Bachelor of Fine Arts

at Nipissing University Canada

Thinking about a Major? Why not Major in Thinking? Rather than being concerned with a particular set of questions or a particular period of time, philosophy concerns itself with the nature of inquiry, thought, and argument itself, asking how each of these operates in the various areas of human life, from ethics and politics to the study of nature and reality. This means that philosophy students take up the truly big questions: What is the best life? Why should we be moral? How is knowledge possible? Is the world really as it appears to us? How does the mind work? At the same time, the skills students develop in pursuit of a degree in philosophy – careful reading, charitable interpretation and discussion, and rigorous argumentation – have proven themselves to be useful in innumerable fields within and beyond the university.

The Philosophy Program at Nipissing is small and student-focused: with an average of 35 full-time majors, students get to know and work closely with both their professors and their peers. The department is particularly committed to introducing students to the history of philosophy, from the ancient period to the present. The program is designed to work well either as a stand-alone degree or as a combined degree with other programs, and there are numerous philosophy courses offered each year that do not have prerequisites and that are popular electives for students in other programs.​

At Nipissing you have the option to focus on one of our four streams: Policing, Corrections, Criminology or Criminal Justice Studies. Our flexible program is designed to give you a balanced combination of theory and practice. Through field placements, projects, and research, you will have opportunities to work alongside real criminal justice professionals.

In the Criminal Justice Studies stream, you will take a wide variety of courses that will give you broad knowledge of the Criminal Justice system. You will also take courses in Sociology and Psychology, and you will learn how they relate to the field of Criminal Justice.

The Master of Science in Kinesiology (MSc) is a thesis-based degree program that offers students an opportunity to train in a world-class facility with state-of-the-art equipment and leading faculty researchers.

Areas of study can include topics broadly related to the natural health and physical sciences, such as biomechanics and ergonomics, exercise and environmental physiology, sensory-movement behaviour, physical activity and health promotion, coaching, and sport psychology. Graduate students are drawn to the School of Physical and Health Education to work with specific research faculty members and benefit from their expertise in specific content areas.

The MSc program operates using a mentor model. The benefits of a mentor model are numerous, including clarification of research and other funding support at time of application and focused supervision from the time of registration. The MSc program prepares graduates for further research training (e.g., doctoral and post-doctoral studies) and a broad range of careers in Kinesiology and related fields, such as medicine, health promotion, rehabilitation, sport, fitness, education, government, and industry.

The Master of Arts (MA) in Sociology – Applied Social Research degree will focus on the application of social theories and research methodologies that assist in understanding and addressing the social problems and challenges of northern and rural communities, including Indigenous communities, in Canada and around the world. The program brings together faculty expertise in Sociology, Health and Populations Studies, Gerontology, Anthropology, Science and Environmental Studies, and Criminology and Criminal Justice. Active involvement in the community, government agency partners, a curriculum of research-intensive courses, and practicum placements will provide you with the theoretical foundations and quantitative and qualitative research skills to undertake applied research, evaluation and policy studies in government, not-for-profit and private organizations. There are three required courses that are the foundation of the degree and include: SOCI 5106 Advanced Sociological Theory; SOCI 5216 Research Design; and either SOCI 5217 Quantitative Analysis or SOCI 5417 Qualitative Analysis. You will be well prepared for more advanced studies in Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology at the doctoral level.

Geography is the interdisciplinary study of our world, its physical characteristics like water, landforms, vegetation and climate as well as the relationships between people and the environment. You can choose between one of our three Geography degree options. The Bachelor of Arts in Geography provides a solid foundation in physical and human geography with a focus on the cultural, economic, political, and social influences. The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geography concentrates on the causes and effects of various environmental issues. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Physical Geography focuses on geography as an earth science and integrates mathematics, biology, geology, chemistry, and physics with geography-specific courses.

The Liberal Arts program provides maximum flexibility to study a range of disciplines. It emphasizes breadth rather than specialization so you can develop a program that is based on your specific interests and goals. The majority of courses taken in this degree will be in the Humanities and Social Sciences, although you can take courses in Business and Science as well.

Students in Nipissing’s Liberal Arts program enjoy the flexibility of being able to design their own degree. Liberal Arts emphasizes breadth rather than specialization and allows individuals to develop a program that is suited to their personal interests and goals.

Are you fascinated by why people behave, think, and feel the way they do? Are you interested in learning how people cope with stress, why people feel happy, or how people remember information? These are just of few of the questions that you can explore when you study Psychology at Nipissing University. Whether it’s working on brain tissue or learning about psychotherapy, Nipissing’s Psychology program has you covered. Award winning and funded Professors regularly encourage undergraduate students to join their lab groups. This provides students with invaluable research experience that helps them engage with their courses and prepare for future careers or graduate studies. Nipissing Universities’ relatively small size provides a huge advantage for students in terms of increased opportunities to get involved while not sacrificing on course offerings. The Psychology Department offers a full slate of courses that cover all major areas of the discipline.

Students can choose between the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programs when they study Psychology at Nipissing University. The main difference between the two degree options is in the electives you choose. BA students will take humanities and social science elective courses (e.g., English, Philosophy, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and History), while BSc students will take electives from the sciences (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics). The BSc program offers the possibility of adding a Certificate in Neuroscience when certain courses are combined with an Honours thesis in a Neuroscience area. The BA program offers a Certificate in Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention – Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Master of Science in Mathematics program consists of course work plus a Major Research Paper (MRP) or Thesis. The MRP route is a one-year (3 term) full-time program. The Thesis route is available as a two-year (6 term) full-time program, or a four-year (12 term) flex-time program. Our program trains students for future work in research, industry, business, or government, and provides a strong background in foundational areas of mathematics. Our faculty members are experts in topology, analysis, combinatorics and graph theory, industrial and applied mathematics, with research in scheduling, computational problems, numerical mathematics, and optimization. Many faculty work on inter- and multi-disciplinary research in geography, the physical and health sciences, business, and management, to name only a few. Graduate students therefore also have an opportunity to perform research on the interface of mathematics and other disciplines.

The Finance stream is a great option for students interested in pursuing a career in the dynamic financial sector. Depending on their interests and career goals, students in the finance stream may elect to choose between one of two focus areas: Entrepreneurial Finance and Financial Product Sales. Students pursuing the Entrepreneurial Finance path will learn how to raise funds for start-up businesses, create realistic financial plans, effectively manage a firm’s cash flows, and interact effectively with banks and investors. This path will prepare students for financial roles in small businesses, entrepreneurial firms or commercial banking. Such positions could include financial managers, credit specialists, controller positions, etc. Those following the Financial Product Sales Specialist path will learn about a large variety of financial products and services existing in modern markets, how to create good financial portfolios based on a client’s risk preferences and how to adjust financial strategies taking into account age, career situation and family situation. They will also learn about new areas such as wealth management including real estate, inheritance issues, tax strategies, etc. This path will prepare students to work in areas such as financial products sales, insurance and financial advising, among others. Students enrolled in the finance stream have the option to work towards a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Finance or Certificate in Financial Product Sales.

Do you think about changing the world and making it a better place, but you aren't sure where to start? Do you want to empower people and enrich the lives of others? If you have a passion for social issues and want to advocate for social justice, then the Social Welfare and Social Development program at Nipissing University is the right home for you.

Our interdisciplinary program is unique in Canada in both name and content. It focuses on inequality and the groups that have been underrepresented in the distribution of resources, opportunities, and power. Our students graduate with a thorough understanding of the causes and consequences of inequality in global, national, and local contexts, and an ability to formulate options for improving collective well-being.