Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

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.

The demand for skilled individuals in the field of computer science has seen unprecedented growth in recent years. By studying computer science at uLethbridge, you will gain a broad technical knowledge, coupled with a sound liberal education. You'll graduate knowing how to tackle difficult problems using a variety of hardware, software, and programming languages, and to communicate your expertise to others.

Computer science spans theory and practice, and requires thinking in abstract and concrete terms. The practical side of computing can be seen everywhere — a myriad of us walk around with miniature computers/smartphones in our pockets, and many can even program them. Getting computers to do what you want them to do requires intensive hands-on experience. On a higher level, computer science can also be considered a science of problem solving.

About the Computer Science major
As a computer science major, you'll be involved in a science that has revolutionized the world. Astonishing advances are being made constantly and intense research is carried out by our faculty and students. Among the areas you'll study are programming, digital systems, database management systems, data structures, and computer architecture. Most graduates have careers programming in industry, where a constant shortage of computer scientists results in steady employment.

Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. In a world that is increasingly data-driven, knowing how to extract and interpret information is key. Statistics help evaluate ideas, test hypotheses and give clarity to complex issues.

If your passion is the environment, statisticians help manage our natural resources and understand the impact of climate change. If your passion is public policy, statisticians work with governments and non-governmental organizations to measure the health of the economy and assess the effectiveness of programs. If your passion is sports, statisticians help improve teams through player drafting, signing and development. No matter where your passion lies, you are likely to find statisticians active in that area.

The major in applied statistics is structured to provide a firm theoretical background in statistics and to allow you to apply specific statistical techniques within your discipline of interest. The program has three possible concentrations:

• Economics
• Geography
• Psychology

Each of these disciplines makes extensive use of statistics in the analysis of real-world data. Students in this major and any chosen concentration will learn about statistical resources and benefit from training across multiple departments.

Remote sensing provides a new vantage point to marvel, monitor and measure our world. With the advent of Earth observation and satellite technology, we are now able to view the planet - and our impact upon it - in real-time digital imagery.

These images allow us to observe and quantify objects and patterns found in the earth, atmosphere, ocean and space. This fast-paced science powers the geospatial information revolution, providing the framework for new technologies like Google™ Earth and helping us to better understand things like climate change.

Remote sensing is used at a much smaller scale, producing non-invasive medical imagery such as X-rays, MRIs and scans. This technology has virtually transformed the study of the internal workings of complex organs like the brain.

As a remote sensing student, you will study geography, environmental science and physics, as well as other topics focused on the field. You will also learn to record and interpret images using highly-specialized instruments, some of which are unique to the BSc in remote sensing at the University of Lethbridge.

Faculty members in the department host an extensive suite of fully-equipped laboratories, with dedicated research and graduate student areas. These labs include the latest equipment and software, supporting a variety of earth and environmental science studies.

Public health is focused on prevention rather than the treatment of disease. It examines the overall health of a population with the aim of developing strategies to promote and protect health.

Through course work and hands-on experience, the public health major at uLethbridge will provide you with the skills and tools needed to prevent disease/injury and to promote, and protect the health and well-being of Canadians and populations across the globe.

The core of our work in public health is to take steps to prevent chronic and infectious disease before it occurs. Join us to be part of this exciting and rapidly expanding field and have a positive influence on your world!

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.

History as an academic discipline examines the past to explain how we got to where we are today. We live in a world that is politically, economically, and socially complex; to engage it effectively and better understand ourselves, we must first understand the many historical factors that shape our lives. Historians work to sharpen the collective memory of society.

As a history student, you’ll learn about great leaders of the past and what ordinary people believed and valued - how they lived, worshipped, worked, fought and died. You’ll have the opportunity to take thematic and regional courses in ancient, medieval and modern history from the geographic areas that shaped our world today.

We are confident that our courses, as well as our diverse areas of expertise, will offer something of interest to everyone studying history at uLethbridge.

Computer science is the study of algorithms and data structures and their applications in designing new and efficient solutions to industrial, technological, environmental or social problems.

Learn to tackle difficult problems using a variety of high-tech tools and approaches, and effectively communicate your expertise to others by coupling your technical learning with a solid grounding in liberal education. The program is designed to enable you gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, including access to state-of-the-art hardware and software in our three computer labs whenever you need to use them.

Through our rigorous program of hands-on theatre experiences, you refine your artistic techniques and develop lifelong skills such as creativity, confidence, and discipline. Courses in theatre history and theory provide a comprehensive understanding of drama’s essential role in society.

Our innovative program highlights the connections between performance, directing, and devised theatre, ensuring appreciation for historic traditions and anticipating future trends.

Explore courses in acting, voice, and movement, and discover a range of performance techniques, including theatre for young audiences, improvisation, and physical theatre. Enrich your classroom experiences by performing in a season of exhilarating theatre productions that range in style and scale.

You 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.

Performances

• Participate in a dynamic season of theatre activities, including Mainstage productions supervised by professors, the student-run TheatreXtra series, and an array of practical workshops, play readings, public forums, and special events.

English is not just about the rhetorical and creative aspects of literature. It’s about examining history, culture, psychology, sociology, philosophy, and the human condition to determine what a text means in the context of when and where it was written, and how it relates to us today.

Language is the primary means by which we communicate our values, our ideals and our vision. The study of English asks fundamental questions about literature and how we, as humans, express ourselves and interact with others. It is the science of communication and critical inquiry.

Learn how we use language in the world at large, and consider the functions, structures and significance of literature over time. Develop an excellent foundation for a career in virtually any professional capacity due to the cross-disciplinary nature of this program.