Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies

at University of Lethbridge - Lethbridge Campus Canada

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.

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.

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.

Indigenous Studies explores art, law, philosophy, health, politics, history, gender studies, ecology, business, customs and language - all from a unique Indigenous perspective - making this one of the most sought-after programs of its kind in Canada.

In this program, you’ll have the opportunity to investigate First Nations’, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) history, heritage and culture, as well as the contemporary issues that face FNMI communities.

As a student of Indigenous Studies, you’ll have access to Indigenous instructors, who are often nationally or internationally renowned, seasoned professionals with real-world experience.

Human resources and labour relations professionals manage any organization’s greatest resource - its people!

Competent, culturally sensitive and highly organized, human resource and labour relations professionals add significant value and display competence in an array of specialized areas, including: talent management; employment law; health and safety, performance management; training and development; and diversity and inclusion.

Professionals with this degree are strategic leaders in the organization. They are critical for the successful management of complex and constantly evolving environments. They work with both employers and employees to create productive and fair workplaces.

Human Resource Management and Labour Relations managers are also among the most in-demand jobs in Canada in 2019 (randstad.ca).

About the Human Resource Management and Labour Relations (HRMLR) major
Students majoring in HRMLR study a broad range of topics including how and why people behave as they do in organizations, managing organizational change, identifying training needs and creating opportunities for employee career development, managing in a unionized environment, leading people and teams, ensuring the work environment is physically and psychologically healthy, and managing diverse workplaces.

Students should take Research Methodology (MGT 2700) as early as possible, as it provides a foundation for the senior-level courses. uLethbridge offers a wide variety of electives, not all of which are offered every term. Plan in advance to ensure you can take all of the courses that interest you.

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.

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.

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.

Have the flexibility and independence to develop your own degree program from all the areas of the fine arts.

All areas of the fine arts are available for students in the multidisciplinary major to choose their concentrations. You can now choose a first concentration from one area of fine arts (art, drama, music or new media), while choosing a second and third concentration from the other three. This can also include areas within the departments (Indigenous art, digital audio arts, technical design etc.). This new opportunity allows students the freedom to customize their education around technical, practical and academic focuses.

Complement your studies further by adding combinations of courses from inside and outside the Faculty of Fine Arts with your liberal education requirements.

Opportunities

Gain professional art gallery experience, participate in a dynamic season of theatre activities, (including Mainstage productions supervised by professors), be a part of music ensembles or music studio courses, have access to our state-of-the-art Sound Recording Studio or expand your experiences and gain new perspectives beyond the classroom with internships.

You have full access to co-operative education, international exchanges, independent and applied studies as well as volunteer opportunities.

Sociology is the study of society, including the interaction between individuals, groups, and institutions. Sociological study helps develop original ways of looking at the world and the individual’s place within it. The application of sociological thinking can lead to a better understanding of social problems and issues and suggestions about how these issues may be overcome in real-world terms.

By studying sociology, you will gain insight into how people interact with one another and how values and beliefs both shape and are shaped by the structures and processes around us. The primary goal of the discipline is to stimulate sociological thinking - applying imagination and critical analysis to the many facets of social life.

As a sociology student, you will be exposed to a wide variety of alternative theories of social behaviour, structure, and change through a wide range of courses on topics such as: crime, religion, work, gender, age, ethnicity, politics, culture and health.