture: examines how the culture of a society is expressed and is transformed through outlets such as sports, the mass media, and the Internet.

Individuals & Society: examines how individuals are shaped by social processes.

Occupations & Organizations: explores organizations, paid employment, domestic work and labour unions.

Race & Ethnic Relations: examines social issues surrounding ethnicity and race.

Social Inequalities: examines inequalities based on race, gender and class.

Sociological Theory: provides the conceptual tools for analyzing social life.

Sociological Methods: provides the methodological tools for analysis.

PossIbLe Careers advertising consultants business consultants career counselors health care coordinators human resource specialists job analysts labour researchers media consultants

parole officers police officers/administrators recruiters social workers statisticians systems analysts teachers

Did You Know... Sociology faculty excel in both teaching and research? Our faculty are currently involved in the following research projects:

community attitudes toward adoption

anti-sweatshop campaigns

Hasidic communities in Canada

aboriginal/non-aboriginal relations

the Ukrainian Diaspora

struggles around worker health and safety in Ontario

women, restructured work and unions

the transition from school to employment and changing forms of competition among students

sociology of the internet/cyberspace

the popularization of the idea of “globalization”

HIV/AIDS and alternative approaches to health care

social construction of geological science

male cosmetic surgery

family inheritance

men’s filial care-giving

hockey violence

recruitment of foreign-trained professionals.

18

Admission to Level IIStudents must complete the requirements of any Level I program including Sociology 1A06.

19

Regular Campus ToursCampus tours take about 1½ hours and are conducted by McMaster students. The entire campus is covered in the tour including a visit to at least one residence building. Please note:

advanced notice of two to three working days is required

tours are available Monday to Friday, from October 3 to December 6, 2011 and January 9 to April 5, 2012

tour times are 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.

campus tours may be scheduled on some Saturdays with at least one week’s advance notice

campus tours are also available throughout the summer, from mid-May to the beginning of August

To register for a campus tour, contact the Student Recruitment & Admissions Office:

Tour Portal tours.mcmaster.ca e-mail liaison@mcmaster.ca phone 905-525-9140 ext. 23650 fax 905-524-3550

Complimentary parking passes will be provided for registered campus tour visitors upon arrival. Please refer to your tour booking confirmation e-mail for further details. It is best to enter the campus via the Sterling Street entrance (Central Campus). Directions can be found online at: www.mcmaster.ca/welcome/findus.cfm

Virtual Tour tours.mcmaster.ca

Unable to visit McMaster in person? Explore our picturesque campus via one of our online tours. You can take a Guided Tour that follows the same route as an in-person walking tour, create a personalized tour or simply explore major campus hotspots. We also offer a basic version for users with a slower internet connection or older computer.

Special visit events

Fall Preview

Saturday, October 29, 2011

visit display areas and talk with reps from academic, service areas and student groups in a relaxed and informal Roam Around Session

tour the campus

March BreakMonday, March 12 – Friday, March 16, 2012

regular campus tours

faculty-specific activities available

be sure to register in advance as group sizes are limited

May@MacSaturday, May 12, 2012

University-wide Open House event

applicants will be sent information in the Spring

includes campus bus tours, special facility tours, sample lectures and lab demonstrations, opportunities to speak with professors, staff and students

vISITOR INFORMATION

tours.mcmaster.ca

Still have questions? ask.mcmaster.ca

Hamilton, OntarioCanada L8S 4L8

905-525-9140 ext. 23650mcmaster.ca/future