Woodsworth College


Faculty List

Associate Professor Emeritus, Teaching Stream
W.B. MacDonald, BA, MA
T. Moritz, MA, PhD
J.B. Rose, MA, PhD
T.P. Socknat, MA, PhD

Associate Professors, Teaching Stream
A. Bolintineanu, MA, PhD
J. DeSilva, MA, PhD (CLTA)
B. Fischer, MA, PhD
J. Johnson, MA, PhD

Assistant Professors, Teaching Stream
P. Bohórquez, MA, PhD
H. Craig, MLitt, PhD (CLTA)
J. Ross, MA, PhD

Introduction

Woodsworth College is named in honour of James Shaver Woodsworth (1874-1942), minister, pacifist, social activist and Member of Parliament, who was strongly committed to broadening educational opportunities for all. The College remains faithful to its mission of promoting accessibility and equity, providing two access programs for students seeking admission to the Faculty of Arts and Science: the Millie Rotman Shime Academic Bridging Program and the Diploma to Degree Transfer Program. In addition, Woodsworth offers rewarding educational experiences through its distinctive College One programs, a selection of First-Year Foundation courses, and the Summer Abroad programs. The Minor program in Digital Humanities prepares students for future paths ranging from graduate studies in literature, history, library science, and other fields, to careers as technical writers, data analysts and visualizers, project managers, and programmers. Regardless of College affiliation, you are encouraged to explore the exceptional range of programs offered by Woodsworth College.

Woodsworth College
119 St. George Street 
Toronto ON M5S 1A9
www.wdw.utoronto.ca

Woodsworth College Programs

Listed in this order:

  • Digital Humanities (Minor program)
  • First-Year Foundation Options 
    • First-Year Seminars
    • Woodsworth One
  • Summer Abroad Programs
  • Access Programs
    • Millie Rotman Shime Academic Bridging Program
    • Diploma to Degree

Digital Humanities (Minor program)

Digital humanities (DH) is a discipline at the intersections of the humanities with computing. DH studies human culture -- art, literature, history, geography, religion -- through computational tools and methodologies; and, in turn, DH studies the digital through humanist lenses. Digital humanists study social media phenomena or medieval manuscript archives; computationally analyze thousands of newspaper articles to trace economic developments; construct video games to study literary narratives; or resurrect historical cities through digital maps and virtual reality exhibits.

In introductory and advanced DH courses, students learn about the intellectual landscape of digital humanities scholarship. They learn how to build digital stories, exhibits, and maps; how to digitize rare books; how to analyze collections of data; how to construct digital models and 3D-print them; and how to manage major digital projects. By the end of the program, students conduct a major DH research project of their own or participate in the research of an established faculty project. Throughout the program, students gain a critical perspective on digital technologies, learning to consider the ways digital platforms shape, and are shaped by, the currents of wider social and cultural forces. By providing this critical and technical skillset, the Digital Humanities Minor prepares students for future paths that range from graduate studies in literature, history, library science, education, or computer science, to careers as technical writers, data analysts and visualizers, project managers, or programmers.

digital.humanities@utoronto.ca
wdw.utoronto.ca/digital-humanities

First-Year Foundation Options

Woodsworth College offers two kinds of First Year Foundation options: individual FYF H seminars on a variety of topics, and our College One, in two streams that consist of two H seminars each, for students interested in a deeper level of engagement in this part of their first-year experience. All our First Year Foundation seminars offer an intellectually challenging introduction to university-level studies and are designed to complement other first-year courses, thereby enhancing academic success in the first year and beyond. They promote the development of strong critical thinking, information literacy, oral and written communication skills, and awareness of both the distinctive nature of particular academic disciplines and the practices and values common to all academic work. 

FYF Seminars

Woodsworth’s FYF seminars, all of which are stand-alone H courses, are designed to provide first-year students with the opportunity to work closely with an instructor and fellow students in a class of no more than 25, maximizing opportunities for class discussion and the development of essential academic skills. Each seminar focuses on specific disciplinary or interdisciplinary issues, questions or controversies of particular interest to the instructor, and introduces the students to the excitement of discovery inherent in academic research and scholarship at the University of Toronto. Wide-ranging readings and assignments encourage students to develop their ability to think critically and to express ideas and arguments clearly and coherently, both orally and in writing. Please check the timetable for Woodsworth College's current offerings of FYF seminars. 

Woodsworth One

Woodsworth One has two interdisciplinary streams, both of which draw on a wide range of Social Sciences and Humanities perspectives. The Order and Disorder stream focuses on the role of laws, government policies, trade, war, and innovation in creating and disrupting both social and global order. The Popular Culture Today stream examines the products of the entertainment industry and the social behaviours associated with their consumption, exploring how popular culture works and what it means.

Students take two 0.5 credit seminars – one in each term – and participate in regular co-curricular activities that build students’ sense of community within Woodsworth College and across the University of Toronto. Seminars are capped at 25 students to maximize opportunities for participation and to promote close contact with both the instructor and fellow students. The emphasis is on class discussion and problem-based learning. Students participate in role-playing games, simulations, debates and more. The co-curricular activities include field trips, film screenings, guest speakers, writing and research workshops, and test-taking seminars.

The Woodsworth One team is dedicated to supporting students’ transition to university life, and to guiding their academic planning. In addition to the Program Coordinator, course instructors, and peer mentors, the team includes the College Writing Centre, the College Learning Strategist, a dedicated Registrar, and a program administrator. Each member of the team seeks to create a strong sense of community and to set students up for academic success.

Woodsworth One is geared towards first-year students enrolled in Social Sciences and Humanities within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In keeping with Woodworth College’s tradition of open access, there is no incoming grade requirement. Students participating in any other One program are excluded from Woodsworth One. Please note that both streams may not be offered in a given year. For more information, please check the timetable for current course options.

one.wdw@utoronto.ca
wdw.utoronto.ca/woodsworthone

Summer Abroad Programs

Students can prepare themselves for a future in the global village by participating in a Summer Abroad program and complete a University of Toronto course overseas in three to six weeks. These programs are designed to enrich students’ academic lives by providing an exciting and educational international experience. Learning is not limited to the classroom; students will observe and experience many of the things they study, including the language, history, culture, art, religion, business, and politics of the host country.

summer.abroad@utoronto.ca
https://summerabroad.utoronto.ca/

Millie Rotman Shime Academic Bridging Program

The Academic Bridging Program is designed for individuals who have been away from formal education for some time and do not meet the University’s established requirements for direct entry admission. Both part-time and full-time options are available to students interested in studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Those seeking admission to the Sciences must take the program’s full-time science option. Students who successfully complete the program with a grade of 63% or above are admitted to the Faculty of Arts and Science with one full credit towards their degree. Students who complete either of the program’s full-time options may transfer up to 2.0 credits towards their degree.

416-978-4444
academic.bridging@utoronto.ca 
wdw.utoronto.ca/academic-bridging

Diploma to Degree

The Diploma to Degree program is a pathway to university studies for students completing a two-year liberal arts diploma at one of our partner institutions, including George Brown College, Humber College and Seneca College. The Diploma to Degree Program is a facilitated transfer program into Woodsworth College in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. The program is designed for students to transfer with up to 6 transfer credits and retained credits from courses completed at the University of Toronto.

To be eligible for transfer, students must:

  • Complete the 2-year diploma with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Receive a recommendation from their college
  • Achieve a minimum grade of 60% in a qualifying course at the University of Toronto.

diplomatodegree@utoronto.ca
wdw.utoronto.ca/diploma-to-degree