Undergraduate Course: Minorities in Multicultural Society (GEGR10035)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course introduces Canada as a young and territorially enormous country, with a small and highly diversified population. Today, Canada is frequently lauded as an example of successful multiculturalism, and its experiences are often called on to serve as guidelines for a world that is increasingly characterised by cultural diversity. This course looks beneath this comfortable image to explore the experiences of minorities over time and the complexities of their interaction with 'mainstream' Canada as it has evolved into its present form. It begins by exploring the emergence of dominant groups is outlined, and their attempts to achieve national growth and stability while maintaining power. In particular, this involves the discussion of immigration and settlement policies, the creation of an officially bilingual state, and the promotion of multiculturalism. The course then focuses on the way in which minorities defined by gender, 'race' and culture have been treated within Canadian society, and on their attempts to redefine positions of marginality. |
| Course description |
Syllabus:
Wk 1: Introduction to the course/ Immigration Policy and Multiculturalism
Wk 2: Constructing and Representing Canada: From Bilingualism and Biculturalism to Multiculturalism
Wk 3: Colonialism and Post-Colonialism: Explaining the Construction and Reconstruction of Indians
Wk 4: Intersections of Gender, Race and Power. Metis Ethnogenesis and Exclusion
Wk 5: Nationalism: The Misplaced Quest for Cultural Homogeneity in Canada and Quebec
Wk 6: Religion and Education in Nation-Building: Shifting Responsibilities over Time
Wk 7: Paradox: Democratic Nation-Building and Unequal Citizenship
Wk 8: Institutional Racism and Multiculturalism
Wk 9: Multiculturalism and Identity
Wk 10: Accommodating difference
Wk 11: Course Summary and Revision
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- develop written communication skills, including, in particular, the ability to synthesize material, answer questions succintly and write solid essays
- develop oral communication skills, including, in particular, the ability to produce and deliver a short power point presentation as as active engagement in seminar discussion groups
- acquire a sound understanding of social construction theory of the politics of representation (and non-representation)
- acquire skills related to the interpretation of visual culture
- ability to form independent opinions as well as a capacity to know when these opinions are worth defending and when they might better be revised
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jan Penrose
Tel: (0131 6)50 8161
Email: dr.j.penrose@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sarah Mcallister
Tel: (0131 6)50 4917
Email: Sarah.McAllister@ed.ac.uk |
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