Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

at Mount Saint Vincent University Canada

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.

Our Masters programs in Studies in Lifelong Learning prepare students with knowledge and skills to take leadership roles as lifelong educators. Our graduate students benefit from our small classes, knowledgeable instructors, hands-on experiences, and an exciting curriculum. Whether they are interested in supporting learning in formal education institutions, families, communities, or workplaces, students find our program rich, engaging, and pertinent. Our students come from many different educational and workplace backgrounds. The common denominator is that they are interested in how learning occurs across the lifespan. Often they are currently involved or would like to become involved in teaching other adults.

Acquiring new skills
A graduate degree in lifelong learning will provide you with a wealth of academic knowledge and research that will be effective in the workplace, and best-practice methods for sharing information with others, and more – including:

• Understand the process of learning across the lifespan
• Design educational programs (workshops, seminars, curriculum)
• Strategies for teaching effectively
• Improved communication skills
• Increase your capacity for creativity

Connect Through Practicum
Students in the program gain practical experience through a practicum. The practicum is a full unit course that provides students with an opportunity to take some of the concepts, theories and ideas that they have learned about in the program and put them into practice. Over the course of two semesters, students will work with their practicum instructor and a mentor at their practicum site to develop and carry out a “hands-on” project that fits with their particular interests.

The practicum requires approximately a hundred and fifty hours of work, is voluntary (so no payment can be received for this work), and is usually done with a community organization although sometimes it is done in the student’s place of work, provided the practicum tasks are clearly above and beyond work that they would be paid for.

Our thesis-based, interdisciplinary Master of Arts degree is offered cooperatively by Mount Saint Vincent University and Saint Mary’s University. At Mount Saint Vincent University, the program is offered through out Department of Women's Studies. As a student in this program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with faculty and graduate students at both. Your studies in feminist and gender theory may be engaged in media and literature; community and society; law, politics and social justice; health and the body; sexuality and gender; race, ethnicity and class; history; education; and many more aspects of our everyday lives. Learn more about the program »

Meaningful Research
To earn your Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies (MA WGS), you will complete six graduate courses and a thesis.  Your thesis will allow you to research and explore a topic that relates to a focused area within the field of women and gender studies. You will work closely with your supervisor—a faculty member at either university—to develop your thesis topic, and to research and write your thesis.

The Department of Women’s Studies at the Mount is home to the Nancy’s Chair in Women’s Studies. Endowed by well-known Toronto-based feminist and philanthropist Nancy Ruth, the Chair raises awareness of women's issues by bringing to campus distinguished scholars in women's studies and activists who have contributed to the advancement of women. As a graduate student in Women & Gender Studies, you may have the opportunity to participate in Nancy’s Chair research initiatives. Each year, a limited number of paid research assistantships are available to graduate students.

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.

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.

In this program, you will develop a wide range of skills, knowledge and dispositions of a professional educator. Your professors will emphasize reflective practice, diverse teaching and learning methods, and professionalism. The degree will prepare you to recognize and value teaching and learning as a vital activity across a variety of workplace settings - both inside the classroom and out.

Program Options:-
You can choose from two programs: the Elementary or the Secondary program. These program options will help you to become a scholar, a teacher or a highly-qualified professional with future leadership potential. Both programs require 10 units of study organized over two years. Read the official Academic Calendar Program Description » 

Elementary - The program examines the young learner and encourages reflective practice. It offers courses in philosophy, social and cultural contexts, as well as core curriculum in subjects such as mathematics, language arts and science. Learn more about our admission requirements>>

Secondary - The program has a strong focus on examining contemporary culture and encouraging critical thinking. As a student, you'll have two focused disciplines within a variety of subject areas such as social studies, English, mathematics, science or French.  Learn more about our admission requirements >>

The Modern Languages Department offers undergraduate programs in French, practical programs in Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin) courses. Our Modern Languages (MODL) programs allow students to fulfill requirements or recommended elective courses, and are of interest to those who wish to pursue personal or professional interests. They help those who want to study a language and a culture in-depth to meet their needs.

Program Highlights
Our French program is the most comprehensive; we offer practically-oriented language courses at all levels, as well as courses in literature, culture, applied linguistics, and civilization of the Francophone world (with special emphasis on Canada – mainly Acadia and Québec – and France).

French may be taken as a major with honours, as a major or combined major in a degree program of 20.0 units, as a minor, as a concentration or as an elective at any level consistent with advanced standing and/or permission of the Modern Languages department.

This certificate provides a solid foundation in the field of accounting. It will be of interest to those working in the accounting field and to those with non-business university degrees working in administrative positions.

The Family Studies and Gerontology program offers studies in two areas: (1) Gerontology, which focuses study on issues related to aging, and (2) Family Studies, which encompasses a study of individuals and families across the life course. Students are prepared for a variety of careers in the social welfare, aging policy and family support sectors that focus on prevention, support and community development. For example, graduates of this program are employed in family resource centres, transition houses, senior centres, long-term care facilities, and government departments that develop programs and policies related to issues associated with aging individuals and families across the life course.

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour, examining both the biological and social reasons why humans act the way they do.

Program Highlights
Psychology is also one of the more popular subjects to study as an undergraduate student, which means that most universities offer psychology courses. Psychology at the Mount is different than it can be at other schools, for three big reasons: