Bachelor of Art in Cultural Studies with (Specialization) Culture and Theory

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

Create a unique educational focus based on your passions and interests, with an interdisciplinary knowledge base
Trent’s joint major programs give you full license to create a degree that's uniquely your own, by combining courses in the arts, sciences, or professional programs. Have a passion for social justice? Combine your Politics degree with Gender & Women’s Studies. Interested in all things tech? Join Media Studies and Computing Systems. Mix and match programs that best appeal to your interests, preparing yourself for a future with more possibility.

Combine degrees. Expand your horizons.
At Trent, you have the flexibility to combine nearly any two programs of your choice. To help you narrow it down, here’s a list of some of our most popular combinations:

• Media Studies and Psychology 
• Anthropology and History 
• English and Media Studies 
• Biology and Psychology 
• Anthropology and Psychology 
• Environmental Studies and Biology 
• Anthropology and Sociology 
• Geography and Canadian Studies 
• Computing Systems and Media Studies 
• Economics and Philosophy 
• Economics and Psychology 
• English and Psychology 
• Psychology and Sociology 
• Computing Systems and Economics 
• English and Sociology 

You can also explore the popular joint major combinations within our professional programs like Business Administration and Forensic Science.

Psychology:-
Psychology is the study of human behaviour, the brain, and the mind. This program is perfect for students who wish to develop a better understanding of how and why people act, think, and feel the way they do. You’ll study the principles of psychology and a variety of specialized subjects ranging from personality, child development, and abnormal psychology in your first two years, to advanced subjects such as gender, emotions, and the psychology of evil in the latter half of your degree.

Legal Studies (Option):-
Understanding the legal system in Canada is valuable for everyone, not just lawyers and policy makers. A complement to virtually any B.A. or B.Sc. degree, this option provides students with fundamental knowledge about Canadian law. You'll learn about rights and freedoms, what it takes to draft and pass new laws, and how the law influences and is influenced by society and culture.   

An option is a “mini-minor” – a set of courses in one discipline that can be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate degree program, allowing you to focus on an additional subject of interest.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain the diversity of knowledge today’s employers are looking by studying and specializing in not one, but two academic disciplines
• Hands-on learning experiences abound in all Trent programs – gain the competitive edge on your resume

Gender and Women's Studies explores gender relations across cultures, throughout history, and in contemporary societies. In this program, you will explore a broad range of feminist perspectives on labour, health, history, popular culture, law, the environment, social policy, literature, and globalization. You will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of feminist thought and practice, including dynamic intersections with critical race, disability, decolonial and critical sexuality studies.

Resume Boosters:-

• Put your knowledge to the test outside the university through a community-based gender research project
• Enjoy awards and bursaries exclusive to Gender and Women's Studies students
• Engage with guest lecturers, authors, and leaders in the field

Our unique collegial learning environment means you’ll make your mark in this program, getting to know your professors one-on-one – great for personal references that make the difference on grad school applications or making an impression in interviews.

Whether you swoon over Shakespeare’s sonnets or are bewitched by Harry Potter novels, English Literature makes a lasting impact on how we write and share stories of the human experience. Trent’s uniquely flexible English Literature program is designed to prepare you for any career that demands creativity, critical inquiry, and strong communication skills. Explore literature, culture and the history of ideas in courses ranging from medieval romance to contemporary graphic fiction.

Literary History (Specialization):-
How has the written word evolved since the days of The Canterbury Tales and King Arthur? For English Literature majors considering grad studies or a career in English lit, this captivating specialization provides a great opportunity to explore a broad spectrum of historical literary knowledge — essential expertise for any future scholar, teacher or author.

If you’re an English Literature major considering graduate studies or a career in English literature, this captivating specialization will give you a thorough understanding of English writing and storytelling throughout the ages.  By the end of your degree, you’ll be equipped with a broad spectrum of historical literary knowledge — essential expertise for any future scholar, teacher or author.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain a thorough background in English literary history, giving you important context for grad studies
• Explore a range of hands-on learning experiences including dramatic performance, music, creative writing, peer-assessed active learning or an independent reading project.
• Participate in seminar and workshop classes that provide opportunities for discussion, critical thinking, and interaction with leading scholars

Many aspects of modern culture - from the literary elements of comedy and tragedy to our laws and ideals of democratic government - have their origins in Ancient Greece and Rome. Trent’s Ancient Greek and Roman Studies program gives students the opportunity to examine human behaviour and culture in the Ancient Mediterranean. Explore compelling topics surrounding warfare, class struggles, economy, religion, gender, cultural heritage, and the genius of the human spirit - issues as relevant today as they were in antiquity. 

Greek and Latin (Specialization):-
Take your studies of archaeology, history, and literature even further by heading back in time to study writings by the original thinkers. Through language training in Greek and Latin, students pursuing a degree in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies will be able to read foundational texts in their original formats and gain insight into the way these languages cascade into every field of study.

Interested? Consult the program coordinator of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies as early as possible and make sure you begin studying at least one of the languages in your first year. The availability of the Specialization in Greek & Latin, and of Greek and Latin courses beyond the 2000 level, is subject to program staffing conditions.

Resume Boosters:-

• Participate in one-of-a-kind extracurricular activities and projects, like student productions of ancient Greek plays and archaeological excavation in the Mediterranean.

Pair your computer science-based knowledge with a focus area in a field of your choosing – imagine yourself as a data scientist in the healthcare sector, or maybe you’re more interested in the world of social media – the opportunities are virtually endles.

Working with and understanding big datasets is an essential skill required in nearly all business sectors today. There is a huge demand for graduates with both the computer science and sector-specific skills to analyse, understand and evaluate large sets of untapped data. Through Trent’s interdisciplinary approach to education you’ll hone your skills in a focus area of your choice, while gaining a deeper understanding of data analysis, statistics and information management techniques, including programming, visualization, and predictive modelling.

The Trent Advantage:
A degree as unique as you are! Pair your computer science-based knowledge with a focus area in a field of your choosing – imagine yourself as a data scientist in the healthcare sector, or maybe you’re more interested in the world of social media – the opportunities are virtually endless!

Resume Boosters:

• Benefit from individual guidance and small class sizes as you work alongside Trent’s leading-edge faculty
• Put theory into practice by applying your new skills to real-world data as you propose, develop, implement and evaluate a data science solution for your capstone project
• Choose an area of focus from the more than 100 programs offered at Trent University
• Develop critical skills that are in high demand across almost all business sectors
• Gain an understanding of how to extract data from structured and unstructured datasets, and how to apply the knowledge and insights gained from data across a broad range of applications

Through this one-of-a-kind degree, you will combine skills in mathematics and business to learn the science behind investing, preparing you for a successful career in business finance, banking, investment, or another path.

Canada’s financial industry has a growing demand for graduates who possess quantitative analytical skills beyond crunching numbers – skills that help guide businesses and individuals with their most important investment decisions. Combining mathematics, statistics, economics, business, and computing, this one-of-a-kind degree program will teach you to analyze investment industry trends and implement real-world data models, setting you up for an exciting career in an increasingly complex financial world.

Resume Boosters:

• Gain industry insights, explore your strengths and career interests, and graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the new four-year B.Sc. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects
• Construct your own financial models based on real-world financial data
• Work alongside leaders from Trent’s prestigious School of Business and the Departments of Mathematics and Economics
• Extend your knowledge beyond the classroom with a range of career-boosting experience
• Make fast-paced decisions participating in ‘virtual trading floor’ competitions
• Experience using industry-standard software

You want to become an innovative leader or entrepreneur. No other program will help you reach your career goals better than Trent’s exemplary Bachelor of Business Administration, and its leading co-op stream which has students putting their in-demand skills into practice across three work terms. By examining a range of contemporary business models—in class and in action in the workplace, if you choose--from corporate and online to small business and self-employment, you’ll learn the fundamentals of leadership and management, gaining a deep understanding of the organization of business and its role in today’s ever-evolving and highly-digital world.

Resume Boosters:

• Explore your strengths and career interests, and graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the new four-year B.B.A. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• In fourth year, gain valuable hands-on professional experience by completing 100 hours of placement in an academic term or a 6, 8, or 12 month internship, with diverse companies and organizations.
• Gain leadership experience as part of the Trent Business Student Association – a student-run organization that creates engaging and career-ready experiences for Business students.
• Sharpen your entrepreneurial skillset as you take part in a hands-on exercise on new venture planning and design or compete in local and national business competitions, including Jeux du Commerce, Pitch It, and Durham Ideas
• Network with industry experts and organizations by tapping into the local business community through Chambers of Commerce in Peterborough and Durham, entrepreneurship communities, and the recently announced Trent Enterprise Centre at Cleantech Commons
• Through Trent’s CEO-in-Residence program, build a connection with a globally-recognized business executive (like our inaugural CEO-in-Residence, Dr. Katie Taylor – the first woman to chair a Canadian financial institution) through mentorship meet-ups and events

Trent’s joint major programs give you full license to create a degree that's uniquely your own, by combining courses in the arts, sciences, or professional programs. Have a passion for social justice? Combine your Politics degree with Gender & Women’s Studies. Interested in all things tech? Join Media Studies and Computing Systems. Mix and match programs that best appeal to your interests, preparing yourself for a future with more possibility.

Computing Systems
The ability to create, manipulate, and speak the language of computing systems has become some of the most valued skills applicable to almost every industry. Whether it’s a job that does not exist yet or current positions if you study Computing Systems at Trent, you’ll get a chance to develop your skills in designing, implementing, and integrating software applications.

Business
You want to become an innovative business leader or entrepreneur. No other program will help you get there better than Trent’s exclusive Bachelor of Business Administration. By examining corporate, self-employment, online, small business, and other business models, you’ll learn the fundamentals of leadership and management, gaining a deep understanding of the organization of business and its role in today’s highly-digital world.

With so many of the world’s species currently at risk, there is an essential need for experts who are capable of creating innovative solutions to counteract the growing loss of wildlife and their habitat. In Conservation Biology you’ll study the science behind the decline of biological diversity to better understand the solutions to this worldwide crisis.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain hands-on experience working with agencies across the environmental sector
• Learn from professors who are experts in their field and practicing conservation biologists
• Benefit from access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities in Trent’s DNA, Life & Health Sciences Building

An important field of study particularly in today’s social media-focused world, Sociology helps us achieve a greater understanding of the complex yet simplistic nature of humankind, and the societies in which we choose to organize ourselves. Rooted in the social sciences and inspired by a passion for social justice, Trent’s Sociology program engages students in understanding and acting on the consequences of social change. Through this degree, you’ll explore and question a diverse range of social topics, completing your studies with a heightened understanding of human relationships and society. A sociology degree is an excellent foundation for law school, teachers college, social work or similar programs.

Health Studies Specializations
What are our commonly-held beliefs about health and wellness, and how have mainstream society’s views impacted our behaviour and attitudes towards illness? The Health Studies specialization is perfect for Sociology majors interested in exploring issues related to medical sociology, healthcare systems, or critical research in health and illness.

Resume Boosters:

• Conduct research with one of our award winning faculty members in the areas of LGBTQ+ issues, the pharmaceutical industry, or human rights in prisons as part of our research practica opportunities
• Differentiate your degree with a specialized focus on the role of health and wellness in how society operates
• Meet and learn from leading thinkers in the field through guest lectures and speaker series held throughout the year