Bachelor of Arts, Major in Jewish Studies

at EduCo - Western University Canada

The dynamic field of Health Promotion has been growing over the last decade and is now a critical emphasis within the public and private sectors. Health Promotion, which can be described as 'making the healthier choice the easier choice', is a multi-dimensional field of study that helps students acquire health-related knowledge in both the social sciences and life sciences. Students interested in careers in health program development, community health, and public health education should explore the Honors Specialization Health Promotion.

Personalized medicine informed by genome analysis. Designer organisms that produce valuable medications or clean up environmental toxins. Rational drug discovery to correct specific cellular malfunctions. Crucial to all such advances in biotechnology is an understanding of how life works at the molecular level. Join us in Biochemistry at Western as we explore the intricate interplay among the molecules that sustain life.

English Studies
The English courses cover a range of literary traditions, including British, Canadian, American, and global and Indigenous literatures, and allow students to explore literature from its earliest classics (such as Beowulf) to contemporary best sellers (such as Game of Thrones). Our courses give students the ability to participate in an ongoing conversation about literature, theory, and culture. Students will develop the research methods, analytic tools, critical thinking and communication skills that are necessary for basic and advanced study and that will serve them well in any field they might pursue upon graduation.

Writing Studies
By combining creative and professional experiences with rhetorical theory, Writing Studies students emerge as articulate problem-solvers capable of engaging, collaboratively or individually, in a global context. Graduates will gain experience and competence in the creation and production of high quality texts for a wide variety of audiences that can be applied to a wide range of academic, professional, workplace, and creative contexts and purposes. Writing Studies provides life-long skills in a life-span activity that will continue to deepen and develop alongside graduates’ engagement in their professional lives.

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. 

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!

Western offers music students a unique combination of musical and academic options, within a comprehensive university setting, on one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses. One of the largest music faculties in Canada, it is also one of the friendliest. Our reputation of excellence continues to draw music students from across Canada and beyond. Our history as a leader in Music Education is well known, where students are guaranteed entry into Western’s Faculty of Education. Richness in performing opportunities, combined with world class instruction and breadth of ensembles creates an ideal environment to reach the highest levels of performance. Academic excellence and breadth of course and program selection allows music students at Western to be among the best anywhere and prepare for a future in any discipline.

Are you interested in understanding the universe and our place in it? Consider studying astrophysics at Western! Through the interaction of light and matter, you can access the universe through observatories around the world and in space. Astrophysicists at Western will help you explore black holes, exoplanets, meteors, the atmospheres of Earth and other planets, the dust and gas between the stars, and the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. With the skills acquired in this module, our graduates stand out with their involvement in cutting-edge research, including the recent discovery of gravitational waves and new planets beyond our solar system.

Genetics is the study of the process and implications of trait inheritance which is linked explicitly to the concept of the gene and the molecule DNA. The Department offers four modules in this foundational area of biology that are built upon its research and teaching strengths. In the area of molecular genetics students will be able to take a range of courses focused on gene structure, function and regulation that introduce modern 'omic' approaches (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) that are taught using a range of animal, plant and microbial systems. Related topics such as genetic engineering and developmental genetics form the basis of additional courses. Building on research expertise in other subdiscipline there are courses in behavioural genetics, and evolutionary genetics.

With today’s career possibilities in an increasingly diverse global society, the benefits of knowing Frenchare readily apparent. There are hundreds of millions of French speakers worldwide, including over 7 million Canadian Francophones, and a module in French Studies can give you a significant advantage when considering work opportunities. Whether it be in educational, business, diplomatic, legal or scientific professions, French provides you with an additional asset for today’s highly competitive job market. You may pursue an Honors Specialization or a Major in French Studies with the intention of working where French is required, or choose a Minor in French Studies or one of our Certificates in combination with another degree program in order to be more competitive in today’s globalized job market. Whatever you choose to do in life, a module in French Studies always enhances your career prospects.0

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.