Bachelor of Science in Bioanthropology

at The University of Winnipeg Canada

In the broadest sense, sociology is the study of human interactions and inter-relations, their conditions and consequences

By utilizing a combination of theory, research, and lived experience, sociologists explore human behaviour as it occurs over time and across cultures. They ask questions such as: Why is there poverty? Is there a relationship between delinquency and social class? How do immigrants manage new and diverse experiences? What effect will an aging population have on society? How can class, sex, gender, age, and ethnicity be understood as part of social life?

In The University of Winnipeg's Sociology programme, you will investigate and analyze how various groups and organizations are structured, their purposes, and how they function. You will study how and why they change, and the effects of these changes on society.

The currency, variety, and depth of courses in this discipline allow students to develop a sound understanding of how the social world works, and how this knowledge can be applied to a diversity of pursuits.

The Sociology Department offers 3-year BA, 4-year BA, and Honours degree programmes plus a Minor and Research Methods Certificate. A student whose Major lies in a different area may still study Sociology as an elective. Courses in Sociology complement such areas as Politics, History, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice, Women's and Gender Studies, and Environmental Studies. Some interdisciplinary majors also require certain Sociology courses as part of their programmes.

An undergraduate degree in Sociology enables one to pursue a variety of vocations in areas such as social welfare, criminal justice, government, research, industrial relations, and administration. Provincial and federal government offices hire a large number of persons with a Sociology background. For those who wish to proceed to studies at the graduate level, a career in university teaching and research is also an option.

For more information on course offerings, degrees, and programme development, consult the Academic Calendar Information section on this web site.

The study of religion aims to understand religious thought and practices as aspects of the culture and society that produced them. It offers an opportunity to explore beliefs and ideas, philosophies and mythologies, rituals and symbols, etc., that shape the cultures and civilizations of the world both in historical perspective and as contemporary phenomena. In the process of this exploration, the Religion & Culture program sensitizes students to the variety of traditions, commitments, and cultures which exist in our world, both globally and locally. It also provides an environment for students to thoughtfully reflect upon their own religious traditions and experiences as well as to think about issues and problems of modern life from a variety of perspectives.

The introductory courses are open to all students. They provide an opportunity to survey the diversity of religion in either the contemporary Canadian or the global context, or to explore the biblical roots of Judeo-Christian tradition. General interest courses are also offered at the 2000 level, and are open to all students without prerequisite. These courses do not presuppose previous knowledge or background and enable students to focus either on particular religious traditions (Aboriginal, Buddhist, Biblical, etc.) or on contemporary issues in religion (sexuality, technology, new religions, popular culture, etc.). Departmental faculty members have particular interests and strengths in the areas of religion and modern culture, mythology, Chinese and Japanese religions, Buddhist traditions, aboriginal traditions, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and gender studies. The Major program, leading to either a 3-Year BA, a 4-Year BA, or a 4-Year Honours BA, is designed to provide an opportunity to explore a variety of religious traditions and topics as well as to concentrate on areas of particular interest. The Department also participates in a Joint Masters Program in Religion with the University of Manitoba.

Graduates who are interested in fields where human interaction and/or multiculturalism are significant factors, such as education, mediation services, social work, international business and international development, employee relations, immigration services and certain areas of law and the justice system, benefit greatly from courses in Religion & Culture.

The goal of physics is to formulate theories, or “laws,” which summarize our knowledge of the natural world. We don’t yet know all the basic laws of nature, or how many laws there are.

The famous physicist Richard Feynman said the first principle of science is that the test of all knowledge is experiment and experiment is the sole judge of scientific “truth.” But what is the source of knowledge? Where do the laws that are to be tested come from? Experiment itself helps to produce these laws in the sense that it gives us hints. We also need imagination to create from these hints the great generalizations: to guess at the wonderful, simple, but very strange patterns beneath them all, and then to experiment to check again whether we have made the right guess. Physics needs people with imagination and a thirst to understand the inner workings of nature.

Research in physics often gives rise to unexpected benefits, with revolutionary discoveries like galaxies, lasers, magnetic resonance imaging, fibre optic communications, and the transistor.

The University of Winnipeg has a nationally recognized Physics Department. Research is conducted on a variety of topics in both theoretical and experimental physics. The experimentalists study the nature of diamonds and semiconductors, medical uses of MRI, and the properties of subatomic particles, while the theorists imagine, deduce and investigate the inner workings of black holes, hot space, chaos, quantum computers, and quantum gravity. Students are encouraged to participate in these research activities through summer employment with research groups.

This program can lead to a Bachelor of Science degree (3-year, 4-year, or Honours). The 4-year and Honours programs have the options of Chemical, Computational, and Mathematical Physics streams.

Economics analyzes how societies provide for their well-being, and examines the choices and tradeoffs that are made in the face of limited resources. You’ll study the competition and cooperation that arises among individuals, private organizations, and governments in the process of allocating scarce resources for a variety of different uses. Economics also offers insight into politics, law, history, environment, and development.

One may obtain the Economics Major through the 3-Year BA, the 4-Year BA or the BA Honours degree program. Some of the courses we offer are recommended for interdisciplinary programs, and it is common for other departments in the University to require or recommend certain Economics courses. The BA in Economics is highly recommended for students planning to go into law, accounting, or business studies.

The interdisciplinary Disability Studies program offers B.A. options at the three-year, four-year, and honours level. Disability Studies is cross-disability (all disabilities rather than one), intersectional (disability in conjunction with race, gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.), and based in the social model of disability rather than the bio-medical model. From this perspective a lack of ramps is considered disabling, not the fact that someone uses a wheelchair.

The focus of the Disability Studies program at the University of Winnipeg is the critical analysis of disability in society. This includes the study of disability as a social, cultural, historical, and political construction. Students are encouraged to examine a wide range of topics such as human rights, ethics, social movements, theory, family, sexuality, employment, socialization, aging, education, international development, and gender issues.

The objective of the Dance Program Steam is to prepare you for graduate equivalent training and /or professional work in performance, teaching, or choreography. This program is offered jointly with the Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers; entrance to the Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers is by audition. Once admission is obtained, you must also apply for admission to The University of Winnipeg.

As of May 2016, students will be able to register in this Specialization and it will be noted on their transcripts.

The Screen and Cultural Studies Specialization focuses not only on literary texts, but also on cinematic, media, and cultural texts. Courses in this area reflect an interest in literary and cultural history; literary and cinematic forms, movements, and genres; cultural and critical theory; audience and reception studies; and the intersections between literature, film and other forms of cultural production.

Students interested in registering in this specialization should consult a faculty advisor prior to Registration. The 2016-17 faculty advisor is Dr. Andrew Burke ([email protected]).

All students are welcome to take courses in this area, whether they choose the specialization or not.

French Studies offers 3 different undergraduate Major degree programs (a 3-year Bachelor of Arts,  a 4-year Bachelor of Arts and an Honours Bachelor of Arts), as well as an undergraduate Minor degree program. Below are highlights of each program. For information regarding General Degree Requirements or for more details about the French Studies degree programs, please consult the Academic Calendar.

If you enjoy thinking about life’s big questions, you might be a natural philosopher. Philosophy engages in disciplined and imaginative thinking about the philosophical questions common to all humans by studying the works of great philosophers. Through analysis and discussion, you’ll learn how to think critically, and understand the origins of the ideas that influence us today.

Philosophy is literally the love of wisdom. Rather than studying a particular aspect of human history or culture, philosophy takes a step back and tries to understand the nature of all inquiry. Students of philosophy examine fundamental beliefs about who we are and the world we live in – beliefs most people take to be true but never examine systematically and critically. Philosophers consider such questions as: What is the meaning of life? How should I live my life? Why be moral? What is the best form of government? Are human beings immortal? Does God exist? What is knowledge? Does the world appear to us as it really is? What makes something right, or good, or beautiful?

If coming to an understanding of the human condition is the goal of a liberal arts education, then philosophy is essential to it. But philosophy also has a practical side, which we see whenever we debate social and political questions concerning the environment and our obligations to future generations, the distribution of wealth and opportunity in society, gender equity, the relationship between science and religion, and so on. Philosophy helps us to identify and defend what is most valuable to us.

The UW Philosophy Program prides itself on being small and student-focused; this is a place where you can work closely with professors and other students in small classes, reading great philosophers from the past, and thinking and writing about the big questions.

We have an excellent record of placing our students in graduate programs in Canada and the United States as well as overseas.

The Department of Indigenous Studies (formerly the Aboriginal Governance Program) is grounded in the intellectual and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the globe. We welcome students from all backgrounds and disciplines to explore the unique complexities and broad, diverse cultures associated with Indigenous studies.

Join us as we examine this rich topic through multidisciplinary coursework in Indigenous/Aboriginal governance and other disciplines including politics, anthropology, history, religious studies, and conflict resolution studies. We recognize and honour the central role of language as carrier of culture, conveyor of tradition and knowledge, and signifier of individual and community identity by supporting the teaching of the Indigenous languages Ojibwe and Cree.