Master of Arts in Island Studies - Sustainable Island Communities (Course-Based)

at University of Prince Edward Island Canada

The Biology Department at UPEI has a strong tradition of helping people realize their potential through deep consideration of the biological world. A scientific understanding of the plants and animals is, in many ways, its own reward. But it is also a pathway to a large number of exciting and fulfilling career opportunities. A biology program is a common route toward the health professions (human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, etc.), for which we offer strong pre-professional programs. It can also lead to careers in environmental analysis, biotechnology, laboratory diagnostics, and many other things. Biology graduates also often establish other sorts of careers (lawyer, business professional) for which the knowledge of biology can be a strong personal and professional asset.

The strength of our educational programs derive from the strength of our scholarly activity and research. Our faculty hold grants from the Natural Sciences and Research Council of Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Atlantic Innovation Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Prince Edward Island Health Research Institute, among others. Our faculty have research programs in neurobiology, arctic insect ecology, cancer cell biology, watershed ecology, pollination biology, coastal habitat ecology, animal habitat fragmentation, heart and stroke physiology, aquatic toxicology, plant ecological genetics, among others.

The MVSc degree of the University of Prince Edward Island is a two-year, non-thesis (professional) Master’s-track program to enhance scholarship and competitiveness of veterinarians in one of the broad disciplines of pathology, microbiology, or clinical sciences.

The program is designed to provide advanced training in the disciplines, and to develop teaching and communication skills. In addition, a student successfully completing the program may spend an extra year of residency in their selected discipline so as to be eligible for certification by specialty groups that require three years of residency training.

Success in the program is attested by the achieving of satisfactory standings in the minimum number of graduate courses required, the completion of a research project, and the writing of a project report suitable for publication in a refereed journal.

Today, Spanish is said to be the fastest growing language in the world. Over 360 million people speak Spanish. In the U.S., it has been the second language, and in Canada, it is becoming increasingly important and popular as NAFTA and other commercial links are established with Latin America. This creates a need for translators, interpreters and teachers, as Spanish speaking persons are needed in tourism, management, corporations, etc.

As Spanish is not presently taught in P.E.I.'s high schools, UPEI presents the only opportunity for learning this language. This means that students wishing to study Spanish start with 1010 which demands no prior background in the language. Those who have had some contact with the language either through exchanges, family background, or travel may enter at a higher level (1020, 2010, 2020, etc.).

Courses designated 1001-1020 or 2010-2020 are basically language courses, while courses above these levels focus mainly on cultural studies. Students may do a so-called minor in Spanish (7 courses) and even a major. In the latter case, however, two of the 14 semester courses must be taken elsewhere, preferably abroad.

With the new Bachelor of Environmental Studies program at the University of Prince Edward Island you will learn to make environmental connections across academic fields and to analyze environmental challenges we face today. In the classroom, field, and community, you will lead the way in finding innovative solutions—making a positive impact toward sustainability in your personal life, locally and globally.

Environmental issues typically do not respect traditional academic boundaries and require scientific, technical, human and social perspectives to address. As an interdisciplinary liberal arts and science program, the Bachelor of Environmental Studies will provide students with the opportunity to integrate knowledge across faculties of Arts, Science, and Business.

The School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (SMCS) is built on a strong foundation of core Mathematics and Computer Science programs that have existed at UPEI for many years. The SMCS is unique in Atlantic Canada for offering a comprehensive suite of majors in the quantitative disciplines.

Mathematical and computational sciences are experiencing a “boom”, as many industries and sectors need people with the skills to manage, analyze, and extract useful information from data. This is what mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists are trained to do. Analytics (sometimes called “data science”) is at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, and computer science, and is the hottest area of job growth right now.

The MVSc degree of the University of Prince Edward Island is a two-year, non-thesis (professional) Master’s-track program to enhance scholarship and competitiveness of veterinarians in one of the broad disciplines of pathology, microbiology, or clinical sciences.

The program is designed to provide advanced training in the disciplines, and to develop teaching and communication skills. In addition, a student successfully completing the program may spend an extra year of residency in their selected discipline so as to be eligible for certification by specialty groups that require three years of residency training.

Success in the program is attested by the achieving of satisfactory standings in the minimum number of graduate courses required, the completion of a research project, and the writing of a project report suitable for publication in a refereed journal.

The MSc degree of the University of Prince Edward Island requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. The latter is attested by the achieving of satisfactory standings in the minimum number of graduate courses required by the respective Faculty, the completion of a research project, and the writing of a thesis based upon the research. There will be considerable interaction and co-operation among the departments/faculties to provide courses and research facilities to meet the needs of individual students and their research projects.

Physics is recognized internationally as a great foundational degree for many careers including in science, industry, education, business, law, and medicine. Physics explores many of the deeper mysteries of the universe and can lead to a wide range of intriguing career and employment opportunities.

A key focus of UPEI's physics programs is on experiential learning, including opportunities to work with companies and organizations in PEI and across Canada (co-op program) or to work with physics faculty on campus in summer research positions (major and honours programs). These positions are all paid and they give you a chance to experience different types of jobs, workplace settings and employers, and gain important transferable skills, all while you are a physics student at UPEI.

The Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) at the University of Prince Edward Island is a unique, interdisciplinary, and policy-driven graduate program that critiques islands on their own terms. We welcome students from around the world with diverse disciplinary backgrounds and diverse degrees, or with professional workplace experience in the public, private, or resource sectors.

Our program offers a challenging opportunity for students with:

• A special interest in researching islands: their societies, economies, histories, cultures, governments, geographies, and environments
• An interest in public policy and administration
• Career aspirations within local, regional, national, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations
• Career aspirations in the private and resource sectors
• A desire for the challenge of graduate education

Island Tourism
Tourism on many islands is one of the largest employers and fastest-growing sectors. This focus area is designed to meet the needs of current and future island-based tourism industry managers, executives, and other professional and public sector researchers. Graduates will develop their analytical, research and management skills to a standard that will allow them to excel in this growing sector. Graduates will develop a firm understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities associated with tourism in both warm and cold-weather island tourist destinations. The practical experiences associated with this program will allow students to work with professionals in the tourism sector to gain knowledge in the industry that complements the knowledge gained in the classroom. Employment opportunities for graduates include positions in travel agency and tour operating companies, the heritage sector, official tourist organizations, branding and marketing companies, and local or national government and other (including regional and international) organizations where knowledge of the tourism sector is important.

The Master of Science degree requires the demonstration of a reasonable mastery of a concentrated field of study. The latter is attested by the achieving of satisfactory standings in the minimum number of graduate courses required by the respective Faculty, the completion of a research project, and the writing of a thesis based upon the research. There will be considerable interaction and co-operation among the departments/faculties to provide courses and research facilities to meet the needs of individual students and their research projects.