Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Studies

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

Geography deals with the diverse landscapes around us. It is about everything from the original formation of the earth’s surface, to the effects we have on our environment: past, present and future. The primary focus of the program is to give you the skills necessary to analyze the organization and interaction of all creatures and ecological processes on the planet - and sometimes beyond it - to address real-world issues.

The department is particularly strong in the areas of geographical information science (GIS) and remote sensing, water research and rural & urban studies; areas of spectacular growth in research, teaching and employment for our graduates.

You'll have access to the latest hardware and software available in geography, economics, environment, agriculture, ecology, planning etc, as well as state-of-the-art facilities like the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building. This facility provides the infrastructure to support the research interests of our award-winning faculty, your instructors, as they investigate diverse areas such as: weather and climate, water, glaciers, sediments, plants and insects.

Situated in the Oldman River Valley, the University’s location offers an excellent centre for field research, surrounded by farm and rangelands, and in easy reach of the Rockies and the city of Calgary.

The Bachelor of Health Sciences program in addictions counselling at the University of Lethbridge is the only undergraduate Canadian program of its kind. The program gives students the knowledge they need to guide people through the addiction recovery process. In their second and fourth years of studies, students will complete a 13-week internship, offering them valuable clinical experience to prepare them for their careers.

The program provides students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed for a role in treatment, prevention, and health promotion wherever addiction affects people's lives. It focuses on a range of addictive behaviours and intervention strategies, including substance abuse, problem gambling, and sexual or eating disorders. The program includes a thorough study of current issues in addictions, and an intensive training in counselling skills.

Graduates from this four-year program earn a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a major in addictions counselling.

Be inspired by art and visual culture, and make your mark on the world.  Work with internationally active artists and scholars as you pursue your professional and creative goals in a collaborative environment.  

The Indigenous Art program provides an in-depth exploration of indigeneity, land use, and post-colonial theory in contemporary art. Develop your voice as an independent artist or arts professional through an intensive studio experience exploring technical, aesthetic and theoretical studies necessary to pursue contemporary art.

Receive instruction on a range of methods and materials in drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, performance art, photography, printmaking, media and electronic art. Senior students pursue self-directed studio work in a capstone course supported by faculty members of their choice.

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 undergraduate and graduate levels.

Internship Opportunities
Expand your experiences and gain new perspectives beyond the art gallery and classroom.  Focus on areas such as exhibition organization and installation, collections management, and public programming.

Marketing, a combination of art and science, is the core of any business. It helps identify consumer needs; guides the development of new products, services or communications strategies, ensuring products and services are available where and when consumers want them; determines prices; and has the ability to adjust all of these for domestic and international markets. Almost one-third of North Americans are employed in marketing or marketing-related positions.

Marketers themselves are the crucial link between an organization, their suppliers and their end-users, building relationships that benefit all parties. Marketers must have a strong understanding of the customer, whether an individual or an organization so they can effectively advise on all aspects of marketing.

If you are strategic, creative, practical, enjoy both people and numbers, show strong analytical abilities and have excellent communications skills (including listening), marketing may interest you. While different types of marketing jobs require different skill sets, some of the main skills a marketer needs are to communicate effectively, work independently, be self-motivated and show initiative.

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 a behavioural science that studies the conditions under which individuals provide the best possible satisfaction of their needs. It is not specifically about money, things or material objects - it’s about the consequences of individual decisions made under conditions of scarcity.

Everybody thinks of and deals with economics whether they are aware of it or not. It concerns everybody and everything, transcending time and space, and is at the core of our civilization and human existence. It is a means of looking at all human interaction, regardless of culture, race or gender.

As an economics student, you will gain a deep understanding of the decision making process at the individual, firm or government level. You will learn how unhampered market processes lead to efficient production of goods and services, and the effects of interfering with these processes.

You will deal with a variety of topics, such as the comparison of economic systems, the economics of marriage and family, as well as banking and private property rights. You’ll also delve into current concerns like employment, inflation, government bailouts, the national debt, nonrenewable resources, agriculture and the environment.

Biological sciences delve into the world of living organisms - from microbes, to human beings, to entire ecosystems. It is the science of life on, under and above earth. Exploring the nature of life leads biologists out into the world where they study how organisms interact with their environment, how they function and how they evolved over time.

The Department of Biological Sciences provides you with hands-on learning, moving you beyond textbooks and lectures to engaging research projects. Biology is a research-intensive science that can lead to a wide range of study areas, like environmental work, medicine, microbiology or agriculture.

Today’s biologists require a strong background in cellular and molecular biology, organismal biology, genetics, evolution and ecology. Additionally, you will be required to complete courses in chemistry, physics and mathematics, ensuring a strong foundation in the core sciences.

You will also have access to state-of-the-art science and research facilities, like the Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research. This facility provides the infrastructure to support the research interests of our award-winning faculty, your instructors, as they investigate diverse areas within behavioural and evolutionary ecology, plant biology and systemic biology, cellular and molecular biology and genetics.

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.

Many choose the general management major because it provides a comprehensive understanding of management that can take them anywhere. Others choose it because of the opportunity to design their own program, or plan to start their own business. If you're a budding entrepreneur, a broad-based understanding of business will position you to succeed.

Whether you’re primarily a people person or a numbers person, studying general management will help you develop and refine what already comes naturally.

Management is leading others to accomplish common goals. Today’s managers are people oriented, creative, adaptable - strong communicators who deal effectively with rapidly changing environments, work successfully with small and large teams, live and work by principles of ethics and social responsibility, and are aware of our responsibility to the environment.

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.