Bachelor of Arts General Major in Social Sciences

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

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.

Political Science is the systematic study of government, politics and political behaviour. It studies how a society governs itself at all levels and various ideas about how it should be governed in the future.

As a political science student you will study how political conflict is organized and resolved in the “real world.” You will look at how rulers are chosen, governmental decisions are taken and how decision-making processes are organized. You’ll learn how governments design and implement their laws and policies in Canada and abroad.

You will also consider how political leaders understand their obligations towards one another and how decisions are shaped by different views of “what’s right,” “what works” and “what’s possible” in different circumstances.

The Department of Political Science offers four sub-fields of study and encourages you to choose a variety of courses from each area to ensure you gain a broad view of the discipline. These are: Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.

The Department of Modern Languages & Linguistics offers instruction in three languages: French, Japanese and Spanish (beginner to advanced). Small class sizes, cutting-edge language-learning technology and the diverse expertise of our instructors ensure you’ll find studying languages to be a lively and satisfying experience.

In today's globalized context, students of modern languages are being prepared for membership in a global community that extends far beyond the boundaries of the English-speaking world. The study of modern languages is about far more than just learning how to communicate in another language. It’s about exploring other identities and values through language, literature, history and culture in a global community.

Students who study French will gain awareness of other cultures through courses in language, literature, and culture and civilization, and through academic and living experiences in francophone Canada or abroad.

Accountants are central to the operations and strategies of all types of organizations. They require integrity and the ability to think critically, communicate and interact with others effectively. Accounting is the foundation of organizational short and long-term success. It involves measuring, analyzing and reporting on factors that affect organizational performance, resources and risk.

About the Accounting major
You will train to be an accountant, not a bookkeeper. You'll gain technical skills and learn how to address a broad range of business problems. Classes are small, allowing for one-on-one interaction with professors, who have professional accounting designations, PhDs in accounting or both. You will acquire and practice the skills needed for success, including writing, presenting, using professional tools and case analysis.

The Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting allow you to take both the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals and the Post-Bachelor Certificate in Advanced Accounting in one program. With the Post-Bachelor Combined Certificates in Accounting, you’ll build on your existing degree, no matter the discipline, and progress to advanced level coursework that can advance your career or prepare you for entry into the CPA Professional Education Program.

The 16-course combined certificates take two years to complete on a full-time basis and provide eligibility for co-operative education.

A General Major in Humanities, unlike a single discipline major, allows you to customize your course selection to your interests and abilities. Where you compromise depth of focus in one area, you gain breadth of knowledge in a few key areas, thus increasing your flexibility. This multidisciplinary approach provides access to the "big picture" or the wider context of any subject area. Conversely, the courses you choose can enhance your focus and provide a cross-discipline perspective on one particular theme.

Students choosing a General Major in the Humanities select three disciplinary streams from the following:

• One of Art, Dramatic Arts, or Music
• English
• One of French, Japanese, or Spanish Classical Languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Latin)
• History
• Linguistics
• Native American Studies
• Philosophy
• Religious Studies

As a student participating in a General Major degree program, you’re not limited to studying only within your three streams. As part of your liberal education, you will be required to take classes outside your major(s). This allows you to develop skills and experience in all three streams.

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.

Economics is the social science that provides understanding, meaning and relevance of human action under conditions of scarcity. In other words, the study of economics enables a more effective use of scarce resources such as the time and talent people have available, the land, buildings, equipment, other tools on hand, and the knowledge of how to combine them to create products and services to satisfy human wants.

Economics is a value-free science. It never tells people how to act; it merely shows how they need to act to attain specific results.

Whether you are interested in performance, composition, digital audio arts or music education, our classical music programs are designed to meet your specific needs and interest.

If you are interested in music and another subject area, a BA allows you to explore all your educational interests with more flexible degree options that allow more sciences, social sciences and humanities, while still focusing on music.    

Build your program around your diverse interests across art, humanities, sciences and social sciences. Through our classical music program you can choose to pursue a performance route and receive one-on-one instruction from master performer-teachers.  Entrance to studio courses are dependent on a successful audition.  , attend numerous guest artist classes and have performance opportunities throughout the year.  Recitals showcase your development and accomplishments as a growing musician and your experience is enhanced by participation in ensembles.  Compliment your studies with courses outside your area of focus to achieve the goals you have set out for your future endeavours.

Areas of concentration

• Brass
• Composition
• Guitar
• Percussion
• Piano
• Strings
• Voice
• Woodwinds

The BA (Music) allows for minors and a higher number of non-major courses then a Bachelor of Music.  The BA & BSc (Music) allows for double majors within both art and another field in the sciences. 

You can also combine your love of music with the Dhillion School of Business management degree to make a business impact in the cultural sector.

Have full access to co-operative education, international exchanges, independent and applied studies as well as volunteer opportunities. uLethbridge is the only university in Alberta to offer co-operative education to all majors in the university, at both the undergrad and grad level.

The Department of Modern Languages & Linguistics offers instruction in three languages: French, Japanese and Spanish (beginner to advanced).

In today's globalized context, students of modern languages are being prepared for membership in a global community that extends far beyond the boundaries of the English-speaking world. Modern Languages is about far more than just learning how to communicate in another language. It’s about exploring other identities and values through language, literature, history and culture in a global community.

Thanks to our small class size, innovative instructors and the latest in language-learning technology, we make language learning a lively and satisfying experience. At the beginners' and intermediate level we teach you to communicate with native speakers, orally and in writing, and introduce you to the everyday life of the speakers of French and Spanish as well as to their music, films and books. You can continue your study of spoken and written French and Spanish to an advanced level. Whatever the level and whatever the language, we teach our classes in the language being studied.

Students who study French/Spanish will gain awareness of other cultures through courses in language, literature, and culture and civilization, and through academic and living experiences in Canada or abroad.

Classes are taught in the language being studied — so, French courses are taught in French and Spanish classes in Spanish. You can specialize in one language or study a combination.