Bachelor of Arts Community Studies in Sociology (Co-op Optional)

at Cape Breton University Canada

Today’s world is in constant flux, and not only are gender studies no different, they can often be at the centre of our major cultural issues. Every day, unique stories emerge in our lives, from gender politics to gender and economics, that can impact the way we work and live.

Our minor in Gender and Women’s Studies gives students the opportunity to study a full range of human experiences and arrangements of social organization. We offer a comprehensive curriculum to help process the issues we face as a society, which can provide lessons needed for life in a modern, multicultural and diversified culture.

This program prepares students with the skills to manage, nurture and shape society through a critical understanding of leadership and responsible action. We examine alternative institutional arrangements that will help students cope with an increasingly diverse workplace, as well as with the combination of work and family responsibilities.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Knowledge of complex social problems
• Understanding of gender differences
• Critical comprehension of key texts
• Ability to analyze gender issues

Why study at CBU?

• Picture a place where a completely unique collective of people with a passion for learning all come together to make their world a better place.
• That place is Cape Breton University.
• Here, you can study multiple disciplines within the Gender and Women’s Studies program and develop a solid foundation with skills for the real world. Through a continual sharpening of widely useful analytical skills, our accessible faculty teach you to think critically about the production of knowledge. We also emphasize undergraduate student research to help you get the best start possible when you begin your career.

With the world facing so many complex problems, the knowledge mathematics students acquire at CBU can be used to find success in a variety of fields, both scientific and artistic. These are the kind of skills you’ll gain at CBU. From our modern facilities, to our accessible, experienced faculty, you’ll find peace and tranquility along our world-famous shores.

As a language of logic used by scientists and philosophers alike, the valuable skills developed in a math degree can take you anywhere. You just have to follow the numbers. From graphic design, to environmental engineering, astrophysics and business, you’ll learn sophisticated mathematical models for use in the real world.

By creating and discovering new mathematical objects and structures, students come to Cape Breton University from across the world to understand and answer meaningful mathematical questions.

What skills will I gain from this program?

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

Why study at CBU?

• From programming and graphic design to environmental engineering, astro physics and business, many of the world’s problems are solved using sophisticated mathematical models. So, with a rich history of innovation and exploration, it’s no surprise Cape Breton University attracts the world’s top math talent to our thriving campus. CBU welcomes a diverse student body who come to our island for more than the world-class education and relaxed lifestyle. They come to find success for their future.
• Whether you’re studying to be a math teacher, lawyer or banker, here, faculty make all the difference. That’s because our friendly and accomplished professors offer CBU students a unique, competitive edge for what comes next. Students are introduced to both pure and applied mathematics with a focus on graph theory, analysis, ordinary and partial differential equations, computer programming, statistics and numerical analysis.
• Enriching courses contribute to a vital field of study that makes this program at Cape Breton University a solid foundation for your short and long-term future.

Special collaborations happen here at Cape Breton University between students and faculty from completely different backgrounds, cultures and societies through courses that are reflective of the diverse world in which we live. Students who graduate from CBU do so with the confidence and flexibility they need to have an edge in the job market or find success in continued graduate studies.

At CBU, you will build the skills you actually need within the field of sociology. Sociology considers the factors driving relationships that exist in society by looking at the social and historical contexts that frame those experiences. Sociologists study the interactions of our social lives by examining their formations in socialization activities.

Sociology is considered a teachable subject by the Nova Scotia Department of Education.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Ability to conduct thorough research
• Skills to analyze complex social interactions
• Critical thinking skills
• Ability to gather and analyze data sets

Why study at CBU?
Here on Cape Breton Island, our rich history and famous landscapes have carved out a home for some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Some of the best food you’ll ever taste. And certainly some of the best times you’ll ever have. It’s a great place to call home, and an even better place to study.

Our sociology courses are taught by accessible faculty with diverse research backgrounds in areas of sociology of family, gender, identity and sexuality, feminist theory, queer theory, critical pedagogy, environmental sociology, deviance, green criminology, animals and people, consumption and consumerism, qualitative research methods, sociology of home and statistical analysis. This diverse selection of topic areas provides students with a distinctive mix of subjects in their coursework all while providing a unified approach to sociological theory.

With modern facilities and a diverse campus filled with lifelong friends waiting to meet you, CBU is a place where you can truly build a sustainable future.

One look at island life and it becomes clear: CBU is a special place that is focused and determined to make the world a better place. The passion for innovation and collaboration runs deep in our history and fuels our future.

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.

The BACS degree is highly flexible, with a wide range of opportunities for academic specialization as well as highly specific focused degrees in different areas of study. The program is a process-oriented, experiential degree program that prepares students for the job market. The core community studies courses are focused on problem-solving, critical thinking, community-based research and work placements.

Why study at CBU?
What makes the decision to study at CBU the right decision to make? The unique academic programs. The undergraduate research opportunities. The people. The location. It all comes together to create the perfect environment for learning and living. And as #8 on the top islands to visit in the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine, CBU prides itself on our beautiful landscapes, tradition of excellence and innovative culture of collaboration.

Our BACS degree offers a unique experiential education with volunteer or work placements built into the core of the program. We strive to ensure students have real work experience before graduation. Additionally, students engage with their communities in projects that help foster both community awareness and establish a true sense of teamwork.

CBU also provides an easy destination for transfer students as CBU has articulation agreements with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and a number of other Canadian colleges. In some areas of study, it is possible to complete a three-year BACS degree entirely online.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Reflective learning
• Workplace experience
• Community involvement

The music major program at Cape Breton University is a four year undergraduate degree that deals with education about music, its evolution, the various genres of music and its effect on the people and the world as a whole. This degree deals with all kinds of traditional music, popular music, religious music and a special emphasis on traditional music such as Celtic, indigenous, Acadian and First Nations.

Cape Breton is a centre of cultural activity and one of the most culturally diverse regions of the country. It is especially famous for its musical traditions and the griping influence of music on the people of the region. Along with educating students about the history and chronology of music this course also delves into current issues that affect not just local music but the broader community, including protest music, cultural tourism, and music revivals.

CBU provides its students rich audio archives, a state-of-the-art Rotary Music Performance and Digitization Lab, and access to a thriving traditional music scene; opportunities are endless for research for music students on Cape Breton Island. Students have options of a co-operative education and can even gain professional real world experience by taking up internships. Students also have the opportunity to take performance courses taught by some of Cape Breton’s best known traditional musicians including the likes of Stan Chapman, Natalie Macmaster, and Kyle McNeil. Students have the opportunity of going for student exchange programs across the world to countries like Ireland, Scotland, or England.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Awareness and appreciation of music from around the world
• Greater understanding of music’s roles and functions in society
• Ability to analyze music
• Improved ability to perform
• Knowledge of the music industry

From the soothing sounds of our singing shores, to the everlasting beat of our vibrant culture, Cape Breton holds music close to its heart.

Build your skills for a solid foundation in music and carve your own path, wherever the tempo takes you. Our BACS music major is the only undergraduate program in Canada to focus on traditional and tradition-based popular music, with particular emphasis on Cape Breton’s rich music traditions.

Students learn about music career options, develop a career network and gain valuable work experience through courses such as Understanding the Music Industry, and Arts Entrepreneurship, as well as our Archival Internship and work placements.

Our music offerings focus on three broad areas: Atlantic Canadian cultures and traditions; popular music; and the study of global traditions (e.g., West African, Eastern European, etc.) through ethnomusicology and folklore approaches.

In all of our program options, we offer a variety of courses, including courses in performance, music theory and composition, genre surveys and histories, issues (e.g., protest, cultural tourism), research methods and business.
What skills will I gain from this program?

• Awareness and appreciation of music from around the world
• Greater understanding of music’s roles and functions in society
• Ability to analyze music
• Improved ability to perform
• Knowledge of the music industry

Why study at CBU?
As a music student at CBU, you’ll be excited to learn some of Cape Breton’s best-known traditional musicians teach here, including popular local artists such as Kyle MacNeil of the Barra MacNeils. That means you’ll be taught by experienced instructors who are both accessible and approachable, which makes a major difference in the intricate world of music.

Our music program uniquely ties together liberal arts courses, performance classes, work placements and community learning to create a truly well-rounded experience. Join students from around the world in one of the most breathtaking locations on the planet, in harmony, as you realize your true potential in music.

Cape Breton is known for its musical traditions. As one of the most celebrated cultural regions in the country, we offer courses that introduce students to a variety of music. From local traditions to music from around the world, popular music to classical music, students learn to analyze the music they love in order to see how it works.

Plot a course from here that can take you anywhere you want to go. With a BA from CBU, you’ll have an exciting, contemporary and challenging opportunity to learn about the world around you. By gaining the knowledge, leadership skills and critical thinking required to succeed in the real world, students adapt a cross-cultural perspective that’s truly unique to Cape Breton University.

Here, we help you find the right skills to provide the solutions every industry needs. That’s why our graduates are so sought after by prospective employers. At CBU, you gain important, transferable skills in a distinct, natural environment that inspires your learning and stimulates your senses. Take the time you need to clear your head along our rugged coastlines and focus on your personal growth.

Our BA program encompasses the study of the arts, humanities and social sciences. Students come to CBU to explore human inquiry and activity from a wide variety of vantage points and specializations. By being engaged both locally and globally, a solid foundation is set to build a lasting, successful career.

Studying a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health) at CBU offers a unique opportunity to impact quality of life for everyone around you. With the knowledge and skills learned here, you gain the ability to make a difference in a real community using modern facilities, working alongside experienced faculty.

Specifically, the public health program at CBU focuses on environmental health. This segment of public health centres on keeping people healthy in the places they live, work and play. With an eclectic community coming from more than 40 countries collaborating and studying together in an island setting, health sciences in Cape Breton is a rich area for discovery.

Our program taps into the natural resources of our region, focusing on food safety, water and air quality, communicable disease control, and occupational health and safety. We currently offer three streams of our program.

Stream One is the four-year option that a student graduating from high school, or someone without post-secondary education, could take. Stream Two is an accelerated two-year option for students with a previous science degree or a similar degree/diploma. And Stream Three is an in-career option available only to military workers seeking a degree. These military workers must be certified by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Evaluate safety hazards and mitigate risks.
• Sharpen interpersonal skills through presentations.
• Interpret and apply government legislation.

With increasing public interest in food and health, human nutrition is a dynamic field with new career opportunities emerging. CBU Human Nutrition students graduate with a strong scientific background in foods and nutrition, combined with social science perspectives, communication skills and understandings of ways to effect individual and social change.