University Arts and Sciences Courses by Discipline
Overview
Browse all the disciplines and courses offered by the School of University Arts and Sciences. Depending on your program, you may need to take one or more of these courses as a required or elective course.
Areas of Study
For support with course selection, please contact a Selkirk College counsellor or your school chair. Explore options to take these courses as part of an associate degree or liberal arts diploma, as electives or through Open Studies.
Humanities (Arts)
Creative Writing
Creativity is a buzz word for a reason—the ability to inspire through well-crafted narrative is at the centre of our culture. Whether your aspirations are to write books, articles, film scripts, video games, web content or advertising pitches, there needs to be power behind your words. Our instructors can help you find that power through writing craft.
English
English literature refers to written works in the English language, including novels, short stories, poetry and plays, created by authors not just from England, but also from various cultures and time periods. Studying English literature enriches one's understanding of diverse perspectives, cultures and human experiences, fostering critical thinking and communication skills, essential for personal growth and success in various careers.
English composition refers to the art of expressing thoughts and ideas in written form using the English language. It involves organizing and structuring information coherently to communicate effectively. Studying English composition enhances communication skills, fosters clear and persuasive writing, and prepares students for academic and professional success in various fields that require strong written communication and research abilities.
French
Learning to understand and speak more than one language is considered an important part of a broad liberal arts and sciences education. Many universities encourage or require proficiency in a foreign language for students seeking degrees. Speaking another language can open the door to a myriad of possibilities here and abroad.
History
To understand the present and move forward into the future, you have to know where you came from. Get a handle on where the world is headed by learning how the past is still shaping our current realities.
Indigenous Languages
In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, Indigenous language learning offers a unique way to explore Indigenous voices, perspectives and knowledges. Indigenous language learning promotes cultural preservation, increases awareness of Indigenous history and heritage, provides a deeper understanding of the impacts of colonization and assimilation, and offers access to vital information about ecosystems, conservation and sustainability.
Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Studies provides a safe space to critically examine, explore, learn, research and deepen understandings of the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous Peoples and communities. Building awareness and insight into Indigenous epistemology (ways of knowing), ontology (ways of being) and axiology (ways of doing), Indigenous Studies offers opportunities to explore ways in which we can respectfully participate in creating a future vision that embodies respect for cultural diversity and the health of our planet.
Law and Justice Studies
The Law and Justice Studies courses prepare students for further legal education or a career in law enforcement. Students can take a range of courses emphasizing conflict resolution, critical thinking and legal problem-solving, and are exposed to a variety of guest lecturers who provide first-hand accounts of working with law in a rural context.
Peace and Conflict Studies
The Peace and Conflict Studies courses are for those who have a strong desire to understand human conflict and to help put an end to the world’s needless suffering through viable non-violent methods and practices. Themes include environment, restorative justice, leadership, international development, social justice, human rights and non-violence.
Philosophy
Philosophy can make a difference in people’s lives. Critical thinking pushes us to reflect on our background assumptions, and it helps us to sharpen the analytic tools we use in many areas of life. Moreover, a hike through the history of philosophy can illuminate ideas and values that underlie our cultural traditions and social practices. Studying philosophy can prepare us to make and defend careful judgements about our lives, our society and our world. In short, as Plato might put it, philosophy can help us to live "the examined life."
Spanish
Learning to understand and speak more than one language is considered an important part of a broad liberal arts and sciences education. Many universities encourage or require proficiency in a foreign language for students seeking degrees. Speaking another language can open the door to a myriad of possibilities here and abroad.
Social Sciences (Arts)
Anthropology
Anthropologists study humans and non-human primates. Anthropology is both a science and a social science, depending on the area of focus. Anthropologists study all peoples (and primates), in all places, throughout time. The difference between anthropology and other disciplines is the way anthropologists approach their studies: comparatively and holistically. At Selkirk College, the focus is more on the social science side of the discipline.
Economics
Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources (including our time, our energy, our built capital and our natural resources). Economics examines ways to get the most benefit out of our resources. If you are interested in a structured system of thought that allows for rational, well-thought our decision-making, economics will interest you.
Geography
People who are curious about the world around them and who enjoy being outdoors are natural geographers. Geography students study the spatial relationships between natural and built environments and culture. Studying geography is a hands-on experience, and the learning is applicable to everyday life whether is observing how landscapes are changing or seeking to understanding cultural differences.
Psychology
Psychology studies behaviour, emotion, motivation and how our minds think. Because the field is so fascinating, psychology courses are the most popular ones across North America. The practical and theoretical science of psychology is directly applicable to careers in marketing, economics, education, environmental protection and health care.
Sociology
Sociology is the analysis of human social relationships, cultures and institutions that profoundly shape both our lives and human history. Sociology helps us make sense of the rapidly changing world in which we live.
Women's Studies
These courses provide a unique perspective on the world and your place in it. You will have the opportunity to explore categories such as gender, class, race and sexual orientation and how these interact with the world around you.
Sciences
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that occur within living organisms. Understanding the molecular-level interactions gives us insight into how biological systems work and how we can influence them. Biochemists play vital roles in drug development, agriculture, medical research and biotechnology.
Biology
Biology is the study of life. The cell is the fundamental unit of life and has unique chemistry, anatomy and behaviour as it interacts with its environment. In aggregate, cells form populations and communities that are part of environments, from the air, the oceans, soils and even 5 to 10 kilometres below the surface of the earth.
Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of matter. What isn't chemistry? An understanding of matter at the atomic level allows us to understand the properties of materials on a larger scale. Chemists work not only in research labs but also in food, pharmacology, toxicology and more. Training in chemistry is essential for medical professionals, engineers and environmental scientists. Chemistry truly is the "central science."
Computer Sciences
Geology uses science to investigate the materials that form our planet and the processes that act to change it over time. Geology is a synthesis of many scientific disciplines and seeks to explain the nature and evolution of our planet. Our planet is an intricate, interconnected web of earth, water, air and life that is always changing. Currently, this state of flux is accelerating and to know where we are headed, we have to understand the Earth’s past. Geology tells this story.
Geoscience pathways
Interested in becoming a geoscientist?
Understanding Earth's processes is the first step toward protecting our planet and adapting to a changing climate. Begin your studies at Selkirk College and continue on to complete a geoscience degree.
- Selkirk College, Geographic Information System – bachelor's degree
- Simon Fraser University, Earth Sciences Major
- University of British Columbia, Geology Major
- University of British Columbia Okanagan, Earth and Environmental Sciences Major
- University of Victoria, Earth Science Major
Mathematics
Mathematics lets us model and analyze the world in a quantitative and rigorous way. University degree programs often use math courses to help students develop skills in analysis and inquiry. Math is also a study of patterns and beauty, with connections to art, music and poetry. If you are a creative problem-solver and appreciate an intellectual challenge, then there are math courses you will enjoy.
Physics
If you are curious about the world around you, want an appreciation for technology or desire to improve your problem-solving skills, take physics. Fundamental physics is concerned with natural phenomena from the microscopic to the cosmos. The laws of physics overlap with other branches of science, including chemistry, biology and geology. Applied physics develops new technologies in everything from medicine and agriculture to astronomy and energy. Physicists have an important role in modern society.
Statistics
In a world of big data, statistics gives us the tools to see patterns that would escape us otherwise, to summarize large data sets and to prove or disprove hypotheses using data-driven arguments. In today's age, a good foundational knowledge of statistics is vital to research of any kind and will allow us to think critically about howe data can be used and manipulated.
Applied Sciences
Engineering
Engineering drives the modern world and permeates all aspects of our lives, from the electricity grid to agriculture and transportation. As an engineering student, you will learn about how mathematics, science and design are used to ethically solve everyday problems while preserving the safety of the public and environment.
Courses
CWRT100 - Introduction to Creative Writing I
CWRT 100 Introduction to Creative Writing I. This course offers an introduction to composition and experimentation in the genres of poetry and creative non-fiction. Students will develop a working knowledge of modern aesthetics in poetry and creative nonfiction, as well as an objective appreciation of their own ''voice'' in the context of those aesthetics.
CWRT101 - Introduction to Creative Writing II
CWRT 101 Introduction to Creative Writing II. This course offers an introduction to composition and experimentation in the genres of fiction and drama. Students will develop a working knowledge of modern aesthetics in fiction and drama, as well as an objective appreciation of their own ''voice'' in the context of those aesthetics.
CWRT200 - Manuscript Development I
CWRT 200 Manuscript Development I. The emphasis of this second year creative writing course will be on portfolio development and preparation of manuscripts for publication. Students will submit their own imaginative writing for workshop in any of the four genres – poetry, drama, fiction, or non-fiction. Students will also begin to develop professional practices through self-directed projects. Lectures will mirror the assigned readings and serve to initiate theoretical discussions on form, theory, and craft.
CWRT201 - Manuscript Development II
CWRT 201 Manuscript Development II. The emphasis of this second year creative writing course will be on portfolio development and preparation of manuscripts for publication. Students will submit for workshop their own imaginative writing in any of the four genres being taught – poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction. Allowances for other genres will be made with the permission of the instructor. Lectures, both face to face and online, will mirror the assigned readings and serve to initiate theoretical discussions on form and theory, and principles and elements of craft.
ENGL110 - College Composition
ENGL 110 introduces students to the world of scholarly writing -- reading it, thinking about it, and producing it as academic researchers. Students will explore how professional and/or academic writers across disciplines communicate to a variety of audiences. Students will practice active reading, writing and critical thinking skills by conducting scholarly research on a topic. This course aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to write effectively within academic contexts.
ENGL111 - Introduction to Literature
ENGL 111 Introduction to Literature is about living more intensely. Rather than providing answers, literature prompts us to ask better questions of ourselves and each other. Drama, poetry, short stories, and novels will guide us in discussion, reflection, and writing about literature.
ENGL200 - A Survey of English Literature I
ENGL 200 A Survey of English Literature I. ''In spring folk long to go on pilgrimage'' so begins Geoffrey Chaucerï's 14th century masterpiece of the English tradition, The Canterbury Tales. In English 200, we will set out on a pilgrimage which honours the living beauty of the English language and its greatest writers such as Spenser, Shakespeare and Donne, ending in the 17th century with Milton.
ENGL201 - A Survey of English Literature II
ENGL 201 A Survey of English Literature II. From the calm reason of the Enlightenment to the passion of the Romantics, we still live out the questions first asked by the brilliant writers of 18th and 19th Centuries. In the company of such authors as Pope, Swift, Wollstonecraft, Keats, Wordsworth, and Austen, we continue our pilgrimage into culture, belief, and literary achievement begun in the previous semester with English 200.
Find Out More
We look forward to connecting with you! Fill out this form and we'll reach out to you.