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Fall and Winter Course Offerings

STM Classes

At-a-glance list of our 2020-21 class offerings

This list is subject to change without notice.

Official Course Offerings are listed in PAWS.

 

 

2020-21 Web-based Classes

Catholic Studies
FALL 86504 CTST 200.3 WS1 35 Intro to Catholic Studies
English
FALL 86515 ENG 112.3 WS1 25 Reading Drama 
FALL 86512 ENG 114.3 WS1 25 Reading Culture
FALL 86514 ENG 225.3 WS1 40 Shakespeare
WINTER 27124 ENG 111.3 WS2 25 Reading Poetry 
WINTER 27119 ENG 113.3 WS2 25 Reading Narrative 
Philosophy
FALL 88401 PHIL 140.3 WS1   Critical Thinking
Religious Studies
FALL 88113 RLST 112.3 WS1 60 Western Religions
WINTER 24998 RLST 112.3 WS2 60 Western Religions

Course Descriptions

RLST 111.3: Asian Religions

RLST 112.3: Western Religions in Society and Culture

RLST 113.3: Islamic Civilization and Culture

RLST 210.3: Religion and Ecology

RLST 211.3: Introduction to Hinduism

RLST 214.3: Introduction to Philosophies of India

RLST 215.3: Indian Yoga Heritage

RLST 216.3: Religion and Politics on Film

RLST 217.3: Buddhist Religious Tradition

RLST 218.3: Developments in Buddhist Thought

RLST 219.3: Bible and Western Culture

RLST 220.3: Women in Western Religious Traditions

RLST 221.3: Introduction to Christianity

RLST 225.3: Perspectives on Jesus

RLST 226.3: Religion Globalization and Social Justice

RLST 226.3: Religion Globalization and Social Justice

RLST 229.3: Religion and Sport

RLST 231.3: Confucianism Continuity and Change

RLST 232.3: Women and Religion in Asia

RLST 233.3: Peoples and Cultures of South Asia

RLST 234.3: Chinese Religions

RLST 235.3: Japanese Religions

RLST 237.3: Life After Death in World Religions

RLST 240.3: Introduction to Islam

RLST 241.3: Islam in the Modern World

RLST 241.3: Islam in the Modern World

RLST 243.3: Islam in Hollywood

RLST 253.3: Introduction to Old Testament

RLST 254.3: Introduction to New Testament

RLST 258.3: Religion and Culture in Bollywood Film

RLST 277.3: Community Solidarity and Social Change

RLST 280.3: Methodologies and Approaches to Study of Religions

RLST 282.3: Religious Perspectives on Death and Dying

RLST 284.3: Religions and Non-Violence

RLST 285.3: Religions and Ethnicity

RLST 300.3: Hidden Books of the Bible

RLST 301.3: Apocalyptic Then and Now

RLST 303.3: Goddesses in Myth and History

RLST 314.3: Issues in Contemporary Catholicism

RLST 321.3: Gender and God Talk

RLST 328.3: Jewish Christian Relations in Historical Perspective

RLST 329.3: Studies in Bhagavad Gita

RLST 330.3: Daoism

RLST 359.3: Helpmates Harlots Goddesses and Heroines

RLST 361.3: Rabbinic Literature

RLST 362.3: Monsters and Mischief Makers

RLST 363.3: Early Christian Literature Text and Context

RLST 365.3: Bible and Film

RLST 375.3: Religion and Science

RLST 377.3: Living Community Solidarity and Social Change

RLST 382.3: Sex, God and Rock n' Roll Re-Vamping the Sacred

RLST 390.3: Readings in Eastern Religions

RLST 391.3: Readings in Western Religions

RLST 412.3: Seminar in Religions and Culture

RLST 413.3: Seminar in Religious Thought

RLST 423.3: Comparative Approaches to Study of Religions

Philosophy Programs

The St. Thomas More College (STM) philosophy program emphasizes fundamental questions about the human condition and explores the relations between humans, nature, the  cosmos and the divine.  With its special emphasis on continental philosophy, philosophy of religion, ethics and ancient/medieval philosophy, STM philosophy promotes a dialogue between reason and faith, as well as contributes to interdisciplinary programs including Social Justice and the Common Good, Catholic Studies, and Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS).

STM Philosophy Department

Academic and Spiritual Formation for those discerning Religious Vocations

In a joint collaboration with the Saskatoon Roman Catholic Diocese, STM now offers options for a three or four year Philosophy BA degree designed for those interested in religious vocation. This new program offers an excellent, curated pathway to a degree in Catholic philosophy. For more information please contact STM Student Services.

Program Overview

3 and 4 Year Degree Options

Religion and Culture Programs

St. Thomas More College coordinates the Religion and Culture programs for the College of Arts & Science at the University of Saskatchewan.

The Religion and Culture programs explore the range of religions and religious experiences within particular cultural, historical, ideological, and current settings in order to promote awareness of how religions shape human experiences, societies and cultures. Students will be encouraged to understand themselves better as global citizens by exploring the lived experiences of religions and cultures that are relevant to their work and life in the social realm and collective cultural heritage. Students will develop their intellectual and practical skills including writing, critical and creative thinking, inquiry and analysis.  
 
Graduates of Religion and Culture will be equipped for further study in Religion and Culture or Religious Studies at major institutions in Canada, and/or for careers in a wide variety of professions such as law, social work, civil service, NGO service, and counseling.
 
Courses included in the Religion and Culture program are divided into three categories as described below:

A: Asian Religions in Cross-Cultural Perspectives:
Courses either focus on specific religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism or examine religions and cultures of geographical areas such as South, East, and Southeast Asia. Courses can also be cross-cultural, comparative, and/or thematic investigations of topics such as gender, post-colonialism, globalization, or historical, philosophical, sociological, anthropological, and literary-critical methodologies in the investigation of religions and cultures.

B: Western Religions in Cross-Cultural Perspectives:
Courses can focus on the religious traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam and the encounter between religious thought and modernity in the west. Courses can also be cross-cultural, comparative, and/or thematic investigations of topics such as gender, post-colonialism, globalization, or historical, philosophical, sociological, anthropological, and literary-critical methodologies in the investigation of religions and cultures.

C. Interdisciplinary Perspectives in the Study of Religions and Cultures:
Courses offered from programs other than Religion and Culture by Departments with stated content investigating the academic study of religions and cultures.

Some courses in Religious Studies are taught by faculty in the corresponding department of St. Thomas More College. These courses or sections are designated as STM section in the online Course Offerings.

Select courses at STU (St. Andrew’s College, College of Emmanuel and St. Chad and the Lutheran Theological Seminary) may be taken for transfer credit. Please consult the department for eligible courses at these affiliated institutions.

Major Average

The major average in Religion and Culture programs includes the grades earned in:

  • All RLST and all courses listed in the Major Requirement A6.

Residency Requirements in the Major

To receive a degree in Religion and Culture, students must complete at least two-thirds of the following coursework (to the nearest highest multiple of 3 credit units) from the University of Saskatchewan.

  • 6 credit units RLST chosen from restricted list in Requirement A1
  • Minimum requirements in Major Requirement A6.

See Residency for additional details.

Saskatoon Theological Union (STU)

Program Requirements

Catholic Studies Minor

For students in the program before 2021

College of Arts and Science students can pursue a minor in the area of Catholic Studies.  The minor in Catholic Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of Catholicism from the beginnings of Christianity in the ancient world to the presence of Catholicism as the largest Christian community in the world today.  Catholic Studies is intended to provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of Catholicism and its history, artistic and literary culture, philosophical and theological thought, and role in contemporary society.

The minor in Catholic Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of Catholicism from the beginnings of Christianity in the ancient world to the presence of Catholicism as the largest Christian community in the world today. Catholic Studies is intended to provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of Catholicism and its history, artistic and literary culture, philosophical and theological thought, and role in contemporary society.

The Minor average in Catholic Studies will be calculated using the grades earned in all courses eligible to be included in the Minor program requirements. Students must complete at least two-thirds of the program requirements (rounded to the nearest highest multiple of 3 credit units) using courses offered by the University of Saskatchewan to meet the Residency requirement.

This program is coordinated by St. Thomas More College, under the academic authority of the College of Arts and Science. Interested students should contact ctstminor@stmcollege.ca for more information.

Requirements

Catholic Studies - Minor

Certificate in Catholic Studies

New in 2021-22!

The certificate in Catholic Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of Catholicism from the beginnings of Christianity in the ancient world to the presence of Catholicism as the largest Christian community in the world today. Catholic Studies is intended to provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of Catholicism and its history, artistic and literary culture, philosophical and theological thought, and role in contemporary society.

The certificate in Catholic Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of Catholicism from the beginnings of Christianity in the ancient world to the presence of Catholicism as the largest Christian community in the world today. Catholic Studies is intended to provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of Catholicism and its history, artistic and literary culture, philosophical and theological thought, and role in contemporary society.

See official listing in USask Course and Program Catalogue.

Major Average

The major average in the Certificate in Catholic Studies includes the grades earned in:

  • All courses eligible to be used in the program.

Residency Requirements

To receive a Certificate in Catholic Studies, students must complete at least two-thirds of the following coursework (to the nearest highest multiple of 3 credit units) from the University of Saskatchewan.

  • Minimum credit units required in the program

See Residency for additional details.

Requirements (18 credit units)

The certificate may be completed in conjunction with any degree in another subject area in the College of Arts and Science.

  • RLST 112.3  Western Religions in Society and Culture
  • CTST 200.3  Introduction to Catholic Studies
  • CTST 300.3 Critical Perspectives on Catholic Studies

Choose 9 credit units from the following. 3 credit units must be chosen from each of Area 1, 2, and 3. At least 3 credit units must be taken at the 300-level or higher. Students must choose courses from at least 2 different subject codes.

Area 1: Catholicism and History

  • HIST 202.3 Formation of Europe 300 to 1000
  • HIST 205.3 Europe and World in High Middle Ages 1000 to 1300
  • HIST 211.3 Martyrs Mystics and Madmen Making the Medieval Saint
  • HIST 217.3 The Later Roman Empire Crisis and Continuity from Constantine to Justinian
  • HIST 230.3 Christianity from Constantine to the Age of the Renaissance and the Reformations 300 to 1650 CE
  • HIST 309.3 Crusades and Aftermath
  • HIST 320.3 Pagans Christians Barbarians Identity and Empire in the Roman World
  • HIST 402.3 Aspects of Late Antiquity
  • RLST 221.3 Introduction to Christianity
  • RLST 253.3 Introduction to Old Testament
  • RLST 254.3 Introduction to New Testament
  • RLST 300.3 Hidden Books of the Bible
  • RLST 363.3 Early Christian Literature Text and Context

 

Area 2: Catholic Thought and Culture

  • DRAM 303.3 Advanced Studies in Theatre History I 600 BCE to 1850 CE
  • ENG 311.3    The Canterbury Tales
  • ENG 314.3    Early British Drama
  • ENG 316.3    Middle English Literature of Defiance and Dissent
  • PHIL 210.3   Medieval Philosophy I From Rome to Baghdad and Paris
  • PHIL 211.3   Philosophy and Faith Medieval Philosophy II
  • PHIL 412.3   Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas I
  • RLST 219.3  Bible and Western Culture
  • RLST 225.3  Perspectives on Jesus
  • RLST 229.3  Religion and Sport
  • RLST 365.3  Bible and Film

Area 3: Catholicism and the Modern World:

  • HIST 266.3 History Wars Issues in Native Newcomer Relations
  • INTS 203.3 Cultivating Humanity
  • INTS 400.3 Critical Perspectives on Social Justice and the Common Good
  • PHIL 404.3 Advanced Problems in Philosophy and Theology
  • PSY 261.3 Community Psychology
  • RLST 210.3 Religion and Ecology
  • RLST 277.3 Community Solidarity and Social Change
  • RLST 314.3 Issues in Contemporary Catholicism
  • RLST 328.3 Jewish Christian Relations in Historical Perspective
  • RLST 375.3 Religion and Science
  • SOC 360.3 Globalization and Social Justice
  • SOC 413.3 Seminar in Sociology of Religion

Social Justice and Common Good Minor

The Minor in Critical Perspectives on Social Justice and the Common Good is an interdisciplinary course of study using the collected insights of various academic disciplines designed to prepare students to be responsible critics of contemporary societies and effective agents for positive social transformation. Students will reflect on the causes and structures of injustice and approaches to social change at interpersonal, communal, national and global levels. As a central concept in Catholic thought on social justice, the Minor will explore the role of the common good in the religious, ethical, philosophical and social science traditions. As part of their course of study, students will be challenged to critically examine historical and contemporary misappropriation and abuse of the constructs of social justice and common good. Through a community service-learning pedagogy, offered in a number of courses, this minor creatively engages faculty, students, and community partners in local and international responses to inequality and marginalization. Cycles of exclusion (e.g., marginalization associated with disability, age, gender, poverty, sexuality, racism, violence, colonialism, post-colonialism, class, speciesism and the environment), urban justice, globalization, and ecojustice are the areas of concentration for empirical, social analyses of social injustice. From these areas of concentration and issues of justice students gain a solid intellectual and ethical grasp of the understandings of the common good.

The Minor average in Critical Perspectives on Social Justice and the Common Good will be calculated using the grades earned in all courses eligible to be included in the Minor program requirements. Students must complete at least two-thirds of the program requirements (rounded to the nearest highest multiple of 3 credit units) using courses offered by the University of Saskatchewan to meet the Residency requirement.

The Minor, consisting of 21 credit units of courses, may be completed in conjunction with any degree in the College of Arts & Science.

This program is coordinated by St. Thomas More College, under the academic authority of the College of Arts & Science. Interested students should contact sjcgminor@stmcollege.ca for additional information.

Requirements

Critical Perspectives on Social Justice and the Common Good - Minor

Ukrainian Programs

The Minor in Ukrainian Studies is an interdisciplinary study of Ukrainian culture, language, history, religion and politics from historical and cross-cultural perspectives. The Ukrainian Studies Minor will provide students with the opportunity, on one end, to engage in the multidisciplinary nature of Ukrainian studies. On the other end, students will be able to pursue the study of one or more aspects of Ukrainian culture which are of relevance to their personal interests, field of study, and future career.

This program is coordinated by St. Thomas More College, under the academic authority of the College of Arts and Science. Interested students should email: ukrstudiesminor@stmcollege.ca for more information.

Requirements

 

 

The Ukrainian - Regonition program promotes study of the Ukrainian language. The study of second languages is fundamental to an education in the liberal arts, to citizenship in a multicultural nation, and to understanding an increasingly close-knit world. It is an important element in the study of linguistics. Knowledge of a second language is important in many undergraduate and graduate programs and is an advantage or necessity in a wide range of careers. The ability to read and communicate in a second language also opens doors, otherwise closed, to gratifying personal and cultural experiences.

Requirements

Study Abroad Programs

THE INTERCORDIA PROGRAM IS NOT OFFERED IN 2020.

Credit Courses: ENG 215.3 – Life Writing or RLST 377.3 – Living Community, Solidarity, and Social Change

Countries: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, or Panama

 

Overview

This 8-week immersive service-learning experience challenges assumptions about poverty, development, and culture by inviting students to live with and learn from communities in Dominican Republic, Ecuador, or Panama.

We invite students to live with host families and work in grassroots community organizations in one of these three countries: students can choose to live with campesino (peasant farmer) communities in the Cordillera Central (central mountain range) of Dominican Republic and work on tree-planting brigades or with coffee nurseries; students can live Indigenous Quechua families in the Ecuadorean Andes and work in community-run daycare centres, medical clinics, or in schools; students can also choose to live with campesino families in Santa Fe, Veraguas, Panamá and work with the town’s impressive cooperative, La Cooperativa La Esperanza de Los Campesinos, now nearly 50 years old.

Using a service-learning model, the Intercordia experience begins months before students actually depart! Students complete ENG 215.3 in the winter term to prepare them academically for the experience, and complete RLST 377.3 while abroad. Rather than learning in a classroom during spring term, however, students are invited to reflect upon concepts they learned in their winter-term class and see how they apply, or don’t apply, to their lived experience.

In addition to academic courses, students also participate in four co-curricular seminars that prepare them practically, philosophically, and emotionally. Upon returning to Canada, students also participate in a 2-day reintegration seminar to help them process their experiences in a supportive environment.

Course Descriptions

ENG 215.3 This course is a study of the forms that Life Writing has taken from the Middle Ages to the present, with attention to such issues as constructions of the self, themes, language, and audience.

RLST 377.3 This course offers students an academic framework for grounded reflection on religious studies concepts covered in the prerequisite course. It will be centred on an eight- or twelve-week placement with the St. Thomas More College Intercordia Program in a cross-cultural context. Students will apply concepts from RLST 277, which explored the nexus amongst religion, community, solidarity and social change.

Program Highlights

Dominican Republic

  • Natural phenomena: hiking through rainforests, visiting waterfalls
  • Optional trip to Boca Chica
  • Traveling to walk-in communities in the mountains via mule

Ecuador

  • Natural phenomena: hiking up mountains and dormant volcanos
  • Inti Raymi Festival (Festival of the Sun)
  • Explore the world-famous Otavalo markets

Panama

  • Hike up Cerro Tute, a local mountain
  • Natural phenomena: hiking through rainforests, visiting a waterfall, optional tubing down Rio Mulaba
  • Optional trip to the Santa Catalina beaches

Prerequisites

3 credit units of 100-level ENG or permission of the instructor

Program Coordinator

Caitlin Ward
cward@stmcollege.caEngaged Learning Office
STM 146D

Cost

  • U of S tuition: approx. $1180 (individual registration and payment)
  • Program fee: TBD
  • Airfare: $900-$1200, depending on country placement
  • Other costs (travel and medical insurance, personal expenses, airport transfers, etc.)

THIS FIELD SCHOOL WILL TAKE PLACE IN SPRING 2020.

Credit Course (2018): SPAN 251.3 – The Spanish of Latin Americans

Overview

There is no better way to understand the Spanish of Latin Americans than by traveling to Latin America yourself! This St. Thomas More College study abroad offers students the unique opportunity to learn about Latin American Spanish by traveling to communities in and around la Cordillera de Talamanca, the interior mountain range in Panama.

We invite students to live with host families in Santa Fe, Veraguas, Panama, and learn about the unique revolutionary history of Cooperativa la Esperanza de los Campesinos, one of the largest non-capitalist cooperatives in Central America. Students will meet with some of the cooperative’s founders, observe small-scale sustainable sugar, coffee, and rice production, and drink coffee that was grown and roasted within walking distance of the house in which they are staying.

Using an experiential learning model, this 3 credit unit course will help students understand the colonial history and contemporary reality of the Spanish language in Latin America. Rather than working in a classroom in Panama, students take the majority of this course’s instruction in Saskatoon for 3 weeks with Dr. Allison Smith. Students then immerse themselves in the language and culture of interior Panama for 2 weeks, living with families in the town of Santa Fe. 

Program Highlights

  • Understand the steps of making coffee from cultivation to cup
  • Learn about the roots of cooperativism in Latin America
  • Visit an old-style Finca, (El Sendero el mas Bellaco), to understand traditional modes of Panamanian agriculture
  • Natural phenomena: hiking through rainforests, visiting a waterfall, optional tubing down Rio Mulaba
  • Learn about small-scale organic rice and sugar production
  • Optional trip to climb Cerro Tuté, a local mountain landmark
  • Free day in Panama City to explore Casco Viejo (the old colonial city) or the Panama Canal, or whatever catches your interest!

Course Description

SPAN 251.3 What is the difference between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the mother tongue of more than 193 million speakers in Latin America? Are the distinctions merely an accent change due to geography or are there other social factors at play? Latin American Spanish provides an overview of the linguistic variation found in Latin American Spanish. Core topics include the concept of language variation, the fundamental dissimilarities between Peninsular and American Spanish (including the use of usted, voseo, seseo and yeísmo), the indigenous and African contributions and social variation within the continent.
Note: Successful Completion of SPAN 114 or a 100 level Linguistics class is recommended, but not required.

Program Coordinator

Caitlin Ward
cward@stmcollege.ca
Engaged Learning Office
STM 146D               

Cost:

  • U of S tuition: approx. $615 per 3 credit unit (individual registration and payment)
  • Program fee for course: $1250
    • Accommodation: included
    • Meals: included (except for free days in Panama City)
    • On-site transportation: included
  • Airfare: approx. $800
  • Other costs (travel and medical insurance; personal expenses, etc.,) Varies per person

May – June 2020

Credit Courses: ANTH 233.3 Anthropological Perspectives on Contemporary Ukraine; UKR 114.3 and UKR 117.3 Elementary Ukrainian OR UKR 214.3 and UKR 217.3 Intermediate Ukrainian OR UKR 314.3 and UKR 317.3 Advanced Ukrainian

Overview

Develop an understanding and appreciation of Ukrainian language and culture through this study abroad experience! This five-week full-immersion program accelerates students’ learning of the language while also introducing them to the culture of Western Ukraine.

Students attend Ukrainian language classes on weekdays at Ternopil National Pedagogical University, with regular tutorials to develop students’ comprehension and spoken language skills. Students stay with host families who live within easy traveling distance of the university, both to fully immerse themselves in Ukrainian culture and to accelerate their language skills. Students will also have opportunities to visit the mountains and villages surrounding the city of Ternopil, as well as take in the unique architecture of this historical city.

Program Highlights

  • Two-day excursion to Lviv, the cultural capital of Western Ukraine, home to a 6-storey chocolate factory
  • Three-day excursion to the Carpathian Mountains
  • Visit Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle

Course Description

Language instruction is offered at three levels, depending on the student’s proficiency. Beginners take Elementary Ukrainian I & II, in which students develop elementary proficiency in speaking, reading, understanding, and writing Ukrainian, as well as learn about Ukrainian life and culture, politics, geography, and society. Those who have taken Ukrainian 30 in high school, or have already completed Elementary Ukrainian are enrolled in Intermediate Ukrainian, which concentrates on improving language skills and expands students’ knowledge of the basic syntactic, morphological, lexical, and phonetic structure of modern Ukrainian. Students already well-versed in the language are offered Advanced Ukrainian I & II.

All students take a placement test upon acceptance into the program.

To hear directly from students about their experience with SSU, visit the program blog here: https://ssu2015blog.wordpress.com/

Prerequisites

Depends on level of courses chosen.

Cost

  • Program Fee: $$2,385. A $500 deposit is required upon acceptance of your spot in the program. The remaining balance will be due April 1.
  • Flight: $1300 - $1500
  • Medical Insurance: Most students are covered by USSU health plan – please check to confirm this!
  • Traveller’s Insurance and Personal Expenses: At the discretion of students

Program Coordinator

ssu@stmcollege.ca
Engaged Learning Office
STM 146