3.7 Course Overviews: "R", "S"
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RELIGIOUS STUDIES (RELS)
Introduction to World Religions
6 - Humanities
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
This is a junior-level course designed to acquaint students with the major religious traditions of the world, and to the academic discipline of religious studies. The religions studied are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. They are examined through a study of their history, doctrinal concerns and development, literature, and ritual practices.
SCIENCE (SCIE)
Scientific Reasoning
3 - Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
This course deals with both the formal and informal aspects of scientific reasoning. Topics covered include the following: what is science? what is reason? the scientific method; relations between theory and experiment; scientific paradigms explanation and prediction; what is a scientific theory?; principles of reasoning; systems of analytical reasoning;
tools for analysis (Venn diagrams, classification, syllogisms, Boolean logic); statistical inference; traps and fallacies of reason; and mathematics in science.
Prerequisite: 12 credits of university-level science courses (or equivalent) including at least 6 credits with laboratory components.
Science Projects
3 each - Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
Science Projects is based on a contracted study arrangement between the student and an approved supervisor. Students improve their skills to choose and define problems, obtain information from libraries or experiments, organize facts
and ideas, and report ideas and conclusions in written form.
A student may do one 3-credit project (SCIE 495) or two 3-credit projects (SCIE 495 and SCIE 496). These courses are for students who wish to carry out interdisciplinary science-related projects or to obtain formal recognition, through this project course, of science-related skills and training they have received on the job (agriculture, business, forestry, or industry). Projects can only be done on work planned; they cannot be done on work already completed.
Registration may take place at any time during the year.
Before registering, the student must submit an acceptable project proposal. These courses are excluded from the challenge for credit policy.
Prerequisite: permission of the course professor and at least 12 credits (at least 3 at senior level) in the topic area.
Precluded courses: SCIE 495-496 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for SCIE 314 and SCIE 315.
Special instructional features: The course may involve library, field, or laboratory work as agreed to by the student and the supervisor. Students are expected to obtain and pay for all materials used in the projects. Further information and a project proposal form may be obtained from the professor.
SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (SMBM)
Starting a Small Business
3 - Applied Studies
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
The emphasis in this course is on the practical aspects of starting and running a small business in Canada today. SMBM 201 is suitable for anyone wishing to launch a new venture as well as for individuals who are already in business but who want to learn how to improve their operations.
SMBM 201 is designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs who, because of time constraints, will benefit from the convenience of managing their own learning at the same time as managing their own businesses.
Note: This course is not applicable to the Bachelor of Commerce program.
SOCIAL SCIENCE (SOSC)
Human Sexuality
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Audio Component
Human Sexuality is a comprehensive introduction to the study of sexuality. Topics examined in this course include sexual diversity within and across cultures, sexuality throughout the life cycle, development of gender and sexual orientation, sexual dysfunctions and their treatment, and sexuality and disability. In addition to considering sexuality as an important component of individual development, this course examines key issues of sexuality and society including AIDS, abuses of power, and sexually explicit media.
This is an audio-based course that recognizes the plurality of views towards issues of sexuality, and takes a non-prescriptive approach by incorporating different perspectives throughout the twelve programs. The audio programs feature interviews with well-known Canadian experts, providing students with the opportunity to acquire a broad range of knowledge about sexuality and the opportunity to critically reflect on what they have learned.
Special instructional features: Students must have access to an audiocassette player.
Research Methods in the Social Sciences
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This course introduces the basic techniques of social research and provides students with a general knowledge of the range of research methods commonly employed in the social sciences, including the ethical guidelines within which social research is normally conducted. The course is divided into three parts which represent the basic elements included in a general review of the research process in social science: scientific
method, general principles of research design, and major research strategies. Major emphasis is placed on providing a practical knowledge of the research processes used in the social sciences and in preparing students to undertake their own elementary research projects. Students formulate their own research proposals and design their own research projects.
Prerequisite: none. A junior level social science course is recommended.
SOCIOLOGY (SOCI)
Introduction to Sociology
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This is the first of two courses (SOCI 287 and SOCI 288) designed to introduce the study of social relations and prepare students for more senior courses in the social sciences. This course introduces students to the study of human society by analysing the interaction of human groups and the dynamics of social change. It is divided into four parts, each of which examines a representative topic from the field of sociology: introduction to sociology; culture, socialization, and the family; deviance and social control; and industrial and pre-industrial societies. Each part of the course focuses on the people, language, institutions, beliefs, culture, and values that shape societies. The course enables students to examine their own experiences as part of a wider social milieu. The course develops such skills as essay writing, critical thinking, and elementary social research techniques.
Introduction to Modern Society
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This is the second of two courses (SOCI 287 and SOCI 288) designed to introduce the study of social relations and prepare students for more senior courses in the social sciences. This course applies the theories and concepts of sociology to a variety of contemporary social issues with particular emphasis on Canadian topics. It is divided into six parts, each of which focuses on the issues of power and conflict; modern capitalism; social stratification and inequality; racism, ethnic groups, and Quebec nationalism; politics and international development; work and leisure; and collective behaviour and social change. The course teaches students how to analyse modern capitalism and Canadian society, given the basic tools of sociological inquiry. The course also develops critical, analytical, and discursive skills that are integrally related to the theory or practice of sociological research.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 is strongly recommended.
Precluded course: SOCI 288 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for SOCI 208.
Organizations and Society: Making Sense of Modern Organizational Life
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This is an introductory course in the sociological study of organizations. The course provides students with a broad overview of organizations in a variety of different socio-cultural settings. It is intended as a foundation course for more specialized courses in formal and complex organizations and organizational behaviour. The course begins with a review of the major theoretical approaches to the study of organizations and the key concepts, definitions, and typologies contained in each approach.
Students examine a range of different organizations situated in a variety of settings including primitive social organization, modern bureaucracies, fast-food franchises, mental hospitals, prisons and worker cooperatives. Each of these studies provides students an opportunity to develop some of the elementary skills of organizational analysis. Some of the case study topics include: reasons for studying organizations; how simple (or ‘‘primitive’’) societies are organized; how modern bureaucracies are organized, and how they control our lives; how managers run organizations; how people cope in organizations; how some organizations try to resocialize and rehabilitate people; how women are treated in organizations; and how workers can run their own organizations.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 or SOCI 288 is strongly recommended.
Sociology and Crime
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Video Component
This is an intermediate-level course that examines the problems of crime from a variety of different sociological perspectives. Students learn by watching a series of videotapes where leading Canadian and internationally recognized sociologists and criminologists discuss their research and experiences.
The course covers a wide range of different topics related to crime and the criminal code in Canada including, for example, the early history of Canadian narcotics legislation, the analysis of a videotaped murder confession, a Mohawk viewpoint of the Oka crisis in 1990, the growing significance of corporate crime in Canada, as well as an analytical look at the Canadian prison system.
The course is designed for students with an academic, personal, or professional interest in criminology, penology, corrections, law enforcement, and criminal justice administration. The range of different perspectives shown in these videotapes are applied to the study of three main areas: making crime by making law; making crime through law enforcement; and making crime through the administration of justice. This is an innovative and exciting video-based course developed for the Western University Telecourse Consortium by TV Ontario. It is organized into twelve easy-to-understand 30-minute learning units, on three videotapes, accompanied by a study guide, student manual, and a textbook.
Women and Work in Canada
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This course will introduce current controversies surrounding the most appropriate ways of conceptualizing and understanding women’s experience of work in the home and the labour force. A major objective of the course will be the development of skills in critical analysis. Students will be expected to practise and develop skills as they confront traditional approaches to explaining women’s work and diverse strands of feminist theory.
The course first explores descriptions of women’s work through first-hand accounts, and identifies the general characteristics of the work Canadian women perform in the home and in the paid labour force. Students will learn what women do, how they do it, and under what conditions. The second part of the course focuses on theorizing women’s work. Critiques of traditional social science approaches to women and their work are followed by an examination of various theories trying to explain why women are supposedly well-suited to certain kinds of work, and men to others. Students will begin to assess various ways of conceptualizing and understanding women’s work. The final section of the course explores a number of strategies women have used to bring about changes and improvements in their work lives. Students will examine individual and collective approaches, such as those taken by women’s groups and unions. Students will also focus on specific issues, such as sexual harassment and occupational health and safety, which have confronted women in their workplaces.
Sociology of the Family
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This course provides an introduction to the sociology of family organization in Western and non-Western societies with an emphasis on the family unit in Canada. The course is designed for students with an academic interest in the family and for those who work in family-related fields. As the family is familiar to us all, the cross-cultural studies in the course help students break through what is sometimes unseen or taken for granted about personal relationships within families. The studies also shed new light on the idealized assumptions we all share about gender relations in Canada and the particular role of the family in Canadian society.
The course offers an excellent overview of an astounding array of family types and functions. The course provides insight into various anthropological and sociological theories of family life by using actual empirical studies and descriptive materials of a historical, cross-cultural, and multicultural nature. The course examines the different structures and values that link people together as marriage partners, as kin, as parents, and as children. The aim is to provide a comparative understanding of patterns of family organization and relationships, and to challenge some of the assumptions we make about the meaning of family patterns and interactions by showing how they vary cross-culturally. Because Canada is a multicultural society, these cross-cultural comparisons have particular relevance to our understanding of variation in our own communities.
Another aim of the course is to acquaint students with the historical context of Western and Canadian family life so that both continuity and change in these family patterns and values can be traced. Gender is a central focus of the discussion, as it defines the different family roles and tasks of women and men. Finally, this course will guide students in analysing some prominent issues such as violence within the family, the elderly in the family, and urbanization of the family.
The Sociology of Work and Industry
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Paced Study
This course explores a broad spectrum of questions about the changing nature of work in Canada. In particular, the course is concerned with the consequences of different types of work arrangements for both the individual and society. And, as the course title suggests, a sociological analysis of work must be grounded in an industrial context-hence there is an emphasis on the underlying economic forces that have shaped and continue to shape work opportunities. Beyond the worksite, the course explores the basic connections between a person’s paid work and her or his family responsibilities, and the society-wide value systems that influence employers and employees. It also assesses the role the state plays, through its employment standards and labour legislation, various labour market programs, and educational system, in determining the nature and rewards of work.
Prerequisite: none. LBST 200 or LBST 202 is recommended.
Precluded course: SOCI 321 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for LBST 321.
Aging and You (I): An Introduction to Gerontology
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Audio Component
This is an intermediate-level, innovative course that presents aging as a normal developmental process and aims to maximize life potential at every age. Students learn by listening to leading Canadian and internationally recognized gerontologists discuss their research and experiences. Biological, psychological, and social aging are explored along with the pros and cons of Canadian social policies and programs.
SOCI 329 is designed for students with an academic, personal, or professional interest in aging and gerontology and for those who work in family and health-related fields.
To provide a framework for the study of aging, the course considers the balanced ‘‘whole person’’ approach with its emphasis on physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual understandings of aging. It then introduces various topics related to aging and the field of gerontology: population aging; fitness, health, and sex; nutrition; later-life learning and motivation; Alzheimer’s disease and family concerns and responsibilities; communication and the elderly; divorce, remarriage, and resulting relationships; mutual assistance and self-help; and retirement. The course ends with a statistical profile of aging trends in Alberta, Canada, and the world.
This is an audio-based course presented by Dr. Lorraine Hiatt of New York, N.Y. A well-known gerontologist, consultant, and researcher, Dr. Hiatt brings an international perspective to the course. May Maskow, a co-founder of the Ryerson Gerontology Certificate and long-time associate of Dr. Hiatt, joins her with interviews and insights from Canada’s leading gerontologists. The purpose of Aging and You (I) is to enable students to understand the options available, both in their own lives and in the lives of those with whom they work. The people interviewed present a balanced, holistic view of later life including information on those who are fit as well as on
those who are frail.
Aging and You (II): An Introduction to Gerontology
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Audio Component
This is an intermediate level course that complements and builds on knowledge acquired in Aging and You (I). Students learn by listening to leading Canadian and internationally recognized gerontologists discuss their research and experiences. Biological, psychological, and social aging are explored in the light of Canadian social policies and programs.
The course examines a number of options and designs for living environments for older people. In addition, new technologies for today’s aging people, recent developments in Canadian social policy, and a range of possible institutional and community-based services are examined. The issues of death, dying, and bereavement; widowhood; spirituality and religion; and the contributions of older adults to music, art, education, and society in general are also considered.
Prerequisite: SOCI 329.
Classical Sociological Theory: The Socio-Historical Roots of Sociology as a Discipline
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
SOCI 335 examines the interplay between the principle ideas developed by the classical sociologists and the socio-economic conditions in which they lived, thought, and wrote.
The course considers the following:
- Factors contributing to the rise of sociology in Europe and the United States
- Fundamental ideas comprising the sociological tradition on both continents
- Assumptions about the individual and society underlying the major contending sociological explanations of social reality
- Specific sociological theories of select classical sociologists ranging from the discipline’s founding fathers (Comte, Spencer, Marx) to the second generation of European sociologists (Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, Pareto).
In approaching the ideas of the classical sociologists, the course brings their intellectual works into tension with the prevailing issues of the era in which they wrote. To that end, the readings for the course are selected from both original works (in translation) and secondary works that locate particular sociological thinkers within the socio-political turmoils and intellectual debates swirling around them. Finally, most modern sociological analysis draws from, or debates with, the sets of sociological concepts and systems
of sociological explanation we will be studying in the classical sociological tradition. To that end, this course complements SOCI 337. A key objective of these two courses is not only to suggest ways of analysing and criticizing social theory, but
to demonstrate how thinking about theory is relevant for understanding modern social problems.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 and SOCI 288 are strongly recommended.
Special instructional features: While students will be expected to read a wide variety of materials, the student manual structures the readings by requiring responses to
study questions that guide the reader through each essay
topic. As well, students are encouraged to contact the tutor
to participate in a series of regularly scheduled telephone discussions. The course takes a highly interactive approach
to teaching because theoretical ideas are best acquired in a process of discussion, debate, and written interchange. For this reason, students registering in the course are advised
that the work load includes considerable writing, and therefore they are expected to possess good writing skills.
Contemporary Sociological Theory
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
SOCI 337 introduces the study of sociological theory. It covers a broad range of topics representing some of the major traditions of modern social theory including structural functionalism, exchange theory, symbolic interactionism, phenomenology and ethnomethodology, and a variety of Marxist and neo-Marxist traditions. In addition, the course reviews some of the more recent theoretical debates on such topics as structuralism and sociobiology.
Throughout this course, students are encouraged to move beyond the mere recitation of major theoretical traditions to a systematic critique and evaluation of these traditions. Considerable attention is paid to identifying the philosophical assumptions behind different theoretical traditions and to the historical contexts in which these traditions originated and developed. For this reason, students are expected to possess well-developed comprehension and writing skills, and an affinity for discussing and debating highly abstract ideas.
The primary aims of the course are to familiarize students with the range of modern sociological theory, to sensitize students to their own taken-for-granted theories of society, and to suggest some frames of reference for the analysis and criticism of social theory.
The course is intended to develop such skills as conceptual analysis, logical argumentation, ideological criticism, and historical documentation.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 and SOCI 288 are strongly recommended.
Precluded course: SOCI 337 may not be taken for credit is credit has already been obtained for SOCI 315.
Sociology of Deviance
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
Sociology of Deviance gives an overview of the historical and modern theories that explain and analyse deviant behaviour, particularly criminal behaviour. The course is organized into three parts that focus on a particular issue or theory. Major topics include social norms, deviance, and deviants. These issues are looked at from biological, psychological, ecological, functionalist, anomie, and control-containment viewpoints. The course concludes with an examination of some sociological questions and answers to deviance. The course provides an understanding of deviant behaviour in terms of a variety of sociological patterns and introduces skills such as essay writing and social research techniques.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 or SOCI 288 is strongly recommended.
Canadian Ethnic Studies
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
SOCI 380 introduces students to the study of ethnic and minority group relations from a Canadian perspective. A series of topics illustrate the diversity in historical background and contemporary social status of a variety of different ethnic groups in Canada. Some of the theoretical problems associated with the study of ethnic and race relations in a multicultural society are highlighted.
Students examine several theoretical perspectives used in sociological research on ethnic and minority group relations. Each of these perspectives is applied to a range of topics in Canadian ethnic relations including social stratification and ethnic inequalities in Canada, the myths of multiculturalism and assimilation, the historical exploitation of immigrants in Canada, immigration and race relations, visible minorities in the Canadian mosaic, Canada’s Native peoples, conquest and colonization in Quebec, and French Canadian nationalism and the politics of separatism. The course examines the sociology of ethnic and minority group relations, theoretical perspectives of ethnic and minority group relations, social class and ethnic inequality in Canada, race and racism in Canada, Native peoples in Canada and the French fact in Canada.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 or SOCI 288 is strongly recommended.
The Sociology of Power and Inequality
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
This course introduces students to the sociological study of social inequality or social stratification. It provides an overview of the general subject of social inequality, and it
also serves as a foundation for more specialized courses in such areas as gender relations, ethnic and race relations,
and poverty. As the title of this course suggests, the sociological approach that is used to analyse the topic of inequality is somewhat unconventional and innovative, and brings students into contact with some of the most recent
and stimulating social thought in this area.
The main purpose of this course is to show students how power is always exercised in societies to the advantage of
some social groups and to the disadvantage of others. This
will be illustrated by using a number of different examples of power - economic, political, sexual, and cultural - in a variety of different social and historical settings. In other words, besides being a course about the inequalities that exist in contemporary Canadian society, it is also much more than that. While learning about the super-rich in our own society, such as K. C. Irving of New Brunswick, as well as who’s who in the Canadian political elite, you will also meet figures from other societies. These will include, among others, feudal lords, communist bureaucrats, and a black feminist who asks some very sharp questions about race and gender.
You will be asked to produce your driver’s licence and credit cards, and analyse what they tell you about modern forms of identity and power. The point is that power is not something abstract and remote. It permeates all our relationships with others and shapes who we are, and what we can become.
The course examines the following:
- Social stratification: an introduction
- World’s apart: tradition and modernity
- Changing contexts for stratification
- Those who pray, those who fight, those who work: stratification in feudal Europe
- Classical sociologies and modern inequalities
- Class in Canada today
- Authoritative resources: bringing the state back in
- Difference and disadvantage: sex and gender
- Distinct societies? A perspective on race, ethnicity,
and nationality.
Prerequisite: none. SOCI 287 or SOCI 288 is strongly recommended.
Special Projects in Sociology I
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
This course offers an opportunity for advanced students to pursue an extended research project under the direction of a professor. The course of study may involve field, survey, or library research and normally results in the production of a major paper.
The first of these two special projects (see SOCI 426) helps students specify and clarify a research topic. Students will be expected to develop a comprehensive background knowledge in the topic of their choice. With the course professor, students develop a study and/or research proposal indicating the goals of study, procedure for evaluation, and the time to completion. A major discussion paper and comprehensive bibliography will be expected in partial fulfilment of the course requirements.
Prerequisite: permission of the course professor.
Special Projects in Sociology II
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
This course is for students who have already defined a research topic, and have completed the background preparation for a library, survey, or field research project.
As with SOCI 425, the specific content, procedures, and evaluation structure of the course will be negotiated between the student and the professor. Topics will depend upon the specialization and academic responsibilities of the professor. With the professor, students develop a study and/or research proposal indicating the goals of study, procedure for evaluation, and the time for completion.
Prerequisite: permission of the course professor.
Theories of Social Change
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Internet Component
SOCI 435 surveys several different theories, concepts, and categories that sociologists have used to explain social change. Sociologists have not always agreed upon the mechanisms underlying social change, or the reasons for the increasing
rate and direction of social change observed in the last two centuries. In this course students will re-appraise a series of classical and contemporary debates in order to develop the basic analytical tools to understand, analyse, and interpret social change. These analytical tools will provide a foundation from which students can critically assess such current social transformations as overpopulation, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, the AIDS epidemic, the increasing pollution of the planet, the domination of the nation state by transnational corporations and global trading blocks, new forms of north-south imperialism, the emergence of a global culture, the power of the worldwide news media, and more.
SOCI 435 was prepared by Professor Michael Gismondi who writes and conducts research on Central American politics and environmental issues.
Note: SOCI 435 is also offered on the Internet.
Selected Topics in Canadian Society
Reading - 3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
SOCI 445 surveys contemporary topics in Canadian society and requires students to undertake research into a topic of their choice. The range of topics includes such issues as unemployment, regionalism, inequality and social mobility, gender relations, federal-provincial relations, free trade, immigration and multiculturalism, the mass media, and the environment.
Social Theory and the Environment
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
or
Internet Component
What can sociology contribute to the study of the environment? This course introduces students to the social, ethical and political issues that cut across environmental controversies, environmental impact science and decision making. The course provides a general overview of the linkages between local and international economic forces, local and global ecosystems, and the dynamics between society and the environment. Students taking SOCI 450 will learn, through their readings and projects, how to apply a sociological perspective to environmental topics and concerns. The course prepares students to undertake a sociological research paper on an environmental topic of their choice.
This course introduces students to sociological studies of the following topics: the culture of consumerism; enclosure of the global commons; bias and uncertainty in environmental science; critiques of sustainable development; global inequality and ecological destruction; gender and environment; and industrial forestry.
SOCI 450 was prepared by Professor Michael Gismondi who writes and conducts research on sociology and environmental impact assessment.
Note: SOCI 450 is also offered on the Internet.
SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY (SOAN)
The Family in World Perspective
3 - Social Science
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
SOAN 384 examines the family in a cross-cultural context, introduces family life in a variety of cultures, and compares a variety of family traditions. Major topics covered include historical studies of the family in classical antiquity, medieval Europe, and early North America; and cross-cultural studies of non-European families in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East. This course provides an introduction to the comparative sociology of the family combined with a practical understanding of the variability of child-rearing and socialization practices in other cultures.
Prerequisite: SOCI 287 or SOCI 288 (Bachelor of Nursing students exempted).
SPANISH (SPAN)
First Year Spanish I: Destinos
3 - Humanities
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Video Component
SPAN 200 introduces students to the basic elements of the Spanish language. Oral and written skills are developed through the study of vocabulary, grammar, and idioms. Pronunciation, comprehension, and writing are emphasized. The course, together with its complement SPAN 201, will enable a student to speak and write simple Spanish in a range of everyday situations. Destinos also introduces students to
the diverse cultural contexts in which Spanish is spoken, and emphasizes the cultural differences among Spain, Central America, and South America.
Twenty-six half-hour television programs are an essential component of the course. Videotapes of the programs are available through Athabasca University Library.
Precluded course: SPAN 200 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for SPAN 100.
Delivery mode: This is a telecourse offered in collaboration with ACCESS, The Education Station in Alberta.
Note: Students are strongly advised not to take SPAN 200 and SPAN 201 simultaneously.
First Year Spanish II: Destinos
3 - Humanities
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Video Component
SPAN 201 continues the study of the basic elements of the Spanish language that was begun in SPAN 200. Oral and written skills are developed through the study of vocabulary, grammar, and idioms. Pronunciation, comprehension, and writing are emphasized. The course will enable a student to speak and write simple Spanish in a range of everyday situations. Destinos also introduces students to the diverse cultural contexts in which Spanish is spoken, and emphasizes the cultural differences among Spain, Central America, and South America.
Twenty-six half-hour television programs are an essential component of the course. Videotapes of the programs are available through Athabasca University Library.
Prerequisite: SPAN 200 is recommended.
Precluded course: SPAN 201 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for SPAN 101.
Delivery mode: This is a telecourse offered in collaboration with ACCESS, The Education Station in Alberta.
Second Year Spanish I
3 - Humanities
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Audio Component
+
Video Component
Second Year Spanish I offers a comprehensive review and systematic expansion of the basic structures of Spanish acquired in First Year Spanish. Listening, speaking, and writing skills are further reinforced. An audiotape program with a laboratory manual and workbook are fully integrated with the main textbook which emphasizes grammar and correct sentence structure. A literary component of short stories offers a glimpse into Hispanic literature. To further enrich students’ cultural knowledge, authentic readings from newspapers and magazines from Spanish-speaking countries are included in each of the course’s six units. In addition, a 60-minute video included in the course materials provides a broad overview of the Hispanic world.
Prerequisite: SPAN 201 (or 6 credits of First Year Spanish) is recommended.
Note: Students are strongly advised not to take SPAN 300 and SPAN 301 simultaneously.
Second Year Spanish II
3 - Language and Literature
- Method of Delivery:
Home Study
+
Audio Component
+
Video Component
This course will further enrich a student’s cultural knowledge of the Hispanic world. It comprises four integrated components: grammar, vocabulary, culture, and literature. The course will also further develop Spanish language skills acquired in SPAN 300: Second Year Spanish I. The emphasis is on learning grammar structures and on vocabulary acquisition. The aim of SPAN 301 is to strengthen both written and oral skills to enable students to communicate in a variety of contexts. Each lesson of the main textbook ¡Continuemos! is integrated with the laboratory component of the course. The literary component consists of excerpts and short stories that are read mainly for esthetic pleasure, comprehension, and vocabulary acquisition. Students are not expected to do any literary analysis in this course. Authentic readings from newspapers and magazines along with video clips are included in SPAN 301.
Prerequisite: SPAN 300 (or equivalent) is recommended.
In the event of a discrepancy between the informal web site version and the printed 1999-2000 Calendar, the latter alone is to be regarded as the authoritative and legally binding source.
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