Brandon University adds courses to spring and summer schedules

BRANDON – Brandon University (BU) is expanding its online spring and summer course offerings.

The Faculty of Arts at BU is adding three courses to the second term of the spring session, from June 1 to 18: Contemporary Literature, Introduction to Sociology, and Making Sense of Gender. In addition, University Writing has been added to the schedule for both summer terms, from July 6 to August 24.

Contemporary Literature, Introduction to Sociology, and Making Sense of Gender give students a strong introduction to the disciplines of Gender & Women’s Studies, English & Creative Writing, and Sociology, and can also be used to meet liberal education requirements. University Writing is a foundational course that gives students skills they will use throughout their degree programs. There are no prerequisites for these courses, although all students must already be admitted to Brandon University.

The newly added courses join other undergraduate and graduate courses that were previously scheduled for the spring and summer sessions. Students are asked to register as soon as possible to ensure that minimum class sizes are reached. Registration details and lists of all available spring and summer courses can be found at BrandonU.ca/registration/2020-spring-summer-session.

The first term of the spring session began on Monday, May 4, and registrations have been brisk.

“We are seeing very strong demand for our courses right now as students choose to take advantage of this time to advance their education,” said Dr. Lisa Robson, Acting Dean of Arts at BU. “We’re happy that the Faculty of Arts has been able to accommodate this demand by making more courses available, and we anticipate that these will also be well received.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted BU to cancel all in-person classes through the spring and summer sessions, but the University and its faculty have placed considerable effort into making quality education available to students by reconfiguring courses to deliver as many as possible remotely.

“Our faculty and support staff have shown remarkable dedication and flexibility in making these courses available. Redesigning courses that are normally delivered in person to be offered online requires a great deal of ingenuity,” said Dr. Steve Robinson, Vice-President (Academic & Provost). “I’d also like to thank those who have stepped forward on short notice to teach these additional courses.”

“Our faculty and staff have truly gone above and beyond to create opportunities for our students.”

Spring and summer registration numbers are also robust in Education, including the Master of Education program, which has increased enrolment to 75 students, and the Program for the Education of Native Teachers (PENT). Aspiring teachers, many of whom come from remote and Indigenous communities, normally come to Brandon each spring and summer to take PENT courses. While there are no courses being offered on campus right now, all PENT courses that are available at a distance are full, with two additional sections having been added to accommodate the demand.

“Post-secondary education is vital for these students in their career goals, and it has significant long-term benefits for their communities as well,” said Dr. Heather Duncan, Dean of BU’s Faculty of Education. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that our students are able to receive quality education and to continue preparing for their future.”

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