Bachelor of Arts in East Asia Languages and Culture

at The University of Winnipeg Canada

The study of religion aims to understand religious thought and practices as aspects of the culture and society that produced them. It offers an opportunity to explore beliefs and ideas, philosophies and mythologies, rituals and symbols, etc., that shape the cultures and civilizations of the world both in historical perspective and as contemporary phenomena. In the process of this exploration, the Religion & Culture program sensitizes students to the variety of traditions, commitments, and cultures which exist in our world, both globally and locally. It also provides an environment for students to thoughtfully reflect upon their own religious traditions and experiences as well as to think about issues and problems of modern life from a variety of perspectives.

The introductory courses are open to all students. They provide an opportunity to survey the diversity of religion in either the contemporary Canadian or the global context, or to explore the biblical roots of Judeo-Christian tradition. General interest courses are also offered at the 2000 level, and are open to all students without prerequisite. These courses do not presuppose previous knowledge or background and enable students to focus either on particular religious traditions (Aboriginal, Buddhist, Biblical, etc.) or on contemporary issues in religion (sexuality, technology, new religions, popular culture, etc.). Departmental faculty members have particular interests and strengths in the areas of religion and modern culture, mythology, Chinese and Japanese religions, Buddhist traditions, aboriginal traditions, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, and gender studies. The Major program, leading to either a 3-Year BA, a 4-Year BA, or a 4-Year Honours BA, is designed to provide an opportunity to explore a variety of religious traditions and topics as well as to concentrate on areas of particular interest. The Department also participates in a Joint Masters Program in Religion with the University of Manitoba.

Graduates who are interested in fields where human interaction and/or multiculturalism are significant factors, such as education, mediation services, social work, international business and international development, employee relations, immigration services and certain areas of law and the justice system, benefit greatly from courses in Religion & Culture.

Environmental Studies and Sciences combines many different perspectives to understand the changes in our environment, while acknowledging human impacts and providing a framework to develop solutions for environmental programs. You can choose your course of study from six different subject areas including Chemistry, Forest Ecology, Forest Policy and Management, Global Environmental Systems, Issues in Sustainability, and Urban Environments

Mathematics is often described as the "queen of the sciences".  It is essential to many fields, including engineering, finance, medicine, economics and the natural sciences.  Math is everywhere!  It is used to secure your data when you enter it online, in fraud detection, to understand medical scans, in weather prediction, for modeling wildfires and for creating efficient networks for security systems or air traffic.  Studying mathematics trains you to think critically and develops strong problem-solving skills.  

One branch of mathematics, called cryptography, helps to keep our information safe.  When you use your credit card online, mathematics is used to encrypt this information so that a third party cannot read it.  Mathematicians are also essential to national security, where their high-level problem-solving skills are used for encryption and decryption for intelligence gathering and computer security. Another branch of mathematics, called graph theory, is used to design and analyze networks, such as security, transportation or social networks.

Statisticians use their expertise in agricultural research, health care research, quality control and actuarial work. In the face of uncertainty, statisticians use data to make predictions about sales, product demand, weather forecasts and product quality.  Statisticians design and analyze the results of clinical trials to study the safety and effectiveness of new medications or to compare cancer treatments.  Almost every government agency employs statisticians.  They work with specialists such as economists, biologists, chemists, and doctors to assist in the design of experiments and the analysis of research data. Statisticians are highly employable with the majority working for private corporations or government departments and agencies.

This program is specifically designed to serve the needs of health and service industries in Manitoba. Courses in Applied Environmental Science cover such topics as waste management, soil-vegetation systems and environmental ethics. You can choose between a four-year and five-year program. In the five-year program, you’ll have the option of completing a co-operative work term consisting of a minimum of 16 weeks of full-time, paid work experience.

panish is a language that has more native speakers than any other except Chinese. Belonging to the Romance language family which also includes French, Italian and Portuguese, Spanish derived from Latin but was heavily influenced by Arabic during the occupation of Spain which lasted from 711 to 1492. As Spanish spread throughout the New World starting in the fifteenth century, it underwent numerous changes through contact with indigenous peoples and developed various regional varieties and dialects. Today, it is spoken in many parts of the world including Spain, Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Chile...), the Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico) and north Africa (Ceuta, Melilla). The majority of Spanish speakers are found outside of Spain and many make their home in the United States or Canada.

As the number of Spanish speakers continues to increase, so do the career opportunities in Spanish as a language for international business, trade and law, tourism, immigration and the foreign service, global, national and community development with both governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as journalism, translation and teaching. In all of these fields, learning Spanish gives you a competitive edge.

Along with the language, you will gain the cultural awareness and understanding that is needed in today’s global community. The courses that we offer, through the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, will help you to develop your communication skills and your critical thinking skills - a must in order to grasp the subtleties of interacting with different cultures. In our courses, you will deepen your understanding of Hispanic culture through the analysis of texts from the Internet and the media as well as through the study of films and literature.

Whether Spanish is your first or second language or one of several that you speak, studying Spanish at the UW will be a rewarding and enriching experience that will give you an edge, whatever career path you choose.

Women's and Gender Studies promotes an intersectional approach to understanding social problems and phenomena. It pays special attention to the ways sex, gender, and sexuality are shaped by colonialism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and transphobia, as well as by constructions of difference based on class, (dis)ability, religion, ethnicity, and culture. Our unique department brings these perspectives to the university, and represents feminism in the academy. In our classes, students of all genders and sexualities learn about feminist movements to end sexism, exploitation, and related social oppressions. The department encourages diversity among its students and in its curriculum, and offers the means to contribute to social change.
Currently, there is a demonstrated need for people with a background in Women's and Gender Studies to take up work in such areas as social services, education, policy development, welfare, health care, counselling and therapy, law, media, advertising, public administration, finance, and management.

nternational Development Studies (IDS) is an interdisciplinary major that challenges students to explore the causes and consequences of processes that promote some individuals, communities, and nations, and exclude others. IDS students are prepared for citizenship in an increasingly interdependent global community and are encouraged to envision paths towards a transformed, just world.

The IDS program focuses on development processes at the global, national and community levels, but gives particular emphasis to development at the community level and to the work of non-governmental organizations and popular movements.

IDS is offered jointly by Menno Simons College and the University of Winnipeg. An IDS major can be taken alone or it can be effectively combined with another program at The University of Winnipeg, such as Anthropology, Conflict Resolution Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Indigenous Studies, Politics, or Sociology.

French Studies offers 3 different undergraduate Major degree programs (a 3-year Bachelor of Arts,  a 4-year Bachelor of Arts and an Honours Bachelor of Arts), as well as an undergraduate Minor degree program. Below are highlights of each program. For information regarding General Degree Requirements or for more details about the French Studies degree programs, please consult the Academic Calendar.

he 4-Year BA allows flexibility of choice for students who want to sample a wide variety of courses; to develop a stronger understanding of language, literature, and culture; and to strengthen their reading and writing skills and their powers of critical thinking. This degree provides knowledge and practical skills that are assets in everyday life and in almost any career. Critical readers and writers are required in professions such as law, public service, business, medicine and politics. More directly, the study of English can lead to careers in teaching or careers that involve writing, such as news reporting, publishing, business advertising, and public relations.

Because this program offers much freedom of choice, it is important for students to think carefully about their interests and goals when choosing courses. For Degree requirements see the Course Calendar.  For assistance in creating a coherent, valuable program, students should also consult a Department advisor