Contemporary Studies

Interpret today

The “contemporary period” might be described as one of constant transformation, with new challenges and opportunities emerging all the time. 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.
participate in classes on transformative thinkers such as Wittgenstein, Arendt, Butler, bell hooks, and Foucault.
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, and race and gender theorists.
develop tools for conceptual analyses—from multiple perspectives—of issues such as marginalization, social justice, migration and belonging, freedom and responsibility.
participate in innovative teaching and learning environments; for example, laboratory observation sessions, community-outreach, and gallery visits.
use your critical skills and creative talents.

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. In this issue, you will find papers about memory, stories, community, legality, colonialism, and truth. 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; CTMP 2001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: Modern Social and Political Thought II; CTMP 2002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: 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
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

Electives

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

: The Politics of Hope: From Romanticism to Anarchism and Beyond; CTMP2100.03
Fall; Frazee Room
T 1735-2025

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

: Asia and the West: Centuries of Dialogue; EMSP2390.03 / CTMP2102.03 / HSTC2811.03 / CHIN2082.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: The Idea of Race in Philosophy, Literature, and Art; CTMP2115.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

: Humanism and Anti-Humanism: The Dramatic Story of What Makes Us Modern; CTMP2121.03
Fall; Frazee Room
R 1735-2025

: Mass and Digital Media Culture; CTMP2201.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1005-1125
R 1005-1125

: The Vampire: Modernity and the Undead; EMSP2313.03 / CTMP2313.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1735-2025

: Reflections on Death; CTMP2330.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
W 1735-2025

: The Artist and Society - David Bowie; CTMP2335.03
Winter; Seminar 7
T 1735-1855
R 1735-1855

: Critiques of Modernity; CTMP3103.03 / EMSP3203.03
Winter; Seminar 7
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

: The Ideal World of Enlightenment: Desire and Freedom; CTMP3110.03 / EMSP3210.03
Fall; Shatford Room
T 935-1125
R 935-1025

: The Real World of Enlightenment: Time and History; CTMP3115.03 / EMSP3220.03
Winter; Shatford Room
T 935-1125
R 935-1025

: The Concept of Memory in late modernity: Commemoration, (Re)presentation, Trauma; CTMP3125.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

: The Thought of Michel Foucault; CTMP3130.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: The Thought of Ludwig Wittgenstein; CTMP3192.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
W 1735-2025

: Intersecting Bodies, Selves and Environments; CTMP3210.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Film Theory; CTMP3302.03
Winter; Haliburton Room
M 1435-1525
W 1435-1525
F 1435-1525

: Culture, Politics and the Post-Colonial Condition; CTMP3311.03
Fall; Seminar 7
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Rewriting Gender; CTMP3350.03 / GWST3350.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1005-1125
R 1005-1125

: Philosophies of Technology I: From Techne to Technology; CTMP4200.03 / HSTC4200.03
Winter; Seminar 7
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Special Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Thought in the 20th Century: Giants of 20th Century Jewish Thought; CTMP4410.03
Winter; Frazee Room
M 1435-1625
W 1435-1525 Frazee

: Studies in Contemporary Science and Technology: New Materialisms: Life, Politics, and Science; CTMP4411.03 AND HSTC3615.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1635-1725
R 1535-1725

: Studies in Contemporary Aesthetics and Critical Theories - Little Girls; CTMP4415.03
Fall; Seminar 7
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

Honours Thesis & Colloquium

: Contemporary Studies Honours Thesis; CTMP 0456.00 and CTMP 0457.00
Fall
Winter; Arts & Administration - Senior Common 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; CTMP 2001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: Modern Social and Political Thought II; CTMP 2002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: 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
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

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
Winter; Seminar 7
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

: The Ideal World of Enlightenment: Desire and Freedom; CTMP3110.03 / EMSP3210.03
Fall; Shatford Room
T 935-1125
R 935-1025

: The Real World of Enlightenment: Time and History; CTMP3115.03 / EMSP3220.03
Winter; Shatford Room
T 935-1125
R 935-1025

: The Concept of Memory in late modernity: Commemoration, (Re)presentation, Trauma; CTMP3125.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

: The Thought of Michel Foucault; CTMP3130.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: The Thought of Ludwig Wittgenstein; CTMP3192.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
W 1735-2025

: Intersecting Bodies, Selves and Environments; CTMP3210.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Film Theory; CTMP3302.03
Winter; Haliburton Room
M 1435-1525
W 1435-1525
F 1435-1525

: Culture, Politics and the Post-Colonial Condition; CTMP3311.03
Fall; Seminar 7
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Rewriting Gender; CTMP3350.03 / GWST3350.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1005-1125
R 1005-1125

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition I; CTMP4001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

: Philosophies of Technology I: From Techne to Technology; CTMP4200.03 / HSTC4200.03
Winter; Seminar 7
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Special Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Thought in the 20th Century: Giants of 20th Century Jewish Thought; CTMP4410.03
Winter; Frazee Room
M 1435-1625
W 1435-1525 Frazee

: Studies in Contemporary Science and Technology: New Materialisms: Life, Politics, and Science; CTMP4411.03 AND HSTC3615.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1635-1725
R 1535-1725

: Studies in Contemporary Aesthetics and Critical Theories - Little Girls; CTMP4415.03
Fall; Seminar 7
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

6 credit hours at any level

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

: Modern Social and Political Thought I; CTMP 2001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: Modern Social and Political Thought II; CTMP 2002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
M 1335-1525
W 1335-1425

: The Politics of Hope: From Romanticism to Anarchism and Beyond; CTMP2100.03
Fall; Frazee Room
T 1735-2025

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

: Asia and the West: Centuries of Dialogue; EMSP2390.03 / CTMP2102.03 / HSTC2811.03 / CHIN2082.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: The Idea of Race in Philosophy, Literature, and Art; CTMP2115.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

: Humanism and Anti-Humanism: The Dramatic Story of What Makes Us Modern; CTMP2121.03
Fall; Frazee Room
R 1735-2025

: Mass and Digital Media Culture; CTMP2201.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1005-1125
R 1005-1125

: The Vampire: Modernity and the Undead; EMSP2313.03 / CTMP2313.03
Fall; KTS Lecture Hall
M 1735-2025

: Reflections on Death; CTMP2330.03
Winter; KTS Lecture Hall
W 1735-2025

: The Artist and Society - David Bowie; CTMP2335.03
Winter; Seminar 7
T 1735-1855
R 1735-1855

: 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
Winter; Seminar 7
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

: The Ideal World of Enlightenment: Desire and Freedom; CTMP3110.03 / EMSP3210.03
Fall; Shatford Room
T 935-1125
R 935-1025

: The Real World of Enlightenment: Time and History; CTMP3115.03 / EMSP3220.03
Winter; Shatford Room
T 935-1125
R 935-1025

: The Concept of Memory in late modernity: Commemoration, (Re)presentation, Trauma; CTMP3125.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1305-1425
R 1305-1425

: The Thought of Michel Foucault; CTMP3130.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: The Thought of Ludwig Wittgenstein; CTMP3192.03
Fall; Scotiabank Room
W 1735-2025

: Intersecting Bodies, Selves and Environments; CTMP3210.03
Winter; Scotiabank Room
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Film Theory; CTMP3302.03
Winter; Haliburton Room
M 1435-1525
W 1435-1525
F 1435-1525

: Culture, Politics and the Post-Colonial Condition; CTMP3311.03
Fall; Seminar 7
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Rewriting Gender; CTMP3350.03 / GWST3350.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1005-1125
R 1005-1125

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition I; CTMP4001.03
Fall; Archibald Room
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

: The Deconstruction of the Tradition II; CTMP4002.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1435-1625
R 1435-1525

: Philosophies of Technology I: From Techne to Technology; CTMP4200.03 / HSTC4200.03
Winter; Seminar 7
M 1605-1725
W 1605-1725

: Special Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Thought in the 20th Century: Giants of 20th Century Jewish Thought; CTMP4410.03
Winter; Frazee Room
M 1435-1625
W 1435-1525 Frazee

: Studies in Contemporary Science and Technology: New Materialisms: Life, Politics, and Science; CTMP4411.03 AND HSTC3615.03
Winter; Archibald Room
T 1635-1725
R 1535-1725

: Studies in Contemporary Aesthetics and Critical Theories - Little Girls; CTMP4415.03
Fall; Seminar 7
M 1435-1555
W 1435-1555

Contemporary Studies

Interpret today

Study abroad in Berlin

Publish your work

Combined Honours

Core Courses

Archibald Room

M 1335-1525

W 1335-1425

Archibald Room

M 1335-1525

W 1335-1425

Archibald Room

M 1035-1225

W 1035-1125

Archibald Room

M 1035-1225

W 1035-1125

Archibald Room

T 1435-1625

R 1435-1525

Archibald Room

T 1435-1625

R 1435-1525

Electives

On-Site in Berlin, Germany

Frazee Room

T 1735-2025

Scotiabank Room

T 1735-2025

KTS Lecture Hall

M 1605-1725

W 1605-1725

Scotiabank Room

T 1305-1425

R 1305-1425

Frazee Room

R 1735-2025

Archibald Room

T 1005-1125

R 1005-1125

KTS Lecture Hall

M 1735-2025

KTS Lecture Hall

W 1735-2025

Seminar 7

T 1735-1855

R 1735-1855

Seminar 7

M 1435-1555

W 1435-1555

Shatford Room

T 935-1125

R 935-1025

Shatford Room

T 935-1125

R 935-1025

Archibald Room

T 1305-1425

R 1305-1425

Scotiabank Room

M 1605-1725

W 1605-1725

Scotiabank Room

W 1735-2025

Scotiabank Room

M 1605-1725

W 1605-1725