Arts and Social Sciences Overview

Choosing your Major

Your academic major is the field in which you are most interested. That academic department has determined required and/or recommended courses for your first year of study. Before enrolling, consult their requirements. What if you like two majors? Many students combine two areas of study in a Double Major (or Combined Honours) four-year program. In the first term, you should take the courses listed for BOTH of the programs. In addition, you should discuss your choices with advisors in both programs, since you have to meet more requirements.

Discovering Your Interests (Undeclared Major)

Your undergraduate years are a time of discovery—of who you are, what your strengths are, and what your passion is in life. If you are unsure what you want to major in, you can also register as an “Undeclared Major” in your first year of study. This will give you the opportunity to try different subject areas and discover where your real interests and talents lie. To help you do this, we require all Undeclared Majors to seek academic advising, through the University’s Advising Centre (uwindsor.ca/advising), and through the Faculties and Departments in which you have a particular interest. As an Undeclared Major you should also take a 6.0 double-credit course specifically designed to help you develop and explore your own university skills, 01-120: Understanding the Contemporary World (offered as double credit in the Fall term).

Choosing your Courses

All first-year students in an Arts and Social Sciences program MUST take Foundations of Academic Writing I and II (FAW) 
(01-01-150: Fall semester, 01-01-151: Winter semester)

These courses are designed to help students gain a solid foundation of skills required for writing at the university level. Grammatical, technical, rhetorical, and research skills are emphasized. The courses are offered online only, but are not considered distance education courses. Students can access instructors and teaching assistants on-campus, and all exams are given on-campus. There is a test out option for FAW I. Details about the test out can be found at www.uwindsor.ca/fass/faw-academic-writing. FAW aims to help students gain the skills needed to succeed at writing in all their courses.

Are you looking for an Arts Option?

Try one of these interesting subjects; remember, all language courses count as options for any Bachelor of Arts and Science program.
F: Fall semester, 
W: Winter semester. FASS: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

01-07-202 Culture and Ideas I (W)
01-07-203 Culture and Ideas II (F/W)
01-07-120 Introduction to Languages and Linguistics (F)
01-11-161 Introduction to Greek Civilization (F/W)
01-11-162 Introduction to Roman Civilization (F/W)
01-24-111 Theatre in Contemporary Culture (F/W)
01-24-130 Theatre History I (F)
01-24-230 Theatre History II (W)
01-26-122 Drama of the Western World: The Tragic Vision (F)
01-26-123 Drama of the Western World: The Comic Vision (W)
01-26-140 Topics in Literature (W)
01-28-150 Contemporary Visual Culture (F)
01-32-102 The Fundamentals of Music (F)
01-32-116 Themes in Popular Music (F)
01-34-110 Introduction to Western Philosophy (F/W)
01-34-112 Philosophy and Human Nature (F/W)
01-34-129 Contemporary Moral Issues (F/W)
01-34-130 Philosophy and Popular Culture (F/W)
01-34-221 Introduction to Ethics (F/W)
01-34-160 Reasoning Skills (F/W)
02-53-106 Women and Religion (F/W)
02-53-120 Gal Pals: Women and Friendship (F/W)
02-53-130 Imagining Women (W)
14-51-160 Animals and Humans in Society (F/W)

Are you looking for a Social Sciences Option?

Try one of these interesting subjects (F: Fall semester, W: Winter semester)

02-40-101 Introduction to Media and Society (F/W)
02-40-225 Media Literacy (F/W)
02-43-113 Europe Encounters the World: Facing Islam, 8th‑15th Century (F)
02-43-114 Europe Encounters the World: The Age of Discovery 15th – 18th Century (W)
02-43-123 The World in the 20th Century 1914-1945 (F)
02-43-124 The World in the 20th Century 1945-Present (W)
02-45-100 Introduction to Canadian Politics (F/W)
02-45-130 Comparative Politics in a Changing World (F/W)
02-45-160 Introduction to International Relations (F/W)
02-45-170 Introduction to Diaspora Studies (W)
02-46-107 Positive Psychology (F)
02-46-115 Introduction to Psychology/Behavioural Science (F/W)
02-46-116 Introduction to Psychology/Social Science (F/W)
02-47-117 Meeting Human Needs through Social Welfare (F/W)
02-47-118 Meeting Human Needs through Social Work (F/W)
02-48-101 Principles and Methods of Sociology (F/W)
02-48-102 Social Institutions and Social Change (F/W)
02-49-111 Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology (F/W)
02-53-100 Women in Canadian Society (F/W)
02-53-106 Women and Religion (F/W)
02-53-120 Gal Pals: Women and Friendship (F/W)
02-53-130 Imagining Women (W)
02-54-100 Labour and Social Movements in Canadian Society (W)
02-54-105 Working for a Living (F)
14-51-160 Animals and Humans in Society (F/W)

Do you have musical talent?

Use your talent and earn academic credit: each of these courses counts 
as one-half (1.5) credit

01-33-210 University Singers (by audition) (F/W)
01-33-220 University Wind Ensemble (by audition) (F/W)
01-33-240 Jazz Ensemble (by audition) (F/W)
01-33-260 Community Orchestra (by audition) (F/W)
01-33-270 Community Choir (without audition) (F/W)
01-33-310 Chamber Choir (by audition) (F/W)

Contact the School of Music, ext. 2780 or email music@uwindsor.ca for further information.
Private lessons (full or half credit): 60 or 30 minute lessons in classical 
or jazz/pop for all instruments/voices. Audition required, additional fees apply.

Are you looking for a Science Option?

(Remember, Languages may count as Science options for FASS students, excluding Social Work students). The following courses are good choices for students without Grade 12 “U” Sciences:

03-55-100 Biology of Organisms* (F)
03-55-101 Organisms of the Environment* (W)
03-60-104 Computer Concepts for End-Users (F/W)
03-60-106 Programming in C for Beginners (F/W)
03-60-205 Introduction to the Internet (W) if 03-60-104 taken in the Fall
03-66-100 Introduction to Geomorphology (F)
03-66-102 Atmosphere and Climate (W)
03-66-110 Natural Hazards and Disasters** (W)
03-66-111 Our Changing Earth** (W)
03-64-114 Physical Concepts and Numeracy I (F)
03-64-190 Introduction to Astronomy I (F)
03-64-191 Introduction to Astronomy II (W)

*These courses do not count toward Biology degrees.
**NOTE: These courses do not count toward a BSc degree.
Students with Grade 12 “U” science pre-requisites may choose from many more science courses.

Interested in learning a Language?

In the Fall semester, register for any of a variety of language instruction courses. These are open to students without any previous knowledge of 
the language. Begin with 01-08-100 (Arabic), 
01-13-100 (Ancient Greek) or 01-14-100 (Latin) or take one of our new intensive (double-course credit) language courses; 01-15-102 (German), 
01-21-102 (Italian) or 01-23-102 (Spanish), and follow up with the corresponding 202 course in the Winter term; French 01-29-121 or 29-141 (for those with Grade 12 “U” French). Use your language skills to go on an exchange program at a foreign university in Year 3, a great asset when you look for a job! Language courses also count as Arts or Science options.

(Note: if you already have some language background, call (519) 253-3000 ext. 2888 for placement into a more advanced language course.)