Fall 2025

Sultans, Artisans, Revolutionaries, Workers, Business Elites: Storytelling Turkiye’s Illustrious Cultural History

Dr. Anita Ogurlu, PhD, Sessional Lecturer, Sociology, STM College

This course is structured around the instructor’s thesis research as well as her lived experiences in Istanbul, Turkiye (1993–2017). It examines the unprecedented social change Turkiye has undergone under neoliberalism post-1980 and the so-called New World Order post-2001—developments that have both dramatically advanced and adversely affected Turkiye. As a geopolitically strategic nation, Turkiye may be one of the most misunderstood in the world. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the course seeks to illuminate the historical, economic, political, cultural, religious, and ethnic dynamism of Turkiye, with roots stretching back millennia and aspirations reaching toward the future. Drawing on Thorstein Veblen’s general notion of “cultural inheritance,” the course emphasizes that each geography, nation, and culture is unique unto itself, across time and space—especially as seen through the lens of a progressive and resilient people navigating the complexities of this unprecedented nation-state.

Whole Lotta Soul: How Black Popular Music Emerged from 1950s R&B to Evolve into Soul and Funk Adult Development and Aging

Mark DeJong, B.Mus., M.Mus., Saxophonist, Composer, Educator and Bandleader, Mount Royal University Conservatory

An exploration of soul music, from its origins in rhythm & blues in the 50’s (eg. Ray Charles) to its evolution to both southern (Otis Redding, James Brown) and northern (Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin) soul styles through the 60’s and into the 70’s (Parliament, Ohio Players).

This course will venture into nuanced differences between various artists from competing record labels that also reflected regional differences. A wide variety of performers will be highlighted with directed listening using video clips (e.g., YouTube etc.) and audio examples.

The Inhumanity of Humanity

Dr. Christie Tetreault, PhD Psychology, Post-doctoral Researcher, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies

This course will explore the inhumanity of human behavior by investigating past and current genocides (e.g., the Holodomor, Yemen), military massacres (e.g., Nanjing), and other human rights abuses (e.g., Abu Ghraib). We will unpack the historical, social, and political patterns that suggest a potential universal framework for how such atrocities emerge, regardless of culture or time period. The course will also examine psychological theories and experiments that attempt to explain how “ordinary” people can become willing perpetrators of such acts.

In the first six weeks, we will examine case studies of major genocides (e.g., the Irish Potato Famine, Holodomor, Holocaust, Rwanda, Yemen, Indigenous peoples in Canada, Sudan, and current Ukraine), military massacres (e.g., My Lai, Nanjing), and other human rights abuses from various countries and centuries. We’ll explore the political, social, and economic conditions that led to these events.

Throughout this section, we will also examine Articles I and II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and how they are used to assess these atrocities. We’ll discuss critiques of the Convention’s wording and its historical limitations, particularly how these definitions may contribute to denialism of some modern genocides. This includes reviewing recent studies that assess the Articles’ application to both historical and ongoing potential genocides.

In the final two weeks, we will shift focus to the psychological mechanisms underlying these atrocities, drawing from well-known experiments and research on obedience, conformity, dehumanization, suppression, and emerging sadism. We will revisit earlier case studies to analyze how these psychological concepts help explain the behaviors of those involved, bringing the course content full circle.

The course is designed to be interactive, incorporating small and large group discussions, polls, and other activities—so active participation is encouraged. To convey the human cost of these atrocities, images and videos will be shown; please note that some may find this content upsetting. 

Introduction to Cybersecurity and Digital Threats

Dr. Natalia Stackhanova, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Security & Privacy, Professor, Dept. of Computer Science | Director, The CyberLab

This course provides a foundational understanding of modern cybersecurity
principles, focusing on the protection of digital assets and the evolving nature
of cyber threats. Students will explore core topics such as the threat
landscape, attacker tactics, role of cryptographic tools, malware, social
engineering, and password security. Learners will gain practical skills to
recognize, respond to, and prevent common security risks in today’s digital
environment. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the
essential knowledge to protect their personal data and contribute to safer
computing practices.

Topics to be covered:

• Introduction to Cybersecurity & the Threat Landscape
• Attackers and the Anatomy of a Cyber Attack
• Social Engineering Attacks: Phishing, Spam, Trojans
• Malicious Software: Viruses, Worms, Ransomware, and Botnets
• Cryptography and Encryption Fundamentals
• Passwords, Authentication & Access Control
• Personal Cyber Hygiene & Defensive Best Practices

On Democracy

The Wheel Keeps Turning: A History of Canadian-American Relations from the Colonial Era to Trump

Dr. Jason Zorbas, B.A., M.A., PhD, Sessional Lecturer in History and Sessional Lecturer in Political Studies, College of Arts & Science, University of Saskatchewan

Canadian-American relations seem to have hit a low point in the last year, but the reality is that they have ebbed and flowed for centuries. This course will examine the history of Canadian-American relations, from the period before the nations existed to the present, focusing on how and why the relationship has evolved the way it has.

Course Detail

1. Pre-Contact/Colonial Era
2. American Revolution and the War of 1812
3. Confederation of Canada
4. The World Wars
5. The Cold War
6. Post-Cold War World
7. Post 9-11 World
8. Contemporary Issues

Canada, Cannabis, and Consumption Sites, Oh My! An Exploration of Drug Use and Drug Policy in Canada

Maryellen Gibson, BA International Studies, MPH, Doctoral Candidate (Sociology)

This course will explore substance use in Canada. We will begin with basic information on different drugs, who uses them, and how they impact individuals and communities. Next, we will examine the various societal frames through which drug use and people who use drugs have been viewed. From there, we will look at the history of drug prohibition in Canada, including the timeline of these laws, the reasons behind their creation, and their lasting effects. We will also explore challenges to this status quo, with particular attention to the recent legalization of cannabis.

One session will focus on the current overdose crisis, during which learners will have the opportunity to receive training on how to administer naloxone, the opioid reversal drug. We will then move on to explore a range of drug policy options, highlighting both international and local examples. Another session will be dedicated to the topic of harm reduction—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it's being debated in the context of the upcoming federal election. We will conclude the course with an open discussion on the emerging use of psychedelics, medical cannabis, and other current topics raised by the class. Throughout, the course will be grounded in current evidence and historical context, aiming to answer students’ questions and build a deeper understanding of drug use in Canada today.

Topics Covered:

• What Are Drugs and Who Uses Them?
• Drug Prohibition in Canada
• Cannabis Legalization
• The Current Overdose Epidemic and Naloxone Training
• From Prohibition to Regulation: The Drug Policy Spectrum
• Harm Reduction – What It Is and What It Isn’t
• Substance Use and Older Adults
• Old Drugs, New Ideas
• Open Discussion: Current Issues in Canadian Drug Policy

Canadian and American Nationalism in Literature And Folklore

Dr. Kai McKenzie, BA, Slavic Languages & Literature MA, Folklore, MA, Waldorf Education, PhD, American Folklore, PhD, Canadian Literature

Description: What are the cultural roots of the current MAGA political wave launching Trump back to the White House with a political mandate to pursue the radical policies of dismantling American institutions? What kind of nationalism does the MAGA movement represent? Can we understand it as the logical outcome of previous political and cultural trends or is it an anomaly in the cultural landscape of the United States?

How is Canadian culture distinct from American culture and why? What are the historical and literary roots of Canadian national identity? How can Canadians understand and position themselves in a changing political and economic landscape? This course will pursue these questions through a look at the history of Canadian and American literature and folklore and with a focus on changing Canadian and American conceptions of national identity over time. What are the connecting threads? Where are the breaks? How can we understand the history of Canadian and American identity in literature? Through a close look at folklore, political writings and cartoons, poems, speeches, essays, short stories, and novels, this course promises to help you figure out how to position yourselves as Canadians in a changing world.

China and the New World Order, Part I

Dr. Clay Burlingham, B.A. (Toronto), M.A., PhD (Sask.), Sessional Lecturer

Description: This course, which will be the first of three separate classes, will trace Mao's consolidation of power between 1949 and 1966. It will examine Mao's purging of the party following the defeat of the Nationals under Chang-Kai Shek, then the subsequent endeavors to collectivize agriculture under the Great Leap Forward between 1958 and 1962. Finally, as the resultant disaster was so great that thirty million died, and Mao himself all but lost control, it will examine the methods Mao used to reclaim authority over the Chinese Communist Party.

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