Liberal Arts Honours (B.A.)

Required Courses (9 credits)

Honours Liberal Arts students are required to take three courses designed to help them reflect on the contemporary significance of a Liberal Arts education and on their experience in the Liberal Arts program.

• LIBA 202 Introduction to Liberal Arts (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• LIBA 402 Seminar in Liberal Arts (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• LIBA 490 Honours Thesis (3 credits) · Offered: Fall

Complementary Courses (51 credits)

Honours students must complete 51 credits in one of the three specialized streams set out below. The distribution requirements for all streams are the following: at least 9 credits from the 200-level introductory courses within one stream; at least 24 credits must be from courses at the 300 level or above; at least 6 credits must be at the 400 level or above (language courses cannot count toward satisfying this requirement); no more than 21 credits can be from a single discipline; geographical area: at least 6 credits in coursework primarily emphasizing Africa and/or Asia, and at least 6 credits in coursework emphasizing Europe and/or the Americas or Australasia, and historical periods: at least 6 credits in coursework primarily emphasizing texts or history from before 1500, and at least 6 credits in coursework primarily emphasizing texts or history from 1500-1900 (a given course may satisfy both the geographical area and the historical period requirement).

Stream 1: Literature and the Arts (including Theatre and Architecture)

Students must choose 51 credits as follows:

This stream is designed for students whose primary interests lie in the study of literature and the arts across geographical boundaries and historical traditions. Approved courses are listed below. The courses appearing in List A are introductory in nature and should be taken early in the program. The courses appearing in List B are of two kind: courses taught in the "core" disciplines in this stream, and courses taught in other disciplines which are nevertheless pertinent to this stream. Though wide ranging, the choice of courses is limited by the stream's orientation, as well as by the overall objectives of the Liberal Arts Program. The additional courses may be substituted with the approval of the Program Director. Students must choose 51 credits as follows: 9 credits from the courses in List A 42 credits from the courses in List B

List A (9 credits)

• ARTH 204 Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ARTH 205 Introduction to Modern Art (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Fall
• ARTH 207 Introduction Early Modern Art 1400-1700 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ARTH 209 Introduction to Ancient Art and Architecture (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• CLAS 203 Greek Mythology (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Winter
• CLAS 301 Ancient Greek Literature and Society (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• CLAS 302 Roman Literature and Society (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 211 Introduction: East Asian Culture: China (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 212 Introduction: East Asian Culture: Japan (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 213 Introduction: East Asian Culture: Korea (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• EAST 215 Introduction to East Asian Art (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ENGL 202 Departmental Survey of English Literature 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ENGL 203 Departmental Survey of English Literature 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ENGL 215 Introduction to Shakespeare (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ENGL 230 Introduction to Theatre Studies (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• FREN 250 Littérature française avant 1800 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• FREN 251 Littérature française depuis 1800 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• FREN 252 Littérature québécoise (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• GERM 259 Introduction to German Literature 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• HISP 225 Hispanic Civilization 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ISLA 200 Islamic Civilization (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 210 Muslim Societies (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• ITAL 230 Understanding Italy (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ITAL 295 Italian Cultural Studies (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• LLCU 220 Introduction to Literary Analysis (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 203 Bible and Western Culture (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RUSS 223 Russian 19th Century: Literary Giants 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RUSS 224 Russian 19th Century: Literary Giants 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

List B (42 credits)

Students in the Literature and the Arts (including Theatre and Architecture) stream may choose from:

Stream 2: History, Culture, and Society

Students must choose 51 credits as follows:

This stream is designed for students whose primary interests lie in the study of history, culture, and society across geographical boundaries and historical traditions. Approved courses are listed below. The courses appearing in List A are introductory in nature and should be taken early in the program. The courses appearing in List B are of two kind: courses taught in the "core" disciplines in this stream, and courses taught in other disciplines which are nevertheless pertinent to this stream. Though wide ranging, the choice of courses is limited by the stream's orientation, as well as by the overall objectives of the Liberal Arts Program. The additional courses may be substituted with the approval of the Program Director. Students must choose 51 credits as follows: 9 credits from the courses in List A 42 credits from the courses in List B

List A (9 credits)

• CATH 200 Introduction to Catholicism (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• COMS 200 History of Communication (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• COMS 210 Introduction to Communication Studies (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Fall
• COMS 230 Communication and Democracy (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• EAST 211 Introduction: East Asian Culture: China (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 212 Introduction: East Asian Culture: Japan (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 213 Introduction: East Asian Culture: Korea (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• EAST 215 Introduction to East Asian Art (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• HIST 200 Introduction to African History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 201 Modern African History (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• HIST 202 Survey: Canada to 1867 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• HIST 203 Survey: Canada since 1867 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• HIST 205 Ancient Mediterranean History (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• HIST 207 Jewish History: 400 B.C.E. to 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 208 Introduction to East Asian History (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• HIST 213 World History, 600-2000 (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Fall
• HIST 214 Early Modern Europe (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• HIST 215 Modern Europe (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 200 Islamic Civilization (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 210 Muslim Societies (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• ISLA 375 Sufi Women (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 530 Advanced Sufism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• POLI 212 Introduction to Comparative Politics – Europe/North America (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• POLI 227 Introduction to Comparative Politics - Global South (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• POLI 231 Introduction to Political Theory (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Fall, Winter
• POLI 243 International Politics of Economic Relations (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Winter
• POLI 244 International Politics: State Behaviour (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• SOCI 210 Sociological Perspectives (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Fall
• SOCI 211 Sociological Inquiry (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

List B (42 credits)

Students in the History and Culture stream may choose from any course at the 200 level or above in the following departments and programs: History (HIST), Political Science (POLI), Sociology (SOCI) and Art History and Communication Studies (labelled COMS).

Stream 3: Philosophy and Religion

Students must choose 51 credits as follows:

This stream is designed for students whose primary interests lie in the study of philosophy and religion across geographical boundaries and historical traditions. Approved courses are listed below. The courses appearing in List A are introductory in nature and should be taken early in the program. The courses appearing in List B are of two kind: courses taught in the "core" disciplines in this stream, and courses taught in other disciplines which are nevertheless pertinent to this stream. Though wide ranging, the choice of courses is limited by the stream's orientation, as well as by the overall objectives of the Liberal Arts Program. The additional courses may be substituted with the approval of the Program Director. Students must choose 51 credits as follows: 9 credits from the courses in List A 42 credits from the courses in List B

List A (9 credits)

• ISLA 200 Islamic Civilization (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 210 Muslim Societies (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• JWST 211 Jewish Studies 1: Biblical Period (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• JWST 216 Jewish Studies 2: 400 B.C.E. - 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• PHIL 230 Introduction to Moral Philosophy 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• PHIL 240 Political Philosophy 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• POLI 231 Introduction to Political Theory (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Fall, Winter
• RELG 201 Religions of the Ancient Near East (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 203 Bible and Western Culture (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 204 Judaism, Christianity and Islam (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 207 Introduction to the Study of Religions (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 252 Hinduism and Buddhism (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 253 Religions of East Asia (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 321 Western Intellectual Tradition (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 334 Theology of History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 341 Introduction: Philosophy of Religion (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 373 Christian Ethics of Love (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 380 Religion, Philosophy, Modernity (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

List B (42 credits)

Students in the Philosophy and Religion stream may choose from:

Architecture (ARCH), Art History and Communication Studies (labelled ARTH), Classics (CLAS), English (ENGL), French (FREN), German Studies (GERM), Hispanic Stud (0–12 credits)

Architecture (ARCH), Art History and Communication Studies (labelled ARTH), Classics (CLAS), English (ENGL), French (FREN), German Studies (GERM), Hispanic Studies (HISP), Italian Studies (ITAL), Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LLCU), and Russian Studies (RUSS); and any course (other than a course dedicated to teaching a language) at the 200 level or above in Jewish Studies (JWST) listed in the Course Catalogue under the headings “Biblical Studies,” “Languages and Literatures – Hebrew” and “Language and Literature – Yiddish.” Students in this stream may also choose a maximum of 12 credits from the following list:

• AFRI 401 Swahili Language and Culture (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ARCH 250 Architectural History 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ARCH 251 Architectural History 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ARCH 354 Architectural History 3 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ARCH 355 Architectural History 4 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ARCH 531 Architectural Intentions Vitruvius - Renaissance (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ARCH 532 Origins of Modern Architecture (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ARTH 352 Feminism in Art and Art History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 307 Topics: East Asian Language and Literature 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• EAST 308 Topics: East Asian Language and Literature 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 350 Gender and Sexuality in Chinese Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 351 Women Writers of China (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 352 Critical Approaches to Chinese Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 353 Approaches to Chinese Cinema (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 362 Japanese Cinema (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 453 Topics: Chinese Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 454 Topics: Chinese Cinema (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 461 Inventing Modern Japanese Novel (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 464 Image, Text, Performance (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 467 Topics: Japanese Cinema (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 550 Classical Chinese Poetry Themes and Genres (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 569 Advanced Topics: Japanese Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 345 History of Italian Renaissance (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 405 Topics in Intellectual History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 411 Topics in African History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 426 Topics: British Cultural History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 385 Poetics and Politics in Arabic Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ISLA 388 Persian Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ISLA 390 Islamic Reform and Radicalism: Middle East (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 392 Arabic Literature as World Literature (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 488 Tales of Wonder-Islamic World (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 585 Arab Women's Literature (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• LIBA 395 Individual Reading Course (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• PHIL 336 Aesthetics (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• PHIL 436 Aesthetics 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 210 Jesus of Nazareth (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 302 Literature of Ancient Israel 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 303 Literature of Ancient Israel 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 307 Bible, Quran and Interpretations (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 311 Formation of the New Testament (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 312 The Gospels (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 455 Religion, Performance and Agency in South Asia (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Students in this stream may also choose a maximum of 12 credits from the following list: (0–12 credits)

Students in this stream may also choose a maximum of 12 credits from the following list:

• ANTH 202 Socio-Cultural Anthropology (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ANTH 206 Environment and Culture (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ANTH 212 Anthropology of Development (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ANTH 318 Globalization and Religion (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ANTH 322 Social Change in Modern Africa (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ANTH 327 Anthropology of South Asia (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ANTH 338 Indigenous Studies of Anthropology (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ANTH 355 Theories of Culture and Society (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ARTH 310 Postcolonialism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• CATH 340 Catholicism and Public Policy (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• CLAS 203 Greek Mythology (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Winter
• CLAS 308 Gender in the Ancient World (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• CLAS 404 Classical Tradition (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• CLAS 406 Greek and Roman Historiography (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 303 Current Topics: Chinese Studies 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• EAST 304 Current Topics: Chinese Studies 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 305 Current Topics: Japanese Studies 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• EAST 306 Current Topics: Japanese Studies 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 313 Current Topics: Korean Studies 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 314 Current Topics: Korean Studies 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 364 Mass Culture and Postwar Japan (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 370 History of Sexuality in Japan (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• EAST 462 Japan in Asia (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• EAST 493 Special Topics: East Asian Studies 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• EAST 494 Special Topics: East Asian Studies 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• FREN 336 Histoire de la langue française (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• GERM 331 Germany after Reunification (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• GERM 357 German Culture in European Context (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• GERM 364 Gender and Society in German Literature and Culture (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• GERM 365 Modern Short Fiction (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• GERM 368 Fin-de-Siècle Vienna (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HISP 437 Colonial / Postcolonial Latin America (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ISLA 310 Women in Islam (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 311 History of the City-Islamic World (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 325 Introduction to Shi'i Islam (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 355 Modern History of the Middle East (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 360 Islam and Politics (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 365 Middle East Since the 1970's (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 410 History: Middle-East 1798-1918 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 411 History: Middle-East 1918-1945 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ISLA 415 Modern Iran: Anthropological Approach (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 420 Indo-Islamic Civilization: Medieval (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 421 Islamic Culture - Indian Subcontinent (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ISLA 580 Topics in Ottoman History (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ITAL 230 Understanding Italy (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ITAL 295 Italian Cultural Studies (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ITAL 356 Medieval Discourses on Love (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ITAL 363 Gender, Literature and Society (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ITAL 365 The Italian Renaissance (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• ITAL 371 The Italian Baroque (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ITAL 400 Italian Regional Identities (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• JWST 211 Jewish Studies 1: Biblical Period (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• JWST 216 Jewish Studies 2: 400 B.C.E. - 1000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• JWST 217 Jewish Studies 3: 1000 - 2000 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• JWST 240 The Holocaust (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• JWST 306 The American Jewish Community (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• JWST 361 The Shtetl: 1500-1897 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• JWST 365 Modern Jewish Ideologies (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• JWST 366 History of Zionism (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• LIBA 395 Individual Reading Course (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• LLCU 212 Understanding Digital and Social Media (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 201 Religions of the Ancient Near East (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 203 Bible and Western Culture (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 204 Judaism, Christianity and Islam (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 270 Religious Ethics and the Environment (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 322 Church and Empire to 1300 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 323 Church and State since 1300 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 326 Christians in the Roman World (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 331 Religion and Globalization (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• RELG 334 Theology of History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RELG 338 Women and the Christian Tradition (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RELG 375 Religion, Politics and Society (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• RUSS 217 Russia's Eternal Questions (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RUSS 229 Introduction to Russian Folklore (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RUSS 427 Russian Fin de Siècle (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RUSS 428 Russian Avantgarde (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• RUSS 430 High Stalinist Culture 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Philosophy (PHIL), Religious Studies (RELG), Catholic Studies (CATH), Islamic Studies (ISLA), and Jewish Studies (JWST); and any course in Political Science (PO (0–12 credits)

Philosophy (PHIL), Religious Studies (RELG), Catholic Studies (CATH), Islamic Studies (ISLA), and Jewish Studies (JWST); and any course in Political Science (POLI) listed in the Course Catalogue under the heading “Political Theory.” Students in this stream may also choose a maximum of 12 credits from the following list:

• ANTH 209 Anthropology of Religion (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ANTH 318 Globalization and Religion (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• CLAS 203 Greek Mythology (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Winter
• CLAS 303 Ancient Greek Religion (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• ENVR 203 Knowledge, Ethics and Environment (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• ENVR 400 Environmental Thought (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
• GERM 355 Nietzsche and Wagner (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• GERM 367 Topics in German Thought (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 320 Themes in Intellectual History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• HIST 350 Science and the Enlightenment (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• HIST 440 Fiction and History (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
• ITAL 355 Dante and the Middle Ages (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
• LIBA 395 Individual Reading Course (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
• LLCU 301 Topics in Culture and Thought (3 credits) · Offered: Fall

Related programs

• Liberal Arts Major Concentration (B.A.)