Three new curricula innovations set to launch in Fall 2024

In Fall 2024, the Faculty of Arts will offer an Indigenous Thought Minor, a co-op stream in Geographical Analysis, and a concentration in Creative Writing. These curriculum innovations build on the Faculty’s long-standing commitment to providing engaging educational opportunities that combine theoretical and applied knowledge with the acquisition of critical and creative skills.

Indigenous Thought Minor

The Faculty of Arts’ Indigenous Thought Minor is the first cohesive Indigenous Studies programming offered at Toronto Metropolitan University.  While the topics covered in the Indigenous Thought Minor may seem familiar –  such as Indigenous philosophies, the history and future of decolonial movements in Canada, critical considerations of settler colonialism, and the impact of Indigenous thought on cultural practices, political systems, and languages – the Minor is distinct from many other Indigenous Studies offerings across Canada and the United States as it is comprised of courses that are taught entirely from an Indigenous perspective. 

Although it is housed in the Department of Philosophy, the Minor is interdisciplinary and includes a variety of courses from across the Faculty including Indigenous World View (ENG 650); An Indigenous Guide to the Apocalypse (GEO 710); Introductory Kanyen’kéha (MHK 101); and Indigenous Feminisms (SOC 580). 

Geographical Analysis co-op program

The Geographic Analysis BA program continues to set itself apart as a leader in experiential learning opportunities with the introduction of a mandatory co-op program. All students who enrol in the Geographic Analysis program will be enrolled in co-op; however, students will have the opportunity to opt out of co-op before co-op courses begin in their second year (i.e., in Fall 2025). Students who opt-out will complete an internship of 350 hours in their third year. The addition of co-op to Geographic Analysis brings the Faculty of Arts one step closer to its goal of giving all students in Arts access to co-op education. 

Creative Writing concentration

The addition of the Creative Writing concentration to the programming offered by the Department of English responds to the English program’s flourishing creative writing culture and ever-increasing student demand for more creative writing learning opportunities. Available to students in the English BA and Co-op programs, the new concentration emphasizes experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for success in the broader fields of writing, editing, and publishing. In addition to offering traditional creative writing courses on topics like writing prose and poetry, the concentration includes unique courses like Making Digital Work (ENG 304); Making Little Magazines; and Writing Short Stories (ENG 407). 

More information on all new curriculum initiatives will be available on the 2024-2025 undergraduate calendar.