Please include here a list of the courses you have taken towards your MA. You can also use this space to showcase any significant accomplishments or anything else related to your course work that you would like to highlight.
Please reflect on one assignment that you completed for a course in the MA program. In your reflection, please describe the assignment, your approach to that assignment (your argument or other relevant information), and why it was impactful for you. You may upload the assignment (or provide a link) if you wish, but you are not required to do so.
Please reflect on one assigned reading that you completed for a course in the MA program. In your reflection, please name the course and the reading (also providing a link or citation) and explain why that reading was impactful for you.
HRSJ 5010
Foundations of Human Rights and Social Justice
We delved into themes of human rights and social justice, addressing issues of justice, fairness, and decolonization across local, national, and transnational contexts. We explored theoretical frameworks such as universalism/relativism, equity, diversity and inclusion, intersectionality, distributive justice, critical race theory, disability theory, feminist analysis, and the influence of social and political structures. The foundational course emphasized Indigenous, anticolonial, decolonizing, antiracist, and Global South perspectives. Key areas included the practical application of these theories in both international and domestic settings, covering topics like human rights laws, social movements and activism, decolonization and reconciliation, torture and legal process deficiencies, refugee and immigrant rights, access to justice, disability rights, governance, transnational governance, Indigenous rights, and international human rights.
HRSJ 5020
Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Resurgence of Land Based Pedagogies and Practices
It was an eye opener coming from Africa and coming to Canada I learnt a lot in this course, we examined Indigenous land-based knowledge systems through an interdisciplinary lens, incorporating Indigenous law, geography, social work, education, health, and wellness. By engaging with Indigenous intergenerational land-based contexts, practices, and processes, we as students articulated ethical ways of living that honor Indigenous self-determination and sovereignties. Our experiential approach centered Indigenous knowledge, treating the land as the primary source of learning. We also investigated how colonial policies and practices obstruct Indigenous access to land and how various resistance and resurgence movements are advocating for Indigenous rights related to food, water, education, ceremonies, and mobility.
HRSJ 5030
Problem Solving in the Field: Study Techniques and Methods
We studied social science and humanities field research as multidisciplinary practices conducted in diverse contexts and locations. We engaged with both quantitative and qualitative epistemologies and methodologies. We learned to formulate basic research questions and explored various methodological research choices and their ethical implications. We also engaged with Indigenous and anti-colonial research methods, including data collection and analysis used in the Global South. As students, we learned to create comprehensive research proposals and ethics applications. One of the major highlights for me in this course was learning how to do a grant application, which I think would be a great deal for my career projection. For someone like myself who is looking forward to getting a career in the Humanitarian field, it was a revelation.
HRSJ 5110
Genocide in the 20th Century
We approached the complex issues of genocide from an interdisciplinary perspective, incorporating philosophical, historical, and literary viewpoints. The course covered various elements, including specific case studies of genocide, the use of language, the roles of eugenics and colonialism, ethical and moral considerations, and international efforts to define and address different types of genocide. By utilizing diverse sources and methodologies, we learned how to make an original contribution to the increasingly important field of genocide studies.
HRSJ 5210
Law, Human Rights and Theories of Justice
As students, we explored the history, nature, and scope of various rights, including legal, civil, political, and human rights, both for individuals and groups. We traced the development of rights theory from early social contract theorists like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau to contemporary theories of rights and justice. We also examined the relationship between rights, conceptions of justice, power dynamics, and the law. Additionally, we looked at how different conceptions of rights can either promote or hinder the social advancement of specific groups and how rights have been applied to equity-seeking groups in both theory and practice.
HRSJ 5230
States, Violence, Revolutions and the Emergence of Global Capitalism
As students, we examined the history and development of modern political structures, such as the nation-state and the capitalist global order, through social and political revolutions, wars and pacification, liberal constitutionalism, and democratization. We also discussed cosmopolitanism and its connection to contemporary global interconnection. We analyzed patterns of conflict and cooperation between state actors and social groups at regional, national, and transnational levels. Additionally, we explored key contemporary issues from various social science perspectives, drawing on core theories related to cosmopolitanism, materialism, and post-structuralism, and considered how states can coexist peacefully in an anarchic world system.
HRSJ 5040
Human Rights and Social Justice Field Experience
As a student, I learned to investigate research problems related to human rights and social justice by collaborating with relevant organizations and groups. For my practicum placement, I worked with Hope International Development Agency, a nonprofit organization focused on development work related to human rights and social justice. I conducted research on projects developed in agreement with partner organizations or groups. Specifically, I worked on land rights issues in the Philippines and Guatemala and their impact on development. Before my field experience, I participated in training on cultural sensitivity, ethics, and safety.
HRSJ 5940
Master of Arts e-Portfolio