Bachelor of Arts Community Studies in Mathematics (Co-op Optional)

at Cape Breton University Canada

The history along the ancient east coast of Canada is rich and rewarding for those who dive into the legend and lore. That’s why we’re so proud to not only teach history – but to make it. With students studying here from more than 40 countries around the globe, the historical and cultural knowledge base is wonderfully vast and incredibly diverse.

Home to faculty who are award-winning teachers and cutting-edge researchers, the history program at CBU offers a unique perspective on this intriguing field of study. Our approachable and experienced faculty facilitate the study of history by teaching students to think about the past and the present in equal parts. Historians analyze the causes and consequences of change over time, yet the study of history also takes the present into account – seeking to expand our knowledge of our own experiences through a deeper understanding of the past.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Research skills
• Communication skills
• Understanding of history

Why study at CBU?

• From the cornerstones of our historic culture, students will learn how life is forged into the future by an interwoven series of past events.
• Thought-provoking material and a diverse course selection are offered through unique courses that provide a variety of ways to study and a range of experiences in and out of the classroom.
• Enjoy a more personal post-secondary education experience with accessible and experienced faculty, and ample opportunities to work as a research assistant conducting original, independent research throughout your degree.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Hands-on Internship Program
• Work experience at Beaton Institute or CBU Art Gallery
• Travel with International Exchange Programs

Knowledge of the law reduces vulnerability. The ability to understand the laws of employment, the fundamentals of business law and the importance of policies concerning good governance are all critical skills.

A legal studies concentration at CBU focuses on ensuring an understanding of legal risk identification and management. We offer courses that range from a formal introduction, to more specific and complex overview of the Canadian legal system.

Students with a love for law will thrive in the legal studies concentration, gaining a perspective that allows them to better appreciate the importance of fundamental skills. You’ll be encouraged to explore a number of legal topical areas that are directly related to the business sector, but also relate to personal and private life activities.
What skills will I gain from this program?

•     Understand how the legal system works; different levels of courts and how the courts interact; roles of the various participants in the Canadian justice system.
•     Identify and find information to aid in the understanding of legal questions.
•     Explore the practical aspects of legal situations to enable avoidance and response management techniques.
•     Develop research skills that assist both in future legal studies and the legal profession.
•     Argument development and presentation skills.
•     Management of legal risks for personal, professional and business life activities.
•     Personal confidence to understand and respond to legal matters.

Why study at CBU?

At CBU, we believe that a fair and open society revolves around adherence to the legal system. It’s that common belief that gives students like you the chance to let your skills shine, and the opportunity to use your solutions to solve actual problems.

Our practical approach to law equips students with real life skills through the legal studies concentration. Individual course elements enable students to explore specific legal areas that relate to the public and private sectors. Students will also have the ability to include some legal studies course offerings into their choice of major or concentration, or to complete a legal studies concentration.

Students at CBU can incorporate as many of the legal studies courses as their program allows. This provides the option to acquire a strong foundation in the substantive areas of employment, administrative, criminal, business, public health and legal research.

In Cape Breton, one of the most biodiverse places on earth, you’re connected to the environment in unbelievable ways. Through a unique ecosystem with untouched elements on land, sea and air, discoveries are as abundant as opportunities.

Environmental studies at CBU provides you with the skills you need to thrive in the same real world you observe and assess. The rugged, natural landscapes surrounding you are ripe for discovery. While every student gains an understanding of the fundamental sciences, including biology, chemistry, and geology, as well as engineering principles with a focus on the environment, it’s the individual experience that is most important.

This program gives you the chance to examine key environmental subjects. Take part in air quality, water and soil assessments, waste management, sustainable development and environmental policy. All the while, building up your skills to take your next big step in life. Graduates from this program have secured successful careers in the technology industry, consulting with government, and with various public and private corporations.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Understand the interconnectedness of physical, chemical, and biological processes in natural and built environments.
• Balance environmental sustainability with economic development and technological progress.
• Perform contaminated site assessments.
• Perform environmental impact assessments.
• Measure water, soil, and air quality and determine appropriate pollution control and treatment strategies.

Why study at CBU?

• At CBU, you’ll have incredible access to research opportunities and faculty who help guide you in real-world settings. If you’re looking for a future filled with adventure and discovery, you’ve found it.
• Because the connection to our environment is strong, and our ocean-based setting is so prevalent, CBU provides plenty of opportunities for field trips and immersive experiences in environmental sustainability, exploring the impacts of large industrial remediation projects.
• Our fast-growing engineering department also provides plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and one-on-one instruction.

The special skills you learn at CBU in the Diploma in Public Administration and Management program can take you in any direction. Learn in modern facilities surrounded by a thriving community with access to everything you need to grow. The knowledge you gain here will help you excel in managing people, processes and policies in various industries to help you build the solid foundation you need for the real world.

This Diploma in Public Administration and Management has been designed to help you gain quantitative and qualitative research skills, and get a better understanding of management and community development. This is incredibly helpful for those with an interest in working for, or with, government and community-based organizations managing groups of people.

Carve your own path into the future while developing expertise in the techniques and practices of public sector management. This diploma offers the chance to take a deep look at the nature of Canadian government and public administration at the international, national, provincial and local levels. Study comprehensive subjects such as management, law, organizational theory, policy development, research methods, leadership and more.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Learn about public sector management at all government levels.
• Financial and personnel management skills.
• Quantitative and qualitative-based research skills.
• Understand how government policies work.
• Management and community development skills.

Why study at CBU?

• On Cape Breton Island, public sector managers play a critically important role in our local, regional, national and global communities by providing project management and policy advice. It’s not only the modern facilities or the word-class education that draws students from over 40 countries to our unique location on the sea, it’s the chance to make a difference in the place you call home.
• Studying public administration and management at CBU will help you learn the skills necessary to take on challenging issues that define the public agenda in Canada. In addition to our regular courses, our experienced faculty provide hands-on learning through either an experiential learning directed study, or co-op work placements paired with the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Management (C.I.M.). This helps ensure our students are prepared to enter the professional world or continue to graduate studies.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Local volunteer activities
• Large-scale community engagements
• Diverse campus events
• Option to choose a directed study project or internship
• Option to complete a special Certificate in Management (C.I.M.)

We are all global citizens with a stake in the economic issues that have become an integral part of our daily lives. From the local economies that drive our national industries, to the complex nature of free trade between countries, Cape Breton Island offers a unique glimpse into the fluid world of economics.

As a social science concerned with the efficient use of resources in production, exchange and consumption, students from dozens of countries arrive here to gain a better understanding of how local and global economies thrive. They end up graduating with the confidence and knowledge they need to enter the professional world of economics.

Economics professors at CBU are dedicated and engaged professionals who stay on top of developments in the global economy. This gives students an up-to-date flow of knowledge regarding the creation and distribution of wealth, labour disputes, unemployment, inflation, taxes, oil prices and international trade. And that’s just to start. Our modern facilities and comprehensive curriculum ensure you have what you need to achieve true economic success in the real world.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Obtain a basic understanding of the organization and structure of economies – domestically as well as globally.
• Understand the basic tools of micro and macro-economic analysis and apply them to contemporary economic settings.
• Appreciate that socioeconomic and political landscapes are driven by economic considerations domestically and globally.
• Engage in informed discussions regarding economic policy.
• Recognize that, as citizens of the world, we need to function efficiently and effectively.

Why study at CBU?

• At CBU, students have access to various experiential learning opportunities and are encouraged to actively participate in class. Our exchange program provides students with the chance to travel to other countries to gain global experience relating to the study of economics.
• Another great aspect, among many here in Cape Breton, is the sense of community, and the friendly, approachable people. People who, even if they aren’t from here, have adopted our warm, welcoming island lifestyle as their own. Because of that, it’s a place where CBU students and faculty get to know each other on a professional and personal basis.
• The Shannon School of Business also maintains close ties with the local business community, bridging the gap between students and professionals, owners and managers in the field of economics.

Special collaborations happen here at Cape Breton University between students and faculty from completely different backgrounds, cultures and societies through courses that are reflective of the diverse world in which we live. Students who graduate from CBU do so with the confidence and flexibility they need to have an edge in the job market or find success in continued graduate studies.

At CBU, you will build the skills you actually need within the field of sociology. Sociology considers the factors driving relationships that exist in society by looking at the social and historical contexts that frame those experiences. Sociologists study the interactions of our social lives by examining their formations in socialization activities.

Sociology is considered a teachable subject by the Nova Scotia Department of Education.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Ability to conduct thorough research
• Skills to analyze complex social interactions
• Critical thinking skills
• Ability to gather and analyze data sets

Why study at CBU?
Here on Cape Breton Island, our rich history and famous landscapes have carved out a home for some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Some of the best food you’ll ever taste. And certainly some of the best times you’ll ever have. It’s a great place to call home, and an even better place to study.

Our sociology courses are taught by accessible faculty with diverse research backgrounds in areas of sociology of family, gender, identity and sexuality, feminist theory, queer theory, critical pedagogy, environmental sociology, deviance, green criminology, animals and people, consumption and consumerism, qualitative research methods, sociology of home and statistical analysis. This diverse selection of topic areas provides students with a distinctive mix of subjects in their coursework all while providing a unified approach to sociological theory.

With modern facilities and a diverse campus filled with lifelong friends waiting to meet you, CBU is a place where you can truly build a sustainable future.

On a world-famous island such as Cape Breton, our economy works when smart financial decisions are made that impact lives every day. That’s why we take extra care to dedicate ourselves to excellence in accounting that meets the IFRS global standard in accounting business.

Accounting is much more than numbers. Global business and government departments are constantly in need of high-quality, dedicated employees with a thorough understanding of financial management, and current generally accepted accounting principles and best practices.

Commonly referred to as the language of business, accounting serves as the basis for financial decision making. Accounting is a dynamic, creative and interesting subject, and is the process of gathering, recording, interpreting and analyzing financial information.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Gain an understanding of global accounting practices and skills.
• Develop an international perspective.
• Learn current business practices.
• Develop decision-making skills.

Why study at CBU?

• Through a major in accounting at CBU, we prepare you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in one of the fastest growing professions with continued high demand.
• At CBU, this program truly gives you an education you can count on. An accounting major at CBU can open doors to numerous opportunities and steady career advancements. Graduates can enter into professional accounting programs to receive designations like Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Aboriginal Financial Officer Association (AFOA) with maximum exemptions.
• Students are well equipped to enter middle management accounting positions in small to medium-size firms, non-profit agencies or government. Studying accounting also provides students with a skill set that is ideal for entrepreneurship.

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

With the winds of inspiration blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean, you naturally get the energy you need to excel at anything you put your mind to. Our inspiring environment and relaxed atmosphere attracts students from more than 40 countries to live, work and play on the island we’re proud to call home. Voted #8 on the top islands to visit in the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine, students come here for the abundance of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Experience the very best of education while studying sport and physical activity leadership with active, well-being-focused courses within the BACS degree.

At CBU, we aim to help students deepen their insights into issues around leadership of sport and physical activity. Students graduate with a deep understanding of how their field affects individuals and communities alike, gaining skills and experience in outdoor leadership, sport management and coaching. We teach the essentials needed to stay prepared for leadership in various careers that range from education to entertainment and beyond.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Understanding of physical activity at various levels
• Learn the relationship between sport and community
• Discover the importance of outdoor and indoor activities

Why study at CBU?
There are so many advantages to living, working and studying in Cape Breton. That’s because CBU has competitive advantages other places can’t offer. Wide open spaces. Incredible views. A welcoming community. Plus, our community-based sport, recreation and physical activity programs are facilitated by approachable faculty who use an experience-based learning style.

CBU is a top choice for students around the world. Partly because it’s the only program in Canada that focuses on sport and physical activity, which includes a core competence of interdisciplinary, community-oriented and process-based learning courses. Additionally, the flexibility and variety of options you can take in conjunction with the major in Sport and Physical Activity Leadership gives students opportunities to develop knowledge from multiple disciplines, subjects and perspectives.

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.