View humanity from different perspectives.
Humans are fascinating, complicated creatures. In our Anthropology, Archaeology and Sociology courses, you’ll learn about humanity from a variety of perspectives. From vast civilizations to deeply personal issues, the subjects covered in these courses will make you see the world in a different way.
Anthropology and archaeology
Dive into the past in our anthropology and archaeology courses where you'll learn about human life in past generations, plus the origins of different civilizations, cultures and behaviours.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of social issues and human behaviour. Our sociology courses and programs cover a wide range of social concepts and topics, including:
- food studies
- health and aging
- local history in Victoria
- political and social movements
- immigration and globalization
- international conflicts
- gender and sexuality
View our available courses below.
- A Buddhist Life of Compassionate Purpose
- Ancient Politics: A Search for the Good Life
- Banned Ideas: What Extremists Don't Want Us to Learn
- Beyond the Plate: Food, Culture and Social Impact
- Buddhist Wisdom for Silencing the Inner Critic
- Buddhist Wisdom for Today’s World
- Carnivores vs. Herbivores: Rethinking Meat and Plant-Based Diets
- Cathars, Castles and Carignan: Exploring Historic Southern France
- Celts, Saxons and Witches: An Introduction to Medieval Paganism
- Conspiracies, Extremism and Radicalization in the 21st Century
- Consumed: The Hidden Forces Shaping Your Food Choices
- Eating with Intention: Ayurveda, Food and Self
- Elbows Up? The Politics Behind Why Canada is Not America
- Enhancing Joy and Positivity Throughout the Lifespan
- Exploring Local Food
- Fact or Fad? Understanding Today's Diet Trends
- Fantastical Cartography: Geofiction and Mapmaking
- Fascist Futures: Identity Politics and the New Authoritarianism
- Film as Historical Research: Bringing Oral History to Life
- Food, Environment and Resilience
- Forensic Anthropology of the Human Skeleton
- Fort Victoria: From 1843 Founding to 1860s Demolition
- From Catastrophe to Community
- From Clam Gardens to Craft Beer: Vancouver Island Food Histories and Futures
- From Satanic Panic to Qanon
- From Satanic Panic to Qanon: Sociology and the Study of Moral Panics
- Ice-free Northwest Passage and Canada's Arctic Sovereignty
- Introduction to Canadian Contemporary Issues
- Introduction to Canadian Culture
- Introduction to Food Studies
- James Bay: History, Architecture and People
- Latin America Through Contemporary Film: Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba
- Latin America Through Contemporary Film: Peru, Chile and Argentina
- Lies, Cunning and Control: Machiavelli and the Art of Power
- Loving Our Lakes: Learning About Lakes on Vancouver Island
- Nicholas II and the Fall of Imperial Russia
- Nutrition During the Stages of Menopause
- Olfactory Health: How Smell Relates to Brain Function
- Psychedelics, Science and Society
- Refuse to be Misled: Data Literacy in Everyday Life
- Religion and Identity in 21st Century North America
- Residential School Denialism
- Self-Compassion and Gratitude: Superpowers of Well-Being
- Skepticism and Critical Thinking in the 21st Century
- Skepticism and Critical Thinking in the 21st Century
- The Art of Reading
- The Buddhist Mind of Clarity and Wisdom
- The Buddhist Way of Gratitude and Joy
- The End of the Ottoman Empire & Making of the Modern Middle East
- The History of Women’s Foodways in Scotland’s Highlands & Islands
- The Neuroscience of Human Learning
- The Psychology of Relationships Across Cultures
- The Significance of Cottonwood Swamp Forests
- Thinking about Virtue with Aristotle
- Turn Your Life in the Direction of Happiness
- Understanding Modern Pain Science: An Interactive Exploration
- Understanding the Global Migrant Crisis
- Unravelling Modern Democracy Through Rousseau’s Social Contract
- Unsettling BC History
- Victoria in the 1960s: a Decade of Major Growth and Change
- What We Choose to Remember: A Look into Dark Tourism
UVic on the Peninsula
Each term we offer a selection of lectures and short courses in Sidney, most of which take place at the Mary Winspear Centre.
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Intercultural Studies and Practice
The Diploma in Intercultural Studies and Practice (ISP) prepares students to play a productive and socially responsible role in an increasingly multicultural and diverse world. The program aims to develop social responsibility and a clearer understanding and awareness of the complex issues at play in a multicultural society.
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Peter Scott, an instructor with Continuing Studies at UVic and AI expert, teaches learners how to use artificial intelligence in daily life and work. From TEDx talks to his podcast "AI and You," he makes AI accessible while exploring its practical applications and ethical implications.
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Food shapes not only what we eat but also our identities, cultures and the environment. Beyond the Plate: Food, Culture and Social Impact explores these connections, challenging you to rethink food’s role in society and your impact as a consumer.
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Göbeklitepe, an archaeological marvel in southeast Turkey, challenges our understanding of early civilization with its monumental T-shaped pillars and rich, symbolic imagery, hinting at a complex society 12,000 years ago. This course delves into the site's role in the Neolithic revolution, exploring how the cognitive and social leaps of our ancestors laid the foundation for modern civilization.
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Carnivores vs. Herbivores: Rethinking Meat and Plant-Based Diets examines the health, environmental, and ethical complexities of dietary choices. It encourages participants to critically evaluate the impacts of meat-based and plant-based diets on personal well-being and the planet.
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Read about the significance of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in workplaces, highlighting that EDI principles influence all organizational aspects, from leadership to daily operations. Karen Saini’s course focuses on equipping students with practical skills, self-reflexivity, and effective communication to create inclusive, equitable, and innovative environments, while encouraging critical thinking about workplace dynamics and personal identity.
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Instructor Dr. Ali Kenefick shares some insights about the hidden forces shaping your food choices, from supermarket strategies to food media and trends. Learn how to make informed, conscious decisions about what you buy.
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"Imagine saying to a Holocaust survivor: 'We'd like to do a comic about your life," chuckles Charlotte Schallié, professor of Germanic Studies and chair of UVic's Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies. It seems, at the surface, like an absurd request.
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with student Rena Hayes By Therese Eley, Marketing Services "A good education is the key that will open many doors to a good career and a bright future.
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Olav Krigolson is a neuroscientist and UVic professor, and one of our most popular instructors at Continuing Studies. In the four years he's been teaching with us, he's taught 22 courses with over 880 registrations.
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Learn more about our instructor Stephanie Calce and her fascinating field of expertise: forensic anthropology.
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What is it that prompts someone to take a Continuing Studies course? Well it’s different for everyone of course, but for retired physician Dr. Heidi Martins it was to expand her perspective on the world.
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For Elizabeth—or Liz, as she’s known around the office—one of the best parts of her job is meeting those members of the community who consider themselves to be lifelong learners. As a program coordinator within the Division of Continuing Studies’ Arts and Science unit, Liz coordinates the humanities courses, as well as the ever-popular Deans’ Lunchtime Lecture Series.
Read StoryAs I prepare for graduation and think about my next challenge in graduate studies, I must acknowledge that I would most likely never have attended university had it not been for the Humanities Diploma program.
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