Bachelor of Arts and Science (Co-op)

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

As a B.E.S.S. student at one of Canada’s top postsecondary environmental institutions, develop a strong understanding of solutions to natural resource and environmental problems and learn how to combine scientific and social knowledge effectively in this interdisciplinary joint arts-science degree. You will gain an understanding of the scientific aspects of contemporary environmental issues that are linked to policy and planning decisions leading to an environmentally sustainable future. Your studies will address environmental challenges, science, policy and politics from multiple perspectives.

Accelerated Master's Degree:-
Earn your M.Sc. in Environmental & Life Sciences (ELS) in only 12-16 months after graduating from your B.Sc.

Resume Boosters:-

• Conduct hands-on research in state-of-the-art labs and Trent’s extensive “living laboratory” of nature reserves right here on campus
• Minimum entrance and performance requirements challenge you to maintain a high standard of academic performance throughout your degree
• Pursue a capstone or community-based research project or write and defend an undergraduate Honours thesis

With 220 million French speakers worldwide (projected to be more than 700 million by 2050), French language and comprehension has become a highly-sought after and important skill. In this program, you’ll immerse yourself in French, French Canadian, and Francophone literatures and cultures.

Quebec and Franco-Canadian Studies (Specialization):-
Learn more than just the grammatical and linguistic elements of the French language, examining the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the language culturally, socially, and politically around the globe.

Go beyond the boundaries of your French major, exploring French as a linguistic force that exceeds provincial borders and has influence across the globe as a language of power. Immerse yourself in the culture, literature, and history of Que?bec and French Canada to understand the social and political dimensions of Canada’s second official language.

Resume Boosters:-

• Take your studies even further by spending a year abroad in Quebec.
• Embrace French-based events, including presentations by guest speakers, public readings, and student-run mini-conferences.

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.

Experts estimate that by the year 2030, more than 800 million workers worldwide could be out of work due to technological automation. In the meantime, the world’s 1% continue to get richer at an alarming rate. The emerging field of International Political Economy (IPE) aims to tackle these challenging global issues, by examining the interconnected nature of national politics and economics at the international level. 

What does it mean to be an Indigenous person today? How do history and politics, the land and the law, culture and contemporary issues shape relationships amongst and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities? Students in Trent’s Indigenous Studies programs develop a complex understanding and appreciation of Indigenous experiences in Canada and around the world.

For more than 50 years, Trent has been committed to advancing a multidimensional understanding through Indigenous Studies. Here - in the first program of its kind in Canada - you’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of a program with a distinct sense of community as you immerse yourself in diverse Indigenous Nations, including all aspects of the Indigenous experience and their many contributions to Canadian society.

Resume Boosters:

• Explore your strengths and career interests, and graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the new four-year B.A. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• Build career connections by getting involved with annual events that take place on campus like the Elders Gathering, Pine Tree Talks, CINSA, and the Indigenous Women’s Symposium
• Develop your own Indigenous language skills as you study Nishnaabemowin or Mohawk
• Engage in hands-on research projects with agencies and organizations that make a difference in local communities
• Become an expert in the art of Indigenous performance as you take place in productions hosted in Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space, the only publicly-funded space of its kind in Canada.
• Study abroad and learn about Indigenous peoples in the USA, China, Thailand, New Zealand or Mexico.

With 220 million French speakers worldwide (projected to be more than 700 million by 2050), French language and knowledge of Francophone cultures has become a highly sought after and valuable skill. French & Francophone Studies is about more than just learning a language. It’s also about understanding the world and culture that the language reflects. In this program, you’ll examine the diversity of Canadian and International Francophonies. Through explorations of history, literature, cinema and contemporary topics, you will discover where the words, phrases and slang you speak come from and reaffirm yourself as a French-speaking citizen.

Resume Boosters:

• Enhance your language comprehension through French language events, public readings, and student-run mini-conferences
• Build global connections in Trent’s longest-established study abroad program as you refine your French skills in a European context in Nantes, France.
• Study languages more in-depth through a Concentration in Linguistic
• Access other language courses through the Trent Centre for Language and Linguistics – study Chinese, German, and Spanish, all with no background required

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.

Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies (Specialization):-

Small classes sizes allow you to make connections with professors and open doors to hands-on, undergraduate research opportunities studying homelessness, the criminalization of women, restorative justice, or the impact on Indigenous peoples.

For students pursuing an Honours Sociology degree, this standout specialization explores the study of crime and punishment, the influence of social inequality as a cause of crime, and how criminals and victims are treated by the criminal justice system. You’ll apply your sociological knowledge and potentially perform independent research on homelessness, the criminalization of women, restorative justice or the impact on Indigenous peoples.

This specialization is available to students pursuing a single or joint-major Honours degree in Sociology.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain a solid foundation in legal research methodology and theoretical application that will prepare you for success in a variety of workplace settings
• Streamline and personalize your degree with a focus on crime and society
• Familiarize yourself with case law research by learning from and working with practising legal professionals
• Take a prison-based course that explore restorative justice in all contexts

International Development Studies at Trent aims to equip students with the tools to understand and analyze societal transformation, and to act in ways that contribute to progressive social and political change. Here, you will learn from a range of experts, including anthropologists, political scientists, and economists, as you take courses that fuse theory and practical learning. You’ll explore wide-ranging themes such as global poverty, food systems, hunger, conflict, ecological degradation, industrialization, and cultural identity, as you better understand the sources and consequences of human development around the world. Your studies will pay particular attention to the world’s most vulnerable populations and their complex relations with states, corporations and international organizations.

African Studies
Gain international experience and deepen your understanding of international development by living, studying, and working abroad in a third-world country through Trent’s respected Trent-in-Ghana program.

Africa is a continent of great historical and contemporary global importance. Gain international experience and deepen your understanding of international development by living, studying, and working abroad in a third-world country through Trent’s respected Trent-in-Ghana program.

Graduating students who have fulfilled the requirements for an Honours degree in International Development Studies may apply for a Specialization in African Studies, if they have successfully completed the following credits from area studies and the Ghana year abroad program:

Resume Boosters:

• Gain an immediate sense of how development theory applies in practice through classes and field trips
• Build your intercultural communication skills and in-depth knowledge of another society through cultural immersion
• Complete a field placement and gain work experience in an area that is directly related to your interests and career objectives.

More than simply the study of numbers, mathematics is a powerful tool that is crucial for helping us make sense of the world around us. In this program, you’ll learn about the fundamental structure of the universe and the limits of human reason. The expertise and skills developed in this program are in high demand in the job market, as mathematical science careers are estimated to be one of the fastest growing occupation sectors in the coming decade.

Mathematical Finance (Specialization)
Mathematical finance is a dynamic new branch of mathematics. Now, more than ever, there is strong demand from top financial institutions for mathematics graduates with specialized knowledge. To help meet this need, enter this new specialization for mathematics majors at Trent. Dive in and develop your mathematical modelling, data analysis, and computational skills using statistics, linear programming, and stochastic processes. You’ll learn how best to apply these techniques to finance and investment strategy and market models.