Location: 3rd Floor
New Academic Building
University of King’s College
Phone: (902) 422-1271, ext. 215
Fax: (902) 423-3357

Director
Daniel Brandes
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Associate Directors
Tim Clarke, Associate Director – Student Support
Assistant Professor, Early Modern Studies, Foundation Year Program

Hilary Ilkay, Associate Director – Academic
Senior Fellow in the Humanities

Council of Coordinators
Michael Bennett, BA (Vind), MA (UWO), PhD (McMaster)
Assistant Professor in the Humanities

Stephen Boos, BA (Queen’s), MA, PhD (York)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Daniel Brandes, BA (Tor), MA, PhD (Northwestern)
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Tim Clarke, BA (Memorial), MA (Queen’s), PhD (University of Ottawa)
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Sarah Clift, BA (UWO), MA (Trent), PhD (York)
Vice-President
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Thomas Curran, BA (Tor), MA (Dal), MTS (AST), PhD (Durham)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Susan Dodd, BA(Vind), MA, PhD (York)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Maria Euchner, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), PhD (Tor)
Senior Fellow in the Humanities

Kyle Fraser, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), MPhil, PhD (Cantab)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Nicole Go, BA, MA (Tor), PhD in progress (McMaster)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities

Hilary Ilkay, BA (Vind), MA (New School)
Senior Fellow in the Humanities

Hamza Karam Ally, BA (Tor), MA (Glasgow), PhD (York) 
Assistant Professor in the Humanities

Kathryn Morris, BA (Vind) MA, PhD (McGill)
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Neil Robertson, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), PhD (Cantab)
Professor of Humanities

Christopher Snook, BA (Vind), MA (McMaster), MA (Concordia)
Lecturer, Classics, Dalhousie

Ian Stewart, BSc (Trent), MA (Tor), PhD (Cantab)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Lisa Taylor, BPR (Mount Saint Vincent, JD, LLM (Dal)
Rogers Chair in Journalism

Parisa Zahiremami, BA (Shiraz), MA, PhD (Tor)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities

Teaching Staff

Daniel Brandes, BA (Tor), MA, PhD (Northwestern)
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Tim Clarke, BA (Memorial), MA (Queen’s), PhD (Ottawa)
Assistant Professor of Humanities 

Thomas Curran, BA (Tor), MA (Dal), MTS (AST), PhD (Durham)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Susan Dodd, BA (Vind), MA, PhD (York)
Associate Professor of Humanities

Maria Euchner, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), PhD (Tor)
Senior Fellow in the Humanities

Samuel Gillis-Hogan, BA (Memorial), MA (Saskatchewan), PhD in progress (Exeter)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities

Nicole Go, BA, MA (Tor), PhD in progress (McMaster)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities 

Hilary Ilkay, BA (Vind), MA (New School)
Senior Fellow in the Humanities

Hamza Karam Ally, BA (Tor), MA (University of Glasgow), PhD (York)
Assistant Professor of Humanities

Neil Robertson, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), PhD (Cantab)
Professor of Humanities

Kirsten Schut, BHum (Carleton), MA, PhD (Tor)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities

Matthew Vanderkwaak, BA (Briercrest), MA (Dal), PhD (University College Dublin)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities

Parisa Zahiremami, BA (Shiraz University), MA, PhD (Tor)
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities 

Guest Lecturers

Stephen Augustine, BA (St Thomas), MA (Carleton)
Executive Director, Donald Marshall Junior Institute, CBU

Roberta Barker, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), PhD (Birmingham)
Professor of Theatre

Kathleen Cawsey, BA (Wilfrid Laurier), MPhil (Oxford), PhD (Tor)
Professor, English, Dalhousie

Omar Edaibat, BA (Carleton), MA (Tor), PhD (McGill)
Visiting Instructor, Religious Studies, Classics, Dalhousie

Elizabeth Edwards, BA, MA (Dalhousie), PhD (Cantab)
Professor Emeritus

Christopher Elson, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), Dr de 3e cycle (Sorbonne)
Professor, French, Canadian Studies, Dalhousie

Dorota Glowacka, MA (Wroclaw), PhD (SUNY)
Professor of Humanities

Ranall Ingalls, BA (Winnipeg), MA (Manitoba), MDiv (Nashotah), PhD (Llanbedr)
Chaplain

Asha Jeffers, BAH (Guelph), MA (McMaster), PhD (York)
Assistant Professor of English, and Gender and Women’s Studies, Dalhousie

Chike Jeffers, BA (York), PhD (Northwestern)
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Dalhousie

Simon Kow, BA (Carleton), MA, PhD (Tor)
Associate Professor of Humanities

William Lahey, BA, BA (Juris) (Oxon), LLM (Tor)
President and Vice-Chancellor
Professor of Law

Colin Mitchell, BA (Regina), MA (McGill), PhD (Tor)
Associate Professor, History, Dalhousie 

Peter O’Brien, BA (Vind), MA (Dal), MA, PhD (Boston University)
Assistant Professor, Classics, Dalhousie 

Justina Spencer, BA, MA (McGill), PhD (Oxon)
Assistant Professor of Humanities 

Barbara Swanson, BA (Vind), MA (McMaster), PhD (Case Western Reserve University)
Adjunct Faculty, Fountain School of Performing Arts

Michelle Wilband, BA (St Thomas), MA (Dalhousie)
Visiting Lecturer

Aaron Wright, BA, BSc (McGill), MA, PhD (Tor)
Assistant Professor, History, Dalhousie

Introduction

The Foundation Year Program (FYP) is a first-year undergraduate program offered to students registered at King’s. The FYP explores the historical development of western culture by way of a close reading and integrated study of philosophical, literary, scientific, artistic and religious works. First offered in 1972/73, the Foundation Year Program is widely recognized for its serious engagement with fundamental works in the humanities, its high academic standards, its committed teaching staff, and the calibre of its graduates. In exploring the development of western culture the FYP increasingly considers the diversity involved in the interactions between that culture and other cultures, including the deep questions of the destructive and positive aspects belonging to these interactions. FYP students can be enrolled in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degrees. The Foundation Year Program is equivalent to four full-year courses, although an abridged option equivalent to three full-year courses is available for Science students.

The Foundation Year Program can be the foundation of a university education in two ways. First, its manner of studying fundamental texts from the ancient to the contemporary world in an interdisciplinary and integrated fashion will give the student a basic insight into the sources of much that shapes our own time. Second, its structure of lectures, tutorials and regular essay assignments means the student will be equipped with the crucial abilities of analysis, argumentation and expression.

This is an intensive program that is best suited to students who love to read, who aim to write clearly, and who enjoy intellectual dialogue. The curriculum moves through six historical periods or “sections,” beginning with the ancient period and ending with the contemporary world. This challenging encounter with the western tradition as a whole provides a solid foundation for future studies and pursuits, and offers a unique opportunity for reflection before upper-year specialization.

Offered in association with Dalhousie University, the FYP meets the introductory requirements for many departments and programs at Dalhousie and King’s, allowing for a smooth transition into upper-year studies. See “FYP and Degree Requirements”.

Admission Requirements

Students wishing to take the Foundation Year Program must apply to an undergraduate degree program in the King’s/Dalhousie College of Arts & Science or the King’s School of Journalism. Foundation Year students must be registered in a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science degree program.

Students in BA, BJH or BMus degree programs will register in KING 1001.12 + 1002.12; students in BSc programs will register in KING 1101.09 + 1102.09.

Lecture and Tutorial Hours

KING 1001.12 + 1002.12 (24 credit hours / 4 credits):
Lectures: MWRF 9:35 am -11:25 am
Tutorials: Four additional class times (MWRF), at 11:35-12:25 or 12:35-1:25 or 1:35-2:25

KING 1101.09 + 1102.09 (18 credit hours / 3 credits):
Lectures: MWF 9:35 am -11:25 am
Tutorials: Three additional class times (MWF) at 11:35-12:25 or 12:35-1:25 or 1:35-2:25

Lecture and Tutorial System:

Each week students in the 24-credit hour version of the program attend eight hours of lectures and four hours of tutorials. Students enrolled in the program congregate for a two-hour lecture every weekday except Tuesday. Following the lecture, students break off into groups of approximately 15 and meet with their tutor (a member of FYP’s interdisciplinary faculty) in one-hour tutorial groups, to discuss the day’s reading and lecture. Students taking the 18-credit hour Science option attend six hours of lecture and three hours of tutorial each week, which means that they do not attend on Thursday.

On Friday afternoons, students are also invited to meet for a further General Tutorial, where the week’s lecturers are usually available for questions and discussion.

Students remain with their assigned tutorial group throughout the year. Tutorial attendance is required. Each group has a main tutor with whom it meets for three of the six FYP sections, and three other tutors for the remaining sections. This ensures that students experience both continuity and diversity in teaching styles.

Evaluation and Grading

Grading is based on attendance, essays, oral examinations, and tutorial work. No student will be able to pass the course without completing all requirements. Students registered in KING 1001.12 + 1002.12 (i.e. BA, BJH and BMus students) will write twelve essays over the six sections of the course. Students in KING 1101.09 + 1102.09 (BSc students) will write ten essays. The KING 1101.09 + 1102.09 stream comprises roughly three-quarters of the work of the KING 1001.12 + 1002.12 stream. KING 1101.09 + 1102.09 students are not required to participate in the Thursday lectures and tutorials, nor are they responsible for the material they miss as a result.

Credit

Successful completion of FYP gives students in KING 1001.12 + 1002.12 twenty-four credit hours (four full credits) towards their degree. These students must add six credit hours (one full credit) or the equivalent from the offerings of either the King’s/Dalhousie College of Arts & Science or of King’s Journalism to achieve a complete first year. KING 1101.09 + 1102.09 is worth eighteen credit hours (three full credits); students in KING 1101.09 + 1102.09 must add twelve credit hours (two full credits) or the equivalent to achieve a complete first year.

FYP and Degree Requirements

Subject Equivalents

The Foundation Year Program may be combined with almost any program of study in Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences, as well as Journalism. Students are encouraged to discuss their proposed program with the Registrar’s Office.

The University of King’s College requires that students take the Foundation Year Program in the first year of the BJH degree.

The Foundation Year Program satisfies both the Humanities/Languages and the Social Sciences requirement of the College of Arts & Science. See “Subject Groupings”. The Foundation Year Program also satisfies the Writing course requirement.

Upon successful completion of the program the normal departmental requirement of passing an introductory course in the discipline concerned is waived by the following departments of the College of Arts & Science:

• English
• History
• Philosophy
• Sociology

The following departments of the College of Arts & Science admit students who have completed the Foundation Year Program to introductory courses and to advanced courses for which there is no language requirement:

• Classics
• German
• Spanish
• Russian Studies

In addition, the following departmental provisions have been established:

German
Successful completion of the Foundation Year Program may be regarded as a substitute for GERM 1020.06.

Music
The Foundation Year Program may be taken as part of the first year of a Bachelor of Music degree.

Political Science
Students who complete FYP with a grade of B- or higher will not be required to complete an introductory course in Political Science in order to pursue a major or honours degree in that subject.

Theatre
Students who complete FYP with a grade of B- or higher will not be required to complete PERF 1000.03 and PERF 1002.03 in order to pursue a major or honours degree in that subject.

Professional programs
The Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry and the School of Physiotherapy of Dalhousie University have endorsed the Foundation Year Program as an appropriate part of an academic program taken in preparation for admission to their professional programs.

Program Outline

The structure of the Foundation Year Program is comprised of six sections that define a journey from the ancient to the contemporary world. On average, four teaching weeks are devoted to each of these sections.

The readings listed below in each section were some of those required in 2023/2024.

Section I. The Ancient World: We trace the origins of western culture through the institutions, art, religion and thought of Babylon, Israel, Greece and Rome. The focus is on poetic and philosophical texts. Required reading may include the following works:

• The Epic of Gilgamesh
• The Holy Bible
• Homer, The Odyssey
• Sophocles, King Oidipous
• Plato, The Republic
• Virgil, The Aeneid

Section II. The Middle Ages: The main concern of this section is with the development of political, social and intellectual life in a distinctly European culture as these grow in contrast to, and by assimilation of, ancient culture. We enter the high middle ages through Dante’s Divine Comedy. Required reading may include the following works:

• Qur’an
• Saint Augustine, The Confessions
• Dante, The Divine Comedy: Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• Marie de France, The Lais of Marie de France
• Ibn Tufayl Hayy Ibn Yaqzan, A Philosophical Tale

Section III. The Renaissance and the Reformation: In this section we examine the foundations of modernity in the break-up of the medieval world as seen through works of art, political philosophy and literature, the expansion to the world beyond Europe, and the emergence of a new view of nature. The re-ordering of Christianity is seen in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. Required reading may include the following works:

• Pico della Mirandola, On the Dignity of Man
• Machiavelli, The Prince
• Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida
• Montaigne, The Essays: A Selection
• The Broken Spears: An Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico
• Wu Cheng’en, Monkey King – Journey to the West

Section IV. The Age of Reason: Beginning with Descartes, we study the development of the modern concepts of freedom, nature and society. Special attention is paid to political theory and natural science. Required reading may include the following works:

• Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy
• Hobbes, Leviathan
• Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality 
• Voltaire, Candide
• Schiller, The Robbers
• Cugoano, Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery
• Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals

Section V. The Era of Revolutions: European culture and society from the French Revolution to World War I is the focus of this section. We endeavour to understand the rise of liberalism and socialism relative to the revolutions in political and economic life. This century is seen as marking the transition between the European Enlightenment and various preoccupations of the 20th century. Required reading may include the following works:

• Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
• Shelley, Frankenstein
• Hegel, Introduction to the Philosophy of History
• Marx-Engels, The Communist Manifesto
• Darwin, The Descent of Man and The Origin of Species
• Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals
• Hobbes, Leviathan
• DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk
• Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard

Section VI. The Contemporary World: The 20th century has given rise to a radical rethinking of various aspects of the European tradition. This section offers us a chance to explore emergent ways of thinking in the light of the legacy of the western tradition and to form our own conclusions about who ‘we’ are here and now. Required reading may include the following works:

• Kafka, selections
• Eliot, The Waste Land
• Freud, selections
• Woolf, To the Lighthouse
• Heidegger, selections
• Levi, The Drowned and the Saved
• de Beauvoir, The Second Sex
• Clements, Burning Vision
• Coetzee, The Lives of Animals