Course

Race and Ethnicity

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Sociology
Course Code
SOCI 2230
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course Designation
None
Industry Designation
None
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course involves an introductory examination of racial and ethnic relations in Canadian society. Sociological analysis of minority group issues and problems constitutes a main focus of interest. The course will broadly consider such topics as governance models for managing race and ethnic relations, the nature of racial stratification, the social construction of race and ethnicity, various types of racism and ethnic chauvinism, (neo)colonialism, immigration, and multiculturalism. The course also examines relationships between minorities and institutional structures such as government, employment, and justice.
Course Content
  1. Introduction
    • Sociological approaches to race and ethnicity
  2. Sociological Concepts and Theories
    • Theories and concepts relating to intergroup dynamics
    • Concept of race and ethnicity 
    • Examination of gender and class and their intersectional relationship to race and ethnicity
    • Intergroup relations
    • Historical context of racial and ethnic relations
  3. Racism and Ethnic Chauvinism 
    • Critical examination of problematic issues in defining race
    • Discrimination, prejudice, ethnocentrism, stereotyping
    • Definitions and types of racism
    • Racism as a personal and a public problem
    • Discussion of strategies for defeating racism
  4.  Nation Building 
    • The history of colonialism on Indigenous peoples in Canada
    • The racialization of Europeans and non-Europeans in Canada
    •  Examination of Canada’s demographic profile
  5. Capitalism and Social Stratification 
    • Ethnic and racial relations as related to socio-economic hierarchy
    • Examination of the features of racial stratification
    • Employment equity and managing diversity
  6. Multiculturalism
    • The point system and immigration policy
    • The refugee "dilemma"
    • Consider the evolution of multiculturalism as policy
    • Institutional dimensions of the social policy of multiculturalism
Learning Activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:  lectures, audio-visual materials including overheads and films, small group discussions oral presentations (discussion seminars) and specialist speakers.

Means of Assessment

Course evaluation is based on formative and summative elements and is in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.  Specific components of evaluation will include some of the following: exams made up of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and short essay questions; essay assignment; oral presentation; and the participation in class discussions, student presentations, and group discussions.

Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

 Specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

 An example of one evaluation scheme:

Mid-term exam  20%
Essay/written assignment      25%
Final exam  25%
Oral presentation  15%
Participation  15%
Total 100%

 Students may conduct research with human participants as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans. 

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to:

  1. Describe some of the ways in which racial and ethnic relations are affected by social factors.                                  
  2. Describe and evaluate how social structural conditions influence race and ethnicity in society.  
  3. Critically evaluate the political and economic contexts relating to race and ethnic relations.             
  4. Describe and be able to employ key sociological concepts relating to the description and analysis of racial and ethnic dynamics and social relations.
  5. Apply sociological theories to important issues pertaining to race and ethnic relations.
  6. Critically evaluate significant social issues relating to race and ethnicity as these pertain to contemporary Canadian society.
Textbook Materials

 Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:

 

  • Satzewich, Vic and Nikolaos Liodakis. 2017. “Race” and Ethnicity in Canada: A Critical Introduction. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford
  • Fleras, Augie. 2017. Unequal Relations: A Critical Introduction to Race, Ethnic, and Aboriginal Dynamics in Canada, 8/E. Toronto: Pearson.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for SOCI 2230
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO SOC 112 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU ANTH 204 (3)
Coquitlam College (COQU) COQU SOCI 203 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU SOCI 2230 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CNST 1140 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU SA 203 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU SOCI 2010 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU SOCI 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO SOCI_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV SOCI_V 201 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV SCMS 270 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOCI 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU SOCI 2nd (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025