Bachelor of Arts in French (Co-op Optional)

at Cape Breton University Canada

When it comes to global innovation and change, petroleum has been at the heart of some of the most important scientific advances in human history. That’s because hydrocarbons are at the foundation of our modern, energy intensive societies.

At CBU, we help you capitalize on this career opportunity by giving you the skills you need to build a solid foundation in this field. As a small island with an incredible way of life that is delicately balanced, we know how petroleum and its by-products affect nearly every aspect of human life and occupation.

After graduating from CBU with a BET Petroleum, students will have the skills and knowledge regarding the extraction, processing and refinement of petroleum resources. You’ll also focus heavily on protecting the environment, a challenge that is necessary to tackle in today’s oil and gas industry.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Knowledge of drilling and exploration
• Reservoir analysis skills
• Completions planning skills
• Oil and gas equipment knowledge
• Awareness of petroleum processing

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.

We are all global citizens with a stake in the economic issues that have become an integral part of our daily lives. From the local economies that drive our national industries, to the complex nature of free trade between countries, Cape Breton Island offers a unique glimpse into the fluid world of economics.

As a social science concerned with the efficient use of resources in production, exchange and consumption, students from dozens of countries arrive here to gain a better understanding of how local and global economies thrive. They end up graduating with the confidence and knowledge they need to enter the professional world of economics.

Economics professors at CBU are dedicated and engaged professionals who stay on top of developments in the global economy. This gives students an up-to-date flow of knowledge regarding the creation and distribution of wealth, labour disputes, unemployment, inflation, taxes, oil prices and international trade. And that’s just to start. Our modern facilities and comprehensive curriculum ensure you have what you need to achieve true economic success in the real world.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Obtain a basic understanding of the organization and structure of economies – domestically as well as globally.
• Understand the basic tools of micro and macro-economic analysis and apply them to contemporary economic settings.
• Appreciate that socioeconomic and political landscapes are driven by economic considerations domestically and globally.
• Engage in informed discussions regarding economic policy.
• Recognize that, as citizens of the world, we need to function efficiently and effectively.

Why study at CBU?

• At CBU, students have access to various experiential learning opportunities and are encouraged to actively participate in class. Our exchange program provides students with the chance to travel to other countries to gain global experience relating to the study of economics.
• Another great aspect, among many here in Cape Breton, is the sense of community, and the friendly, approachable people. People who, even if they aren’t from here, have adopted our warm, welcoming island lifestyle as their own. Because of that, it’s a place where CBU students and faculty get to know each other on a professional and personal basis.
• The Shannon School of Business also maintains close ties with the local business community, bridging the gap between students and professionals, owners and managers in the field of economics.

Cape Breton Island is a hotbed of culture, with a rich, varied landscape of traditions and lore. Traditionally, folklore is the study of informal culture.

The study of a group’s folklore yields valuable insights into how that group operates in the world, but also reveals biases, prejudices and other obstacles to a more inclusive worldview. Most often, folklore is expressive and manifests itself in certain forms, such as story and song, festival and feast, architecture and craft. Although these forms may be manifested in a distinct way by each group, they recur in similar ways across cultures, so folklore examines both the particular context and the general formal patterns of expressive culture.

After providing a solid introduction to folklore genres, analytical approaches and ethnographic methods, folklore students take a balance of regional folklore courses (courses primarily about folklore in Atlantic Canada), and courses emphasizing genres and issues (such as urban legend, gender, food and cultural tourism).

CBU students learn practical skills in interviewing, fieldwork, and ethnographic research while also gaining an awareness of international heritage policy. Folklore’s interdisciplinary nature promotes sharing concerns, methods and insights with others. Through this group learning dynamic, folklore students acquire skills and knowledge that are applicable in a wide range of careers.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Understand how folklore informs our worldview.
• Recognize the prevalence of folklore in contemporary society.
• Ethnographic fieldwork.
• Analyze the use of traditional forms and styles in popular culture.
• Research and writing.

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

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.

The special skills you learn at CBU in the Diploma in Public Administration and Management program can take you in any direction. Learn in modern facilities surrounded by a thriving community with access to everything you need to grow. The knowledge you gain here will help you excel in managing people, processes and policies in various industries to help you build the solid foundation you need for the real world.

This Diploma in Public Administration and Management has been designed to help you gain quantitative and qualitative research skills, and get a better understanding of management and community development. This is incredibly helpful for those with an interest in working for, or with, government and community-based organizations managing groups of people.

Carve your own path into the future while developing expertise in the techniques and practices of public sector management. This diploma offers the chance to take a deep look at the nature of Canadian government and public administration at the international, national, provincial and local levels. Study comprehensive subjects such as management, law, organizational theory, policy development, research methods, leadership and more.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Learn about public sector management at all government levels.
• Financial and personnel management skills.
• Quantitative and qualitative-based research skills.
• Understand how government policies work.
• Management and community development skills.

Why study at CBU?

• On Cape Breton Island, public sector managers play a critically important role in our local, regional, national and global communities by providing project management and policy advice. It’s not only the modern facilities or the word-class education that draws students from over 40 countries to our unique location on the sea, it’s the chance to make a difference in the place you call home.
• Studying public administration and management at CBU will help you learn the skills necessary to take on challenging issues that define the public agenda in Canada. In addition to our regular courses, our experienced faculty provide hands-on learning through either an experiential learning directed study, or co-op work placements paired with the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Management (C.I.M.). This helps ensure our students are prepared to enter the professional world or continue to graduate studies.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Local volunteer activities
• Large-scale community engagements
• Diverse campus events
• Option to choose a directed study project or internship
• Option to complete a special Certificate in Management (C.I.M.)

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.

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.

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.

Just like organizations who are made up of people who interact to accomplish shared objectives, Cape Breton University is made up of students all working toward the same goal. That goal is to educate themselves for a better way of life for their families and their communities.

The study of human resources (HR) helps us understand why people are so important to the success of business operations. A strong HR department is critical to an organization’s effectiveness and success. This means getting to know the functions of the people within an organization where everyone benefits. Attracting the best talent, getting the most out of employees, maintaining an equal environment for everyone, and strategically leveraging resources are all essential elements of HR management.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Leadership skills
• Interpersonal communication skills
• Learn organizational behaviours
• Deep understanding of HR processes

Why study at CBU?

• What you’ll notice most about Cape Breton Island is the warm, welcoming community filled with the nicest people you’ll ever meet. It’s enough to write home about. Which is a good thing, considering HR includes a range of responsibilities that all deal with people.
• As an HR professional, your work will require you to go above and beyond, including attracting the best talent, getting the most out of employees, maintaining an equal environment for everyone and strategically leveraging resources.
• Cape Breton University prepares you for the realities of the working world. So, our program is designed to teach you how to create a cohesive, inclusive and fully functioning workplace. This means you’ll get the real-world experience you need with an education you deserve.