Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) with Concentration in Entrepreneurship (Co-op)

at Carleton University Canada

Economics may be a specialized area of knowledge, but it is relevant to almost every aspect of our lives. At its core, it is the study of reasoned choice in the context of scarce resources and competing interests. The need to make such choices pervades the day-to-day lives of all of us—as individuals and in society as a whole.

In Carleton’s Bachelor of Economics (BEcon), you will study the operation of market-based economies, examining the causes of economic growth, inflation, unemployment and international trade.

Carleton’s innovative philosophy programs offer courses ranging over the history of philosophy, ethics and social/political philosophy, philosophy of mind and language, metaphysics and epistemology. Starting in first year, you will have the opportunity to take a seminar class (of 30 students) that challenges you to develop your skills in reading philosophical texts and making philosophical arguments. In second year, you will take two courses that are offered just for philosophy majors, ensuring that you have the skills you need to do your best. In fourth year, you will study in seminar classes where the professors share with you, at your level, the new knowledge that they are helping to create.

The BA Geography program at Carleton focuses on human and environmental geography, exploring and analyzing a wide range of topics such as local food systems, urban poverty, cultural landscapes, adaptation to climate change and natural resource management. Students in the BA Geography (Honours) program may take a concentration in Physical Geography or Urban Geography. Our professors have extensive expertise in social, political and cultural geography; resource management and environmental assessment; and the study of physical processes of the Earth’s vegetation, climate, water and soil systems. Field courses, workplace opportunities (1 day a week practicum; full term co-op), and training in tools like geographic information systems, remote sensing and cartography also provide an opportunity to gain practical experience while you study. A Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography is also available.

Language is an essential part of what it is to be human and this program gives you the opportunity to examine how language works in real life. The field of Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies develops and applies theories to solve everyday problems involving language. Course materials address such questions as how languages are taught and learned, how language competencies are evaluated, how writing is used to perform a variety of functions, how language is used in specific social contexts, how language can influence society and vice versa, how government policies influence language practices and what makes a bilingual education program effective.

As a student interested in chemistry, you can enrol in programs and courses in all the main areas of chemistry, including analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, theoretical and environmental chemistry. Concentrations in Nanotechnology and Chemical Toxicology are available. Extensive lab experience is offered, helping you to round out your studies with practical experience.

Carleton is home to the oldest and largest BA program in law in Canada. In the program, you will acquire a strong understanding of the dynamics of law, including its rules, agents, institutions and power structures. You will study legal theory and its application in everyday life and you will be taught by award-winning researchers and extensively published professors. Carleton’s proximity to Canada’s important public institutions, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, Parliament and the Department of Justice can lead to unique work and volunteer opportunities for our students. As an Honours student, you will have the choice of a concentration in Law, Policy and Government; Business Law; or Transnational Law and Human Rights.

African peoples, cultures, societies, places and histories have been deeply affected by the global world, while also actively contributing to it. In this multidisciplinary specialization, you will study a wide range of issues as they apply to Africa, including democratization, human rights, international development, cultural change, migration and refugees, colonialism and post-colonialism, and social justice. You will also acquire an understanding of the larger issues of the politics of development and the relationship between the global north and south. This specialization is administered by the Institute of African Studies, which is the only stand-alone, degree-granting, institute devoted to the study of Africa in Canada.

According to the executive summary of the “White Paper” on International Development Studies in Canada published by the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID) and the North-South Institute in October 2003, “the study of development provides a window on the world of inequality and the possibilities of overcoming it both internationally and domestically.” At Carleton, students pursuing the Global Development specialization will gain a multidisciplinary perspective on this broad and important field by taking foundational courses in anthropology, economics, geography, and political science. The program’s core courses together with a rich selection of electives will help students understand the way the world is unfolding in the face of increasingly urgent challenges from climate change to human security to global epidemics. This specialization will be of particular interest to students who aspire to work on development issues in various government departments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and certain types of companies operating internationally.

Gain an understanding of the multiple varieties of spoken French and the diversity of French literatures across continents. Study how both are patterned globally through issues and contexts ranging from colonial and postcolonial histories, transnational contacts, cultural transfers and experiences of migration.

Psychologists study the mechanisms that underlie our thoughts, emotions and behaviours. They examine a diverse range of topics, such as how we think and learn, how we interact with others and how we can promote healthy development and wellness. This is accomplished by conducting research so that the knowledge gained can help us to better understand the human mind, enhance well-being and performance, and generate additional research questions.