Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environment

at Cape Breton University Canada

Take one step onto the breathtaking shores of Cape Breton Island and you’ll instantly realize this is a place where philosophy and nature come together to create a unique learning environment. CBU’s modern facilities and accessible faculty make every day a valuable learning experience. Students from more than 40 countries around the world come to learn the lessons they need to plot their path into the future.

Philosophy at CBU helps you create a customized compass for navigating the intellectual, ethical and emotional complexities of life. Engaging philosophically with the world around you can provide a sense of overall direction which is essential for personal, social and professional growth. In the process, students benefit from exceptional training in the art of logical reasoning.

Many of Canada’s top lawyers, writers, business people, and other professionals have undergraduate degrees in philosophy. That means you can trust the skills you learn here to take you well into the future.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• High-level critical thinking skills
• Analytical writing skills
• Ability to discuss complex ideas effectively
• Knowledge of diverse world views & intellectual traditions
• Expertise in understanding contemporary ethical issues

Why study at CBU?

• In an ever-changing electronic age, philosophical expertise is essential for untangling the complications of core ethical and legal concepts, such as privacy, self-identity and intellectual property. That’s why, when you’re studying philosophy at CBU, you take a case study approach to examine problems in law, business and other areas that cannot be resolved by simply applying familiar principles and practices.
• Our approachable, friendly faculty help you build the solid foundation you need for success in the future. Because of their experience, CBU is a place you can come to learn answers to the world’s toughest questions. For example, are there justifiable limits to the bio-engineering of human life? Does science provide “all the answers?” What roles do love, appreciation of art, athletic achievement, or other experiences play in life? And, in an increasingly virtual world, is it worth trying to distinguish genuine (or “real”) from fake experiences? Once you have the skills CBU prepares you with in our Philosophy program, you can truly go anywhere your passion for success takes you.

On a world-famous island such as Cape Breton, our economy works when smart financial decisions are made that impact lives every day. That’s why we take extra care to dedicate ourselves to excellence in accounting that meets the IFRS global standard in accounting business.

Accounting is much more than numbers. Global business and government departments are constantly in need of high-quality, dedicated employees with a thorough understanding of financial management, and current generally accepted accounting principles and best practices.

Commonly referred to as the language of business, accounting serves as the basis for financial decision making. Accounting is a dynamic, creative and interesting subject, and is the process of gathering, recording, interpreting and analyzing financial information.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Gain an understanding of global accounting practices and skills.
• Develop an international perspective.
• Learn current business practices.
• Develop decision-making skills.

Why study at CBU?

• Through a major in accounting at CBU, we prepare you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in one of the fastest growing professions with continued high demand.
• At CBU, this program truly gives you an education you can count on. An accounting major at CBU can open doors to numerous opportunities and steady career advancements. Graduates can enter into professional accounting programs to receive designations like Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Aboriginal Financial Officer Association (AFOA) with maximum exemptions.
• Students are well equipped to enter middle management accounting positions in small to medium-size firms, non-profit agencies or government. Studying accounting also provides students with a skill set that is ideal for entrepreneurship.

The engineering transfer program is offered at CBU on an associate basis with Dalhousie University. CBU is one of the few Associated Universities to offer the first two years of all seven engineering disciplines. These include civil, environmental, mineral resource, electrical, industrial, mechanical and chemical engineering. We deliver the first two years of the four-year Bachelor of Engineering program.

The first year of the program is common for all seven discipline options. At the end of the first year, you must make a decision on a specialty. Application is made at this time to both CBU and Dalhousie for a seat in the particular discipline of choice.

During year two, you will be registered at both CBU and Dalhousie University. Students can also combine a BSc in either chemistry or mathematics with the Engineering Diploma. This program requires a third year of study at CBU to complete the BSc, followed by two years at Dalhousie University to complete the BEng.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Reduce complex problems using appropriate assumptions.
• Identify appropriate engineering tools for real-world problems.
• Learn to plan for safety and sustainability issues.
• Explain interactions between technical systems in various contexts.
• Become an effective leader and team member.

Why study at CBU?

• Our friendly, welcoming, respectful community helps engineering students connect solutions with real-world problems.
• By starting the BEng Transfer Program at a smaller institution, students get individualized attention and support from experienced faculty, which is critical for success.
• CBU is home to the newest Engineering Department in Nova Scotia, and second in size only to Dalhousie University. CBU is also one of the few Associated Universities to offer the first two years of all eight engineering disciplines.

There’s an instant connection that’s made between the study of biology and living on Cape Breton Island. In this incredibly bio-diverse region on the coast of Atlantic Canada, we’re constantly reminded that we’re all part of nature.

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of all living organisms. Although living organisms share some unifying themes, such as their origin from the same basic cellular structure, and their molecular basis of inheritance, they are extremely diverse. This diversity of life leads to many divisions in biological science. That’s why, at CBU, collaboration and collective learning environments are so important.

As a biology student, you will look at such topics as origins, structure, function, reproduction, growth and development, and behaviour and evolution of different organisms. In addition, you will consider how living organisms interact with each other and the environment on an individual and group basis.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Solid grounding in key biology concepts and essential skills.
• Ability to specialize in multiple areas of
• Exposure to scientific research and educational experience.
• Skills required for any future career in biology.

Students from across the global and political spectrum come to Cape Breton University for a chance to make a real impact in the world around them. When you study political science at CBU, you learn from more than books. You’re learning from a rich environment shaped by local, national and global politics.

We pride ourselves on having accessible professors who are highly qualified and dedicated professionals. Some are authors of respected books, journal articles and research studies. Others are engaged as leaders in local, national and international activities that shape political science education. Their goal is the same as yours: to help you obtain an enhanced understanding of the subjects that will help pave your path to success.

The political science program at CBU responds to the issues of our time. Our Department of L‘nu, Political, and Social Studies offers a variety of courses in the fields of Canadian law, international law, social justice, public policy, public administration, international relations and political theory.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Analytical, independent and structural thinking
• Quantitative and qualitative research skills
• Understanding of how governments work
• Management and community development skills
• Critical understanding of important issues in global politics
• Develop an awareness of colonialism and decolonization

Why study at CBU?

• The political science program at CBU has a solid reputation for hard work, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Firmly grounded in the liberal arts and social sciences, our program provides students with the analytical tools and critical thinking skills to constructively contribute to society.
• Political scientists are called upon to examine and challenge the groups, systems and institutions that perpetuate injustice. Issues that impact real communities are the types of issues we study every day, including worldwide issues such as global warming, or local issues such as social and economic development.
• Our approachable faculty enable you to draw knowledge from their experience with public administration, governance, community economic development, social justice, the environment and democracy.

French is one of the most widely spoken languages in Canada after English and hence it has great professional as well as academic value. CBU offers an undergraduate level course for four years in French with excellent faculty and an exquisitely designed curriculum. Learning a language is a an obvious upper hand over other people and gives the students a cutting edge over other people willing to enter the Canadian workforce and various government degrees.

Since learning a language can be a daunting task, students are guided through this course with step by step instructions to students as well as personalized attention from the teachers. This four year course is divided into multiple sections, with each level and section dealing with various specificities of the French language. The first two years of the course deals with improvement of the listening and speaking skills. The third year of the program deals with linguistics and French literature. This year is very crucial for the students for it helps them delve into the literary aspects of the French language. By the fourth year students have the opportunity of studying francophone studies at a deeper level.

Chemistry is the study of matter — anything that has mass and occupies space. Everything you touch, hold, smell or taste involves chemistry and chemicals. So, when you step onto Cape Breton Island and look into our waters, across our landscapes and throughout our communities, you’ll discover a natural sense of opportunity and wonder that opens your path to success.

Chemistry is the science of change that affects virtually all other scientific disciplines and is essential to many new technological developments. Chemistry is a physical science, which puts importance on mathematics and physics. Students who study chemistry here take part in a world class curriculum that produces results for tomorrow. That’s because the CBU Chemistry program is nationally accredited by the Canadian Society of Chemistry, designed for students with a passion for chemistry and desire to learn. With accessible faculty and modern facilities, CBU truly has it all.

Here, you study the relationship between the chemical structure of matter and its properties. From new pharmaceuticals that fight disease, industrial catalysts for efficient manufacturing and leading-edge nanotechnologies—what CBU teaches you has the power change the world we live in.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exposure to chemical literature
• Laboratory safety training
• Interpretation and experimental skills
• Ethics in chemistry training

Why study at CBU?

• At CBU, students gain hands-on research with state-of-the-art equipment in modern facilities. This makes all the difference as you continue your studies or start your career in a number of different possible fields, such as biology, medicine, pharmacy, oceanography, environmental sciences and more.
• CBU Chemistry graduates have been very successful with graduate scholarships. Students find success thanks to the hands-on research experience they gain from our award-winning faculty. About 75% of our students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research projects with real-world applications.
• CBU also has a Chemistry Outreach Program, working with students from primary school through grade 12 to share the wonderful world of science with audiences of all ages. This program creates opportunities for CBU Chemistry students to share their knowledge and also learn from other students, while engaging with our friendly community.

Nothing is more important to our overall health than the food we put inside our bodies. With an incredible amount of access to instructors, and a global community on campus, you gain a unique perspective on how proper nutrition can make a difference anywhere in the world. Our modern facilities and inclusive culture give you the space and freedom to chart your own course in nutrition.

Additionally, the nutrition transfer option focuses on preparing students for entry into the third year of a BSc in Nutrition at a specified university. The first two years completed at Cape Breton University allow students to gain a background in the nutritional sciences by taking courses in biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, statistics, the humanities, the social sciences and business.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Food labelling
• Canada’s food guide
• Food security and the factors affecting it
• Chemistry of nutrition
• Relationship of nutrition to disease prevention and management

Why study at CBU?

• Aside from the incredible island lifestyle and the world-class facilities, you get the opportunity to interact with our faculty and lab instructors on a one-on-one basis. Get the individualized attention and support you need from experienced faculty. This kind of support is critical for your success.
• Nutrition courses at CBU provide an excellent overview of normal and clinical nutritional science. Professors and laboratory assistants provide around-the-clock support and opportunities to gain hands-on experience, while intellectually challenging students along the way.

Cape Breton University has an immaculate Bachelor of Business Management program and the Supply Chain Management major degree is the new addition to the BBA program. With the SCM major course students are able to contribute to the economy of the nation and the world. SCM professionals are in high demand both in Canada as well as other countries across the world. 

This program helps with insight about the process of sourcing and its importance in the whole supply chain system. The supply chain management students’ helps students learn about the whole process of supply starting from manufacturing to the supplier and the retailer and eventually to the user. Logistics is a vital field which continues to grow by the clock; the supply chain includes 767,000 workers from a range of occupations and industries with over 35,000 job openings in the marketplace. Students can also go for a co-operative education program or an internship to get a taste of the professional world. Students are offered a 12 week co-operative placement providing him a hands on experience in the professional world.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Develop an understanding of potential risks in global sourcing, including hidden costs of working alongside different geopolitical zones, cultural differences, time zones, currency exchange, and exposure to financial and political risks in some emerging economies.
• Learn to identify potential markets, tap into skills or resources not readily or economically available on a local level, and develop alternative collaborators to achieve goals.

CBU offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts Community Studies degree in the field of Mathematics. For years, CBU has been providing impeccable services to its students to prepare them to be successful citizens of the world. Math is a subject that keeps evolving and there are new developments in the subject happening now and then. Along with mathematics, this degree also deals with community studies and how we can positively influence our communities.

CBU has a great faculty of expert mathematicians, state-of-the-art services, and excellent placement records which make this a very desirable course. Students have a number of career options after completing a degree in mathematics namely accountancy & finance, banking, actuarial career, statistician, careers in academia & research, engineering, and many more. 

Over the years a number of students have graduated in the field of mathematics from CBU who have made great careers. The four-year program helps students deal with the basic fundamentals of mathematics and gradually delves into the deeper aspects of the subject.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Argument and logic skills
• Computer math skills
• Problem-solving & analytical skills
• Risk assessment skills