Grenfell's fully virtual Certificate

At the start of 2022, a new Certificate program was introduced in Grenfell Campus' School of Arts and Social Science. The Certificate in Sustainable Rural Communities is a 7-course, part-time or full-time Certificate program that can be completed fully remotely. The new program engages students in real-life challenges facing rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, Atlantic Canada, and beyond. Students will complete two “core” courses:

• SURC 1800 - Introduction to Sustainable Rural Communities
• SURC 3800 - Independent Community Project

In addition, Certificate students will take five “elective” courses in various subjects such as business and entrepreneurship, tourism studies, environment and sustainability, Indigenous studies, and more.

“We're delighted to offer remote delivery options so that students can complete the Certificate from anywhere, with a focus on relevant practical skills and theoretical understanding that students can use to support sustainability efforts in rural communities.”

-Brady Reid (he/him), former Coordinator, Certificate in Sustainable Rural Communities, and PhD Candidate (University of Waterloo).

Certificate students will gain real-life experience working with rural community partners on Independent Community Projects, based on the students' interests and skills, connected to the priorities and capacities of community partners. Memorial students already enrolled in degree programs are able to complete the Certificate while working towards their degrees. Interested members of the public can upgrade their credentials while addressing issues in their home communities - without having to leave home.

Research and Writing for Business focuses on skill development in gathering, analyzing, and organizing information in order to communicate that information in both professional and academic documents. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how to adapt messages for different audiences, preparing a variety of common business documents, collecting, evaluating, and presenting information from a range of sources, and delivering formal research reports. Course work will foster skill building in problem identification, critical thinking and reasoning, and teamwork.

Pre-requisites: BUSN 1010 and 6 credit hours in first-year English

Organizational Theory emphasizes the fundamental concepts of organizational theory: the nature of organizational structure and its determinants in a complex global economy, the boundaries and impacts of organizational environments, measures of organizational effectiveness, and the roles of organizational learning, culture, innovation, development and change in shaping today’s organizations. In addition to exploring the underlying theory of these organization-level phenomena, students will have an opportunity to critically apply course concepts to their own professional experiences.

Pre-requisite: BUSN 3315 or the former BUSN 2300

Conflict Management in Organizations explores the constant presence of conflict in organizations and examines the sources of conflict, the nature of conflict as functional and dysfunctional, and how to anticipate and manage conflict. Students will gain a critical understanding of the costs of poorly managed organizational conflict and will have an opportunity to learn about and apply various tools and strategies for managing organizational conflict.

Pre-requisites: BUSN 2021, BUSN 3300

Organizational Behaviour highlights the contribution of the applied behavioural sciences to the study of work in today’s organizations with a particular focus on individual and group processes. Students will examine topics in personality, perception, motivation, communication, group dynamics, leadership, workforce diversity, conflict management and organizational culture.

Pre-requisite: BUSN 2022

Operations Management teaches fundamental concepts regarding the nature, design and management of the operations function of organizations. Focus will be on capacity planning, forecasting, quality management, inventory management, and material requirements planning.

Pre-requisite: STAT 2500 or equivalent

Enterprise Development explores and examines the venture creation process. Emphasis is on the critical role of the entrepreneur and the underlying attributes and norms guiding the steps in creating a new business venture. Students will have the opportunity to experience closely the entrepreneurial process, as well as gain the skills and competencies required in developing a viable business plan and negotiating for start-up financing.

Pre-requisites: BUSN 1020 and BUSN 2251 or the former BUSN 2250

Strategy I: Analysis and Planning teaches students how to analyze and evaluate an organization’s corporate strategies from the perspective of organizational leadership. This first of two capstone course integrates and synthesizes knowledge acquired in the program and applies skills developed in all functional areas of business. Students work to identify, diagnose and recommend appropriate action for challenges faced in various types of business organizations. Conceptual frameworks, analytical tools and critical thinking are emphasized.

Pre-requisites: BUSN 2021, BUSN 2110, BUSN 2251 or the former BUSN 2250, BUSN 3030, BUSN 3300, BUSN 3315 or the former BUSN 2300, BUSN 3500, and successful completion of at least 78 credit hours

Elements of Chemistry focuses on matter, scientific measurement, atomic theory, the periodic table, chemical compounds and elementary bonding theory, the mole, chemical reactions, the chemistry of selected elements, gases, solutions, stoichiometry. This course is specifically intended for those who have no background in chemistry.

Open to non-degree students; No pre-requisites

Mathematics for Business covers topics which include elementary algebra and functions, sets, elementary probability, matrices, systems of equations, and linear programming.

Open to non-degree students; No pre-requisites

Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics is atomic structure and spectra. The sun: radiation, energetics, magnetic field. Stars: distance, velocity, size, atmospheres, interiors. Variable stars, multiple stars, clusters and stellar associations. Stellar evolution, interstellar matter, structure of the Milky Way Galaxy. Exterior galaxies, quasi-stellar objects, pulsars. Cosmology.

Pre-requisite: 6 credit hours in Mathematics at the first year level

Elementary Particles and Fields includes the Standard Model, classification of elementary particles and forces of nature, symmetries, conservation laws, quark model, quantum electrodynamics, quantum chromodynamics, and the theory of weak interactions.

Pre-requisites: Mathematics 3202, PHYS 3650

Environmental Policy is an examination of the formation, implementation, and impact of public policies concerning the environment including an examination of different policy approaches and the problems of environmental regulation.

No pre-requisites; Open to non-degree students

Cultural and Heritage Tourism Development considers built, natural and cultural resources for heritage tourism destinations on a variety of scales from World Heritage Sites to countryside and rural tourism attractions. Issues around the international context of heritage, interpretation, and packaging of cultural heritage products, regional identities and environments and the importance of small and medium sized enterprises are examined.

Pre-requisite: TRSM 1000 or with permission of the instructor: ro3185@mun.ca

Critical Reading and Writing in Poetry and Drama builds upon the essay writing and critical analytical strategies begun in ENGL 1000. Emphasis is placed on developing composition skills in essay writing, conducting research, and examining the genres of poetry and drama. All sections of this course follow the CRW guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/CRW. All sections of this course follow the CRW guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/CRW.

Pre-requisite: ENGL 1000, or 1020, or 1090, or the former ENGL 1030, or the former ENGL 1080

Canadian Prose is a study of selected works of Canadian prose, covering both fiction and non-fiction.

Pre-requisite: successful completion of at least 6 credit hours in English courses at the second-year level

An in-depth study of contemporary poetry in English. The focus will be on major poets and developments in the U.S.A., Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth (excluding Canada) since 1945.

Pre-requisite: Successful completion of at least 6 credit hours in English courses at the third-year level

Human Dimensions of Resource Management explores how human attitudes and beliefs can be incorporated into resource and environmental management decisions and strategies. While this course will focus on the human aspects of resource and environmental management, it will also highlight the importance of integrating ecological dimensions into management efforts.

Pre-requisite: ENSU 2001

Principles of Environmental Toxicology introduces students to the field of toxicology through the understanding of processes that include absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of toxic substances; and provides an overview of the history and development of ecotoxicology. An emphasis is placed on contemporary examples of toxic substances and their effects on biological systems and the environment.

Pre-requisites: Biology 1002, Chemistry 2401 or Chemistry 2440, and ENVS 2000

Introduction to Sustainable Rural Communities provides students with foundational knowledge of the history and theories of the ‘rural’. These broad understandings will be considered as they apply to interdisciplinary sectors in rural Newfoundland and Labrador such as rural tourism, natural resource sectors, economic development, culture, entrepreneurship, governance, and/or Indigenous communities.

Open to non-degree students; no pre-requisites

Independent Community Projects is a capstone course for the Certificate in Sustainable Rural Communities completed under the supervision of a current faculty member. It will connect students with rural community partners across various sectors of industry, government, and/or NGOs to engage with a current issue or question that requires potential solutions/answers. 

Indigenous Health, Healing, and Wellness examines health and wellness from a variety of Indigenous perspectives. The course will explore several key issues: the history of the ongoing impact of colonization on the health of Indigenous people in Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador; underlying cultural and spiritual practices that frame Indigenous understandings of health and healing; and strategies for enhancing the health and well-being of Indigenous people through culturally appropriate, safe, competent approaches grounded in cultural humility.

Cross-listed as NURS 2100 (CRN: 42675)

Note: This course is in-person but has a flexible delivery option for students who may require an online option. Open to non-degree students: Reserved for Nursing majors, with a limited number of spaces available to community members

A number of Grenfell's virtual courses are open to anyone in the community—and beyond. Choose from engaging general interest and professional development courses that will be offered in Winter 2025, including:

• Indigenous Health, Healing, and Wellness
• Environmental Policy
• Introduction to Sustainable Rural Communities
• Elements of Chemistry
• Mathematics for Business