Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts

at York University - School of Continuing Studies Canada

This cross-disciplinary program offers you a challenging opportunity to study the mind and its processes.
Cognitive science majors will examine the nature of thought, memory, perception and language from a variety of different perspectives in order to acquire a rich knowledge of the mind. You will have the chance to study the different ways in which infants and non-human animals may be able to think and reason without language, how computers may be programmed to demonstrate intelligence and the nature of the relationship between social interaction and cognition.

Our professors are conducting research in such diverse areas as:

• Infant social cognition
• Human-computer interaction
• Cognitive ethology
• Moral psychology
• Artificial intelligence

To gain an expansive knowledge of the cognitive processes we might find in humans, animals and machines, you can combine courses from:

• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Linguistics
• Computer science
• Information technology

In order to integrate findings from different fields, you'll be trained in the methodologies of different disciplines, and you'll have the opportunity to apply these methods in order to examine the nature of thought, memory, perception, language, and other cognitive processes. You will have the opportunity to take courses in:

• Minds, Brains, and Machines
• Neural Basis of Behaviour
• Psycholinguistics
• Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
• Animal Behaviour

Your studies will be enriched by your contact with energetic professors and research groups involved in groundbreaking work in fields such as vision, social cognitive neuroscience, language evolution, autism research, robotics, ape cognition and consciousness.

Mathematics for Education is designed for students considering a career in teaching. Students can be enrolled in York's concurrent education program or may intend to take a two year consecutive education program. This program offers a broader background in a wider perspective on the teaching and learning of mathematics.

York offers two teacher education programs:

• Concurrent undergraduate programs for students already enrolled in other undergraduate Faculties
• Consecutive undergraduate full-time program for prospective teachers who have already graduated in another discipline

You enter the concurrent program in your third or fourth year. Selection is based on:

• Academic achievement
• Oral communication abilities
• Personal characteristics relevant to the teaching profession

Two years are added to your undergraduate studies and in the remaining four years you work concurrently to complete the requirements of your undergraduate program as well as the professional teaching program.

You enter the two-year consecutive full-time program if you hold an undergraduate degree. Selection is based on:

• Education-related experience
• Academic achievement
• Oral communication skills
• Personal characteristics relevant to the teaching profession

York offers some of the best Math support services in the country including a Math Tutorial Lab, a Statistics Tutorial Lab, a regular schedule of help sessions offered by professors, peer tutoring and study groups.

The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) is pleased to announce a new Specialized Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Intermedia, offered collaboratively by the Departments of Computational Arts and Visual Art and Art History.

Our innovative BA in Educational Studies program provides students with a broad understanding of how and why people learn, and the role education plays in society today.
Courses are clustered into three topical areas, which explore the understanding of education.

• Engagements — focus on the development of professional skills
• Values — focus on who and why we educate
• Representations — focus on understanding the idea of education

Students in this program develop the essential skills necessary to succeed in educational work outside of the traditional classroom and  benefit from the Faculty of Education’s strength in the study of education and York University’s strengths in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
There are highly skilled educators at work anywhere human beings share knowledge, contributing to their communities and succeeding in their chosen fields.. Upon graduation, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to educate outside of the classroom.

Experiential Education
During years 3 and 4 of the program, you will have an opportunity to experience your education through learning placements within the community or in related organizations. You’ll develop workplace-specific skills and enhance your professional networks. Our unique community-partnerships will provide you with opportunities to put theory into practice and to gain insight into the kinds of learning and advocacy that contribute to the well-being of society.
The BA in Educational Studies does not lead to teacher certification. Students accepted into the Bachelor of Arts, Educational Studies program may also apply for entry to the Concurrent Bachelor of Education program.

Humanities is the study of culture. It involves history, art, literature, music, architecture, politics, food - all aspects that help to define and express a specific group of people. The study of the Humanities serves to challenge our common understanding of issues and events, and helps students to develop valuable critical, analytical and communications skills.

The Humanities program in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies will introduce you to the major questions of life as you study issues of social, moral and aesthetic value. Drawing from literature, History, Philosophy, Religion, Fine Arts and popular culture courses, the Humanities program enables you to gain a greater self-understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human cultures and experiences. The program pays special attention to what is unique, particular and unpredictable in human experience.

You can combine studies in the Humanities with a related discipline such as History, Philosophy or Women's Studies, exploring complimentary historical, cultural and gender perspectives.

As a Humanities graduate, you will be well-prepared to face your future lives and careers through well-reasoned decisions and responsible actions. You will be valued by leaders of the high-tech industry and government for your:

• Creativity and broad-based skills;
• Ability to communicate, to sell, to relate and work as part of a team;
• Intellectual curiosity;
• Critical values.

The Faculty of Science offers Bachelor of Arts(BA)and Bachelor of Science(BSc)degree programs in Applied Mathematics.

Applied mathematics or computational sciences encompasses the many analytical and numerical methods used to solve scientific problems. It is at the core of many disciplines ranging from engineering and science to business and economics. It is essential to be able to apply many different mathematical techniques and to handle problems involving statistical data. It is also necessary to be able to take a practical problem, from engineering for example, and turn it into a mathematical problem; this is referred to as mathematical modelling.

Applied mathematics includes the area of scientific computing, which involves many components of computational processes — numerical analysis, algorithms for machines with vector and parallel architectures, visualization, simulation and computer-aided design.

Applied mathematicians use equations and computer simulations to:

• design computer chips;
• set airfare and insurance rates;
• model electric power grids;
• study genetic engineering;
• create new automobile and airplane design;
• study global climate change.

It is mathematics used to model and solve practical, real-world problems.

The Applied Mathematics (BA) program aims to give students a solid base of knowledge of mathematics which has important applications in fields such as computer science, physics, earth and atmospheric science, chemistry, biology, psychology and also in economics and business. Bachelor of Arts students are given the opportunity to take electives in other areas of interest, such as business administration.

Computer Security is a multi-faceted and challenging field. Ensuring the privacy of personal data, preventing unauthorized access to computer systems, ensuring back-up contingency plans in the event of data loss and protecting systems from malicious activity such as viruses and worms are just a few areas you can get involved in.

What You'll Learn 
In our Computer Security program you will build a solid background in computer science and math. You will study a variety of courses, including cryptography and operating systems. Computer security is the specialized part of computer science that studies threats to computer systems and networks. It is the science and practise of how to mitigate them. You will become an expert on all those topics. 

We offer both BA and BSc degrees, which share the same computer science and math requirements. In the BA program, you will complement your studies with courses from the Liberal Arts (e.g., humanities, social sciences). In BSc, the complimentary courses will be in the sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics).

After third year, you can put your knowledge to the test by taking part in our paid internship program. We have teamed up with a variety of major companies to ensure you gain valuable professional experience. 

Some Courses You'll Take  

• Object Oriented Programming 
• Mobile App Development 
• Design and Analysis of Algorithms 
• Computer Security Management 
• Applied Cryptography 
• Computer Security Management and Forensics

Ever wish someone listened to you as a child? Our Children, Childhood and Youth program focuses on the experiences, knowledge and concerns of children. You will learn ethnographic techniques specific to children and their cultures. You'll analyze children's voices in contemporary and historical contexts and gain an understanding of the human condition from the child's perspective. You'll also participate in community-based partnerships and be encouraged to take part in advocacy work.

Children, Childhood and Youth explores global childhood experiences in philosophical and social terms and their personal, societal and human consequences. Attention is paid to the nature and significance of children's culture – distinguishing between culture created by adults for children and the culture of children themselves. You will learn how to engage children, discern children's voices in historical and cultural contexts and come to understand the human condition from their perspective.

The Children, Childhood and Youth program is truly interdisciplinary, incorporating expertise and courses from programs such as sociology and psychology. Courses include:

• Introduction to Children, Childhood and Youth Studies
• Global Cultures of Children and Young People
• Research with Children and Young People
• Honours Research Project
• Internships / Practicums

Students in our program access to a variety of unique advantages:

• York is home to the Canadian Children's Culture Collection, a major archive of child-related materials including York-based studies and unique toy collections designed by children. York is also home to the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research, which supports research in health, education, relationships and development of infants, children, adolescents, emerging adults and families. Additionally, York hosts the Alexander F. Chamberlain speaker series, which features lectures and seminars from leading scholars in the Children's Studies field.
• Learn with professors that are actively involved in research with children and young people in Canada and around the world, covering a range of topics from literature and ethnomusicology to critical race studies and the global cultures of children and young people
• You will have the opportunity to enhance your studies and add to your university experience by participating in an exchange program with the Children’s Studies program at the National University in Galway, Ireland. You also have the opportunity to explore the cultures of children and youth in international contexts such as Limpopo, South Africa, by taking an international field study course.
• Join a child/youth-centred club or association. Local chapters of the advocacy groups "Free the Children" and "Right to Play" are found on York's campus and play an important role in the program. The York student club Peace by PEACE works with children, empowering them to prevent, manage and resolve conflict peacefully.
• The Children, Childhood & Youth Student Association (CCYSA) offers students an opportunity to gain further knowledge of children and their cultures; to advocate for children's rights; to build lasting friendships and partnerships in the community through social and cultural events, advocacy projects, and information sessions; and to provide resources for its members such as mentoring, leadership training, and volunteer opportunities.

There are three streams within the Physics and Astronomy program:

• Physics
• Applied Physics
• Astronomy and Astrophysics

Physics is the most fundamental science discipline. It attempts to understand nature at its deepest level. It develops an understanding and description of all forms of energy and matter and can be said to occupy the middle ground between mathematics and engineering.

Astronomy is the science that deals with the origin, evolution, composition, distance and motion of all bodies and scattered matter in the universe. It includes astrophysics, which discusses the physical properties and structure of all cosmic matter. Participate in world-class research projects led by our professors in fields as diverse as atomic and molecular physics, laser physics, elementary particle and subatomic physics and engineering physics. Students from this program routinely win prestigious grants to support them in all areas of graduate research.

You will gain a strong grounding in physics, astronomy and computer-based physics with a strong experimental physics component. You will not only learn the subject matter, but also learn how to write scientific reports, and deliver oral presentations on a topic of your choice. The physical world is open to you!

• Work with professors in our research groups like those in experimental high-energy (particle) physics and astronomy and the Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science.
• It's natural to combine Physics with other disciplines, such as Earth and Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Computer Science or Biology. Given that physics teachers for high schools are difficult to find, why not combine Physics & Astronomy studies with a teaching degree?
• York's Astronomical Observatory is actively engaged in a long-term variable star monitoring program. Although clear and dark skies are not as frequent as one would like in Toronto, the results from this on going research have yielded relatively "clean" and valid scientific results. Results are presented at the annual Canadian Astronomical Society meetings each year. Come to a public viewing on Wednesday night or take a virtual tour.
• The Astronomy Club brings together all those who look to beauty, those who seek knowledge and those who are simply curious to meet, discuss and learn about the cosmos in which we live.

Public management leaders must have multidisciplinary knowledge, critical skills and abilities to realize their vision to advance the public interest. At York, we prepare leaders for the broader public sector that spans all levels of government, public institutions and non-profit organizations, who can excel and thrive in a dynamic multicultural environment. Our graduates also work as policy analysts, legal and regulatory compliance officers, consultants and government relations managers in the private sector.

Through courses in areas such as public administration, Canadian government and public law, you’ll examine current and emerging debates regarding public institutions, law, human rights and diversity. You’ll also gain a clear understanding of the theory and practice of government while acquiring expertise relevant to policy analysis, program evaluation and other public service functions such as project management, human resources, budgeting and finance.

The Bachelor of Public Administration is an Honours only program and students also have the option to specialize in one of three streams:

• Law, Justice and Public Policy
• Management
• Policy Analysis

Many courses involve simulations and exercises drawn from real world scenarios at all three levels of Canadian government. A limited number of practicum and internship placements are available for qualified students.
Staffed by faculty with strong research records and many years combined experience in active public service, the School provides a sense of community for students who share a fascination with questions of governance, administration, public ethics and the law.