Special Topics Course Information 

Fall 2013

SOC 358C Agriculture and Rural Life‌‌

Pre- or corequisite(s): One of: SOC 355/ANTH 355/MACS 355 or SOC 356/ANTH 356/MACS 356

CRN:91125

Thursdays 8:20 - 12:10

Gabriela Pechlaner

While agriculture is essential to our well-being, for the 98% of the Canadian population that are not actively engaged in the sector, it is easy to separate this essential fact from our day to day lives. For those who live in rural areas, however, the features of agriculture and rural life are often inseparable. Fertilizer in the ground water; agricultural noise pollution; underutilized agricultural land, development, and affordable housing; legal and illegal farm workers and community cohesion; farm worker safety; agricultural subsidies; trade policies; new technologies—these are just a few of the issues for exploration under the topic of agriculture and rural life.

This course will be an applied introduction to agriculture and rural life, with students conducting their own primary research on a subject of relevance to the course. Class time will be spent learning about and discussing different aspects of agriculture and rural life—aided by sociological theories and case studies—as well as deliberating over the many practical and theoretical aspects of conducting a primary research project.

SOC 399I Sociologies of Hope‌

Prerequisite(s): 45 credits to include at least 6 credits of Sociology

CRN:91127

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‌Online

Elizabeth Dennis

This course will focus on the work of social thinkers who imagined better worlds. We will explore the themes of possibility and hope that run throughout a variety of classical and contemporary works, discovering how they inspire social change, and meaningful research.