WGST 304 looks at a variety of topics related to Aboriginal women's health and wellness. Aboriginal women's health and wellness issues will be examined across physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, giving credence to both animate and inanimate matter and to the creator, who is considered to be at the center of all that exists. The Aboriginal way of knowing, being, and living (Aboriginal epistemology) is central to understanding Aboriginal women's health and wellness issues. The wholistic nature of an Aboriginal world view is present in all course units.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Aboriginal Women's Health and Wellness
Unit 2: Aboriginal Women's Health in a Historical Context
Unit 3: Aboriginal Cultures, Identity, and Health
Unit 4: Aboriginal Women's Familial Issues and Health
Unit 5: Contemporary Aboriginal Women's Health and Wellness Issues
Unit 6: Long-term Effects of Colonization on Aboriginal Women's Health and Wellness
Unit 7: Aboriginal Women's Health and Healing Ways
Unit 8: Conclusions: Where Do We Go from Here?
Evaluation
To receive credit for WGST 304, you must achieve a minimum, overall grade of D (50 percent) or better for the entire course. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Complete by
Assignment 1: Three Short Essays
15%
After Unit 2
Assignment 2: Midterm Take-home Test
30%
After Unit 4
Assignment 3: Research Proposal and Outline
20%
After Unit 7
Assignment 4: Research Paper
35%
After Unit 8
Total
100%
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Anderson, K., & Lawrence, B. (Eds.). (2003). Strong women stories: Native vision and community survival. Toronto: Sumach Press. (eText)
Fontaine, T. (2010). Broken Circle, In Broken circle: The dark legacy of Indian residential schools: A memoir. (pp. 21–37). British Columbia: Heritage House Publishing Co. (Print)
Waldram, J. B., Herring, D. A., & Young, T. K. (2006). Aboriginal health in Canada: Historical, cultural, and epidemiological perspectives (2nd ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (Print)
The balance of the course is delivered online using a Student Manual, Course Information, and Study Guide.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the WGST 304 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) or greater on the research essay to be eligible to write the challenge examination. A cumulative average of 50 percent on both activities is required. Credit is awarded on a pass/fail basis only.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.