Academic Programs Committee of Council
Course Challenge Jan. 9, 2009
College of Graduate Studies & Research
Items for approval through the University Course Challenge: new courses in Public Policy
and in Educational Foundations; prerequisite change in Toxicology
College of Kinesiology
Change in requirements for Honours
Schedule for approval:
Date of circulation: Jan. 9, 2009
Date by which Challenge must be received: Jan. 23, 2009
Date by which changes will automatically be considered approved in the absence of
Challenge: Feb. 6, 2009
COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES & RESEARCH
The following new Graduate courses and course changes were approved at the Joint
Master’s and Ph.D. Committee meeting of the College of Graduate Studies and Research
on Dec 9, 2008.
Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
New courses
PUBP 812.3 Aboriginal Peoples and Public Policy
2(3L)
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
Contact Person: amber.mccuaig@usask.ca
Calendar Description:
The course begins with the historic framework for contemporary public policy established by
treaties, reserves and legislation. Then it examines contemporary developments, including
constitutional negotiations, influential court case, urbanization, comprehensive claims and
self-government.
Rationale:
Aboriginal issues are increasingly important for governments on the prairies as well as in
other areas of Canada. Students of public policy should have a basic grounding in the
historic background for these issues, as well as contemporary developments.
PUBP 814.3 Social Policy
1(3L)
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
Contact Person: amber.mccuaig@usask.ca
Calendar Description:
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This interdisciplinary course offers a comparative and historical perspective on social policy
development, in Canada and in other advanced industrial countries
Rationale:
The School of Public Policy needs to offer an interdisciplinary course on social policy as this
is by far the largest public policy area in Canada.
PUBP 849.3 Social Economy and Public Policy
1(3L)
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
Contact Person: amber.mccuaig@usask.ca
Calendar Description:
This course is designed to familiarize students with the social economy (such as
community-based organizations and cooperatives) and how it interplays with the public
policies of different levels of government. This includes administrative dimensions, such as
funding and evaluation, and substantive dimensions, including capacity building and
partnership development.
Rationale:
This is an elective in the MPA program
Educational Foundations
New course
EFDT 885.3 Investigations in Culture and Environment
1 or 2 (3S)
Prerequisite: none
Contact Person: Dianne.Miller@usask.ca
Calendar Description:
Course participants will individually and collectively engage in inquiry into various fields and
discourses of culture and environment, drawing implications for their own life and work
contexts
Rationale:
The course was developed in response to requests of students in Educational Foundations
for a graduate course in the area of culture and education to support the department’s focus
on social and ecological justice. The course is also expected to be offered as an elective for
graduate students in the School of Environment and Sustainability.
Toxicology
Change to prerequisite
TOX 860.3 Applied Toxicology
Original prerequisite: VBMS 836 and 837 and permission of the instructor. Recommend
additional credit units in TOX
Revised prerequisite: Registration in the Toxicology Graduate Program or permission of the
instructor.
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COLLEGE OF KINESIOLOGY
Change to Honours program requirements
Faculty and staff within the College of Kinesiology discussed the need to raise the
admission average into the Honours Program from the current level of 70%, as well as the
minimum grade required in KIN 494 (Honours Thesis) to receive an Honours Degree. An
important consideration in this decision was the need to be clear what a B. Sc. in
Kinesiology, Honours from the College represents. Concern was raised over (1) receiving
an Honours degree without necessarily doing well on the thesis (since, in effect, this is what
receiving an Honours degree entails), and (2) receiving an Honours degree without
graduating at least at the level of Distinction.
As a result of this two motions were made and carried.
(1) That the admission eligibility for the Honours program be raised to a cumulative
weighted average (on the previously identified list of courses) to 75%
(2) In order for students to receive a B.Sc. Honours degree from the College of
Kinesiology the student needs to (a) meet, at minimum, the criteria of graduating
with distinction, and (b) receive a minimum of 75% on their Honours Thesis (KIN
494).
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