Bachelor of Arts and Science in French

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

Physics is the study of matter and energy at all scales, from the sub-nuclear to the dimensions of the universe. It is the fundamental science — all other sciences and technologies rely on the principles of physics.

Physics involves observing and understanding natural phenomena. It is evident in the world around us in everything from the seasons, the motion of objects, the flight of birds, the night sky and the weather, to lasers, electronics and the technology we rely on today.

Physics is very much a “hands-on” science, so the most effective way for you to learn the subject is to actually do physics. Astronomy teaches you how to study objects at a distance and interpret the information gathered. This helps us begin to understand the universe we live in. The skills you will learn in astronomy are also applicable to remote sensing and its application to environmental problems.

The department offers a comprehensive physics major. The foundation of this program is built in the first two years, as you study mechanics, waves, electricity and magnetism, optics, thermal physics and modern physics.

In your third and fourth years, you will gain a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and delve into more advanced and specialized areas. Specialized topics may include the research interests of department faculty members, as all faculty members are involved in rigorous research programs.

Faculty members also ensure you are provided with a wide view of physics, exposing you to all areas of the subject and describing a wide variety of applications. This enables you to make informed decisions when choosing the areas you may wish to pursue in the future.

What does it mean to be Canadian? What makes our society different from and similar to others around the world? How do we, as Canadians, express our identities? Understanding who we are as Canadians begins with a thorough knowledge of the places, people and ideas that form our daily lives.

The program gives you the flexibility to take courses in disciplines that interest you, while focusing on Canadian issues and Canada’s place in the world. Learn about the history, people, industry and politics of Canada, as well as our unique institutions, policies and identities.

You will be exposed to various social, religious, geographical, political, cultural, economic, educational and legal perspectives. Study complex issues such as bilingualism and biculturalism, and examine their relevance to our modern, multicultural nation.

This multidisciplinary major draws heavily on the humanities and the social sciences and is delivered by the Departments of History, Economics, English, Modern Languages, Native American Studies, and Political Science.

Canadian Studies will provide you with valuable skills and knowledge for your career — whether within the non-profit, public or private sectors. Whatever your career path, you will develop outstanding analytical skills from this multidisciplinary approach to learning.

Forensics. Pharmacology. Food Science. What do these three areas have in common? They are just some of the career paths you can take with a degree in biochemistry.

Biochemistry is the study of all living systems at the molecular level. It looks at the chemical and physical basis of life and how these living systems interact with their environments. It is a demanding field that combines expertise in the biological sciences, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Versatility and intense curiosity are the hallmarks of successful biochemists, as they draw on knowledge from a variety of fields to investigate the molecules that facilitate life.

From the structure, function and dynamics of molecular machines, to the complex regulation of metabolic pathways and biological processes, biochemists study the extraordinary molecules that are produced and utilized by living systems. As a consequence, many of the most spectacular advances in the sciences are driven by discoveries in biochemistry.

Biochemistry will help you develop a strong background in the basic sciences and extensive laboratory skills, while emphasizing the chemical and physical basis of life. As a biochemistry student, you will gain hands-on experience with the latest tools and technology used in chemistry, physics and biological sciences, such as molecular biology, protein crystallography and advanced biophysics. You will also develop skills in molecular techniques like DNA sequencing, gene cloning and enzymology.

Additionally, you will have access to state-of-the-art science and research facilities. These facilities support the research interests of our award-winning faculty, your instructors, as they investigate diverse areas such as cancer research, toxicology, crystallography, bioinformatics and molecular modelling, as well as applied research in medicine, disease research and food development.

We encounter religion in many manifestations frequently on TV and the Internet: breathtaking mosques, colossal Buddhas, the Pope addressing huge crowds, brutal religious wars or unusual rituals.

Studying religion enhances our understanding of what it is to be human. It enables us to learn more about the diverse cultures of the world, their ancient histories and their highest values. While you may not discover the meaning of life by studying religion, you will learn how others have answered that perennial human question, and how those answers have shaped people’s lives and the lives of those around them.

The University of Lethbridge is a secular (non-religious) institution of learning; we do not try to promote belief in any of the religions that we study. Rather, we attempt to study religion in as objective a manner as possible. Of course, each person faces challenges when trying to do so with neutrality, because we may have predispositions for or against particular religions, or toward religion in general.

In religious studies, our explorations are wide-ranging, embracing the human religious response, from the great world religions to marginal and quasi-religious phenomena, such as shamanism and magic. We examine history, social and cultural configurations, symbolism, and literature, as well as theologies and metaphysical philosophies within belief systems. You will study shared themes and marked differences in myths and rituals, and how religion permeates even our secular lives.

Philosophy investigates fundamental questions about the nature of things; about the universe as a whole, about human beings, society, science, ethics and art.

As a philosophy student, you will learn about the basic intellectual foundation for our political, social and legal systems, as well as our understanding of the principles of modern science and technology. You will explore deep theoretical, practical and moral issues that do not easily fit into more specialized disciplines.

Philosophy will challenge you with its reflective and critical approach to important, often puzzling, questions about the nature of right and wrong, time and space, perception, and the human mind.

Philosophy pays careful attention to its own long history, spanning more than 2,500 years. These early investigations are the focus of the department’s courses on ancient, early modern, late modern and 20th-century philosophers and philosophical movements.

There are numerous branches within the study of philosophy, touching virtually every topic; from questions about the existence of God, through to aesthetic principles, and the concepts of space and time:

• Justice and goodness: Investigates questions about right and wrong, or good and evil, such as biomedical ethics or environmental philosophy.
• Truth and reality: Looks at truth and reality through areas such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of science.
• Social philosophical concerns: Delves into fundamental social philosophical issues addressed by political philosophy, ethics and the history of philosophy itself.
• Scientific philosophical concerns: Focuses on the conditions under which enquiry produces genuine truth and accurate representations of objective reality.
• Human creativity and artistic expression: Evaluates concepts like beauty in disciplines such as aesthetics and the philosophy of art.

Aboriginal Health is Canadian Health. The health of Aboriginal peoples in Canada is a complex social justice issue that can only be addressed by people who are creative, skilled, culturally competent, committed and passionate about righting historical wrongs and acting to create a more inclusive, equitable society.

Understand the historical and contemporary causes of current issues such as poverty, water and food security, diabetes, addictions, youth suicide, family violence.

Learn traditional Indigenous teachings and contemporary perspectives by engaging with elders, knowledge keepers, health care professionals and other Indigenous peoples. Learn how Indigenous values, knowledge and practices foster healthy children, youth, adults, elders, families and communities.

Develop transferable and portable skills and practices to assist organizations and communities to respond to critical health issues facing Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. Apply what you have learned and gain valuable workplace experience by completing a practicum with a provincial or Indigenous organization.

Urban & Regional Studies (URS) delves into the physical, social, economic and political factors that shape our cities. It looks at the role of planning to manage dynamic forces of change such as immigration, global warming, aging populations, energy conservation, congestion, urban forests, homelessness and smog, to name just a few.

As a URS student at the University of Lethbridge, you will learn to approach contemporary development challenges from various frames of reference. Issues include the evolving social, ethnic and architectural character of urban neighbourhoods, the decline of agricultural service centres in the west or the governance of urban sprawl.

This multidisciplinary major will provide you with a broad range of conceptual and practical tools to understand cities and regions. URS is housed in the Department of Geography, but as a multidisciplinary major, the program includes courses outside the department’s offerings, such as anthropology, economics, political science, sociology and statistics.

The knowledge and experience you gain in the URS program will provide an exceptional stepping stone, whether you choose to continue your studies to the master’s or doctoral level or to enter the working world. Either way, you will have the educational background to play an important role in providing an understanding of, and solutions for, some of our most pressing urban and regional concerns.

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and how it affects human behaviour on an individual basis. One of the most basic facts in neuroscience is that “You are your brain.” This rapidly expanding discipline aims to solve the mysteries of the brain’s functionality by better understanding its resilient capacity for consciousness, perception, memory and learning.

As a neuroscience student you will be exposed to the razor’s edge of neurological discoveries, learning from the country’s most renowned leaders in the field. You will gain in-depth knowledge about the brain’s functionality, as well as the methods and concepts used to uncover its many secrets.

The primary focus of this multidisciplinary program is to enhance your technical and practical skills with extensive theoretical knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, philosophy and other related areas. With an emphasis on neurological disorders, the program will also give you hands-on experience using the latest instruments, technology and research findings.

The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience. While studying neuroscience at uLethbridge, you have access to state-of-the-art science and research facilities, such as the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience (CCBN). This internationally renowned facility provides the infrastructure to support the research interests of our award-winning faculty - your instructors!

This facility is unlike any research facility in the country and houases the laboratories of our principal investigators. The CCBN primarily conducts research in behavioural neuroscience, studying both normal brain processes and the recovery processes in neurological disorders and brain injury.

Political science is the systematic study of government, politics, and political behaviour, both empirically and normatively. Empirically, it looks at how political conflict is organized and resolved, how rulers are chosen, how governmental decisions are taken, and what policies and laws are determined and implemented, in settings ranging from Canada as a whole to our provincial and local governments to other countries to the relations amongst countries. Normatively, it considers how political actors understand their obligations towards one another, and the degree to which decisions are made out of a sense of right or out of expediency.

As a political science major, you will study the principles, organizations, and administration of government. The major includes both management and political science courses. The political science major offers flexibility to choose courses that fit your personal and career interests. In addition to the required courses, political science majors can choose six political science and three management electives.

Additional Management Opportunities
Once you have chosen your major, consider the option of working toward a secondary area of focus. A four-course minor will enhance your resume and complement your major. A minor may be required or optional depending on your major and will be recognized on your transcript. Some minors are not available in all programs.

• First Nations' Governance
• Information Systems (suspended until further notice)
• International Management
• Language (available to International Management majors only)
• New Media
• Population Health
• Social Responsibility
• Supply Chain Management

Psychology delves into what makes people tick. Psychologists study the relationship between mind and behaviour by investigating the nature of thought processes and behaviours in humans and other animals.

Psychologists also study the evolutionary, social and cultural factors affecting the development of our thoughts and behaviours, focusing on topics that have a direct bearing on our day-to-day experience.

A major in Psychology will help you develop skills in analyzing and interpreting complex material, particularly as it relates to behaviour. You will learn theories of how people interpret the world and act in it, as well as theories of human behaviour.

As a psychology student, you will learn from those at the forefront of psychological research. Our faculty members are regularly published in the top journals and make an ongoing contribution to an ever-advancing field.

You will inevitably become a savvy and critical consumer of evidence-based information related to people’s behaviour such as self-help, psychological and medical advice.