Bachelor of Social Science (Joint Honours) in Economics and Political Science (Co-op Optional)

at University of Ottawa Canada

Software engineering is a CO-OP only program that emphasizes innovation and teamwork to develop practical, solution-driven thinking. During their fourth-year project, students in this program can form teams and leverage their work experience to create real applications; some students even start their own companies. They learn how to apply engineering principles—including rapid prototyping, requirements analysis, system modelling, design, implementation, testing and project management—to develop software. Software engineers are key professionals in fields such as high tech, finance, telecommunications, government, health care, transportation and entertainment.

Anthropology
Anthropology involves studying the diversity of human societies through comparative analyses. Anthropologists develop tools that contribute to identifying and exploring a variety of social, cultural, political, economic, environmental and other important issues. Anthropology is unique among disciplines because of its methodological approach, which involves in-depth qualitative field work. Our specialized programs in social and cultural anthropology enable students to better understand and analyze cultural changes and intercultural relations in the context of globalization, development, migration and new technologies.

Sociology
Sociology involves the study of societies, specifically their institutions, cultures, and transformations. Sociologists seek to uncover the processes, rules, and norms that govern social relations. They seek to understand issues such as the origins and consequences of social inequalities and collective behaviours. In our programs, students have the opportunity to apply theoretical approaches to real-world cases and learn how to use research tools such as interviewing, discourse analysis, surveys, and statistical analyses. The connection between theory and research enables students to understand a range of contemporary social issues, such as poverty, ethnic relations, deviance, gender relations, international development, power, and technology.

Healthcare systems are undergoing unprecedented transformation fuelled by the digitization of services and investments in health information technologies. Our option in Healthcare Analytics is a field built on the crucial role that data, systems engineering, management, and organizational innovation play in improving the quality and timeliness of service delivery in a high performing healthcare system. This field answers a need to develop expertise to create the research and training capabilities required for transforming healthcare into a system that adheres to the principles of patient-centered care and participatory medicine.

This multi-disciplinary program introduces students to the study of international issues, trans-border phenomena and intercultural relations of all kinds. It leads to an in-depth understanding of the complex connections and interactions among local, national, regional and global processes. It exposes students to a wide range of disciplinary viewpoints — including economics, geography, history and world religions — while simultaneously providing a solid and rigorous foundation in political science. 

As a complement to its focus on international studies, the program offers advanced foreign-language training. Students acquire proficiency in Canada's two official languages and in at least one additional modern language, thus preparing them for the demands of an internationally-oriented career. The program also develops fundamental skills in critical-thinking, analysis and synthesis, and teaches students a variety of research methods. Students benefit from extensive international opportunities, including study abroad, international field-research courses, a Model UN course, and international internships. 

In addition to their second official language, students can choose to study one of the following modern languages: Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.

The Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics emphasizes the biophysical sciences of human kinetics, with a focus on the role that biological, anatomical, musculoskeletal, and neuro-motor systems have on motor performance, and the impact of sport and physical activity on the body. It provides the knowledge, skills and techniques required for you to play a leading role in developing and implementing evidence-based approaches that maintain and improve human movement, and lead to positive health outcomes for different populations in a variety of settings. While the program focuses on disciplines such as anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control and psychomotor behaviour, it also provides an understanding of how the social sciences contribute to human movement and performance. Students have the opportunity to do experiential education internships in a community venue, or do a research project supervised by faculty. This degree can lead to admission to graduate studies in human kinetics and advanced degrees in allied health and rehabilitation sciences such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, medicine, or chiropractic studies. Potential additional certifications: College of Kinesiologists of Ontario (Registered Kinesiologist), Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Exercise Physiologist).

Mathematics
Mathematics and statistics are not only powerful problem-solving tools, but also highly creative fields of studies that combine imagination with logic, and precision with intuition. 

Mathematics is much more than numbers! Its basic goal is to reveal and model general patterns to help explain our world, whether they be found in electrical impulses in the human nervous system, the evolution of animal populations in their habitats, fluctuations in stock-market prices, or electronic communications. Mathematics reaches far beyond science and engineering into medicine, business and the social sciences. 

Advances in mathematics and statistics lie behind many discoveries that are now part of our daily lives, such as MRI scanners, digital compression of music and video, secure electronic communications, data mining, genomic algorithms, futures pricing, and many other innovations. 

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers Honours, majors and minors both in mathematics and in statistics. Our Honours program in statistics is accredited by the Statistical Society of Canada, allowing graduates to earn the A.Stat. professional designation. Moreover, the Department offers a joint honours program in mathematics and economics, a joint honours program in mathematics and computer science, as well as a multidisciplinary program in financial mathematics and economics. All our honours programs also include the co-operative education option.

Economics
Ever wonder why some countries are richer than others? Ever question why income inequality has been growing? Ever wonder why Canadian politicians worry when other countries may be going bankrupt? Economics can answer all these questions. 

Economics examines how individuals and society make choices in a world where resources are limited. It focuses on the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Two important themes are efficiency (the absence of waste in the use of resources) and fairness. Since making choices is central to all human activities, studying economics often helps explain why people and governments behave in certain ways.

The University of Ottawa School of Music is among the few offering a full master’s in musicians’ health and well-being, particularly in prevention and treatment of pain and injuries, as well as performance anxiety. Through innovative research, professors apply academic rigour to music pedagogy.

The school has launched a Musicians’ Wellness Centre dedicated to clinical research and professional training, not to mention a network of health care services. You can complete an internship there to gain professional experience and work with experts in fields such as physiotherapy, yoga, Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Method, audiology and mindfulness meditation.

The purpose of the Biomedical Mechanical Engineering program is to graduate engineers proficient in the areas of biomedical engineering related to mechanical engineering. These include the design of medical devices such as artificial hearts, implants and prostheses, the development and selection of bio-compatible metallic and non-metallic materials for implants and medical equipment, robotics for medical applications, biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering.

The program structure parallels that of the regular Mechanical Engineering program, replacing eight courses in the regular program with biomedically-oriented courses.

This program has a broad scope, so that graduates may have a wide range of career choices, not only in the biomedical field but also in conventional mechanical engineering. Biomedical systems are among the most complex of mechanical systems; therefore, a strong and comprehensive education in standard mechanical engineering principles is provided, with emphasis on their application in biomedical systems.

Upon completion of a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Mechanical Engineering, a student who completes the requirements specified below for 30 extra units will be eligible for a BSc in Computing Technology, as a second degree. The remaining 132 units are from their engineering degree; students follow the engineering degree requirements and the Computing Technology degree requirements in parallel. It is not allowed to obtain the Computing Technology degree without also completing the corresponding engineering degree.

Welcome to centre stage! From practice to theory, from performance to reception, the Department of Theatre explores all aspects of theatrical events and prepares you for a life of creative expression and intellectual stimulation. We teach acting, directing, playwriting, arts administration, dramaturgy, theatre history, production, technical theatre and design as well as theory and aesthetics. When it comes to practice, opportunities abound: the Department boasts two major theatre companies and three student companies producing up to thirty original productions a season.

Computer science at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science combines the study of computation and information processing fundamentals with their application in the world around us. Computer scientists build fast, reliable, scalable and secure software systems to organize and analyze information. The honours curriculum comprises advanced topics in databases, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, security, distributed computing and algorithm design, culminating in an honours project. 

This program teaches graduates how to use their creative and innovative talents to conceive, design and implement software systems. The Extended French Stream (EFS) is now available to all students in the Computer Science program. Our degrees are very flexible and include options, minors and a major, which can be used to explore connections between computer science and many other fields of study.