Most course outlines can be found in the Simple Syllabus online portal. Outlines not posted in the Simple Syllabus portal will be made available to students before the start of classes (e.g., via the relevant course page in Avenue to Learn).

 

2025-26 Courses

ARTSSCI 1A03 | Practices of Knowledge

An examination of significant themes in intellectual history through a reading of major works in philosophy and literature that shed light on the conceptual foundations of contemporary life.

Instructor: Dr. Manuel Vasquez Villavicencio
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 1AA3 | Contemporary Indigenous Studies

This course will explore the relationship between Indigenous peoples and mainstream society in the 20th century with regard to governmental policy, land claims, economic development, and self-determination.

Instructor:
Term: 2

ARTSSCI 1B03 | Writing

This course aims to develop students’ ability to use language in written communication, with a focus on academic writing in particular. Students will develop their writing skills through assignments and activities that ask them to produce, analyze, and reflect on written work in a range of genres.

Instructor: Dr. Stacy Creech de Castro
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 1BB3 | Argumentation

This course provides students with some of the conceptual tools needed to recognize, understand, evaluate, formulate, and attack arguments. Students will have the opportunity to develop such skills in their oral and written work.

Instructor:
Term: 2

ARTSSCI 1C06 | Global Challenges Inquiry

This inquiry course, designed to develop skills basic to the systematic, evidence-based investigation of public issues, focuses on substantial global challenges and injustices, as well as on means of working toward positive social change.

Instructors: Dr. Beth Marquis (Terms 1 & 2) and Dr. Mat Savelli (Term 1)
Term: 3

ARTSSCI 1D06 | Calculus

This course aims to provide a thorough understanding of the principles and major applications of differential and integral calculus of functions of one variable, as well as an introduction to multivariate calculus and differential equations.

Instructor: Dr. Caroline Junkins
Term: 3

ARTSSCI 2A06 | Social and Political Thought

Development of social and political thought, with an emphasis on the question of justice, community, and the concept of “the human,” in the writings of a wide range of thinkers, from Plato, Locke, Wollstonecraft, and Marx to Butler, Foucault, Audra Simpson, and Cornel West.

Instructor: Dr. Shane Lynn (Term 1) and Dr. Derek Woods (Term 2)
Term: 3

ARTSSCI 2D06 | Physics

Exploring many of the great concepts of physics in a quantitative way. Beginning with Newtonian mechanics, it moves into Einstein’s relativity, wave phenomena, atomic physics, quantum mechanics and cosmology. Selected laboratory projects will be carried out.

Instructor: Dr. Maikel Rheinstadter
Term: 3

ARTSSCI 2E03 | Economics: Principles & Policy

An introduction to the core principles of economics with the objective of helping students to apply economic reasoning to issues that are central to modern societies, such as: the role of government in a market-oriented setting; equity and efficiency; growth and the environment; and fiscal and monetary stability.

Instructor: Dr. Anastasios (Tasos) Papanastasiou
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 2R03 | Applied Statistical Inference

Inferential statistics, with an emphasis on applications. Topics include data description, graphical methods, probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, one-way ANOVA, analysis of categorical data, regression and correlation. Use of a statistics software package.

Instructor: Dr. Katherine Davies
Term: 2

ARTSSCI 3B03 | Technology and Society I

The Culture of Technology. Technological practices and approaches are studied as cultural activities in the contexts of beliefs, philosophies, values and social structures both past and present.

Instructor: Dr. Beth Marquis
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 3BB3 | Technology and Society II

The course will explore the extent to which technology controls our lives – including at work, at home, and in politics – and how different groups in society are affected and how they can respond.

Instructor: Dr. David Goutor
Term: 2

ARTSSCI 3CL3 | Theatre, Self, and Society

Theatre skills are life skills. Throughout this course, class exercises, creative work, and online discussions will allow students to explore the practice and ethics of Applied Drama and to learn how theatre can be used as a tool for social development and change.

Instructor: Prof. Hartley Jafine
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 3C03 | Coding Inquiry

This course focuses on computer programming as both a technical and a social practice. Students will have an opportunity to learn and apply basic coding skills; to consider the intersections between coding and user experience; and to explore ways in which software design might contribute to addressing (or exacerbating) social challenges.

Instructor: Dr. Luis Navarro Del Angel
Term: 2

ARTSSCI 3EH3 | Exploring Hamilton Inquiry

This course encourages students to ask questions and explore topics focused on the City of Hamilton, Ontario. Through the exploration of Hamilton from a number of disciplinary perspectives, including cultural, economic, and geological, students will have an opportunity to gain insight into the city that McMaster University calls home. This course will include excursions during class time and may require small fees for travel.

Instructor: Dr. John Maclachlan
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 3F03 | Experiential Project in Teaching and Learning

This course allows students to explore in depth an issue related to teaching and learning in higher education under the supervision of McMaster faculty and/or staff affiliated with the Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching (MacPherson Institute). Students may propose research questions of their own or contribute to the development of existing initiatives within the MacPherson Institute. Proposal form and deadlines are available on the Arts & Science Program website https://artsci.mcmaster.ca.

Coordinator: Dr. Beth Marquis
Term: 3
More Information

ARTSSCI 3RL3 | Religion and Law

The notion of law has deep roots in religious thought and writing. This course will survey the historical development of law in the western world in connection with various religious traditions, with a focus on Judaism and Christianity. It will also address some contemporary issues and tensions between religion and law in pluralistic, secular societies.

Instructor:
Term: 2

ARTSSCI 3S03 | The East Asian Religious Tradition

Readings of East Asian texts in translation will centre around themes such as culture vs. nature, virtue vs. power, social responsibility vs. personal cultivation, bookish learning vs. meditation.

Instructor:
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 3TR3 | Trees and Their Histories

Inspired by the trees on McMaster’s campus, this course examines trees and their significance in history and the present through multiple lenses including: biology; colonial and economic histories; visual, material, and performing arts practices; indigenous and environmental studies; poetry, prose, and psychology.

Instructor: Dr. Alison McQueen
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 3X03 | Individual Study

This course consists of study under the supervision of a McMaster faculty member. See here for more information.

Coordinator: Dr. Beth Marquis
Term:  1 & 2
More Information

ARTSSCI 4A06/9 | Individual study

This course consists of study under the supervision of a McMaster faculty member. Proposal deadline is March 1. See here for more information.

Coordinator: Dr. Beth Marquis
Term: 1 & 2
More Information

ARTSSCI 4C06/9 | Thesis

This course consists of original research under the supervision of a McMaster faculty member. Proposal deadline is March 1. See here for more information.

Coordinator: Dr. Beth Marquis
Term: 1 & 2
More Information

ARTSSCI 4CI3 | Diversity and Human Rights Inquiry

This course explores issues of diversity and the role of human rights protection regimes in both Canadian and international contexts.

Instructor:
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 4CP3 | Media Inquiry

This course considers media texts and industries as social and political entities, taking up theoretical and analytical perspectives, political economy of the media, news media, and entertainment media and their cultural effects.

Instructor: Dr. James Gillett
Term: 1

ARTSSCI 4DS3 | Digital Society and Public Policy

This course explores the challenges to public policy posed by an increasingly digital society and its advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, 3D printing, robotics, and the Internet of Things.

Instructor: Prof. Vass Bednar
Term: 1