Academic Programs Committee of Council
Course Challenge September 21, 2009
The following curricular changes are being circulated for approval through the University
Course Challenge:
College of Arts & Science
For approval: program revisions, new courses and course deletions in Chemistry, Public
Administration, and Sociology.
Schedule for approval:
Date of circulation: Sept. 21, 2009
Date by which Challenge must be received: Oct. 5, 2009
Date by which changes will automatically be considered approved in the absence of
Challenge: Oct. 19, 2009
ARTS & SCIENCE
The curricular revisions listed below were approved through the April and August 2009
Arts & Science College Course and Program Challenges and are now submitted for
approval by University Course Challenge
Division of Science
Chemistry
New Course
CHEM 435.3 Chemical Applications of Group Theory
2 Understanding the connection between symmetry and electronic and spectroscopic
properties of molecules is the main objective of this course. A systematic introduction of
point-group symmetries and group theory is provided.
Prerequisites: CHEM 332; CHEM 243 recommended. Students in programs other than
Chemistry who have credit for CHEM 231 or its equivalent may seek permission from
the department.
Instructor: Jens Mueller
Rationale: Improves department’s offerings in the field. A deeper understanding of the
relation between symmetry and molecular properties is important for a deeper
understanding of chemistry in general. A course about chemical applications of group
theory is part of many undergraduate programs in chemistry and, therefore, should also
be offered at the U of S for Chemistry majors.
Course Deletion
CHEM 433 Bioinorganic Chemistry
Rationale: Dr. Kraatz, an expert in the area of Bioinorganic Chemistry, who developed
CHEM 433, left the U of S recently. As a consequence, the Department of Chemistry
does not have the expertise to offer this course in the near future.
Division of Social Sciences
Political Studies
Program Revision
Public Administration BA 4-year, Honours
1. COMM 206 is currently a restricted option in the classes required for the major for
Public Administration. ESB is no longer offering this class, so it must be removed from
the list, and instead add in COMM 211 and 381.
2. Add COMM 101, 304, 306, 342, 382 and 385 to same list of restricted options.
New Calendar Description: Existing description remains the same, excepting only the
above excerpt, which should now read:
Choose 6 Credit Units from the following:
COMM 101.3 COMM 105.3 COMM 203.3 COMM 211.3 COMM 304.3 COMM 306.3
COMM 342.3 COMM 345.3 COMM 348.3 COMM 381.3 COMM 382.3 COMM 385.3
LAW 340.3
Rationale: The deleted course (COMM 206.3) is replaced by new courses with similar
content. Added classes allow students to better align their choices with their interests.
Sociology
New Course
SOC 328.3 Social Inequality and Health
1 or 2 This course explores the inter-relationships between sociological theory, health
and illness, and various dimensions of social inequality such as socio-economic
security/insecurity, gender, class, race and ethnicity, ability/disability, and access to
health care services. Course objectives will be achieved through the integration of
theoretical and experiential learning.
Prerequisites: 12 credit units Sociology
Instructor: Elizabeth Quinlan
Rationale: Improves department’s offerings in the field.
The course proposal is being submitted to replace the existing Special Topics, “Social
Inequality and Health” course.
The proposed "Social Inequality and Health", provides a much-needed bridge between
the department’s 200-level and 400-level health courses. As Sociology’s only 300-level
health course, “Social Inequality and Health” will advance ideas, concepts, and skills
generated in 238, “Sociology of Health Illness and Health Care in Canada” while
preparing students for Sociology 420 “Sociology of Medicine”. Currently, there is a great
deal of student interest generated in Sociology 238. However, students feel ill-prepared
to manage Sociology 420 in their third year and then momentum for the topic is lost by
the year’s delay.
Health research has been identified by the University of Saskatchewan as a priority area.
The Sociology department has recently recruited a number of new faculty and postdoctoral fellows, who are all working in health research. Together with the proposed 300level health course, these initiatives will facilitate the department’s contribution to the
achievement of the university-wide goal of furthering health research by building
sustainable research capacity.