Bachelor of Arts + Master of Arts in Political Science

at Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus Canada

Biochemistry is a fundamental multidisciplinary science that explores the molecular aspects of life and is the basis for many other disciplines in life sciences, including cell and molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, and molecular medicine.

Biotechnology is the application of biochemistry to develop technologies, materials and products that help improve, replenish and sustain the health of our planet.

ABOUT BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY AT LAURIER
In our program, we emphasize the health and pharmaceutical sciences, which constitute more than 50% of the total activity in biochemical research and biotechnology in Canada.

You’ll take several courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and biochemistry, along with courses in applied biochemistry, and gain the practical skills and the academic knowledge you’ll need to succeed in a career in research, service, industry or academia.

You’ll benefit from a research-intensive environment. In your fourth year, you'll have an option to complete a senior thesis research project. The thesis option will provide you with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment in a new and challenging area of biochemical research.

The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) features a broad selection of core courses that reflect our integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the study of human movement, physical activity and sport, followed by opportunities to select from a wide range of elective courses and to choose one of four optional concentrations.

CORE COURSES

• Sociocultural courses exploring historical and philosophical foundations and sociological examinations of physical activity, sport and the body.
• Lab/tutorial-supported courses in human regional anatomy, human physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning and control, and inferential statistics.
• Foundational courses introducing you to key concepts in sport and exercise psychology, health and research methods.
• Fundamental and applied movement-based courses actively exploring key concepts related to physical literacy and athlete development, as well as teaching and coaching physical activity and sport.

CONCENTRATIONS AND ELECTIVE COURSES
Our program features four areas of concentration:

• Athletic Performance and Injury Management
• Movement, Health and Development
• Physical Activity Education and Promotion
• Sport Development and Management

Within these concentrations are Kinesiology elective courses, including:

• Exercise Nutrition; Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription; Athletic Injuries
• Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation; Applied Psychology of Sport and Performance
• Behaviour Change and Physical Activity; Adapted Physical Activity
• Children in Physical Activity; Aging, Physical Activity and Health
• Ethics in Sport and Physical Activity; Modern Olympics; Canadian Sport History
• Organization and Administration of Physical Activity; Marketing in Sport and Physical Activity
• Advanced Biomechanics and Ergonomics; Advanced Exercise Physiology
• Balance, Posture and Gait; Neuromuscular Function in Exercise
• Research Thesis; Interdisciplinary Capstone Experience

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Laurier’s Kinesiology program is designed to expose you to learning inside and outside the classroom. During your studies you are required to complete 96 hours of community-based leadership or volunteer work. Some courses will also require you to engage in practical, hands-on learning experiences such as physical activity programming, fitness testing or injury assessment.

If you are an excellent student with superior abilities in chemistry, physics and mathematics then Laurier’s Chemistry and Physics program is a match for you. This program combines some of the best of our Bachelor of Science (BSc) programs in Chemistry and Physics. You'll graduate with a solid theoretical foundation in chemistry and physics through both classroom lectures and laboratory experiments.

The focus of Laurier’s Chemistry and Physics program is on the chemical and physical properties of materials at the bulk scale (where dimensions are effectively infinite) and at the nanoscale (where dimensions are 1 to 100 nanometers).

At the bulk scale, classical mechanics can generally be used to describe the material. However, at the nanoscale, quantum effects can be very important and the properties of the material can be very different. For example, whereas bulk gold is inert, gold nanoparticles have been shown to catalyse a variety of chemical reactions.

Your materials science and quantum mechanics courses (and nanoscience courses) in both chemistry and physics will provide you with a unique skill set which will enable you to understand the properties of existing materials and which will give you the ability to design new materials with unique mechanical, optical, electronic or magnetic properties, which could have applications not only in chemistry and physics but also in disciplines as varied as computing and medicine.

Mathematics is a dynamic, evolving subject with many fascinating applications. Mathematics is often used to solve problems from the sciences, the arts and business – once put within the framework of mathematics, real-world problems can be solved in an efficient and reliable manner.

As a Mathematics student, you’ll study why modern business models heavily depend on probability and statistics, first developed in analyzing astronomical and census data and gambling. This is just one example why mathematics has been, and will continue to be, of vital importance to the world we live in.

Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mathematics focuses on the mathematics and statistics used in the social sciences, the humanities and business. You can combine our Mathematics program with many other disciplines, including Economics. We also offer a program specifically in Financial Mathematics, in addition to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Mathematics, which emphasizes the role of mathematics and statistics in the natural and computer sciences.

CONCENTRATE YOUR STUDIES:

• You can select elective courses in mathematics and statistics within six optional concentrations:
  • Analysis and Geometry
  • Discrete Mathematics and Algebra
  • Mathematical Modelling
  • Statistics and Data Analytics
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Computational Finance

Laurier's Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Financial Mathematics program is structured to teach you mathematics and its financial applications with a focus on how mathematics is connected with social science and business. Our program's modern approach involves simultaneously analyzing financial risks, evaluating prices of complex securities, valuing investments and combined assets, and liability management.

Program Highlights:-

• You have the option to concentrate in specific areas of mathematics and applied mathematics, or take a wide range of courses.
• Our program will give you experience solving real-world problems in financial mathematics and risk management in our math labs, where you will use mathematical and statistical software.
• In fourth year, you can choose to pursue a project of special interest under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Our Mathematics Assistance Centre can help you with your assignments and exam preparation.

If you're successful in your application to the BA + Master's program in Political Science, you'll receive two conditional offers of admission:

• One to undergraduate studies (BA) in Political Science
• One to graduate studies (master's) in your undergraduate program.

This means that if you decide to continue your studies at the graduate level, you don’t need to apply to the master's program at Laurier, because you’ve already received a conditional offer of admission. You will begin your master's program after you graduate from your BA degree program.

BENEFITS OF THE BA + MASTER'S
Students accepted into the BA + Master's program receive mentoring and skills development opportunities throughout their undergraduate degree that will help them achieve the admission requirements for the graduate program, and help turn the conditional offer into an acceptance.

BA - Political Science

A Political Science degree at Laurier gives you the training and tools you need in areas such as political communication, policy and legal analysis, public opinion design and implementation, as well as election analysis. In the process, you’ll gain the experience and skills to understand the political events and debates around you, preparing you for a life of engaged citizenship.

Our program allows you to concentrate your studies in topics ranging from international governance and global trade, Canadian politics, comparative politics (e.g., the U.S. and Europe), public policy, area studies (Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East), to refugees and migration and political research methodology.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer Science lets you combine technical training with learning in another area, typically from the Faculty of Arts. It’s an opportunity to give yourself an edge in career markets where employers often seek people who can analyze and communicate effectively as well as code.

Your first-year courses in Computer Science and Math will give you a solid understanding of the basic principles of computer science while your Arts courses will let you explore your complementary interests.

Laurier's Computer Science program exposes you to not just the software, but also to the hardware that underlies the system, giving you a fundamental understanding of digital systems and microprocessors, and an appreciation for the interaction between the hardware and the software.

While exposure to high school computer science is useful, the first-year Computer Science courses at Laurier provide you with the necessary background.

We believe a successful Economics program provides a combination of sound mathematics, strong statistical analysis and the ability to powerfully convey these findings. Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics provides rigorous training that will give you both theoretical and empirical methods to understand, interpret and communicate the key issues in today’s society.

Laurier’s Economics department is uniquely positioned within our Lazaridis School of Business and Economics to provide you with the option to complete your degree in Economics and Accounting or Economics and Financial Management. The end result is an Economics graduate that has the tools and skills to make a huge impact in the workforce.

LEARN AND EARN:-
As an Economics student, you can take part in our business degree co-op program – the largest in the country – where you can explore different career options and develop skills for your future during three work terms.

STUDY MUSIC AT LAURIER
Built around world-class instructors and a supportive learning environment, you’ll start your Bachelor of Music as a common first-year student, giving you the flexibility to delve deeper into all areas of music before choosing a major. Concentrations are chosen in second year and are offered in:

• composition
• comprehensive
• integrated music arts
• music education
• music history, theory and critical analysis
• performance

As a first-year student, you’ll receive weekly one-hour private lessons, ensemble experience and masterclasses plus access to professional coach-accompanists. We admit 100 students annually in winds, brass, percussion, piano, harp, organ, voice, strings, classical guitar and historical instruments.

Geographers examine interactions between humans and their environment. Over the past few hundred years, humans have modified urban and natural systems at a staggering rate. As the human population continues to increase and the demand for space becomes more competitive, graduates of Geography will have a sound basis for understanding these pressing issues.

Our Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography offers you the opportunity to focus on the field of physical geography. Physical geography includes the sub-disciplines of geomorphology, climatology, biogeography and hydrology, and focuses on understanding how processes in the natural environment function, such as the changing surface of the earth, weather and climate, or the distribution of water on our planet.

The BSc in Geography program prepares you to seek professional registration as an environmental geoscientist (PGeo). Professional registration allows you to practice geoscience in the province of Ontario. The work involves analysis of different Earth systems and geoscientific situations in natural settings, so geoscientists need to gather on-site data and make direct field observations. Worksite locations can be remote and physically challenging. As a BSc in Geography graduate, you'll be able to confidently apply to seek professional registration.