Arts Academic Plans

The following specializations are open to all students majoring in Social Development Studies.

Diversity and Equity Specialization

The Diversity and Equity Specialization allows students to develop a concentration of courses related to diversity, equity, and social development that will be noted on their transcripts. It is designed for students interested in undertaking critical analysis of power and privilege in relation to various forms of diversity (culture, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, etc.) that help them to understand and work with people from diverse backgrounds both within Canada and internationally.

Requirements

The Diversity and Equity Specialization requires successful completion of six courses:

• at least four of:
  • SDS 242R/RS 242R, SDS 310R, SDS 311R/LS 373, SDS 331R, SDS 345R, SDS 354R, SDS 367R, SDS 370R, SDS 405R, SDS 410R, SDS 411R, SDS 415R, SDS 421R, SDS 425R, SDS 449R, SDS 450R, SDS 490R, SDS 495R, SDS 496R, SDS 499A, SDS 499B 
  • SOCWK 301R, SOCWK 356R
  • PSYCH 349R
• remaining courses from the courses above or the following courses:
  • ANTH 202
  • CI 200/GER 200, CI 250
  • EASIA 346R/ENGL 346R
  • ENGL 108E/GSJ 108, ENGL 208L/GSJ 208L, ENGL 308/GSJ 307
  • FR 373
  • GSJ 101, GSJ 201, GSJ 302
  • HIST 221, HIST 269, HIST 271, HIST 321/LS 331
  • INDG 201/CDNST 201, INDG 301
  • LS 201/GSJ 206, LS 226/SOC 249
  • PACS 327
  • PHIL 204J, PHIL 227/INDEV 300, PHIL 302
  • PSCI 324, PSCI 421/LS 464
  • PSYCH 355
  • RS 229R, RS 259R
  • SI 221R/RS 221, SI 315R/GSJ 315
  • SMF 208
  • SOC 256
  • SPCOM 226

Education Specialization

The Education Specialization allows students to mobilize the knowledge, skills, values, and social relations that characterize education in the broad and formative sense of the term. It is designed for students seeking to understand multidisciplinary approaches to education and social development studies, and will be noted on their transcripts. Students will be able to apply their learning to teaching, counselling, public policy, community and human services, program development, child welfare and much more.

Requirements

The Education Specialization requires successful completion of six courses:

• at least five of:
  
  • SDS 205R/HIST 225, SDS 210R/LS 273, SDS 215R, SDS 220R, SDS 415R, SDS 425R, SDS 435R, SDS 445R, SDS 450R, SDS 490R, SDS 495R, SDS 496R, SDS 499A, SDS 499B
  • PSYCH 212R/PSYCH 212, PSYCH 213R, PSYCH 312R/PSYCH 312
  • SOC 204R, SOC 207R/SOC 207
• remaining course from the courses above or the following courses:
  
  • APPLS 304R
  • ENGL 208C, ENGL 217
  • FR 484
  • PACS 314
  • PSYCH 211, PSYCH 315, PSYCH 319
  • SOC 307, SOC 434/LS 434, SOC 416
  • SDS 326R/SOCWK 326R, SDS 358R/SOCWK 355R

Individual Well-Being and Development Specialization 

The Individual Well-Being and Development (IWD) Specialization allows students to develop a concentration of courses in individual human development that will be noted on their transcripts. In addition to the benefits to their own personal development, students taking the specialization will be well-prepared for careers in areas such as life coaching and training, leadership development, and human resources.

Requirements

The IWD Specialization requires successful completion of six courses:

• at least four of:
  • PSYCH 226R, PSYCH 354R/PSYCH 354, PSYCH 356R/PSYCH 356, PSYCH 444R, PSYCH 448R, PSYCH 450R
  • SDS 345R, SDS 350R, SDS 355R, SDS 367R, SDS 440R, SDS 490R, SDS 495R, SDS 496R, SDS 499A, SDS 499B
  • SOCWK 220R, SOCWK 321R    
• remaining courses from the courses above or the following courses:
  • GERON 201/HLTH 201, GERON 352/HLTH 352/KIN 352/REC 362/SOC 352
  • PACS 202/LS 271, PACS 323/LS 319 
  • PHIL 121, PHIL 201, PHIL 202/GSJ 222
  • PSYCH 318
  • SMF 101, SMF 306
  • SOC 200, SOC 204R

Social Policy and Social Action Specialization

The Social Policy and Social Action Specialization allows students to develop a concentration of courses in social policy and social action that will be noted on their transcripts. It is designed for students interested in careers in public service or civil society organizations in areas such as community organization, law, global governance, human rights, health, housing, and the environment.

Requirements

The Social Policy and Social Action Specialization requires successful completion of six courses:

• at least four of: 
  • SDS 210R/LS 273, SDS 231R, SDS 260R, SDS 288R, SDS 311R/LS 373, SDS 312R, SDS 322R, SDS 323R/SOCWK 322R, SDS 326R/SOCWK 326R, SDS 330R, SDS 331R, SDS 388R, SDS 400R, SDS 411R, SDS 431R, SDS 441R, SDS 445R, SDS 450R, SDS 451R, SDS 490R, SDS 495R, SDS 496R, SDS 499A, SDS 499B 
  • SOCWK 222R, SOCWK 300R, SOCWK 450R
  • SOC 224R, SOC 450R
• remaining courses from the courses above or the following courses:
  • ENGL 309G/GSJ 309/HIST 309/SPCOM 434
  • GSJ 304
  • HIST 221, HIST 258, HIST 369/PSCI 369, HIST 389
  • HLTH 260/GSJ 260, HLTH 410
  • INDEV 302
  • PHIL 328/LS 352
  • PLAN 340, PLAN 431
  • PSCI 260/LS 206, PSCI 334/SOC 334, PSCI 472    
  • RS 301R

Notes

1. Topics studied in the senior seminar, apprenticeship courses, special studies, and senior essay/thesis must be related to the specialization and be approved by the department chair.
2. Other courses may be considered as approved upon written request to, and written confirmation from, the chair of Social Development Studies.

Social Work Specialization

The Social Work Specialization allows students to develop a concentration of courses related to studies in social work that will be noted on their transcripts. It is designed for students interested in social work, and includes many of the prerequisite courses that will prepare students who plan to apply to the Bachelor of Social Work program at Renison University College.

Requirements

The Social Work Specialization requires successful completion of five courses:

• SOCWK 220R, SOCWK 221R, SOCWK 222R, SOCWK 300R, SOCWK 321R

Notes

1. The Social Work Specialization does not include all of the prerequisite courses required for application to the Bachelor of Social Work program at Renison University College. Students should contact the School of Social Work, the Renison admissions officer, or an academic advisor for guidance on the remaining required courses.
2. Other courses may be considered as approved upon written request to, and written confirmation from, the chair of Social Development Studies.