End of Life Studies Microprogram

The End-of-Life Studies microprogram offers students the opportunity to gain insights into the psycho-social, cultural, religious, and historical perspectives of grief, death, and dying. It aims to enhance competencies in addressing age and death phobias, engaging in grief work, and providing care for individuals who are dying. The program will explore how death is understood across various cultures and religious traditions, and how these understandings influence individuals' experiences throughout their lives. It will also critically examine the cultural taboos surrounding aging and dying that are prevalent in contemporary society, which is often described as youth-oriented, self-focused, elder-less, and death-phobic. Lastly, the program will analyze evolving attitudes toward death in Canada, including the increasing acceptance of medical assistance in dying.

For those who have a strong interest in pursuing careers in counselling psychology, social work, nursing, medicine, public health, chaplaincy, or advanced study in the field of End-of-Life Studies, this course, along with others, invites you to consider how age and aging interacts with healthcare, religion, and culture. Our end-of-life program offers students opportunities to understand psychological, social, cultural, religious, and historical perspectives on grief, death and dying, as well as strategies for combating death-phobia, grief-work, and care for the dying. The courses offered as part of the End-of-Life studies program are open to all students who have an interest in questioning and understanding life, death, and the stages in between.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to choose from fascinating courses centered around death and dying, including topics such as the psychology of death and dying, bioethics, and medical anthropology, etc. For those interested in gaining practical skills in end-of-life care, the microprogram encourages students to enroll in the online "End of Life Doula Course," offered through Douglas College in Vancouver, and accredited by the University of Ottawa.

Student in classroom with notebook on lap

“Even though we teach about death, it is the experience of humans, breathing together and steering toward a better day that gives the possibility of intergenerational compassion and care.”

Anne Pitman, Professor of "Mindful Aging"

The microprogram will be structured around three compulsory courses:

"Religion and Death" from Religious Studies (3 units)
This course explores the quintessentially human struggles with loss, death, suffering, and grief, framing them as inescapably tied to our search for meaning and purpose. From a religious perspective, awareness of death is central to the spiritual life. While religious traditions approach suffering and death in highly distinct ways, all claim they hold meaning and that living in the awareness of our finitude is essential to living authentically. These claims stand in stark contrast to contemporary secular society, which largely treats death as the ultimate annihilation of meaning.
Through the study of sacred texts, rituals, and practices from diverse traditions, this course examines how religions conceptualize suffering, death, and the afterlife. By engaging with religious thought, art, and literature, we will explore how these themes have shaped human expression across cultures and history.
"Mindful Aging" from Interdisciplinary Studies (3 units)
Our society often imposes powerful cultural taboos that foster fear and negativity around aging, leading to missed opportunities for growth, connection, and wisdom. This inter-generational course invites you to challenge these societal norms and explore age-positive cultural perspectives. This course aims to discuss and dismantle the stigma surrounding aging to build a more inclusive and positive view of the aging process. Students will have the opportunity to redefine their relationship with aging and foster a deeper understanding of the beauty that comes with each passing year.
"Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Death and Dying" from Health Sciences (3 units)
Understanding death and dying is essential to navigating the complexities of life itself. By studying the diverse perspectives—historical, biological, psychological, social, and cultural—this course helps students gain profound insights into one of life’s most inevitable realities. This comprehensive examination is crucial for healthcare professionals and institutions aiming to improve end-of-life care and the organization of these vital services. This course invites you to consider the impact of death on individuals, families, and communities. As we grapple with the realities of bereavement, it becomes clear that a multi-faceted understanding can significantly improve how we cope and support those around us.