Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology

at Mount Allison University Canada

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

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

Environmental Studies focuses on the human dimensions of environmental change and problem-solving through environmental management, planning, and policy.

At Mount Allison, the aim of the Environmental Studies program is to equip you with the kind of integrative and analytical thinking that will help you effectively contribute to environmental leadership and decision-making.
Courses cover such topics as:

• Environmental policy
• Natural resources management
• Environmental ethics

In upper years, Environmental Studies students choose complimentary courses from the following four optional streams:

• Environmental social justice
• Environmental policy and economics
• Environmental history and philosophy
• Ecology and environment

You will also have the opportunity to carry out your own research as summer projects or as part of directed studies courses.

Mount Allison’s American studies program helps students gain new perspective on Canada’s closest neighbour and ally.

The program examines not only the history, economy, and government of the United States, but delves into its literature, music, and art — painting a complete picture of the country’s governance, society, and culture, as well as its place in history and its impact on the world.

This interdisciplinary program draws from courses in a number of different subject areas, giving students the opportunity to explore many fields of study with a unifying theme, and introducing them to accomplished professors in economics, English, Fine Arts, geography, history, international relations, Music, political science, religious studies, and sociology.

The study of Fine Arts helps you develop your artistic and creative abilities, and your ability to think critically, write, and speak about works of art.

At Mount Allison, Fine Arts offers a unique approach for students looking to obtain professional training — combining studio work and instruction with the freedom of an immersive liberal arts and sciences curriculum.
The Fine Arts program gives you the opportunity to develop your creative and critical ability through studio courses in:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Photography (analog and digital)
• Printmaking (lithography, silkscreen, intaglio, relief, and letterpress)
• Sculpture and installation
• open media

The first year studio courses give you a broad knowledge and skill base. Second and third years courses build on this foundation and focus on selected studio areas. In your final year, you create a body of work through independent study. In addition to studio classes, you'll undertake courses and seminars that foster an understanding of art history and visual culture.

A Bachelor of Arts student with a major in Fine Arts, you'll also take a combination of studio work and art history. As a BA student, you'll have more flexibility to combine your Fine Arts courses with courses in other disciplines.

Chemistry is the branch of physical science involving the study of the composition of substances, the ways in which their properties are related to their composition, and the interaction of substances to produce new materials.
The general purpose of studies in chemistry is to increase our understanding of the structure and behaviour of the matter of our environment. A knowledge of chemistry is important to the solution of problems in important areas of the environment, medicine, and the utilization of resources.

The chemistry program at Mount Allison – fully accredited by the Canadian Society of Chemistry (CSC) – is designed to provide students with an education in the main branches of the subject, namely:

• Analytical
• Organic
• Inorganic
• Physical
• Computational

In upper years, students are offered some choice and flexibility with a curriculum that covers advanced courses, including:

• Advanced organic chemistry
• Physical organic chemistry
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology
• Physical chemistry: statistical thermodynamics, computational chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry: organometallics, physical aspects, bioinorganic, structure and bonding in main group chemistry
• Advanced quantum mechanics
• Environmental chemistry

The interdisciplinary nature of chemistry means you may also take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, mathematics, and psychology.

The chemistry and biochemistry department 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.

Applied Physics is a branch of physics that focuses on the technological or practical use of the discipline.

At Mount Allison, the Physics department promotes a personal experience for students, with experiential learning as a key feature — students learn through collaborative, hands-on activities.
Students in Applied Physics may take courses in: 

• digital signal processing and electronics
• medical physics
• thermodynamics
• energy production and the environment
• the physics of music and sound

Modern languages, literatures, and cultures is an interdisciplinary degree that provides you with expertise in two languages and knowledge of a third — as well as to the literature and culture of the relevant communities.

Other degree options in the field of modern languages and literatures at Mount Allison include:

• French Studies (BA honours, major, or minor)
• German Studies (any degree minor)
• Hispanic Studies (BA major or minor)
• Japanese Studies (any degree minor)

A degree in modern languages, literatures, and cultures at Mount Allison exposes you to the practical study of language within small class sizes to provide an opportunity to acquire many skills that will serve you well in your future endeavours:

• Superior communicative competence
• Cultural awareness
• Aesthetic literacy

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is composed of five areas: French, German, Hispanic studies, Japanese, and linguistics.

Following introductory courses (or intermediate in the case of French)* in your chosen languages in your first year, you will take more advanced language classes and have options to study French, German, and Spanish literature, film, and culture. You will also learn the fundamentals of linguistics.

Fourth year offers the chance to pursue independent studies in French, German, and Spanish.

You are encouraged to take advantage of extracurricular opportunities to enhance your studies, and to participate in international study abroad and exchange programs to gain further exposure to both the language and culture you are studying.

Religious studies examines the various religious traditions of the world in their historical and contemporary contexts.

It explores the many ways in which religion shapes culture and history, forms values, and authorizes human action.

The study of religion deals with the deepest and most basic questions of human existence: the meaning and purpose of life, relations with a divine presence and power, interpersonal relations and ultimate human destiny.

Mount Allison’s religious studies program does not advocate or promote any particular religion. Instead, it adopts a scholarly and analytical approach to the study of religious traditions – as such, it is open to students from all backgrounds, secular and religious.

Courses in religious studies at Mount Allison are divided into three streams:

• Eastern traditions – Hinduism, Buddhism, East Asian religions
• Western traditions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam
• Religion and culture

In religious studies you will examine important texts, practices, cultural phenomena, and ideas, looking at them from the perspective of history, literature, philosophy, and culture.

Introductory courses lay the foundation for focused study of particular traditions and for upper-year courses that explore how religion relates to themes in the wider culture, such as in the arts, gender issues, and ethics.

Given the program’s interdisciplinary nature, you may also explore the connections between religion and subjects like:

• Science
• Film and media studies
• Contemporary politics
• Literature, music, and art
• Gender issues
• Ethics
• The environment

Aviation is an interdisciplinary degree program combining professional flight training with studies in subjects relevant to the field of aviation in either science or business. The Aviation program at Mount Allison is one of only a few in Canada that allows you to earn an undergraduate degree that incorporates flight and ground school training. It is offered through a partnership with MFC Training, one of the leading flight training establishments in North America.

In first year you'll take introductory courses in your chosen degree, either Science or Commerce.

Then to begin your flight training you must:

• have second-year standing (have earned a minimum of 24 credits)
• obtain a Transport Canada Category 1 medical certificate
• pass a formal English language proficiency test mandated by Transport Canada, and administered by MFC Training

You'll continue to take three courses per term on campus and ground school training, while one-on-one instructor training and flying takes place at the MFC Training campus.

As an Aviation student, you'll:

• complete more than 200 hours of flying
• receive hundreds of hours of ground training
• learn about navigation, airplane instruments, aviation regulations, and weather