St. Thomas University

The Catholic Studies Program is an academically rigorous and interdisciplinary exploration of Catholicism. Courses engage with the Catholic intellectual tradition—the 2000 year-long dialogue between and within faith and culture. We approach the texts of the Catholic intellectual tradition with a view toward understanding the role that Catholicism has played in the human search for meaning and in the conviction that thinking is a critical part of belief. 

Discovering catholic studies
Catholic Studies enthusiastically welcomes students from any or no faith tradition. The program is dedicated to a critical and scholarly engagement with Catholicism, and is dispositionally nondogmatic. Courses are especially attentive to the ways in which the Catholic intellectual tradition can help students understand issues of social and economic justice and peace.

You are therefore given the freedom to explore perennial human questions and pressing contemporary concerns in a way that is open to the potential contributions of faith. You are also given the chance to study the Catholic Church itself, as a cultural and political, as well as a religious institution. You will also benefit from co- and extra-curricular events, service opportunities, scholarly activities, and community outreach sponsored by the St. John XXIII Centre for Catholic Studies.

You might be interested in catholic studies if you ...

• You are interested in a challenging, interdisciplinary major which explores the meaning of Christian faith
• You are interested in exploring human questions and contemporary concerns as potential contributions to faith

Critical and transferable skills
Students in Catholic Studies benefit from an interdisciplinary course of study which draws from many different academic disciplines. The interdisciplinary character of the program helps students become well-rounded thinkers, able to analyze problems and phenomena from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and using diverse analytical tools. The program’s emphasis on the Catholic intellectual tradition will help students develop the skills of thoughtful reading, clear writing, and verbal eloquence.

The Communications and Public Policy Major explores the connection between communicating with citizens and creating, implementing, and evaluating public policy. Students in the program will explore the influence of communications in the process of a participatory democracy, preparing them to work as communications professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Discovering communications and public policy
The Communications and Public Policy (COPP) program is the home to the Frank McKenna Centre for Communications and Public Policy. The program offers a unique set of courses that focus on both public and private-sector communications with an emphasis on how this impacts public policy. 

The program encourages its graduates to be able to work in both English and French and provides opportunities for bilingual students and French immersion students to continue their studies in both languages. Upper-year courses offer students the opportunity to complete course work (and internships) in English and French.

You might be interested in communications and public policy if...

• You are interested in how governments and organizations work
• You are interested in learning how organizations communicate effectively
• You are interested in how effective communication relates to other fields of study that interest you

Critical and transferable skills
Critical and transferable skills gained from studying Communications and Public Policy include:

• writing
• critical thinking
• written and verbal communications
• multimedia and social media skills
• public speaking and professional presentations
• professional career preparation skills

The Frank McKenna Centre for Communications and Public Policy hosts symposiums and conducts forums, as well as brings distinguished speakers to campus for the benefit of students. Past guests have included a former prime minister of Canada and a senator and expert on mental health.

Studying English Language and Literature will expose you to a broad collection of classical and contemporary literature. Our courses introduce the vital practices of critical reading, writing about ideas and texts, and collaborative learning through discussion and debate. Whatever your taste in literature, you will encounter professors, peers, and courses to inspire and engage your love of literature.

You might be interested in studying english if...

• You care about the issues affecting society today and want to intervene in a meaningful way.

Concentration in creative writing
We believe that creative writing, as well as analytic writing, lies at the heart of a liberal arts program. Along with the academic practice of analyzing texts, you should have the opportunity to engage with texts creatively: to produce them and to hear readings by established authors and writers among your peers. The program sharpens skills in style and strategy and offers several prizes and publication opportunities. You have the option to do a Major with a Concentration in Creative Writing, or even to apply for Honours in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing.

Critical and transferable skills
English graduates move into careers in academia, teaching, social work, law, technical and creative writing, public relations, library science, publishing, communications, human resources, marketing, theatre, fi lm making, journalism, fashion, event management, and other fields that make use of advanced skills in research, critical analysis, and communications and writing.

Within the Bachelor of Arts, St. Thomas offers a unique English as a Second Language (ESL) program for students whose level of English proficiency is not high enough to pursue regular studies at an English-language university.

Students are provided the opportunity to begin university studies for credit while they continue to improve their language skills in a planned, individualized program of study.

Taught by artists and scholars, our Fine Arts courses offer students opportunities to discover and develop their creativity. Whether your interest is in music, musical theatre, film, visual arts—or all four—you will benefit from an informative, engaging, and inspiring curriculum.

You might be interested in studying fine arts if...

• You want to examine music, theatre, and visual arts through technical, social, and historical perspectives
• You want to grow and develop as an artist through in-class learning and performances

Critical and transferable skills
Studying in the Fine Arts Department helps students develop a critical eye of their own work as well as the work of others. Students build confidence and courage by performing and sharing their work. They also build persistence and discipline by learning from their mistakes and mastering skills. In addition, they cultivate a strong knack for dealing with the unexpected and coming up with creative solutions.