Contemporary Studies

Interpret today

The contemporary period is marked by continuous transformation, with new challenges but also new possibilities for change emerging constantly. The Contemporary Studies Program (CSP) engages with the ideas, thinkers, and movements that have contributed to new understandings of the world, community, self and other. In CSP you will:

choose from a wide range of interdisciplinary courses that explore ideas about ethics, aesthetics, and politics; contemporary art, modern film, and digital media; new biotechnologies, nature, environment, and the body, and many others;
consider the place of science and technology in the contemporary world and challenge the supposed dichotomy of science and culture;
engage with texts by environmental philosophers, thinkers of the Global South, Indigenous thinkers and race and gender theorists;
participate in classes on transformative thinkers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein, Hannah Arendt, Judith Butler, bell hooks, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson and Michel Foucault;
conduct conceptual analyses of issues such as marginalization, social justice, migration and belonging, freedom and responsibility, while incorporating a range of critical perspectives;
participate in innovative teaching and learning environments; for example, laboratory observation sessions, community-outreach, and gallery visits;
use critical skills and creative talents.

Find out what’s new in the program

CSP+ News & Events Courses

Study abroad in Berlin

This month-long Contemporary Studies elective provides an opportunity to explore the themes of collective memory, public space, and historical trauma in Germany’s capital city. Through daily seminars, site visits, and museum tours, you learn about the political, architectural, and social stakes of the struggle to take responsibility for history in a city that is both burdened with the past and alive to the future.

Find out more

Publish your work

Hinge is an academic journal written, edited, and published annually by the students in the Contemporary Studies Program. It is interdisciplinary in scope, not only because of the variety of academic backgrounds of our peers and contributors, but because an interdisciplinary approach is fundamental to understanding any aspect of the contemporary world. The papers are revised versions of the work produced by the students in Contemporary Studies program classes.

Read the latest volume

Combined Honours

Contemporary Studies Program students are required to take the program’s three core course doublets:

CTMP 2001.03 & CTMP 2002.03 (or CTMP 2000.06)
CTMP 3001.03 & CTMP 3002.03 (or CTMP 3000.06)
CTMP 4001.03 & CTMP 4002.03 (or CTMP 4000.06)

plus at least twelve credit hours CSP electives.

The requirements for the second honours subject are dependent on that department, and vary from program to program. Students may fulfil the honours requirement in either of the two honours subjects. Usually, this subject will be the one in which the student has taken more classes. The honours requirement in CSP is satisfied by writing an honours thesis, which is defended at an oral examination. Students must enrol in the non-credit CTMP 0456.00 & CTMP 0457.00, the Honours.

Explore courses

Core Courses

: Modern Social and Political Thought I; CTMP2001.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: Modern Social and Political Thought II; CTMP2002.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
W 1335-1425 (ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS SESSION)

: Science and Culture I: The Discourses of Modernity; CTMP3001.03 / HSTC3031.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: Science and Culture II: Resetting the Modern; CTMP3002.03 / HSTC3032.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition I; CTMP4001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

Electives

: Apocalypse: The Revolutionary Transformation of Politics and Culture; CTMP2101.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
M 1735-2025

: The Idea of Race in Philosophy, Literature, and Art; CTMP2115.03
Winter; ONLINE / SYNCHRONOUS
MW 1135-1255

: Society, Politics and Literature; CTMP2150.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
TR 1735-1855

: Bio-Politics: Human Nature in Contemporary Thought; CTMP2203.03 / HSTC2206.03
Winter; Classroom AA1
R 1735-2025

: Environmentalism: origins, ideals and critique; CTMP2206.03 / HSTC2209.03
Winter; Seminar 7
TR 1435-1555

: Pain; CTMP2301.03
Winter; Archibald Room
W 1735-2025

: The Vampire: Modernity and the Undead; EMSP2313.03 / CTMP2313.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
T 1835-2125

: Feminisms: the First Three Waves; CTMP2350.03
Fall; Classroom AA1
MW 1005-1125

: Critiques of Modernity; CTMP3103.03 / EMSP3203.03
Fall; Seminar 7
MW 1605-1725

: The Rise of Nietzscheanism; CTMP3104.03
Fall; Seminar Room
T 1730-2030

: The Nietzschean Legacy; CTMP3105.03
Winter; Seminar Room
T 1730-2030

: The Ideal World of Enlightenment: Desire and Freedom; CTMP3110.03 / EMSP3210.03
Fall; Seminar Room
W 1730-2030

: The Real World of Enlightenment: Time and History; CTMP3115.03 / EMSP3220.03
Winter; Seminar Room
W 1730-2030

: Genocide: Comparative Perspectives; CTMP3121.03
Fall; Classroom AA1
TR 1005-1125

: Theories of Punishment; EMSP3430.03 / CTMP 3170.03
Fall; ONLINE / ASYNCHRONOUS

: Human Experiments; HSTC3101.03 / CTMP3204.03
Winter; Archibald Room
TR 1305-1425

: Culture, Politics and the Post-Colonial Condition; CTMP3311.03
Winter; Online / Synchronous
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

: Rewriting Gender; CTMP3350.03 /202
Winter; Classroom AA1
TR 1005-11:25

: Hannah Arendt: Terror, Politics, Thought; CTMP4125.03
Winter; Classroom AA1
T 1535-1725
R 1535-1625

Honours Thesis & Colloquium

: Contemporary Studies Honours Thesis; CTMP0456.00 and CTMP0457.00
Fall
Winter; Archibald Room

Minor

You can take a minor in CSP to complement your degree. Understand the contemporary world by choosing from a wide range of courses in the areas of social and political thought, science and culture, and aesthetics, literature and literary theory, and film.

Complete a minimum of 18 credit hours to a maximum of 27 credit hours including:

One of the core course doublets:
- CTMP 2001.03 & CTMP 2002.03 (or CTMP 2000.06)
  * Both CTMP 2001.03 & CTMP 2002.03 must normally be taken in the same academic year to meet this requirement.
- CTMP 3001.03 & CTMP 3002.03 (or CTMP 3000.06)
  *Both CTMP 3001.03 & CTMP 3002.03 must normally be taken in the same academic year to meet this requirement.
- CTMP 4001.03 & CTMP 4002.03 (or CTMP 4000.06)
  *Both CTMP 4001.03 & CTMP 4002.03 must normally be taken in the same academic year to meet this requirement.
6 credit hours at the 3000 or 4000 level. CTMP 3001.03 & CTMP 3002.03 (or CTMP 3000.06) OR CTMP 4001.03 & CTMP 4002.03 (or CTMP 4000.06) will also fulfill this requirement).
6 credit hours at any level.

Explore courses

Core Courses

: Modern Social and Political Thought I; CTMP2001.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: Modern Social and Political Thought II; CTMP2002.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
W 1335-1425 (ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS SESSION)

: Science and Culture I: The Discourses of Modernity; CTMP3001.03 / HSTC3031.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: Science and Culture II: Resetting the Modern; CTMP3002.03 / HSTC3032.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition I; CTMP4001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

6 credit hours at the 3000 or 4000 level

: Memory, Politics, Place: Berlin's 20th Century; CTMP 3610.06/GERM 3610.06
Spring; On-Site in Berlin, Germany

: Science and Culture I: The Discourses of Modernity; CTMP3001.03 / HSTC3031.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: Science and Culture II: Resetting the Modern; CTMP3002.03 / HSTC3032.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: Critiques of Modernity; CTMP3103.03 / EMSP3203.03
Fall; Seminar 7
MW 1605-1725

: The Rise of Nietzscheanism; CTMP3104.03
Fall; Seminar Room
T 1730-2030

: The Nietzschean Legacy; CTMP3105.03
Winter; Seminar Room
T 1730-2030

: The Ideal World of Enlightenment: Desire and Freedom; CTMP3110.03 / EMSP3210.03
Fall; Seminar Room
W 1730-2030

: The Real World of Enlightenment: Time and History; CTMP3115.03 / EMSP3220.03
Winter; Seminar Room
W 1730-2030

: Genocide: Comparative Perspectives; CTMP3121.03
Fall; Classroom AA1
TR 1005-1125

: Theories of Punishment; EMSP3430.03 / CTMP 3170.03
Fall; ONLINE / ASYNCHRONOUS

: Human Experiments; HSTC3101.03 / CTMP3204.03
Winter; Archibald Room
TR 1305-1425

: Culture, Politics and the Post-Colonial Condition; CTMP3311.03
Winter; Online / Synchronous
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

: Rewriting Gender; CTMP3350.03 /202
Winter; Classroom AA1
TR 1005-11:25

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition I; CTMP4001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

: Hannah Arendt: Terror, Politics, Thought; CTMP4125.03
Winter; Classroom AA1
T 1535-1725
R 1535-1625

6 credit hours at any level

: Modern Social and Political Thought I; CTMP2001.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: Modern Social and Political Thought II; CTMP2002.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
W 1335-1425 (ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS SESSION)

: Apocalypse: The Revolutionary Transformation of Politics and Culture; CTMP2101.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
M 1735-2025

: The Idea of Race in Philosophy, Literature, and Art; CTMP2115.03
Winter; ONLINE / SYNCHRONOUS
MW 1135-1255

: Bio-Politics: Human Nature in Contemporary Thought; CTMP2203.03 / HSTC2206.03
Winter; Classroom AA1
R 1735-2025

: Environmentalism: origins, ideals and critique; CTMP2206.03 / HSTC2209.03
Winter; Seminar 7
TR 1435-1555

: Pain; CTMP2301.03
Winter; Archibald Room
W 1735-2025

: The Vampire: Modernity and the Undead; EMSP2313.03 / CTMP2313.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
T 1835-2125

: Feminisms: the First Three Waves; CTMP2350.03
Fall; Classroom AA1
MW 1005-1125

: Science and Culture I: The Discourses of Modernity; CTMP3001.03 / HSTC3031.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: Science and Culture II: Resetting the Modern; CTMP3002.03 / HSTC3032.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1035-1225
W 1035-1125

: Critiques of Modernity; CTMP3103.03 / EMSP3203.03
Fall; Seminar 7
MW 1605-1725

: The Rise of Nietzscheanism; CTMP3104.03
Fall; Seminar Room
T 1730-2030

: The Nietzschean Legacy; CTMP3105.03
Winter; Seminar Room
T 1730-2030

: The Ideal World of Enlightenment: Desire and Freedom; CTMP3110.03 / EMSP3210.03
Fall; Seminar Room
W 1730-2030

: The Real World of Enlightenment: Time and History; CTMP3115.03 / EMSP3220.03
Winter; Seminar Room
W 1730-2030

: Genocide: Comparative Perspectives; CTMP3121.03
Fall; Classroom AA1
TR 1005-1125

: Theories of Punishment; EMSP3430.03 / CTMP 3170.03
Fall; ONLINE / ASYNCHRONOUS

: Human Experiments; HSTC3101.03 / CTMP3204.03
Winter; Archibald Room
TR 1305-1425

: Culture, Politics and the Post-Colonial Condition; CTMP3311.03
Winter; Online / Synchronous
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

: Rewriting Gender; CTMP3350.03 /202
Winter; Classroom AA1
TR 1005-11:25

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition I; CTMP4001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1535-1725
W 1535-1625

: Hannah Arendt: Terror, Politics, Thought; CTMP4125.03
Winter; Classroom AA1
T 1535-1725
R 1535-1625

: Society, Politics and Literature; CTMP2150.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
TR 1735-1855

DALHOUSIE SELECTIVES

Students enrolled in the Combined Honours or Minor program in CSP can opt to take a maximum of one 3-credit hour “selective” course at Dalhousie University to count towards the CSP part of their degree. The Registrar’s Office at King’s should be notified if students wish to pursue this option.

Contemporary Studies

Interpret today

Find out what’s new in the program

Study abroad in Berlin

Publish your work

Combined Honours

Core Courses

KTS Lecture Hall

M 1335-1525

W 1335-1425

KTS Lecture Hall

W 1335-1425 (ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS SESSION)

Archibald Room

M 1035-1225

W 1035-1125

Archibald Room

M 1035-1225

W 1035-1125

Archibald Room

M 1535-1725

W 1535-1625

Archibald Room

M 1535-1725

W 1535-1625

Electives

Scotiabank Room

M 1735-2025

ONLINE / SYNCHRONOUS

MW 1135-1255

Scotiabank Room

TR 1735-1855

Classroom AA1

R 1735-2025

Seminar 7

TR 1435-1555

Archibald Room

W 1735-2025

KTS Lecture Hall

T 1835-2125

Classroom AA1

MW 1005-1125

Seminar 7

MW 1605-1725

Seminar Room

T 1730-2030

Seminar Room

T 1730-2030

Seminar Room

W 1730-2030

Seminar Room

W 1730-2030

Classroom AA1

TR 1005-1125

ONLINE / ASYNCHRONOUS

Archibald Room

TR 1305-1425

Online / Synchronous

M 1435-1555

W 1435-1555

Classroom AA1

TR 1005-11:25

Classroom AA1

T 1535-1725

R 1535-1625