SDS 131RPolitical Ideologies and Social Development
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Social Development Studies
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 4 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course introduces major political ideologies, their influence in political institutions and public discourse, and their impact on contemporary Canadian social policy and social development.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6893 | 29 / 50 | MW 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 081 | 6900 | 53 / 60 | Online or by arrangement |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6516 | 0 / 50 | MW 11:30–12:50 |
| LEC 081 | 6535 | 0 / 60 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 2441 | 41 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 702 | 2453 | 45 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
79% liked it77% easy82% useful
From 86 ratings and 34 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
SDS 131R was a fully asynchronous online course with no live lectures or Zoom meetings. Each week had a dedicated module containing readings, videos, textbook material, and assignments. The course was heavily discussion-based, with weekly discussion panel activities and reflective learning diary (RLD) entries that required proper citations and engagement with the readings.
The content itself was useful and engaging if you’re interested in politics, political ideologies, social policy, and social development in Ontario. For students with background knowledge or genuine interest in these topics, the course feels rewarding and intellectually engaging. However, if you don’t care much for…Dec 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Online version: Good, light course, especially if you're interested in politics. 3 online quizzes for 25% (5/10/10), these should be guaranteed 90+ if you're smart about it. 3 1.5-2 page TED Talk papers for 30%. These are very flexible, as you only have to do one per each of the 3 units, but there are 4 possible topics per unit, each with their own due date week, so you can do them at your own convenience. Also, if you do bad on one, you can do another (provided it's the same unit) and she'll drop the lower mark. 3 3-4 page essays for 45%. The topics she gives as options to write about are pretty self-explanatory and clear, so these weren't hard to write. In terms of marking, I'd say it's…
Dec 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course was nice. The profs online notes answered all my questions for me and learning about different political ideologies was great for me. There was no final but there were 6 papers, 3 short and 3 long and 3 multiple choice tests. Overall I enjoyed the course and the content but it can be a bore if you have no interest in the topics
Jan 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Class was made up of 6 papers (3 long, 3 short) and 3 online tests. But all were easy to complete.
Dec 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Romkey will hate you if you write anything that is not what she deems to be her idea of politically right. Beware if you aren't extremely liberal, she is a nightmare to deal with.
Mar 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
41 posts and comments in 36 threads mention SDS 131R, November 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2023
Environment, Resources and Sustainability- Info for Incoming Students 16 points, 1 comment
u/Extra-Ad-7289: “… Policy: PSCI 100/150, SDS 131R, LS 101, GEOG 101, FR courses (if you want to work in policy, French is a huge asset) Science: GEOG 102, BIOL 150, BIOL 165, EARTH 121 Technical Solutions: ENBUS 102, GEOG 181 Environmental Thought: Any first year PHIL, PACS, SOC or ANTH course …”
Spring 2023
SDS 131R Online w/ Crystena Parker-Shandal 1 point, 1 comment
u/V_110: “For those of you who have taken SDS 131R (online) with Crystena Parker-Shandal I was wondering if you could tell me your thoughts and experiences about the course. &x200B;”
LS 271/PACS 202 or SDS 131R (Both Online) 3 points, 1 comment
u/V_110: “I was wondering if anyone could tell me their experiences in taking either LS 271/PACS 202 (online) or SDS 131R (online)”
Can the ppl who got rlly good marks in SDS 131R message me cuz I’m freaking out about the final exam 1 point, 0 comments
Fall 2022
PACS 203 and SDS 131R 1 point, 3 comments
u/Osteospermum: “If you took one of these courses online, how was it? What were the grade breakdowns and course material like?”
u/dxr018: “I am just wrapping up SDS131R online this term. Content is super interesting. Lots of smaller things like discussion posts (for your participation grade) and your Reflective learning diaries (must submit 8 of 12, around 650 words each). And then an exam. …”
Spring 2022
Course selection? 0 points, 7 comments
“Should I picked all 3 bird courses for my electives or should I pick something that interesting but harder?”
u/tendstofortytwo: “… source: hated ECON 101, known bird course, and loved SDS 131R even though it was more work because content was interesting.”
Winter 2022
[deleted by user] 0 points, 2 comments
u/Dizzysnowfire: “I’m not in it but do you mean SDS131R? Because SI is not a course code”
Fall 2021
Anyone take these (bird) courses? 7 points, 9 comments
u/UWboi: “… AHS 105 HIST 205 LS 271 INTEG 240 REC 100 SDS 131R SOC 229 Edit: would also prefer a course with not too many readings/essays.”
[deleted]: “SDS 131R is not a lot of work. I took it in W2020 so it was in person but it was a bunch of small writing assignments and a few quizzes. Interesting content if you like politics”
Fall 2020
Non-Math course recommendations needed 10 points, 13 comments
“I'm majoring in actsci and for next term, I can only do 4 of the required courses and do not meet the prerequisites for any other courses, so now I'm gonna have to do a non math elective. …”
u/scramblemashed: “I thought SDS131R (political ideologies) was birdy and somewhat interesting. I took it online so the structure probably hasn’t changed. It was mostly discussion posts, 8 writing assignments (500ish words), and a final exam. …”
u/r55kumar: “I have actually taken SPCOM223. It was a good course. But I dont think I'll like SDS131R. I'm not good with writing assignments and discussion posts online”
Spring 2020
Whose in SDS 131 this term? 0 points, 3 comments
u/melancho1ia: “Currently taking SDS 131R”
Winter 2020
SDS131R help :( i fooked up 0 points, 1 comment
[deleted]: “Hi does anyone in Blokhuis' course have study notes I can use? My dumbass didn't know that the course content would be gone at noon, I thought it was just for when you start the exam. I can repay you in any way shape or form, you name it :)”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them