Bachelor of Science in Physics

at Lakehead University - Thunder Bay Campus Canada

Geography is the study of spatial patterns and processes on Earth's surface and the relationship between society, populations and the environment. Our Geography programs focus on physical geography, dealing with spatial aspects of land, water and the atmosphere, as well as human geography which explores the cultural, political and economic forces behind the distribution of human activities.

As a Geography student you will spend the first two years building a foundation of knowledge in a wide spectrum of geographical themes which examine:

• Where populations and activities are located on Earth
• When and why physical and environmental patterns change
• The impacts these changes have on human and physical environments
• The responses to these impacts

In your final two years of study you may specialize in a particular area including:

• Climate change
• Glacial Processes
• Soil Analysis
• Conservation
• Natural Hazards
• Water Resource Management
• Sociocultural Geography

Our courses reflect the breadth of the discipline, as well as geographical techniques and research methods including digital photogrammetry, remote sensing, soil and water testing and geographic information systems (GIS).

Mathematics seeks hidden patterns that help us to understand life and the complex problems that surround us. This discipline of numbers, quantity, and space can be applied to many fields and industries, from Life Science to Finance. As a student in our Department of Mathematics, you will develop advanced analytical and critical thinking skills in addition to: 

• Research techniques 
• Scholarly writing proficiency 
• Comprehensive understanding of mathematical structures 
• Mathematical proof formulation and solution skills 

Mathematics is a very diverse and intellectually stimulating field of study. In addition to our traditional Mathematics programs, we offer Mathematical Physics and the flexibility to combine your Mathematics degree with a degree in Education, Economics, or Physics. You will benefit from our small class sizes, world-class faculty, unique research opportunities, and the ability to pursue mathematical topics you find most appealing.

The Faculty of Education at Lakehead University offers a Master of Education program designed to meet your professional and academic goals and interests. Our Master of Education (MEd) program provides you with a unique learning opportunity, which addresses the current landscape of both education and research. Our program consists of two distinct fields of study, Educational Studies and Education for Change.

The Educational Studies field refers to a wide range of educational research, theory, and practice within formal, non-formal, and informal contexts. This is a dynamic field of study in areas such as educational sociology, philosophy, psychology, law, policy, leadership, measurement, assessment, and curriculum content areas such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, to name a few. 

The Gerontology Program actively collaborates with the Faculty of Education to provide you with an innovative, interdisciplinary learning perspective. You have the opportunity to access multifaceted resources and work together with complementary disciplines. Research and theory in Gerontology is reviewed, and the thesis or portfolio, where applicable, is taken in the collaborating academic unit and must have a gerontological focus.

Computer science combines the intellectual challenge of a young discipline with the excitement of an innovative and rapidly expanding technology. Computer science has been an active area at Lakehead University for over 25 years. The department resides in the University's Advanced Technology and Academic Centre (ATAC), a striking building that houses many of the University’s computing activities. Faculty, staff, and students are equipped with state-of-the-art computing facilities including smart lecture rooms, labs, and a variety of computing technologies (e.g. Virtual Reality, Parallel Computing).

The Master's program in computer science provides an opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of advanced knowledge in the discipline. Students benefit from a selection of advanced courses and a chance to pursue research that aligns with their interests and aspirations.

Two program options are available to students; each option maintains a balance between coursework and research:

• Master's by Thesis, which requires fewer courses and involves a more substantial research project
• Master's by Project (2 years), which involves courses aligned with the IT industry needs and also includes a limited research project
• Master's by Course, which involves more courses and includes a limited research component

Co-op Information

• A graduate student will normally be admitted to the co-operative program option after completion of two terms, for a starting date in May. Students are expected to obtain an aggregate of 80% or more and must have taken at least 4 half credit courses (excluding non-credit courses, project and thesis).
• Co-op employment for 8 months (two terms) must be successfully completed to satisfy the co-op requirement for the degree. 
• Students interested in a co-op placement should inform the Department's Co-op Advisor at least four months in advance of the proposed date of the placement (e.g., by late December for placements beginning in May). The Department's decision as to the suitability of each candidate will be based primarily on academic performance. 

History
The academic and professional pursuit of History is the process of bringing the past to life. The study of History encompasses all aspects of human experience, from wars to celebrity culture, and is constantly evolving as our knowledge and perspectives advance.

As a History student you will have the flexibility to pursue your own interests within the discipline and the ability to regularly collaborate with your professors due to our small class sizes. Our courses provide you with various approaches to the study of History and the necessary skills to analyze any issue within its historical context. You will examine historical topics from North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and South Asia including:

• Aboriginal History
• Digital History
• Environmental History
• Gender History
• International Development
• Political History
• Medical History
• Military History
• Social History

Sociology
The study of Sociology emphasizes the social relationships between people, communities and cultures. By exploring fundamental sociological theories, contemporary thinkers, and a variety of research methods, you will have the opportunity to examine topics including:

• Health and Aging
• Marriage and the Family
• Crime and Deviance
• Media and Popular Culture
• Science and Technology
• Gender and Sexuality
• Education
• Northern Communities
• Discrimination
• Social Change 

Research and hands-on application is at the core of our programs. You will graduate with the necessary skills to facilitate quantitative and qualitative research and to think creatively and inquisitively in order to better understand social patterns, behaviours and issues. 

Our faculty is actively engaged in diverse areas of research such as Gerontology, Education, Health, Demography, Media, Work and Occupations, Social Psychology, and Northern Studies, providing you with well-rounded course options taught by some of the foremost leaders in the field.

It is our goal to enhance your knowledge of the society in which you live and to increase your ability to think independently and critically.  You will graduate with a strong understanding of social interaction, preparing you for success in virtually any profession.

As a student in our School of Kinesiology you will study the science of human movement, physical activity, and their relationship to health, well-being and performance. Our multidisciplinary Kinesiology programs explore how the body moves by studying:

• Anatomy
• Physiology 
• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics
• Musculo-skeletal Injuries
• Motor Development and Control
• Nutrition 
• Adaptive Physical Activity
• Health, Wellness and Fitness

Additionally, you will learn about the psychological, sociological and cultural factors that influence physical activity in all populations. This breadth of study will teach you to work collaboratively as part of an interprofessional team to deliver the best quality of care in diverse healthcare settings. Our balance of in-class and hands-on courses will provide you with the experience necessary to assess movement across the lifespan.

If you are interested in becoming a Registered Kinesiologist, our broad-based learning curriculum successfully prepares you to challenge the registration exam for the regulatory college license requirements to practice in Ontario. 

The Lakehead Advantage

You will gain hands-on assessment experience from day one through a series of applied, lab-based courses and through our Practice of Kinesiology applied courses. Multiple small lab sections allow for considerable one-on-one time with professors and fellow students. 

We have academic advisors exclusively for the School of Kinesiology who are available to all students at any point during the year. It is our goal to ensure you receive the guidance and mentorship necessary to achieve the utmost success with your undergraduate degree and beyond. 

We are one of few Kinesiology programs in Canada with a formalized co-operative program for our undergraduate students. Applications are due before Christmas break in second year. Successful applicants are required to complete a minimum of 4 four month paid work terms.   Following successful completion of the work terms students will return to complete the final academic year in the program.. This practical experience gives you a competitive edge when entering the workforce or pursuing professional certifications.

The Master of Science in Management program is designed for students with degrees in business and related fields to prepare for professional careers in management. Building upon their undergraduate studies, students have an opportunity to closely examine a particular aspect of business, while developing advanced skills in management and research. 

Students in this program gain advanced knowledge of theory and its practical application by conducting research within the domain of management and commerce disciplines. Students have the option to choose between a research project or thesis stream and work closely with a faculty advisor throughout the research process. The degree also includes seminars and classes that build relevant knowledge and skills that enable the student to use the research process to translate theory and evidence to effective business practice.

This program in Electrical and Computer Engineering satisfies the demand in academia and industry for highly qualified personnel in the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The program is directed to graduates from the existing undergraduate Electrical Engineering and Software Engineering programs at Lakehead University and graduates from undergraduate programs at other universities. The program fosters independent research abilities of students. Students will achieve these objectives through a combination of course work and research towards the completion of a thesis.

Current research areas include the following:

• Communications and Networking: Communication and information theory, wireless communications, error correcting codes, pseudo-random signal design, broadband communication networks, network protocols and simulation, Internet, network survivability
• Circuits and Systems: VLSI synthesis, ultra-low power, thermal management, modeling, RF and microwave, electromagnetics, electrical motor drives, power electronic converters, renewable energy systems
• Biomedical: Devices for therapy, imaging, signal processing, e-health care software
• Computers and Software: Power-aware computer architecture, chip multiprocessors, parallel programming, digital ASIC synthesis, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, computer network software, semantic web, mobile services
• Control Systems: Intelligent Control Systems, Nonlinear Control
• Electron Devices and Semiconductors

The English Department offers MA students a program that best suits their interests and goals. We provide a valuable learning experience to those students interested in the MA as a terminal degree, while also providing those students interested in further study with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue doctoral studies. 

Our MA program offers students the opportunity to pursue their scholarly interests in the way that best suits them, as we offer a number of different program options: the traditional thesis option for those students who want the experience of writing an in-depth study on their topic of choice; a coursework option that provides students with coverage of many fields and the experience of working with a larger number of professors; and a research-project option that combines the two.

We also offer two innovative programs that are unique to Lakehead. The creative-project option allows students to write a creative work, while still engaging in critical analysis of the genre and form in which they are writing. Past creative-projects have included works in fantasy, children’s literature, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Our program also offers a collaborative graduate program with a specialization in Women’s Studies, giving students the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of both departments, to focus more closely on issues of gender, and to graduate with a combined degree, qualifying them for further education in both fields.

As a relatively small department, we are able to offer our graduate students personal attention that larger departments may not be able to provide. At the same time, our faculty members cover the range of periods, national literatures, and theoretical approaches in the field of English literature, and also have expertise in film studies, cultural studies, and new media. Many of our graduate faculty members have won teaching awards and grants, and all are active researchers. They welcome the opportunity to work closely with students in graduate seminars, and in supervisory roles for projects.

Work Experience

We also offer our incoming Canadian students the opportunity to work as a Graduate Assistant (for up to two years). In addition to providing some funding, being a GA provides valuable experience, including the opportunity to teach classes and work one-on-one with undergraduate students.

In the Master of Public Health with Specialization in Nursing degree, students will focus on current issues in the science and/or service of public health, so that they may gain experience through opportunities in any of the fundamental disciplines that underlie public health. The program is primarily intended to prepare graduates for a career in public health practice.The program's objectives are to prepare a graduate who:

• Possesses advanced health-related education
• Is capable of critical analysis
• Understands health-related decision-making at the level of the individual, population, and government
• Understands research
• Possesses knowledge exchange and dissemination strategies for individuals, populations, and government

The degree is designed to take into consideration the learner's needs including the unique opportunity to individualize his/her clinical courses to a variety of foci: clinical practice, administration, education, and community health.

The program is delivered using a unique blend of on-campus and distance technology: content is delivered using the University's online distance education course management system (Desire2Learn/D2L), and web conferencing. Students attend lectures via web conferencing; lectures are recorded and archived to accommodate time zones and working schedules. There is no requirement to attend on campus. Web conferencing helps to build relationships with faculty and foster a sense of belonging to an active and engaged graduate student community.