Canadian Studies
Bachelor of Arts
Faculty of Arts
Canadian Studies is concerned with the creation and evolution of Canadian identities, the forces influencing them, and the manner in which these identities are expressed. In the Canadian Studies program, you will explore the origins and transformations of the multiple Canadian identities that have been shaped by history, economics, geography, and socio-political developments in Canada. You will also examine the western and northern struggle for recognition and influence within the larger Canadian identity, and look at Canadian identities in the context of globalization.
The program encompasses a wide range of topics, including the historic and contemporary identities of various Canadian cultural groups; the role of government in structuring Canadian identity; the influences of current American culture and the French and British colonial past; the impact of geography; Canadian cultural expression through literature, art and architecture; as well as the historical and contemporary significance of the immigrant experience.
The university also offers a joint Canadian Studies/Master of Teaching (BEd) degree. If you are interested in teaching Social Studies and related areas at the secondary school level, you can complete your entire course of study in five years rather than six. As a prospective teacher you will receive a particularly broad and rich undergraduate education in Canadian Studies that is combined with the two-year Master of Teaching program.
The Co-operative Education version of the program will give you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in up to four paid work terms of three months each. For details see our Co-op website.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission applicants are required to present the appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.
Application/Document Deadlines
Why take this program?
I am Canadian
The Canadian Studies program offers a comprehensive look into Canada's multiple identities, providing a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of the Canadian identity, and contemporary issues influencing Canada's future. A Canadian Studies education can help you understand your own cultural background and develop tolerance and respect for the cultural identities of others. Canadian Studies helps form citizenship values whereby you can not only benefit from, but also contribute to, the Canadian fabric.
Uncover the mysteries
A degree in Canadian Studies can help you understand the nature of diverse communities, see how government works and make sense of the complex relationships among industry, interest groups and government policy. An international context can be added through examination of foreign policy, and comparisons of political systems and the resulting effectiveness of national governments. The Canadian North is explored as a homeland of many peoples rather than as a frontier for resource exploitation.
Changing the world
If you believe you can make a difference in the world, Canadian Studies can be the stepping stone to a better future for everyone. A Canadian Studies degree prepares students for employment in government and non-government organizations (NGOs) such as human rights groups, environmental agencies, and world aid programs. Graduates may also pursue careers in law, journalism, environmental sciences, geography, and education, which have the potential to impact communities at a local level.
Interdisciplinary education
As part of your degree you will become familiar with the deep roots of Western culture, with one or more non-Western cultures, and with the intersections of thought that knit together politics, science, religion, art and philosophy. This broad education can form the basis for a rich and varied range of careers.
What will I study in my first year?
In your first year you will take Canadian Studies 201, which provides an interdisciplinary introduction to political, economic and cultural dimensions of Canadian identity.
A second language is not a requirement but clearly proficiency in French or a First Nation’s language, or another language prevalent in Canada is an asset to a Canadian Studies student. The relatively open nature of the Canadian Studies first year makes it an ideal time to explore a wide variety of courses in other areas that might interest you: Sociology, Art History, Languages, Philosophy. Literature -- try them all!What will I study in later years?
Courses in Canadian Studies focus on a wide variety of themes in Canadian life. Some examples are Canadian Cities and Canadian Identity (CNST 355), Gender, Race and Ethnicity in Canada (CNST 361), A Comparison of Canadian and American Culture (CNST 333), Approaches to Canadian Heritage (CNST 439), The Metis People in Canada (CNST 419), and Activism and Protest in Canada (CNST 527), Canadian Film Culture (CNST 331) and The Arts and Popular Culture in Canada (CNST 433) and Canadian Humour (CNST 339). A number of courses focus on Canada's rich native culture, such as Canadian Native Art and Cultures (CNST 313) and The Metis people of Canada (CNST 419).
In addition you will take a pair of courses that many students describe as life-changing experiences: General Studies 300 and General Studies 500. These courses integrate a breathtaking sweep of knowledge and culture from the Greeks and Romans to present-day thinkers and artists into a person search for meaning and place in an uncertain world. These courses expose you to the evolution of modern ideas through some of the most influential thinkers of the past.
In later years you may choose to enrich your educational experience through a number of other opportunities such as courses that integrate learning with a community-based service project (CNST 439) or deepen your learning by acting as a peer mentor for junior students while you learn the theoretical background of knowledge building (GNST 507 and 509).What can I do with this degree?
Canadian Studies and other liberal arts degrees open doors to a wide range of professions and careers. Canadian Studies graduates have gone onto careers such as the following:
- Diplomatic Officer
- Foreign Services Officer
- Government Relations Advisor
- Heritage Interpreter
- Historical Researcher
- Human Rights Advocate
- Immigration Officer
- Indigenous Consultant
- Journalist
- Labour Relations Representative
- Legislative Aide
- Lobbyist
- Policy Analyst
To see a full list of potential skills, careers and industries available to you, take a look at the Career Services Canadian Studies Career Profile (PDF).
Additional Information
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