Bachelor of Arts, Major in Visual and Material Culture Studies

at Mount Allison University Canada

Interdisciplinary Health Studies will allow students the opportunity to engage with health from biological, behavioural, social, environmental, ethical, historical, cultural and population perspectives.

At Mount Allison, the Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in Interdisciplinary Health Studies draws on concepts from across the life sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Students develop the critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills needed to engage in complex and nuanced issues such as:

• Health care for an aging population
• Confronting global pandemics
• Building healthy communities
• Working for justice in health-care delivery and outcomes

Students in Interdisciplinary Health Studies take courses in:

• Health and life sciences (biology, biochemistry, psychology)
• Ethics and philosophy
• Social issues and culture

International relations is the study of the relationships between countries and between governmental and non-governmental organizations. It examines the impacts of economic, social, technological, environmental, military, and political processes, as well as issues of justice, responsibility, and human well-being.

The international relations program at Mount Allison is centred around courses in economics, language, and political science.

In first and second year you will take introductory courses in economics, political science, and international relations.

In third and fourth year you will begin to specialize. International relations is inter and multidisciplinary and in addition to your core courses, you will have the opportunity to choose two streams of study from the following disciplines:

• Political science (politics in Europe, the U.S., Africa, the Middle East; security studies; foreign policy analysis)
• History (war and society in Europe, Japan and modern Asia, environmental history)
• Sociology (social movements, refugee studies, globalization)
• Anthropology (indigenous knowledge systems, social inequality, globalization and social change)
• Economics (game theory, environmental economics, international development)
• Geography and environmental studies (Canadian environmental policy, international environmental affairs, sustainable development)
• English (African literature, Caribbean literature, literary representations of race and culture)
• Religious studies (gender issues in eastern and western religions, contemporary ethical issues)

International relations also has a university-level language requirement. Mount Allison offers courses in French, Spanish, German, and Japanese.

You are encouraged to gain international experience by studying or working abroad or by doing international work in Canada, and to carry out independent research.

Cognitive Science is the scientific study of the mind and its processes. It seeks to understand how the mind works through interdisciplinary studies in psychology, computer science, and philosophy.

Within the Department of Psychology, the Cognitive Science program incorporates perspectives from a variety of fields.

In first and second year you'll take introductory courses, plus courses such as:

• cognitive processes
• biopsychology
• systems programming
• philosophy of science

In third and fourth year you'll add courses in linguistics, while pursuing courses such as:

• sensation and perception
• behavioural neuroscience
• philosophy of mind
• artificial intelligence
• medical physics

You'll also be encouraged to pursue independent summer research projects, directed studies projects, or to contribute to faculty research projects as a research assistant.

Biology is the scientific study of living things — their form, function, origin, and behavior. Disciplines include cell biology, ecology, genetics and evolution, and animal and plant diversity.
The Department of Biology at Mount Allison is committed to providing students with opportunities for hands-on learning, as well as research and laboratory experience.

First-year courses include studies of evolution, ecology, human biology, and cell biology, as well as biochemistry.
Upper-year courses allow students to explore topics such as:

• Marine biology
• Aquaculture
• Embryology
• Genetics
• Microbiology
• Ornithology
• Physiology
• Animal biology
• Plant biology

Faculty are actively involved in research and students are strongly encouraged to participate in research through faculty-supervised independent research projects during summers or during academic terms.

Research opportunities in the Department of Biology at Mount Allison include:

• Phytoplankton physiology
• Neurophysiology
• Environmental animal physiology
• Fish ecology
• Molecular genetics
• Marine botany
• Field ecology

Philosophy is the endeavour to understand the basic questions that arise for us in our world, and to formulate this understanding in a critical manner. Traditionally, these questions have touched upon what can be known, what can be valued, what our own position is socially and individually — above all, how we can know what we think we know.

At Mount Allison, Philosophy believes that careful study of the great works of the past and present provides the best access to philosophical questions, and is committed to diversity.

You'll explore the history of philosophy from the sixth century B.C. to the 21st century, with areas of teaching and research in:

• ethics, logic, metaphysics, value theory
• Indian, German philosophy
• social and political philosophy
• continental philosophy
• biomedical ethics
• feminist philosophy
• disability theory
• philosophy of science, law, biology, music, art
• ancient and medieval philosophy

Sociology is the study of people as they interact with one another in specific social, cultural, and historical contexts. It uses a scientific approach to study human behaviour and the social influences that affect it.

Mount Allison's sociology department helps students develop their perspective on society, examining it from different points of view and in different contexts. Sociology facilitates understanding of how and why society is organized as it is, and how it might be changed to create a more just and equitable social world.

You will study subjects like:

• Social class and inequality
• Race and racialization
• Gender relations
• Youth culture
• Work and society
• Media and popular culture
• Health and illness
• Education and society
• Citizenship, identity, refugees
• Social policies
• Non-profit organizations
• Criminology
• Research methods

First and second-year sociology courses provide an overview of the discipline and an introduction to sociological analysis. You will be introduced to the study of social problems through dynamic class interactions and assignments.

Third-year courses emphasize theoretical approaches, analytical methods, and their application to major areas of interest. This will help you build on your critical, analytical, and writing skills and teach theoretical approaches to sociology.

In your fourth year, students work with greater interdependence and in more depth on a range of sociological topics.

Classes and assignments are designed to build both conceptual and applied skills. You will have the opportunity to pursue research as part of the honours program.

Geocomputing is an applied program that combines theory and practice of computer science and geography. The program gives students expertise to study and understand spatial dimensions of social and environmental problems such as minimizing environmental impacts and identifying critical habitat.

At Mount Allison, Geocomputing combines theory and practice of computing and geography, offering students a new way to look at the world.

Students in Geocomputing take courses in computer science, environmental science, and environmental studies, with spatial computing (geographic information systems) at the heart.

In Computer Science, you'll look at subjects like:

• Programming techniques
• Algorithms
• Discrete structures
• Data structures
• Database systems
• Object-oriented design and methodology
• Computers and society

In Environment and Geography, you'll look at subjects like:

• Geographic information systems (GIS)
• The physical environment
• The human environment
• Data analysis
• Resources management and environmental policies

In their final year, students complete an applied capstone project that integrates both fields.

Computer Science
At Mount Allison, computer science courses are designed to address the needs of a wide variety of users, from the casual to the professional. Whether you want to learn more about certain software or to develop advanced programming skills, Mount Allison has a computer science course for you.

Introductory computer science courses offer an overview of programming skills, the use and application of popular software, and the essentials of computing. More advanced courses deal with topics ranging from artificial intelligence and the role of computers in society to the design and implementation of advanced hardware or software systems.

Specialized areas include:

• theory of computation
• cryptography
• artificial intelligence
• databases
• computer graphics
• networks
• software and hardware design

All courses in the computing curriculum offer a blend of theory and practical application, with many of the offerings having a significant project component in which students are given the opportunity to apply the classroom material to real-world problems.

Physics
At Mount Allison, a key feature of Physics is the experiential learning approach used in many courses — students learn through collaborative, hands-on activities. In the Physics program, the development of fundamental concepts and mathematical formulation proceeds simultaneously in a selected series of courses in physics and mathematics.

Physics also prepares you for more advanced study in applied areas such as photonics, materials science, or biomedical engineering; or for a career in such fields as astronomy, space research, or oceanography. Introductory physics involves a combination of mini-lectures, lab work, and collaborative learning experiences.

While in upper years you may choose to pursue studies in subjects like:

• astrophysics
• quantum mechanics
• electricity and magnetism
• statistical mechanics
• advanced physical chemistry
• electronics
• medical physics
• thermodynamics
• nuclei and fundamental particles
• solid state physics
• energy production and the environment
• modern optics

Biopsychology is the scientific study of the brain and nervous system and how they influence human behaviour — combining studies in biology and psychology.

At Mount Allison, Biopsychology is an interdisciplinary program with students required to take courses in both biology and psychology.
There is some flexibility to allow you to focus more heavily on one of the two disciplines, should you choose to do so.

Course options in this program may include:

• Genetics and evolution
• Human physiology
• Animal behaviour
• Neurophysiology
• Sensation and perception
• Behavioural neuroscience

Biochemistry is the study of living organisms at the molecular level.
As part of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mount Allison's biochemistry program is designed to provide students with a solid science foundation in the first two years, with paths for specialization in third and fourth years.

You will begin your studies by examining the world around you at the molecular level, with courses including:

• Introductory biochemistry
• Introductory chemistry
• Cell biology
• Organic or analytical chemistry
• Enzymology and metabolism

Third-year is a pivotal year in the program as you will take core lab courses that lay the foundation for research in biochemistry, including lab only courses like Molecular Analyses and Experiential Biochemistry.

Upper year courses concentrate on sub-disciplines of biochemistry, with topics like:

• Nucleic acids
• Molecular structure of the immune system
• Animal, bacterial, and plant viruses
• Protein structures and function
• Biochemical ecology
• Lipids and membranes
• Signal transduction
• Animal physiology

Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary program, which means you may also take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and mathematics.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry emphasizes experiential learning — you will graduate with 600 to 1,200 hours of lab experience, developing important analytical and presentation skills along the way.

Research is a key component of the department's approach. You will be encouraged to take advantage of faculty-supervised independent research, job opportunities as summer research assistants, and chances to contribute to faculty research projects, which often leads to co-authoring a paper with your professor for publication.