Bachelor of Arts Community Studies

at Cape Breton University Canada

The  Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Advance Standing) Post Degree - Chemical program takes an applied approach to not only chemical processes, but instrumentation and sample analyses. With great relevance to other fields of study such as engineering and nanotechnology, medicine and dentistry, food sciences and environmental sciences, the Chemical Engineering Technology programs provide a gateway into many interesting and opportunity-filled careers.

Post Degree admissions will require a minimum of 50% of their BET degrees to be completed at CBU.  Therefore a maximum of 45-credits (15, one term courses) may be transferred from an appropriate program at an approved post-secondary institution to the 3-year, 90-credit BET (Chemical) and a maximum of 60-credits (20, one term courses) may be transferred from an appropriate program at an approved post-secondary institution to the 4-year, 120-credit BET (Advanced Chemical).

Nothing is more important to our overall health than the food we put inside our bodies. With an incredible amount of access to instructors, and a global community on campus, you gain a unique perspective on how proper nutrition can make a difference anywhere in the world. Our modern facilities and inclusive culture give you the space and freedom to chart your own course in nutrition.

Additionally, the nutrition transfer option focuses on preparing students for entry into the third year of a BSc in Nutrition at a specified university. The first two years completed at Cape Breton University allow students to gain a background in the nutritional sciences by taking courses in biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, statistics, the humanities, the social sciences and business.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Food labelling
• Canada’s food guide
• Food security and the factors affecting it
• Chemistry of nutrition
• Relationship of nutrition to disease prevention and management

Why study at CBU?

• Aside from the incredible island lifestyle and the world-class facilities, you get the opportunity to interact with our faculty and lab instructors on a one-on-one basis. Get the individualized attention and support you need from experienced faculty. This kind of support is critical for your success.
• Nutrition courses at CBU provide an excellent overview of normal and clinical nutritional science. Professors and laboratory assistants provide around-the-clock support and opportunities to gain hands-on experience, while intellectually challenging students along the way.

Chemistry is the study of matter — anything that has mass and occupies space. Everything you touch, hold, smell or taste involves chemistry and chemicals. So, when you step onto Cape Breton Island and look into our waters, across our landscapes and throughout our communities, you’ll discover a natural sense of opportunity and wonder that opens your path to success.

Chemistry is the science of change that affects virtually all other scientific disciplines and is essential to many new technological developments. Chemistry is a physical science, which puts importance on mathematics and physics. Students who study chemistry here take part in a world class curriculum that produces results for tomorrow. That’s because the CBU Chemistry program is nationally accredited by the Canadian Society of Chemistry, designed for students with a passion for chemistry and desire to learn. With accessible faculty and modern facilities, CBU truly has it all.

Here, you study the relationship between the chemical structure of matter and its properties. From new pharmaceuticals that fight disease, industrial catalysts for efficient manufacturing and leading-edge nanotechnologies—what CBU teaches you has the power change the world we live in.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Exposure to chemical literature
• Laboratory safety training
• Interpretation and experimental skills
• Ethics in chemistry training

Why study at CBU?

• At CBU, students gain hands-on research with state-of-the-art equipment in modern facilities. This makes all the difference as you continue your studies or start your career in a number of different possible fields, such as biology, medicine, pharmacy, oceanography, environmental sciences and more.
• CBU Chemistry graduates have been very successful with graduate scholarships. Students find success thanks to the hands-on research experience they gain from our award-winning faculty. About 75% of our students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research projects with real-world applications.
• CBU also has a Chemistry Outreach Program, working with students from primary school through grade 12 to share the wonderful world of science with audiences of all ages. This program creates opportunities for CBU Chemistry students to share their knowledge and also learn from other students, while engaging with our friendly community.

Cape Breton University recognizes the inherent challenges of maintaining proper health and safety in today’s ever-evolving workplace. With CBU’s Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Management, students will gain the managerial skills necessary for effective management of occupational health, safety and risk across various disciplines in the Canadian and global context.

Students will gain competencies to provide coaching and guidance and the abilities to identify, assess and communicate on matters relating to occupational health, safety and organizational risk. The diploma further provides an introduction to approaches for working with various stakeholders, workplace diversity, human rights and working within an Indigenous context.

Upon graduation from the OH&S Management diploma, students will be prepared for roles in any industry; particularly the public sector and compliance services, business and insurance project management and construction, safety supervision, environmental industry, oil and gas and many more roles where advanced education in these areas is highly valued and in demand.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Develop an advanced understanding of occupational health, safety, and organizational risk applicable to any industry.
• Gain strategies and methods for developing collaborative relationships among stakeholders to achieve greater health, safety and risk outcomes and to better inform culturally responsive approaches.
• Develop competencies to provide coaching and guidance and the abilities to identify, assess and communicate on matters relating to occupational health, safety and organizational risk.

One look at island life and it becomes clear: CBU is a special place that is focused and determined to make the world a better place. The passion for innovation and collaboration runs deep in our history and fuels our future.

The engineering transfer program is offered at CBU on an associate basis with Dalhousie University. CBU is one of the few Associated Universities to offer the first two years of all seven engineering disciplines. These include civil, environmental, mineral resource, electrical, industrial, mechanical and chemical engineering. We deliver the first two years of the four-year Bachelor of Engineering program.

The first year of the program is common for all seven discipline options. At the end of the first year, you must make a decision on a specialty. Application is made at this time to both CBU and Dalhousie for a seat in the particular discipline of choice.

During year two, you will be registered at both CBU and Dalhousie University.

Students can also combine a BSc in either chemistry or mathematics with the Engineering Diploma. This program requires a third year of study at CBU to complete the BSc, followed by two years at Dalhousie University to complete the BEng.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Reduce complex problems using appropriate assumptions.
• Identify appropriate engineering tools for real-world problems.
• Learn to plan for safety and sustainability issues.
• Explain interactions between technical systems in various contexts.
• Become an effective leader and team member.

Why study at CBU?

• Our friendly, welcoming, respectful community helps engineering students connect solutions with real-world problems.
• By starting the BEng Transfer Program at a smaller institution, students get individualized attention and support from experienced faculty, which is critical for success.
• CBU is home to the newest Engineering Department in Nova Scotia, and second in size only to Dalhousie University. CBU is also one of the few Associated Universities to offer the first two years of all eight engineering disciplines.

The music major program at Cape Breton University is a four year undergraduate degree that deals with education about music, its evolution, the various genres of music and its effect on the people and the world as a whole. This degree deals with all kinds of traditional music, popular music, religious music and a special emphasis on traditional music such as Celtic, indigenous, Acadian and First Nations.

Cape Breton is a centre of cultural activity and one of the most culturally diverse regions of the country. It is especially famous for its musical traditions and the griping influence of music on the people of the region. Along with educating students about the history and chronology of music this course also delves into current issues that affect not just local music but the broader community, including protest music, cultural tourism, and music revivals.

CBU provides its students rich audio archives, a state-of-the-art Rotary Music Performance and Digitization Lab, and access to a thriving traditional music scene; opportunities are endless for research for music students on Cape Breton Island. Students have options of a co-operative education and can even gain professional real world experience by taking up internships. Students also have the opportunity to take performance courses taught by some of Cape Breton’s best known traditional musicians including the likes of Stan Chapman, Natalie Macmaster, and Kyle McNeil. Students have the opportunity of going for student exchange programs across the world to countries like Ireland, Scotland, or England.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Awareness and appreciation of music from around the world
• Greater understanding of music’s roles and functions in society
• Ability to analyze music
• Improved ability to perform
• Knowledge of the music industry

Studying a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health) at CBU offers a unique opportunity to impact quality of life for everyone around you. With the knowledge and skills learned here, you gain the ability to make a difference in a real community using modern facilities, working alongside experienced faculty.

Specifically, the public health program at CBU focuses on environmental health. This segment of public health centres on keeping people healthy in the places they live, work and play. With an eclectic community coming from more than 40 countries collaborating and studying together in an island setting, health sciences in Cape Breton is a rich area for discovery.

Our program taps into the natural resources of our region, focusing on food safety, water and air quality, communicable disease control, and occupational health and safety. We currently offer three streams of our program.

Stream One is the four-year option that a student graduating from high school, or someone without post-secondary education, could take. Stream Two is an accelerated two-year option for students with a previous science degree or a similar degree/diploma. And Stream Three is an in-career option available only to military workers seeking a degree. These military workers must be certified by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Evaluate safety hazards and mitigate risks.
• Sharpen interpersonal skills through presentations.
• Interpret and apply government legislation.

Today’s world is in constant flux, and not only are gender studies no different, they can often be at the centre of our major cultural issues. Every day, unique stories emerge in our lives, from gender politics to gender and economics, that can impact the way we work and live.

Our minor in Gender and Women’s Studies gives students the opportunity to study a full range of human experiences and arrangements of social organization. We offer a comprehensive curriculum to help process the issues we face as a society, which can provide lessons needed for life in a modern, multicultural and diversified culture.

This program prepares students with the skills to manage, nurture and shape society through a critical understanding of leadership and responsible action. We examine alternative institutional arrangements that will help students cope with an increasingly diverse workplace, as well as with the combination of work and family responsibilities.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Knowledge of complex social problems
• Understanding of gender differences
• Critical comprehension of key texts
• Ability to analyze gender issues

Why study at CBU?

• Picture a place where a completely unique collective of people with a passion for learning all come together to make their world a better place. That place is Cape Breton University.
• Here, you can study multiple disciplines within the Gender and Women’s Studies program and develop a solid foundation with skills for the real world. Through a continual sharpening of widely useful analytical skills, our accessible faculty teach you to think critically about the production of knowledge. We also emphasize undergraduate student research to help you get the best start possible when you begin your career.

Nurses are at the forefront of our health care system. The Bachelor of Science, Nursing (BScN) is an incredible opportunity. It’s a program that prepares students to be eligible to practice as registered nurses in a variety of health care settings. At Cape Breton University, you arrive inspired and leave prepared with the skills you need to thrive, with lifelong knowledge, skills and ability guiding you along the way.
The nursing curriculum is an intentional blending of courses from many disciplines, integrating theory and practice to facilitate self-growth, critical inquiry and a commitment to lifelong learning. Teachers and students engage in continuous professional development. From perfecting evidence-informed practice to respond to changing patient needs, to learning modern technologies, our faculty and students work together in a supportive and dynamic learning environment.

CBU’s BScN strives for excellence in preparing our future registered nurses to be knowledgeable, compassionate and ethical professionals.
What skills will I gain from this program?

• Knowledge of nursing theories, research and evaluation.
• Acquire practice-based learning.
• Learn to promote, maintain and restore health.
• Skills to prevent illness or injury.
• Qualify to write the NCLEX-RN exam.

Why study at CBU?
The nursing program at CBU uses a concept-based curriculum, so it’s easy to find the resources you need to gain the skills you need. Our concept-based learning is an approach to education that is more student-centered and student-directed. This means you’re fully immersed in real-world studies through engaging, hands-on learning.

CBU students have access to a wide variety of nursing practice placements (hospitals, community, long-term care) within the Nova Scotia Health Authority as well as private community partners that provide the experiential learning nursing students need to bridge theory to practice.

You also have an opportunity to take part in a two-week International Experience designed to help you learn about health and nursing in another culture and engage in service-learning. Our students have travelled to Quito, Bali, and Argentina. Students have the opportunity to study for a Specialty Nursing Certificate in oncology, acute and critical care, mental health, public health or Indigenous health nursing, along with others. Additionally, qualified students can enhance their research knowledge and skills by completing an advanced major in an area of interest.

On Cape Breton Island, you’ll find the path to your successful future by discovering today’s world of psychology. With students coming to study at CBU from over 40 countries around the world, our diverse campus of thought leaders set the stage for your future success.

Psychology courses at CBU emphasize the genetic, physiological, sensory, cognitive, personality-based and social structures that mediate behaviour and mental processes. As the science that examines the structure and function of behaviour and mental processes, we’re proud to offer relevant programs for today’s world.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Understanding of mental health
• Learn theories and history of psychology
• General research skills·
• Specific knowledge to your specialization

Why study at CBU?

• At CBU, our comprehensive curriculum focuses on understanding individual behaviour so you can apply your skills to a wide variety of opportunities in the field of psychology. Studying psychology here will provide you with the skills you need to think, be innovative and design your own experiments to answer your own questions. You will critique work, yours and others, as well as conduct and report on experiments to help build a foundation for tomorrow.
• With modern facilities and breathtaking scenery, not many places in the world can offer what Cape Breton Island can offer. Plus, with accessible and experienced faculty, CBU encourages active research alongside your professors.
• Because hard work and dedication are noticed here, students are often hired as research assistants to help professors in their duties. Here, we also believe that what we learn from psychological research can be used to understand past, current, or future events. That means the knowledge you gain at CBU can also help analyze mental health issues, and improve education, employment and relationships.
• Our Honours Psychology Program (BA, BSc, or BACS) provides advanced training in research methods, statistical analysis, as well as guaranteed one-on-one thesis supervision. This program prepares students wishing to go on to graduate school or professional programs.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Directed study course work
• Co-op opportunities
• Working as a research assistant