Skip to content

Humanities and Social Sciences

Put Theory to Practice

When the Comox Valley Planning Committee approached NIC with a proposal to update their Quality of Life Report, sociology instructor Roger Albert jumped at the opportunity. His students collected and prepared community data for the report, which addresses social issues and drives new initiatives in the Comox Valley.

At NIC, Humanities and Social Sciences students translate their lessons into real world experience. Whether studying anthropology, criminology, psychology, or any of the topics in between, Humanities and Social Sciences students learn to think critically and creatively, and positively impact their community and environment.

quote
Starting at college and paying less for the same education makes perfect sense to me. I LOVE the classes here and being part of the NIC community. That’s why I chose to start my Bachelor’s degree at North Island College.
Megan Fletcher, NIC student, University Transfer

Make Connections

At NIC, great lectures and films encourage lively, thought-provoking discussions. During 2008, students attended the lecture “Climate Wars” by world-renowned Canadian journalist, historian, and best-selling author Gwynne Dyer; a screening of the documentary “Flight form Death: The Quest for Immortality”; and Mary Shearman’s presentation, “‘Teaser’ of Western Canadian Feminist Performance: The Evolution of Burlesque”. Open to the public, these events provide students with a fantastic opportunity to discuss, debate, and the explore ideas beyond the limits of their classroom.

What’s the difference?

Humanities and social sciences both deal with aspects of human society and development, such as law, politics, economics, linguistics, and psychology. Social science uses the scientific method to explore these topics, while humanities courses use more analytical methods.

International Research

Almost eighty students enrolled in NIC’s criminology, sociology and psychology courses have participated in a collaborative research project, conducted by NIC and the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Students from both countries gathered local data for the study, which explores perceptions of crime and safety.

Course Spotlight

HIS 220 War, Memory,
Myth and History

“War,” notes the journalist Chris Hedges, “Is a force that gives us meaning.” Explore how humans have struggled to understand, memorialize, and learn from war.