Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies

at York University - School of Continuing Studies Canada

Our extensive facilities and our Biochemistry Lab – outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment – provides  you with hands-on training in the laboratory right from the very first year.

The Biochemistry program at York is your gateway to an exciting and rapidly evolving field. Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of life, and as all fields of biology are increasingly seeking understanding at the molecular and submolecular levels, Biochemistry continues to be vitally important to advancing many areas of biology and biomedical science.

Biochemistry looks at topics such as molecular genetics, physiology and the treatment of disease. As a Biochemistry student you will explore the structure and properties of biological molecules and the relationship between their chemical structure and their function in living systems.

Many areas of everyday life owe their development or even existence to biochemists: medical products and diagnostics, new food and its safety, crop improvement, cosmetics and forensic science.

• York's Biochemistry professors include Sergey Krylov, Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry and David Hood, Canada Research Chair in Cell Physiology.
• York houses the Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions which houses more than 70 professors, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students. The Centre uses cutting-edge approaches to gain full understanding of key molecular players and events that can lead to disease, and by doing so, hopes to address prevention and future treatment of many diseases.

The Biochemistry program at York is your gateway to an exciting and rapidly evolving field. Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of life, and as all fields of biology are increasingly seeking understanding at the molecular and submolecular levels, Biochemistry continues to be vitally important to advancing many areas of biology and biomedical science, including molecular genetics, physiology and the treatment of disease. As a Biochemistry student you will explore the structure and properties of biological molecules and the relationship between their chemical structure and their function in living systems.

This four-year program provides you with hands-on training in the laboratory right from the very first year. A fourth-year research project serves as the capstone course of your degree, preparing you for many challenging careers. York Biochemistry students get meaningful and well paid jobs in research, in industry and in teaching. Others go on to pursue graduate studies, here and at other prestigious universities in Canada and abroad. Many enter professional schools in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and business.

Computer engineering forms the basis of the modern world. Self-driving cars, robotics, mobile devices, electronic commerce, wireless communications, and other advances are all built by Computer Engineers. Computer engineers gain deep knowledge about hardware and software design, as well as are uniquely qualified to work on computer systems involving these aspects. They design and implement solutions to the ever increasing range of engineering problems.

What You’ll Learn
As a Computer Engineering student you will gain deep knowledge about hardware and software design, as well be uniquely qualified to work on computer systems. You will take courses in computation, system design and other specialized areas, including robotics and virtual reality. This theoretical knowledge is balanced with hands-on experience. Lassonde Computer Engineering students have access to our state-of-the-art facilities –Digital Systems Lab and Robotics Lab. 

After second year, the co-op program can provide you with valuable experience, giving you an early start to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer.

Study this multidimensional discipline that includes design engineering, renewable energy, developing medical diagnostic devices, advanced manufacturing and materials, robotics and automation. Students will develop a broad range of technical skills and the knowledge to complete diverse engineering tasks for a cleaner and healthier environment. Career paths include: engineer and/or specialist in clean energy, aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing sectors.

Our Mechanical Engineering program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).

What You'll Learn
You will start with learning the fundamental knowledge that serves as the foundation for mechanical engineering.
After first year, you will have the chance to focus in and explore what you are most passionate about – Mechanism Design, Manufacturing Engineering, Instrumentation, Electrical Systems, Fluid Dynamics, Solid Mechanics and CAD (computer-aided design).

Some Courses You'll Take  

• Engineering Graphics and CAD Modelling
• Machine Elements Design
• Instrumentation and Measurement Techniques
• Fluid Mechanics
• Application of Simulation Tools for Design and Analysis
• Solid Mechanics and Materials Lab
• Macro and Micro Manufacturing Methods
• Electrical Systems for Mechanical Engineers

Did you know that humans have been biotechnologists for nearly 6,000 years? Making wine, beer, cheese and yogurt involve the use of bacteria or yeast to convert a natural product, like milk or grape juice, into a more desirable fermentation product.

Biothechnology is the direct or indirect use of living organisms in an innovative manner in the production of goods and services, or to improve existing processes. Applications of this science include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, genetically modifying agricultural crops and production of vitamins, pharmaceuticals and other economically important products.

York’s Biotechnology program prepares you for a career in this exciting, steadily growing field. This program teaches not only the underlying science but also exposes you to relevant social, legal, ethical and business issues.

Many students ask, how does "biotechnology" differ from "genetic engineering"? Biotechnology is a broad term that applies to all practical uses of living organisms—anything from microorganisms used in the fermentation of beer to the most sophisticated application of gene therapy. Genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies that are being used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms.

This program has been designed to provide a well-coordinated synthesis of carefully selected courses in molecular and cell biology, genetics and biochemistry with others in computer science, economics, business and ethics. It combines the required technical and conceptual scientific rigor necessary for mastery of the discipline with a fundamental education relevant to socio-economic aspects of biotechnology.

York's program is designed to offer you the opportunity to prepare for a career in biotechnology and, at the same time, to provide a sound foundation for postgraduate studies in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry.
Students frequently compete in the Sanofi-Pasteur Healthcare & Biotechnology Venture Challenge. This is a unique opportunity for Biotechnology and Schulich MBA students to create business plans to get products out of the lab and on to the market. In 2010, teams comprised of York Biotechnology and Schulich MBA students were awarded with over $10,000 in prizes.

Biotechnology is the application of science and engineering in the innovative use of living organisms to create new products that improve the quality of our food, our health and our environment. Applications of this science include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, genetically modifying agricultural crops and production of vitamins, pharmaceuticals and other economically important products. York’s Biotechnology program prepares you for a career in this exciting, steadily growing field. This program teaches not only the underlying science but also exposes you to relevant social, legal, ethical and business issues.

Digital Media focuses on the study of 3D simulations and animation, artistic theories and cultural impact. It inspires people with imaginative digital art installations or design of the next generation gaming technology. Using code and programming as tools for creative expression, digital media specialists develop original digital media objects and experiences such as mobile apps, immersive and 3D environments, data visualization, interactive performance and more. 

What You'll Learn 
As a Digital Media student, you will learn about the raw tools that help create digital imagery and sound, including animation and 3D simulations. You will also study larger concepts like artistic theories and the cultural impact of digital media on the world. Most importantly, you will learn to create.

You will begin the program by completing a common core of courses in first year. You will select from one of three specializations based on your interest: Digital Media Development (DMD) that has a greater focus on computer science, Digital Media Arts (DMA) that focuses more on fine arts or the brand new Digital Media Game Arts. 

Did you know that studying philosophy is great preparation for law school, an MBA or other graduate studies? Philosophy majors regularly perform much better than average on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

This program is offered by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies on the Keele Campus.

The word 'philosophy' is derived from the Greek for "love of wisdom" and is one of the world's oldest subjects of study. Philosophy pursues questions in every dimension of human life, and its techniques apply to problems in any field of study or endeavor. It is a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths, a quest for understanding and a study of principles of conduct.

Explore life’s deepest questions concerning the nature of happiness, the requirements of justice, the limits of knowledge, and the meaning of freedom. You’ll discover how to develop answers to these questions and how to engage in fruitful argument with alternative points of view. These skills are applicable to all areas of modern life: intellectual, professional and personal.

Efforts are made to blend contemporary and historical issues and many of our professors draw their inspiration from widely separated philosophical approaches. In keeping with this, there is a great deal of cross-disciplinary work. The department offers a wide range of courses which examine contemporary problems and issues such as:

• Applied ethics
• Philosophy of mind
• Social and political philosophy
• Argumentation theory
• Feminism

York's Music program provides an uncommon opportunity to explore the depth and breadth of the art form through a remarkably flexible curriculum that enables students to pursue creative and scholarly work across a wide range of musical genres and traditions, tailored to each individual's unique talents and aspirations.

York's Music program is known for pioneering post-secondary studies in jazz, world, classical and digital music. Students may specialize or generalize according to their interests, developing expertise in a particular area of vocal or instrumental performance or composition, or working in a variety of musical practices and cultural forms. Options include solo, small and large ensemble performance; composition and arranging; education and community arts development; ethnomusicology; and the growing field of musoc media production for cinema, gaming and motion media.

All first-year Music students enter the BFA program. After first year, students whose interests centre on music history, criticism and scholarly research may choose to move to the BA program.

Program Highlights
Courses and workshops in popular music and in non-western performance traditions, such as South Indian, Chinese orchestra, Indonesian gamelan, Caribbean, West African drumming and Celtic Canadian, are a regular feature of the program.

Performance Opportunities
Presenting more than 100 student and faculty conerts a year, as well as master classes with renowned Canadian and international artists, the Department of Music offers countless opportunities to perform and collaborate. In addition to the many student-led ensembles, students can be part of numerous formal ensembles, including:

• Symphony Orchestra
• Jazz Orchestra and Choirs
• West African Drums
• Concert and Chamber Choirs
• Celtic Canadian Folk Ensemble
• New Music Ensemble
• Chinese Classical Ensemble
• Gospel Choir
• Wind Symphony
• Escola de Samba
• Rhythm & Blues Ensemble
• Chamber Strings

Develop the expertise to safeguard organizations from digital threats and pursue career opportunities in IT departments.
What you will learn
In this full-time, post-graduate program, you will learn how to:

• Define the principles of security governance and evaluate risk and mitigation options to manage vulnerabilities
• Analyze and evaluate the various Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) that suspicious entities leverage to steal data
• Define what represents a cyber security incident and classify and triage appropriately
• Demonstrate an understanding of operational security concepts, principles, best practices, and responsibilities required to protect organizational assets
• Install, configure, utilize, and troubleshoot various cyber security tools and software

Program Benefits

• The only full-time certificate in Cyber Security to be offered by a Canadian university
• Designed for recent domestic and international university graduates with minimal or no experience in information technology
• Developed and taught by leading cyber security professionals
• Engage in practical labs where you will directly apply the knowledge gained in the program
• Participate in a comprehensive capstone project where you will showcase your cumulative knowledge and skills in cyber operations.
• Advance through the program with the same cohort of peers and build your professional network
• Complete the Post-Graduate Certificate in just 9 months

Statistics is a field that provides the foundations and techniques to collect, analyze, and present information in an effective and efficient manner. Recent trends involve a resurgence of interest in methods for informal exploratory analysis of data. This relies increasingly on friendly computing environments supported by efficient algorithms. York's Statistics program is an exploration of the nature of measurement, chance variation, probability, uncertainty, inductive logic and inference, and combines naturally with studies in the life and social sciences.

An increasingly important aspect of modern statistics is the design of experiments and surveys — as well as analyzing the resulting data — in areas of application ranging scientific studies to the insurance industry. Statisticians use surveys to predict the patterns of behaviour of large groups based on relatively small samples.

Through its applications in almost every branch of modern professional life and research, statistics is a fast-growing discipline that provides a statistician with a variety of career opportunities. Statistics is offered as both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science options. Why take one instead of the other? All Mathematics students (Mathematics, Applied Math, Statistics, Math for Commerce) take common first- and second-year courses. It is in the third and fourth years that the programs begin to differentiate.

For a Bachelor of Science (BSc) math degree, you will combine your math courses with other science courses such as physics, earth and atmospheric science, biology or computer science.

Linguistics constitutes the systematic study of natural language, its formal structures, and social function.
Linguistics & Language Studies examines the building blocks of languages, how they develop over time, how people learn languages, how regional accents differ and more. Why Linguistics at Glendon? Our professors offer an expanse of expertise in the study of sound properties, word patterns, meaning, language evolution, and the relationship between language and social factors.