ANT 5100 Contemporary Theory in Anthropology (3 units)
Professor: Stalcup, Meg
Course description
In-depth examination of the main theoretical currents in social and cultural anthropology. Focus on the development and the points of convergence and divergence of these currents, through examples and topical issues.
Course objectives
This course takes up concept work as a central component of anthropological inquiry. We examine how to identify useful conceptual tools to prepare for fieldwork and, later, for analysis. We also study how scholars develop concepts through a back-and-forth movement between empirical research situations and the problems they care about. Broadly, we will look at categories of ethics, epistemology, power, and aesthetics. Our exploration will proceed by locating and examining selected formations of thought and practice in contemporary anthropology, and some of the influential concepts they have produced.
ANT 6104 Indigeneties (3 units)
Professor Simon, Scott
Official course description
In-depth examination of global indigenous resurgence, including the revitalization of legal orders, governance systems, spiritualities and language. Anthropological studies of such subjects as colonialism, post-colonialism, decolonization and coexistence; resistance and resilience; healing, reconciliation and reparation; multiculturalism and cultural appropriation; ecologies.
General objectives of the course
This course will be a comprehensive overview of indigeneities, from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to local initiatives. The focus will be on anthropology’s engagement with global and national indigenous rights movements and other forms of resurgence. The course is a seminar, with pedagogy based on critical reviews of ethnographies. Students will be expected to read one ethnographic monograph each week as the basis for groups discussions on contemporary indigenous resurgence and how anthropology can effectively engage with indigeneities. Cases will be selected from Canada, as well as from other parts of the world for comparison. Students will also be exposed to the art of writing journal articles.
About the professor
Scott Simon has conducted research with the Truku and Seediq Indigenous peoples of Taiwan since 2004. In his first research project (2004-2008), he focused on issues of development and state-indigenous relations. This culminated in the book Sadyaq Balae: L’autochtonie formosane dans tous ses états (Québec: Presses de l’université Laval, 2012). In 2012-13, he did research on Truku ethno-ornithology, as part of a larger interest in ecological issues. From 2017-2022, he is principle investigator on a SSHRC-funded research team called Austronesian Worlds: Human-Animal Relations in the Pacific Anthropocene. This research has taken him, as well as other professors and graduate students, to do field research in the Philippines, Taiwan, Orchid Island, and Guam. He is now writing an ethnography in English about Seediq lifeworlds.
ANT 6112 Medical Anthropology (3 units)
Professor Gandsman, Ari
Anthropology of a pandemic. To inaugurate the first time that this course will be taught and in cognizance of its infelicitous timing with our current moment, this course will be inevitably focused on COVID-19 and what insights from medical anthropology can contribute to the understanding of this global pandemic.
ANT 6122 Environmental Anthropology (3 units)
Professor Kurtovic, Larissa
This graduate seminar focuses on ongoing conversations in the field of environmental anthropology, including but not limited to those concerning the nature-culture divide, multispecies ethnography, climate change, extraction and toxicity, and infrastructural politics. The course will combine ethnographic and theoretical readings, with a particular focus on understanding the conceptual language of the ontological turn, science and technology studies, new materialist thinking and decolonial critique.
ANT 6150 Methodology and Research Proposal in Anthropology (3 units)
Professor Laplante, Julie
Meant as a workshop to run through the different steps leading to the project proposal defense, we will discuss form, content, ethical issues and diverse strategies and approaches that are most relevant to the projected field. We will work with a collective volume (Search After Method. Sensing, Moving, and Imagining in Anthropological Fieldwork, 2020) written by anthropologists, from both in and beyond academia, who share moments of fieldwork and how they learned to weave theory with practices, as well leave enough space to also correspond with what the world is expressing in continuously new ways. We will thus address the three folds of knowing processes which take part in a research proposal; namely developing sensitivities and strategies to pay attention to things (sensing), how to engage in these processes to transform understandings (move and being moved), and how to imagine the written practice from the onset, all as both methods and ways to shape and eventually address a research problem.
SOC 6101 Research Design in Sociology (3 units)
Professor Scobie, Willow
What does it mean to think sociologically? We often associate thinking sociologically with familiarity with sociological theories and concepts, being able to critically read and understand existing sociological research in a given domain, or with knowledge of the diverse suite of methods available to contemporary sociologists. While thinking sociologically certainly involves all of these, it is the ability to link all of these aspects in a coherent, structured reflexive process that we call research that distinguishes sociological from other forms of thought. Research is not an easy practice to convey, not least because it is composed of a variety of tacit mental and non-mental processes, of which sometimes researchers themselves are unaware.
Fortunately, “research” is most clearly crystallised in one of the key artefacts of sociological practice, namely the seemingly ordinary research proposal. Although the research proposal is frequently understood as a formulaic template in which one only has to slot in the appropriate information, the reality is that its generalized uniformity belies the creative and vital sociological thinking that it encapsulates.
The introduction, which ironically is the last thing to be written, the literature review, the statement of the problem – also known in our School by the French term “problematization”, the research question, the theoretical framework, and the methodology are not just sections in a document but key moments in the actual process of thinking sociologically, which is inseparable from undertaking research be it empirical or theoretical.
Consequently, the objective of the seminar is not only to familiarise you with the different components of the research proposal, but also to open up a critical space of reflection on these components and how they fit together. Whether you are writing an article, preparing a scholarship application, submitting a grant proposal, or developing your thesis research, some variation of the processes involved in developing a research proposal will be involved. As a result, this seminar is not merely concerned with helping you work through the steps involved in the research proposal, it also aims to help you mature your ability to think sociologically.
SOC 7101 Citizenship and Rights (3 units)
Professor Winter, Elke
Official course description
Explores relationship between citizenship and rights, focusing on structural and discursive conditions of citizenship and struggles for recognition and equality.
General course objectives
This graduate seminar interrogates the structural and discursive conditions of equitable ethnically and racially heterogenous citizenship. It examines the dividing lines created by the modern idea of nationalism, differentiating between the native-born and immigrants, as well as nationalism’s promise of a “deep horizontal comradeship” (Anderson). It then observes modern nationalism’s key features adapt to the conditions of neoliberalism and globalization. The seminar introduces students to key sociological issues, concepts, and theories on both nationalism and citizenship, two bodies of literature that cross-fertilize but do not fully overlap. Drawing primarily on recent debates and empirical cases from Europe and North America, the course offers students an overview of the interdisciplinary debates that have shaped the field of citizenship studies in recent years. invites them to ask new questions, and provides them with the sociological tools to address those questions. Overall, the seminar has two principal goals: First, it invites students to learn and acquire a new knowledge by introducing them to cutting-edge readings and debates in the field. Second, it introduces them to the most important skills of their profession, such as analytical reading, synthetic writing, team work, as well as public presenting, debating, and facilitating the exchange of ideas on sensitive topics.
Teaching methods
This seminar relies heavily on student participation. We will spend most of our time collectively reviewing, comparing, and critiquing the assigned readings. To bring us all on the same page, in the first three sessions, we cover some key concepts and classic texts that are required to understand the more recent academic contributions and debates. Sessions 4 and 5 provide a brief history of the field and introduce the comparative dimension. The remaining sessions deal with current empirical issues and cover specific angles of the nationalism and citizenship debate in Europe and North America. The last two sessions are reserved for student presentations and/or another research symposium (tbc).
SOC 7102 Migration and Mobility (3 units)
Professor Bourgeault, Ivy
Official course description
Explores different forms of international and internal migration and mobility, as well as the multiple factors that favour, channel, or circumvent the movement of populations.
General course objectives
The objectives of this seminar are to understand the core contemporary theories of mobility, migration and transnationalism and their application to longstanding and emerging issues in the field. Key mobility and migration issues to be discussed include the rise of mobility and changing nature of citizenship in a globalized environment, policy and political aspects of immigrant in and outflows, the role of national and international migration organizations, the interplay between migration and national and international labour markets, and a comparison of diasporic experiences.
About the professor
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault has conducted research on the migration and integration of health workers at both a macro and micro level. At the macro level, she has compared the policy environment in key source (India, the Philippines, South Africa, Jamaica) and destination countries (Canada, US, UK & Australia). At the micro level, she has compared the experiences of doctors, nurses and midwives integrating in the different provincial health systems and sectors. Across all studies, an explicit gender lens has been applied.
SOC 7103 Sociology of the Environment (3 units)
Professor: Young, Nathan
Official course description
Origins of environmental problems and conflicts; social theories of environmental degradation, controversies and disasters; perspectives on human-nature interactions.
SOC 7108 Sociology of Health (3 units)
This course is a graduate level seminar focused on Sociology of Health and Medicine. Its main objective will be to examine how medicine and illness are shaped by society, such as social norms, the pharmaceutical industry and patient activism. We will examine mostly the medical profession (diagnosis, treatment, research), but also include discussion of the social meaning of illness and its experience.
The course’s readings will include literature from Sociology to explore several central themes within Medical Sociology, such as the social construction of illness; medicalization; and the power dynamics between medical profession, government, industry and patients. Drawing on the field of Science & Technology Studies (STS), we will pay particular attention to the question ‘what counts as medical knowledge’, as well as the way patients have used their expertise to transform medicine.
Students may take their own research interests as a starting point to conduct an in-depth literature review of a topic related to the class. This can be an analysis of a theoretical concept (‘expert patient’, ‘pharmaceuticalization’) or a sociological analysis of a specific issue (rise of ADHD, COVID-19 pandemic, ethics of medical tourism). Students will present their findings in class and as a final paper.
SOC 7110 Contemporary Sociological Theories (3 units)
Professor: López, José
About the professor
I have been engaged in teaching sociological theories for over twenty years. Initially, I endeavoured to introduce students to the broadest range of sociological theories possible. This was useful but did not encourage students to develop a strong sense of the craft of theorizing. Then, remembering my own mentor’s, Anthony Woodiwiss, encouragement to theorize for myself, I shifted my attention to encouraging students to learn how to theorize in order to develop their own theoretical voices. The other side of learning to theorize is to learn to read theory rather than just to know or be able to refer to theory.
General course objectives
In this seminar, we will be engaging with the work of just one author, the sociologist Hartmut Rosa. We will read three of his books, Social Acceleration, Resonance, and The Uncontrollability of the World. The goal of the seminar is not only to develop an understanding of his work, but to use his work to reflect on the practice of reading sociological theory. What are we doing when we are reading sociological theory? How does one read sociological theory? How does one go about engaging with a body of sociological theory that one has never read before? In order to encourage my own reflections about the reading process and share in the experience of reading with you, I have purposely chosen an author that I do not know, and that I have never read before. My goal is not to explain Hartmut Rosa’s work to you but to participate with you in the process of reading, and making sense of a body of sociological theory that is unknown to me. The seminar is an invitation to read and learn together. The hope is that this seminar gives you the confidence to continue to read sociological theory yourselves rather than relying on other people’s readings.
SOC 7112 Selected Topics in Contemporary Sociology : Sociology of Race and Racism (3 units)
Professor: Gueye, Abdoulaye
This seminar examines the dynamics of racial identity formation and racism in modern societies. First, it will discuss major sociological theories of racial formation and racism. Beginning with the works of early theorists, including Durkheim, Weber and DuBois, it pursues with the contributions of more contemporary theorists among whom Omi and Winant, William Julius Wilson, Bonilla-Silva to name a few. Second, the seminar will the venue to discuss empirical works on racial formation and racism
SOC 7114 Social Change (3 units)
Professor: Scobie, Willow
The study of social change is at the very core of sociology. Perhaps all sociology is about social change. Change is such an evident feature of social reality that any social-scientific theory, whatever its conceptual starting point, must sooner or later address it. (Haferkamp and Smelser, 1992, 1)
The objective of this course is to engage critically with this idea, as well as concepts related to the analysis, interpretation and understanding of social change. We will explore ideas such as ‘progress’, ‘tradition’, ‘modernity’, ‘evolutionism’, ‘history’, and in particular critically examine some of the taken-for-granted assumptions that we make in the relationship between change and time.
In this course we look at some of the classic texts: Hegel, Spencer, Weber, Marx; some of the more contemporary key pieces by Touraine, Elias, Archer; and think about concepts such as evolutionism (Darwin) from different perspectives, including Ingold and Pierotti (Indigenous epistemologies).
There is a lot of flexibility in where students can take this material and how they connect it to their own projects. I encourage creativity in particular with this aspect of the seminar discussions.
SOC 7140 Advanced Quantitative Methodology (3 units)
Professor: Rippey, Phyllis
This graduate seminar in quantitative methodology offers students the opportunity to build quantitative literacy and carry out original research. By the end of this course, students will be able to (1) carry out a secondary data analysis using nationally representative data, from concept formation through to the presentation of results; (2) read and evaluate quantitative research (without skipping over the methods section!); and (3) identify more advanced quantitative methods to recognize the limits of one’s quantitative knowledge and to determine methods of interest for potential future study.
Students will learn both the formulae for calculating statistics as well as practical hands-on skills in analyzing Statistics Canada data using statistical software such as SPSS or STATA. Students entering the course are not expected to already have advanced quantitative skills (that is what you will learn about IN the course) and anyone with an interest in learning more about how to incorporate nationally representative data into their research are encouraged to enroll. This course can also serve as a useful playground for developing a research question for a quantitative thesis.
SOC 7141 Advanced Qualitative Methodology (3 units)
Professor: Amal Madibbo
This course explores some of the philosophical underpinnings of qualitative social research (phenomenology, critical ethnography, decolonizing methodologies, and feminism social research) along with selected qualitative research methods (in-depth interviews, focus-group interviews, observations, and content analysis). We will also examine the process of qualitative inquiry: research design and planning, literature review, data collection, coding techniques, data analysis procedures, communicating results of research, and research ethics. In addition, we will discuss the interplay between qualitative research, social justice and social change.
SOC 7156 Gender Relations and Interethnic Relations (3 units)
Professor: Eksi, Betul
Official course definition
This graduate seminar focuses on examination of modes of differentiation according to gender, ethnicity, and race in contemporary societies and of the theoretical linkages among them.
General course objectives
This course critically examines the complex ways that intersectionality has been used by scholars, activists, and policymakers. A central focus will be developing an understanding of how systems of oppression and privilege reinforce each other, how they intersect to create an overall matrix of domination. We will explore these ideas through a combination of academic books, articles, and films. Central to this class is the idea that there is no construction of race separate from gender, no construction of class separates from race, no construction of sexual identity separate from gender, disability, nation, etc. To that end, we will not study different systems of oppression separately, rather we will explore, how our lives are shaped by various combinations of these statuses. While the first section of the course analyzes the classical and contemporary conceptualizations of intersectionality, the second half contextualizes it by exploring how scholars use intersectionality to understand oppression and privilege within specific social, economic, and political spheres including the family, the state, immigration, etc.
Specific course objectives
Students are expected to be able to
- Have a deeper knowledge of the development of theories on intersectionality as well as on current theoretical discussions of the concept
- Be able to independently formulate and critically analyse social problems based on theory development and methods of intersectionality
- Be able to independently in speech and writing with critical reflection convey what an intersectional analysis means and how it can be implemented.
SOC 7171 Research Seminar in Political Sociology (3 units)
Professor: Sawan, Joseph
The field of political sociology has a long and diverse history that is concerned with the social organization of power. This seminar explores classic and contemporary theoretical tools that will support an exploration of how power is expressed in contemporary social relations.
With an emphasis on the role of social movements and learning in producing imaginations of the possible, this seminar will provide a space for students to explore how theoretical approaches drawn from the field can facilitate a better understanding of power relations in society.
The research seminar will begin with an overview of key literatures in the field (classic and contemporary approaches) followed by an examination of issues related to social movements, political participation, politics of difference, nationalism, institutions and everyday life.
SOC 7176 Gender Difference in Political Sociology (3 units)
Professor Rippey, Phyllis
Official course description
Examination of the notion of gender difference, in relation, for example, to citizenship, the private/public divide, political representation, women's rights, kinship, and power.
Dr. Rippey’s course description
According to political philosopher Hannah Arendt, ancient Greeks like Socrates and Plato identified “the human capacity for political organization” as what distinguishes people from animals. Though animals may be social, can use tools, and communicate with each other, political action and speech are “the exclusive prerogative of man; neither a beast nor a god is capable of it” (Arendt 1958). These thinkers also saw political life as available only to men, marking clear distinctions between private and public life. Aristotle, in particular, suggested that because women, like animals, are responsible for the reproductive labour needed to sustain the human species, most notably through breastfeeding, women cannot and should not play a role in political life. Though these thinkers have long since left this earth, their ideas are interwoven into the fabric of how our social and political institutions are organized today. The purpose of this course is to find out how this is true.
In this course, we will explore the meaning and realities of gendered differences in political, social, and economic life. We will likely ask more questions than we will find satisfying answers, but we will begin by asking what does gender even mean? How and why does gender matter at individual, social, and political levels? Does gender matter in different ways for different people? In different places and different times? Who gets to decide what gender means and is there any room for change? The course will involve will involve a lot of reading, thinking, writing and discussing. Students will be required to take the material (but not themselves, too) seriously.