Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Womens Studies

at EduCo - Western University Canada

Are you moved by crisis in Darfur? Do social movements such as the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street interest you? Do you want to work for a public service or a non-profit organisation? Then the Media and the Public Interest (MPI) program might be for you. The MPI program is the only one of its kind in Canada and connects issues of communication and media to social justice issues such as democracy, equity, class, race, and gender. Students in MPI examine social movements and how media can be used to further these causes. Some example courses in the MPI program include Alternative Media, Social Movements and Media, and Activism in Mainstream Media. A primary goal of the program is to connect media theory learned in the classroom to real world experiences. Students are encouraged to put what they learn to use. Many of the courses feature a service learning component or practicum that gives students the opportunity to volunteer in a community organisation.

The Bachelor of Science (Honors Specialization) program is designed to give students a deeper appreciation of the life sciences. In addition to investigating courses throughout the broad scope of Kinesiology, that include exercise physiology, biomechanics, anatomy, sports injuries, exercise psychology, sport management and professional ethics, students must choose courses such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math from the Faculty of Science.

Anthropology is the study of humans in all our social, cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity and complexity.  The four subfields of Anthropology (Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, and Sociocultural Anthropology) are united by shared perspectives on how we study the full breadth of humanity. 

The study of philosophy helps students improve analytical and critical reading, writing and reasoning skills through an examination of the works of historical and contemporary philosophers. The ultimate goal of this study is a better understanding of issues fundamental to ourselves and to our world, including the structure of reality, the nature of knowledge, truth, rationality, value and moral obligation, and the existence of God. While the study of these problems is interesting in its own right, it also enhances the prospects of students wishing to pursue further studies in journalism, public policy, law, business, education or medicine, among other disciplines. Philosophy at Western is also home to the internationally renowned Rotman Institute of Philosophy and the Centre for Digital Philosophy.

Indigenous Studies is an interdisciplinary program examining topics relevant to Indigenous peoples' realities. The program allows students to either specifically focus on Indigenous issues or to combine their program with other undergraduate programs. Students may select modules after completing their first year of study. You can mix and match modules from Indigenous Studies with modules from other programs. This modular structure allows students to combine courses from various departments and faculties that match their academic goals and interests and also provides them the opportunity to achieve a broader knowledge base. The module selection is completed under the guidelines of the three year or four year degree that the student is enroled in.

For a Major in Indigenous Studies, after having completed all first-year requirements with at least 3.0 principal courses and the successful completion of IS 1020E with a minimum grade of 60%, you may proceed to enrol in courses for the Indigenous Studies Major module. You must complete 6 credits and meet the minimum progression requirements. For an overview of course selections for a Major in Indigenous Studies please review the Checklist for a Major.

Six approved Grade 12U and/or M level courses including English (ENG4U) and recommendation of the Faculty on the basis of an audition and interview.

Students recommended for admission to the Bachelor of Music (BMus) programs take a Common First Year as described below.

Students not recommended for admission to the Common First Year of the Bachelor of Music (BMus) programs are automatically considered for admission to the first year of the BA (Music) program.

Jewish Studies is excited to welcome all students at Western and our Affiliated Colleges! This program offers our diverse student body an opportunity to pursue a Major or a Minor in Jewish Studies, providing a rigorous academic setting to learn more about the diverse history and culture of the Jewish People, past and present. Our wide-ranging program explores the many disciplines related to Jewish studies on Main Campus, at King’s, and at Huron, including Art, Biblical Studies, Hebrew Language, History, Literature, Media Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Rabbinics, and Religious Studies. The inter-disciplinary nature of Jewish Studies allows students to sample multiple forms of knowledge and to understand Jewish politics, culture, and society from a variety of perspectives. By combining breadth and depth, the Jewish Studies Program contributes to a well-rounded Liberal Arts education to any and all interested undergraduates.

The culture and history of the Jewish people extends across more than three millennia, from Biblical times to the present, and spans across most of the world, from the Middle East to Latin America and from Eastern Europe to North America. The study of the Jewish experience highlights the complexities of cultural exchange and interactions in changing temporal and geographic circumstances. Students learn not only about the unique trajectory of Jewish life, but also gain a more nuanced picture of non-Jewish societies. As the study of a diaspora people, the Jewish story is one that can be contrasted and compared to that of other minority groups, offering unique insights into and perspectives on religion, sociology, politics and culture.

Students of Jewish Studies gain vital skills, including proficiency in writing and verbal expression; critical thinking; aptitude in a foreign language (Hebrew); sensitivities to cultural difference; textual analysis and many more!

Epidemiology and Biostatistics trains students to understand why some people get sick and others do not, why rates of disease vary by person, place and time and to learn how to investigate disease causation, prevention and intervention. Develop skills to contribute to health policy by providing data relevant to health promotion and illness-prevention programs. Study areas concerned with the determinants and distribution of diseases in human populations while discovering new statistical methods for collecting, analyzing and interpreting data.

The BA (Major in Popular Music Studies) is a module unique to Western that engages students with the interdisciplinary nature of the study of popular music.

The program incorporates three dimensions:

• Practical subjects, including songwriting and analysis of popular songs and recordings
• recording practice
• Critical study of musical styles, recordings, artists, and genres in their broader historical and cultural contexts.

In addition to courses in popular music and culture, the program includes post-1945 popular music, musical theatre, jazz, and more advanced courses indigenous musics and musics of the world, film studies, literature, and sociology. Introductory and advanced courses in songwriting and desktop music production allow students to compose, produce, and record their own music.

This degree program is designed for students interested in advanced study in the basic medical sciences and focuses on all aspects of biology that define and influence the human condition. Emphasis is placed on understanding the normal human condition, mechanisms of current treatment and the search for cures.