Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies

at Mount Saint Vincent University Canada

Our graduate programs in Family Studies and Gerontology program will help you develop a deep understanding of the key issues that affect this field: family dynamics and development, or individual and population aging. You can focus your studies on Family Studies or on Gerontology. Family Studies considers individuals and families across the life-course, as well as the programs and policies that affect families. Gerontology focuses on issues related to aging and the challenges that older persons encounters.

Professional and research skills
This program will prepare you to either pursue further academic studies, or to build your career by putting your research and critical thinking skills to work as you merge theory and practice in the field. As a graduate student, you may be able to participate in research projects through Nova Scotia Centre on Aging (NSCA), and you’ll have access to the state-of-the-art facilities in the Maritime Data Centre for Aging Research and Policy Analysis.

The Mount is proud to offer the only university-level Child & Youth Study program in Atlantic Canada. Students in our program engage in practical training and theoretical explorations in child and youth work, early childhood education, as well as early intervention and inclusive development. As strong supporters of experiential learning we are pleased to offer our undergraduates four supervised practicum placements which enable our students to apply the knowledge that they have learned in the classroom to hands-on, real-world experience. We also offer a Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies.

Our Department is committed to laying the groundwork for future leaders in the ECE and Child and Youth care fields. Your BA(CYS) degree will also prepare your for further education and professional preparation in Child and Youth Study, Education, Speech Language Pathology, Child Life and Social Work.

A university degree that is nationally and internationally recognized for employment in a variety of programs and services such as early childhood, child and youth work, mental health, recreation, family support, early intervention and inclusive development.

The Child and Youth Study program prepares students for careers in a wide variety of programs and services for children, youth and families. Students will normally focus on early childhood/child care administration or disability/special needs or youth care, but may take courses related to more than one area.

Chemistry is the study of matter; its composition, the changes it undergoes, and the accompanying changes in energy. Chemistry is often called the “central science”, because a basic understanding of chemistry is essential for the study of subjects like biology, physics and ecology.

The Department of Chemistry at the Mount challenges students to be both analytical and creative. Small class sizes and, in many cases, the opportunity to participate in research prepares undergraduate students for their future endeavours; graduate school, medicine, dentistry or pharmacy, to name a few.

Any student wishing to pursue a major or honours program in chemistry should consult the department Chair, who will appoint an advisor to help the student plan an academic program. The department offers a Bachelor of Science with a major in chemistry and, in cooperation with Dalhousie University, a joint honours degree in chemistry.

Valid WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) certification is required of all students who wish to take CHEM laboratory courses. WHMIS training sessions will be provided. Please contact your instructor for details.

Philosophy, said Oxford philosopher Gilbert Ryle, is “thinking hard.” And what do philosophers think hard about? The most fundamental questions you can ask about what exists, how we should live, and what we can know.

Using imagination and careful reasoning, students who sign up for a philosophy course at the Mount get a chance to think hard about questions like these:

• Does God exist?
• Are there basic principles that tell us what to do about poverty or war?
• Is any action really right or wrong?
• Do we have free will?
• Is science the only path to truth?

Philosophy students learn to think for themselves about deeply rooted cultural assumptions, and so experience a kind of intellectual liberation that can be empowering for both women and men. As a side-effect, philosophy courses will give you critical thinking skills you can use to advantage in any other course as well as in your career.

Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management, you’ll receive in-depth education in the many facets of this booming industry. From planning and marketing to operations, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to forge a career in a multi-billion dollar global industry.

The diploma program is the ideal choice to acquire specialized knowledge in the tourism and hospitality fields.

• If you have work experience in tourism and hospitality and you want to further your education.
• You already have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline.
• You have completed the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality program and want to further your tourism education.
• You will receive a thorough understanding of the industry, which will prepare you well for a successful career.

Mathematics is one of the most original products of the human mind. It has many important applications in science, engineering, and statistics, but mathematics is also an important field of study for its own sake. Throughout history each culture has developed its own mathematics to solve its problems. Today there is an internationally accepted mathematics that is studied and used across the world. Its practitioners work in fields as diverse as astronomy, meteorology, agriculture and banking. With our increasing need for information and technology, mathematics will play an even more important role in most occupations and fields of study. It will also continue to be a critical topic in the history of ideas, documenting fundamental modes of human thought.

Some students may take mathematics courses which apply only to their individual areas of study. Others may wish to minor or major in the subject and pursue careers in teaching, statistics, computer science, actuarial science, or many other areas. Whether studied for its many applications or for the beauty of its logical structure and expressive power, mathematics will reward the effort of students with a deeper understanding of the world and how it works.

As a student in one of our graduate programs, you’ll develop a deep and meaningful understanding of the disciplines of communication studies and public relations–the philosophies, the principles, and how these apply to scholarly and professional practice.

Master of Arts (Communication) -This is a thesis-based program. It will prepare you to become a highly-educated communications professional or pursue further research as an exceptional scholar and academic.

The Master of Applied Human Nutrition program provides students with the opportunity for advanced level study in nutrition, with an emphasis on issues related to community nutrition, food and human nutrition. The programs explore the theoretical foundations of nutrition through critical reflection on current research and practice within the discipline and drawing from other related disciplines. The Master of Applied Human Nutrition is comprised of five units of coursework.

Canadian Studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary program that spans Canadian culture and society past, present and future. You’ll gain a greater understanding of our country, our place in the international community. You’ll study Canadian values, politics, history, art, economics and literature. You’ll explore and debate a variety of topics such as the art of the Group of Seven, First Nations Governance and  the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

You’ll be inspired to participate in shaping the future of Canada. You’ll have a wide range of career options to choose from, including: teaching, journalism, foreign affairs, library science, social activism, law, public administration, politics, cultural arts coordination, public relations and business.

The Master of Arts program in School Psychology is a speciality program which prepares students to enter the profession of school psychology. The program is designed to address the academic, research and professional practice requirements for registration/licensing as a psychologist in provinces/territories where master’s level preparation is permitted. As well, the program is designed to enable participants to move to doctoral level programs.

The two-year full-time program balances research, theory and practice. It follows a holistic approach to children, youth, and young adults as key collaborators, along with their parents/guardians and other professionals, in addressing their individual strengths and needs within the context of home, school and community.