Double Majors
At Ryerson, "a double major is a Senate-approved program with a curricular focus in two areas, offering both breadth and depth within the areas of study" (Senate Policy #2: 7.3.1).
Within the Faculty of Arts, the curriculum structure for double majors is based on the curriculum template of the Arts common platform programs, which is shared by most programs within the Faculty.
In general terms, a double major consists of 40 one-semester courses:
- 13 courses in each Major (a combination of required and Table II elective courses, as defined by each Major department). Total: 26 courses
- 3 requires competency courses (SSH105, SSH205, SSH301)
- 2 or 3 introductory humanities and/or social science electives (Table I)
- 1 or 2 two non-Arts electives (Table III)
- 1 additional Professionally-Related (Open) elective as defined by the particular double major (Tables I, III, and IV)
- 2 lower level Liberal Studies electives (Table A)
- 4 upper level Liberal Studies electives (Table B)
In accordance with Liberal Studies policies, which require Liberal Studies courses to be outside the student’s field of professional specialization, Liberal Studies courses in either of the Major subject areas cannot be used to fulfil Liberal Studies requirements.
In accordance with the Minors Policy, students cannot complete a Minor in either of their Double Major areas.
Please note: Students are not admitted directly to a double major. The Faculty of Arts accepts applications for transfer to a double major program in the second semester of studies. Approved transfer students commence studies in the double major program in second year. If you have further questions, please consult with the Undergraduate Program Administrator or Undergraduate Program Director of your Home program (i.e., the program to which you were admitted for first year).
Politics and Governance Double Majors
Students in the Criminology and Politics and Governance double major will learn how key players and institutions affect, and are affected by, the justice system and other social and political institutions of regulation. Students will learn about the operation of these systems, the professionals who work within them, and the various stakeholders that are involved. This will also include an analysis of the influence of race, class, gender, and other forms of social inequality. The program emphasizes students’ ability to think critically about political and criminological issues, and provides valuable tools for developing substantive knowledge for work in criminal justice and political fields, as well as postgraduate education.
The core goals of the double major are to graduate students who will be able to:
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge of how decisions are made by governments, non-governmental organizations, and both criminal justice and political institutions;
- critically evaluate and analyze administrative practices and policies related to law and society;
- understand justice and equity within and outside of political and criminal justice systems, as well as the important role of communities, not-for-profit, and private-sector agencies in developing policy and delivering justice;
- identify how structural inequalities (e.g., gender, race, class, legal status) impact individuals, communities, civic engagement, and socio-political outcomes;
- recognize how global, national, and sub-national political institutions may create barriers or facilitate access to justice.
Please note: Students wishing to enter the Criminology and Politics and Governance double major must, prior to admission:
- have completed POG 100 or POG 110 (or both); and
- have completed CRM 100 or CRM 102 (or both); and
- present a minimum CGPA of 3.0
Admission is competitive and subject to availability.
Students in the History and Politics and Governance double major will learn to evaluate and analyse political decisions, administrative practice, and policies that emerge from a variety of sources, and to consider these in historical perspective. Using a range of sources and texts, the History and Politics & Governance double major will develop students’ proficiency in critical thinking, and enhance their ability to question, research, argue, understand, and communicate. Students will learn to evaluate and analyse political decisions, administrative practice, and policies that emerge from a variety of sources, and to evaluate them on a range of criteria, including empirical, theoretical and ethical bases, and examine these in historical perspective. They may explore the formation of societies in the ancient world, or contemporary problems in historical perspective, or the great diversity of themes in the centuries between as well as explore the five traditional sub fields of Political Science: Canadian, Comparative, Global, Policy, and Theory.
All of these skills are vital in enabling them to succeed in a wide range of careers and participate in the life of the world around them as informed citizens. This program offers a high degree of choice regarding the electives that students complete to fulfil their degree requirements. They might wish to explore the formation of societies in the ancient world, or contemporary problems in historical perspective, or the great diversity of themes in the centuries between. Within the Politics and Governance component of the degree, students choose electives from the five traditional sub fields of Political Science: Canadian, Comparative, Global, Policy, and Theory. Students may choose depth in a small number of thematic categories, or choose breadth by sampling in several such categories. Within the History component, students will have a wide range of course choices covering multiple time periods, geographical focii, historical themes and methodological approaches.
The core goals of the double major are to graduate students who will be able to:
- Discuss and demonstrate a coherent understanding of the intellectual and other foundations of historical and modern societies, including the interconnectedness of people, ideas, things, and places;
- Identify key historical issues from a diverse spectrum of regions, cultures, and time periods, and distinguish and evaluate overlapping, and sometimes competing, narratives;
- Apply historical knowledge, drawn from a broad range of sources to help interpret contemporary events and issues, whether local, national, or global in character; and
- (For those engaging in experiential learning components in heritage management and public history) apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the contextualization, interpretation presentation, and preservation of historical artifacts in a professional setting.
- Apply those perspectives and skills to analyse and address contemporary societal needs as global citizens and emerging leaders.
- Discuss and explain how important decisions are made in today’s society – at the international, national, provincial and local level – by both governmental non-governmental organizations and informal political institutions.
- Evaluate and analyse political decisions, administrative practices, and policies that emerge from a variety of formal and informal institutions.
- Employ a variety of empirical, theoretical and normative approaches to evaluate and analyse global, national, and local political processes and events.
- Understand how global, national, and sub-national political institutions function.
Please note: Students wishing to enter the History and Politics and Governance double major must, prior to admission:
Students in the Politics and Governance and Sociology double major will learn how we shape and are shaped by formal and informal social and political institutions, norms, and practices from the local to the global level. They will learn to evaluate and analyse decisions, practices, and policies that emerge from a variety of sources, and to understand/assess them using a range of criteria, including empirical, theoretical and ethical bases. The program has a strong emphasis on practical research methods and offers a number of opportunities for experiential learning. These tools will give students the knowledge to strengthen our society and initiate progressive changes through formal and informal structures and institutions.
The core goals of the double major are to graduate students who will be able to:
- discuss and explain how important decisions are made in today’s society – at the international, national, provincial and local level – by both governmental and non-governmental organizations and informal political institutions.
- demonstrate knowledge of the socio-historical and global context of contemporary social relations and knowledge production, including ways in which a) structural inequalities and social injustice are manifested in individual and group identities; and b) social injustice, inequalities and identities have been legitimated, normalized, and institutionalized over time and c) people individually and collectively resist discrimination and inequality.
- demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of classical and contemporary sociological theories and related interdisciplinary perspectives and debates.
- evaluate and analyse political decisions, administrative practices, and policies that emerge from a variety of formal and informal institutions.
- employ a variety of empirical, theoretical and normative approaches to evaluate and analyse global, national, and local political processes and events.
- discuss the structure and function of global, national, and sub-national political institutions.
- critically read, interpret, assess, conduct and evaluate research methods and methodologies, while demonstrating an informed knowledge and respect for epistemological and ethical issues.
- demonstrate reflexivity; specifically, an awareness and comprehension of one’s own location in society as well as the different subject positions of the many individuals that make up our diverse society. Implicit in this process is an ongoing critical scepticism and awareness of the production, and the limits of knowledge.
- exhibit effective communication skills in a variety of formats, including essay writing and oral presentations; demonstrate a facility with words and numerical language as well as the ability to debate cogently, discuss and exchange ideas.
- demonstrate an ability to understand and critically interpret a wide range of texts in a variety of media, including both scholarly and popular writings.
- demonstrate social engagement by bridging academic thought and research in relation to practical challenges, policies and strategic organization in local, national and global communities and forums.
Please note: Students wishing to enter the Politics and Governance and Sociology double major must, prior to admission: