Please check this listing of Special Topics courses regularly as additional courses are added on an ongoing basis. These courses may be restricted to students from within the program or have other prerequisites; consult with the academic unit.
WINTER 2024
CGSC 5901 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Cognitive Science
Topic for Winter 2024: Introduction to Meta-Analysis: Practicalities & Pitfalls
Discover the power of meta-analysis for evaluating collective insights in cognitive science. Learn systematic literature review techniques, effect size extraction, and data synthesis. Engage in weekly discussions, group projects, and gain practical knowledge on applications and limitations.
CIVE 5705 [0.5 credit] (CVG 7300)
Topics in Structures
Topic for Winter 2024: Advanced Computational Modeling Strategies of Historic Buildings
Materials and construction techniques in masonry structures, collapse mechanism of monuments and heritage structures, Limit state analysis; lower and upper bound theorems, mechanics of masonry arches, Nonlinear structural analysis of historic structures; continuum and discontinuum-based solutions, discrete element modeling.
CIVE 5707 [0.5 credit] (CVG 7302)
Topics in Structures
Topic for Winter 2024: Seismic Evaluation and Upgrading of Existing Buildings
Concepts and performance requirements for seismic evaluation of existing buildings. Current practice guidelines and standards for seismic evaluation and retrofit of existing buildings. Effectiveness of different techniques in seismic upgrading of different seismic force resisting systems.
DIGH 5902 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Digital Humanities
Topic for Winter 2024: Fictionality
This seminar will survey narrative fictions in various media and genres (alt-history, SFF, transmedia, Virtual and Augmented Reality, autofiction and hyperfiction), alongside theories of fictionality and new media. We will also explore new digital tools and methods for creating or detecting fakes and fictions.
ENGL 5610 [0.5 credit]
Studies in Contemporary Literature I
Topic for Winter 2024: Fictionality
This seminar will survey narrative fictions in various media and genres (alt-history, SFF, transmedia, Virtual and Augmented Reality, autofiction and hyperfiction), alongside theories of fictionality and new media. We will also explore new digital tools and methods for creating or detecting fakes and fictions.
ENVE 5701 [0.5 credit] (EVG 6301)
Topics in Environmental Engineering
Topic for Winter 2024: Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Futures
Overview of key properties and trends likely to drive the evolution of cities and infrastructure in the coming decades such as climate change, demographic shifts, and technological innovation.
ENVE 5702 W [0.5 credit] (EVG 6301)
Topics in Environmental Engineering
Topic for Winter 2024: Energy Development and the Critical Zone
Quantification of the environmental impacts of current and future energy resource development including groundwater, surface water and soil contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. Application of relevant theory (multiphase flow, mass transfer, fate and transport) to describe key environmental processes, detection, monitoring, and mitigation.
ENVE 5702 O [0.5 credit] (EVG 7004)
Topics in Environmental Engineering
Topic for Winter 2024: Physico-Chemical Processes in Water and Wastewater Treatment
Topics include conventional coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, adsorption, membranes, disinfection, and advanced oxidation processes.
ITEC 5910 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Network Technologies
Topic for Winter 2024: 5G Networks
Evolution from 1G to 5G, standardization, spectrum planning, 4G LTE Fundamentals, 5G New Radio enhancements, 5G Core, NFV/SDN and management infrastructure, Network Slicing, Post Quantum Cryptography in MTC ecosystem, beyond 5G communications for health web3, future rule of AI in 6G.
ITEC 5920 A [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Digital Media
Topic for Winter 2024: Simulation for Interactive Media
This course introduces students to the concepts and tools used in simulations for interactive media applications. Topics will include modelling methods, data-driven and physics-based simulations, real-time interactive simulation, environmental simulation for serious games, crowd simulation, and AI applications in city modelling.
ITEC 5920 B [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Digital Media
Topic for Winter 2024: Advanced Technologies for Film Production
How advanced technologies are used throughout film production to improve quality, reduce costs, and bring viewers increasingly awe-inspiring experiences. Topics include: real-time previsualization, virtual cinematography, script analysis, box office forecasting, text-to-image generation, tracking and matchmoving.
ITEC 5920 W [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Digital Media
Topic for Winter 2024: Applied Deep Learning
Design, implement, apply task-dependent deep learning architectures. Mathematical overview of machine learning, deep feedforward networks, regularization for deep learning, optimization for training deep learning models, convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, practical considerations, recent models and architectures in deep learning. Signal processing and computer vision.
RELI 5850 B [0.5 credit]
Seminar in the Study of Religion
Topic for Winter 2024: Gender, Sexuality, Religion and Public Life
Examination of aspects of gender and sexuality including how some religious communities and religious discourses construct gender categories, sexualities, families, and communities, as well as the bodies of individual believers, and the varying ways that such constructions intersect with public life.
RELI 5850 B [0.5 credit]
Seminar in the Study of Religion
Topic for Winter 2024: Hermeneutics: Interpreting Texts
Examination of modes of understanding internal to religious traditions (both Western and Asian) while also considering philosophical thinking concerned with the whole question of interpretation (hermeneutics) extending beyond religion to include literary theory.
FALL 2023
CIVE 5806 [0.5 credit] (CVG 7311)
Topics in Transportation
Topic for Fall 2023: Advanced Pavement Engineering and Management
Mechanistic and empirical design methods (MEPDG) for flexible pavement, AASHTO design method, Network level need analysis, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Pavement asset management, Pavement condition evaluation, Pavement condition indices, Prioritization for preservation and maintenance.
ENVE 5705 [0.5 credit] (EVG 7005)
Topics in Environmental Engineering
Topic for Fall 2023: Stormwater Management and Low Impact Development
Low impact development (LID) design approach as a tool for sustainable urban planning and stormwater management; conventional (stormwater management ponds), vegetated (green roofs, bioretention), infiltration (permeable pavements, exfiltration cells) and treatment (oil-grit separators, filter strips) stormwater systems.
FREN 5212 [0.5 credit]
Littératures francophones
Topic for Fall 2023: Écriture des femmes de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
Étude approfondie d’écrits de femmes du Sénégal (Ken Bugul, Aminata Sow Fall) et de la Côte d’Ivoire (Véronique Tadjo, Marguerite Abouet). Nous situerons les œuvres (romans et BD) dans leurs contextes historiques, culturels et théoriques.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as FREN 4212, for which additional credit is precluded.
FREN 5412 [0.5 credit]
Diversité du français
Topic for Fall 2023: Le français en Afrique
Exploration des caractéristiques du français en Afrique depuis l’ère coloniale jusqu’aujourd’hui. Fonctionnement du français dans ses deux rôles majeurs: langue administrative et langue véhiculaire. Étendue de la diversité des traits régionaux à tout niveau linguistique: phonétique, phonologie, morphologie, syntaxe, discours, lexique.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as FREN 4412, for which additional credit is precluded.
ITEC 5910 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Network Technologies
Topic for Fall 2023: Systemization of Knowledge in Computer and Network Security
Studying key work on different computer and network security topics. Example topics: Impact of virtualization. Authentication, authorization, and integrity issues. The security vs performance overhead. The use of AI/ML in 5G security.
Prerequisite: ITEC 5102/SYSC 5500, SYSC 5807X, COMP 5407, or instructor’s permission.
ITEC 5920 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Digital Media
Topic for Fall 2023: Generative Arts and Computational Design
Introduction to the theory, history and practice of generative design and computational creativity. We will create and explore both analog and digital generative design and art using interactivity, chance, algorithmic generation, automation and artificial intelligence.
LING 5009 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Linguistics
Topic for Fall 2023: Prosody and Meaning
As an answer to the question “Who came? “ALEX came” is appropriate (with capital letters indicating prominence). An overview of linguistic theories of how prosodic prominence conveys different meanings. Experimental research on prosodic prominence is also discussed.
RELI 5850 A [0.5 credit]
Seminar in the Study of Religion
Topic for Fall 2023: Religious Transformations and Public Life
Academic approaches to religious transformations, particularly conversions, deconversions, and revivals. Examples studied will be taken from different religious communities, geographical locations, and times. How stories are told about conversion, deconversion, or renewed dedication to faith “work”, the roles of missionary activities in identity construction.
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SUMMER 2023
ITEC 5920 [0.5 credit]
Special Topics in Digital Media
Topic for Summer 2023: Empirical Research Methods in HCI
Empirical research methods in HCI, emphasizing conducting highly controlled user studies, results analysis, and reporting in a research paper. Students will conduct a term-long research project on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor to put lessons into practice.
PSYC 5800 [0.5 credit] Section A
Special Topics in Psychology
Topic for Summer 2023: Intergenerational Trauma
Current research and theoretical perspectives on intergenerational trauma – or specifically, the impacts of trauma that are passed down from generation to generation and therefore, affect not only trauma survivors but also their descendants’ psychological and physical health, family functioning, and communities
PSYC 5800 [0.5 credit] Section B
Special Topics in Psychology
Topic for Summer 2023: Violent Thoughts
This seminar will focus on theory, conceptualization, and measurement of a variety of cognitions (e.g., attitudes, stereotypes, implicit theories) thought to be relevant for violent behaviour; the role those cognitions may play in violent behaviour; and interventions designed to ameliorate those cognitions.
PSYC 5804 [0.5 credit] Section B
Special Topics in Psychology
Topic for Summer 2023: Clinical Approaches to the Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
This clinically oriented course is designed to introduce students to best practices in the evidence-informed assessment and treatment of substance use disorders, with a focus on the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs. Evaluation includes role-play, treatment planning, and a term research paper.