• African Studies Program
• Caribbean Studies Program
• Equity Studies Program
• Humanism Program
• Equity Studies Program
• South Asian Studies Program
• Women's Studies Program

 African Studies Program

The African studies program examines the history, society and culture of Africa. The core courses are drawn from anthropology, history, literature and political science, together with a few interdisciplinary courses. Additional courses in these disciplines and in philosophy, sociology, and music round out the program offerings.

WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM OPTIONS?
Students have the option of pursuing a formal course of study through different levels of specialization. There is a specialist program (11 specified courses), a major program (six specified courses), and a minor program (four courses). The specialist program requires two years of language study designed to broaden access to the literature of Africa in French, Portuguese, Swahili, Arabic or another African language.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN FIRST YEAR?
If you are interested in enrolling in one of the African studies programs, or just wish to take a course in African studies as an elective, you should take the first-year course, Introduction to African Studies, NEW150Y. In this course, you will be introduced to topics such as the origins of African civilizations, the African experience of colonialism, African humanism and philosophy, and the dynamics of contemporary social organization, politics and culture.

AFRICAN STUDIES UNION (ASU)
The African Studies Union is an organization of African studies students that to broadens the participation of students beyond the classroom. The organization is a go-between for faculty and students, and information service, a social group and an educational service. The ASU can be reached by calling (416) 978-4342.

Caribbean Studies Program

The Caribbean studies program consists of courses in Caribbean history, literature and thought which deal with a wide range of issues including gender, religion, politics, culture, ethnicity, race, development, language, colonialism, and regional common markets.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN FIRST YEAR?
There are no first-year course prerequisites for the Caribbean studies program. You may wish to include history, anthropology or Spanish in your selection of first-year courses to provide maximum flexibility in course selection in higher years.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Both the major and the minor programs in Caribbean studies require completion of the core courses, NEW 224Y (Caribbean Thought I) and NEW 324Y (Caribbean Thought II). Others may be chosen from a list of courses taught by the departments of anthropology, English, history, political science, Spanish and Portuguese, or interdisciplinary courses sponsored by New College: NEW 223Y (Caribbean Literature and Society); NEW 322Y (The Contemporary African Novel); NEW 325H (Caribbean Women Thinkers); NEW 326Y (Indenture, Survival, Change). Students registered in Caribbean studies are encouraged to pursue a complementary focus in another discipline.

STUDENT GROUPS
The Caribbean studies program has a close relationship with the three major Caribbean student associations on the St. George campus. Members of these associations sit on the Caribbean studies program committee and are in frequent contact with the director of the program.

Equity Studies Program

The interdisciplinary program in equity studies allows students to examine various models - historically and culturally specific - for conceptualizing inequities and for bringing about equity. It draws together discourses on equity from the humanities, social sciences and sciences and is designed to encourage students to draw connections between different forms of social inequality which otherwise might be studies in isolation.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN EQUITY STUDIES?
A background in equity studies is good preparation for many academic endeavours and careers in such areas as community services, education, international development, employment equity, law, mental health and public education, social work.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN FIRST YEAR?
There are no first-year prerequisites for the equity studies program. You may wish to include sociology, anthropology, history, political science or women's studies courses in your selection of first-year courses to provide maximum flexibility in course selection in higher years.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The major program requires the completion of the core course, NEW 240Y (Introduction to Equity Studies) plus five other courses drawn from a wide range of disciplines including aboriginal studies, anthropology, history, philosophy, political science and sociology.

Students in the equity studies program are encouraged to pursue a complementary focus in another discipline.

The Equity Studies Student Union (ESSU) is a vibrant and active student group whose members work throughout the year to provide extra-curricular events that will complement students' in-class education.

Humanisn Program

Humanism provides an opportunity for students studying different subjects to come together in a non-specialist setting and explore issues common and fundamental to different specialties. Each group creates a context within which divergent perspectives and presuppositions are both shared and challenged. Students read, discuss, and critically examine a wide historical and cultural range of primary sources by major authors whose ideas underlie current preoccupations in the natural and social sciences, philosophy, literature, religion and law.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE THAT INCLUDES HUMANISM?
Humanism is concerned with general education and does not lead to specific careers or post-graduate programs. It seeks to enhance and supplement the value of subjects which do provide such opportunities. Economists, engineers, lawyers and teachers are among former students following highly diverse careers who attest to its value.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN FIRST YEAR?
NEW200Y (Humanism I: Classical to Renaissance Thought) or any of the first year seminars courses provide a valuable introduction to humanism.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The minor program consists of three core courses: NEW 200Y, NEW 300Y (Humanism II: Enlightenment and Post-Enlightenment Thought) and NEW 309Y (Humanism III: Varieties of Humanism in the 20th Century) plus one other course.

South Asian Studies Program

The South Asian studies program examines the history and culture of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Traditionally South Asia is presented as a living culture, a viable way of life for millions for over 3,000 years, and a source of inspiration to other parts of Asia for 2,000 years. Modern studies emphasize the history and development of South Asia's political, cultural and social institutions, the nature of the economy and the significance of class and ideology in the modern dynamics of continuity and change.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Students have the option of pursuing a specialist, major or a minor program. The specialist program requires two years of language study in Sanskrit, Punjabi, Bengali, or demonstrated proficiency in another South Asian language. Programs may stress either the ancient or the modern aspects of South Asia or may explore those elements which fuse traditional religion and culture with contemporary patterns of politics and society.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN FIRST YEAR?
There are no first year prerequisites for the South Asian studies program. You may wish to include history, political science or religion courses in your first year in order to order provide maximum flexibility of program and course choice in higher years. You may also wish to include NEW 211Y (Introductory Bengali) or NEW 212Y (Introductory Hindi) in your first or second year.

Women's Studies Program

The women's studies program at New College is an interdisciplinary program that offers a wide variety of courses in a rapidly developing field. Courses in women's studies cover such issues as the representation and social organization of sexual difference, women and health, gender issues in the law, women in world cultures, women and issues of international development, native women's issues and the history of feminism. Other courses which focus on gender are cross-listed from the departments of anthropology, cinema studies, criminology, East Asian studies, English, fine art, history, French, linguistics, Near and Middle Eastern civilizations, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology and can count as women's studies credits.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN WOMEN'S STUDIES?
Women's studies graduates have found employment in such areas as social and community services, international development, human rights investigation, employment equity, mental health and public education.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN FIRST YEAR?
If you are interested in enrolling in the women's studies program, or if you would like to study women's studies as an elective, you should take the NEW160Y (Introduction to Women's Studies). This course examines the position of women in contemporary cultures through the issues of sexuality, socialization, economics and political roles, creative production in the arts and the history and theory of women's movements.

WHAT ARE MY PROGRAM OPTIONS?
In the Faculty of Arts and Science you do not select your program of study until the end of first-year (or after you have completed four credits). If you intend to focus your undergraduate studies in the area of women's studies, or are planning to do graduate work, you should enrol in the women's studies specialist program, or in the major program, which, combined with a major in another subject area leads to an honours B.A. If you want to study women's studies as part of your general education you should enrol in the minor program.

WHAT HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION DO I REQUIRE FOR NEW COLLEGE PROGRAMS?
Students who are interested in any of these programs should apply to the humanities and social sciences program area on the St. George campus. At least six senior high school credits (OACs in Ontario) including English are required.

You do not have to be a New College student to enrol in New College programs; the programs are open to all Faculty of Arts and Science students.

Still Have Questions?

For further information on African studies, please call the program director, Dickson Eyoh, at (416) 978-8288 or the program secretary, Doris Page at (416) 978-5404.

For more information on Caribbean studies, please contact the program director, Arnold Itwaru, New College at (416) 978-8966, or the registrar's office at (416) 978-2460.

For more information on equity studies, please contact the program coordinator, June Larkin at (416) 978-8282, or the program office at (416) 978-0554.

For more information on the humanism program, please contact the program director, Michael Dixon at (416) 978-6487.

For further information on the women's studies program, please call the undergraduate co-ordinator, June Larkin at (416) 978-8282 or the program assistant at (416) 946-3817.

For more information on the South Asian studies program, please contact the program director, Narendra Wagle at (416) 978-4294.

Visit the New College web site.