Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies

at Wilfrid Laurier University - Brantford Campus Canada

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Laurier is a direct-entry program, which means you will begin your study of social work in your first year.

Social work is a practice-based profession that harnesses principles of human rights and social justice to empower members of society disadvantaged by social dynamics of class, race, gender, age, and ability.

Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Community Health program explores and recognizes the wide range of social, biological and institutional factors that influence the health and well-being of communities defined by geography, socioeconomic status, gender, cultural makeup, ability and vulnerability.

In this program you'll learn to:

• Identify the most significant health challenges in communities.
• Evaluate the factors that create health risks for members of those communities.
• Study and make recommendations for program and policy interventions that will improve the health status within your communities of concern.

Consideration is also given to the Canadian and Ontario health-care systems, and the policy framework that underpins the provision of health and social services to specific communities and the broader population.

Our Social and Environmental Justice program is unique in Canada – we provide you with the knowledge, inspiration and career skills to directly contribute to the world we live in both locally and globally. Our curriculum examines topics such as poverty and policies to reduce income inequality, climate change and sustainable communities, and citizens’ roles in a democratic society. Our graduates are socially aware citizens and inspirational leaders in their communities who contribute to a more positive collective future for all.

Embracing Laurier's designation as an Ashoka Changemaker Campus, the program prepares you for a career in the field of social and environment justice through targeted courses such as Social and Environmental Justice in Practise and the Community Internship. In addition, the Social Innovation Specialization supports the development of the entrepreneurial skills needed to be successful in your own socially focused business venture or within an established organization.

Our combination Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Policing program is unlike any other in Canada. Combining a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Policing (offered online) with another BA program in Waterloo or Brantford – such as Psychology, Criminology, Health Studies or Religion and Culture – enhances the breadth and depth of your knowledge by expanding perspectives and experiences.

The courses are designed to provide you with the skills to critically evaluate and apply different perspectives of our rapidly changing modern communities to police work experiences.

Extensive consultations with law enforcement agencies across Canada helped to shape the topics that are covered in the program including leadership, communication, diversity, ethics and building resilience. An advisory board ensures the course material stays relevant and current.

ACQUIRE KEY SKILLS
Through this program you will gain the following skills:

• Analysis and interpretation in order to productively contribute to law enforcement policy development.
• Application of criminological and psychological theories and perspectives to interpret and critique law enforcement issues.
• Refined interpersonal communication to enhance leadership skills.
• Sharpened critical thinking abilities to analyze and understand multiple perspectives and issues encountered in the field to better service individuals and the communities.
• Crafting and delivery of arguments using logic and sound reasoning.

Human Rights and Human Diversity (HRHD) prepares you for a career where you can make a difference by advancing human rights and social justice in Canada and around the world.

You will examine current issues that matter in people's lives such as:

• children's rights
• disabilities
• multiculturalism
• women's rights
• crimes against humanity
• racism
• human trafficking
• gender issues

You will study organizations that can be used to address injustice like the UN, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and nongovernmental organizations. You will develop skills that are highly sought-after by human rights organizations, such as:

• grant writing
• policy analysis
• intercultural competence
• professional fundraising
• advocacy
• designing social media strategies

Our Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in Public Health (formerly Health Studies) program is concerned with understanding how physical and social factors influence health status, with the aim of identifying and promoting interventions that will reduce disease and injury, prolong life, and improve population health.

With our small class sizes and close-knit environment, you’ll get a unique educational experience at the Brantford campus. With lots of opportunities for field placements, you’ll receive practical experience in community settings like daycare centres, educational institutions, community centres and human-service agencies.

We also offer opportunities to get involved in current research projects with our faculty members.

You’ll graduate from our program with a solid grounding in psychological theory and experience working in the field. This, combined with the other benefits of a social science degree (critical thinking skills, communication skills, project management and analytical skills), will give you the qualifications that employers are looking for.

The Indigenous studies field is growing rapidly and we have designed a program that will prepare you to engage with important issues facing Canada and the world through course work in two programs and community service-learning opportunities. Our classrooms teach the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous people (who make up about 20% of the world’s population) to deepen your understanding of these issues.

Your courses will cover topics in Indigenous rights, history, ecological knowledge, and teaching practices. Your education will be complemented by courses in Indigenous languages, literature and media.

Diverse teaching methods, such as planting medicines in our Medicine Garden course, bring class material to life and allow you to understand Indigenous worldviews by applying them to the world around you. 

The health and social service industry is one of the largest employment sectors in Canada. In this Bachelor of Arts program in Health Administration, you’ll learn to help manage issues associated with rising demands for health care, costlier and more diverse treatments, and the ways in which infectious disease outbreaks (such as H1N1 or 2019-nCoV) disrupt the economy.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn from award-winning educators and researchers who integrate the latest advancements and knowledge into your courses. In this program, you’ll also have experiential learning opportunities in a practicum placement allowing you to pursue your specific interests in health administration.

You can focus your Health Administration studies in one of two areas: Human Resource Management, or Community and Social Service Management. These specializations provide you the opportunity to earn a graduate certificate from Conestoga College and your Bachelor of Arts in Health Administration in only four years. 

In our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Humanities with Leadership Foundations program, you'll immerse yourself in the problems that leaders and organizations face today. You'll learn how to create long-lasting solutions that consider larger historical and cultural contexts. By studying ethics, history, literature, and other arts and science disciplines, you'll broaden your understanding of contemporary issues.