Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Co-op Optional)

at Cape Breton University Canada

Take one step onto the breathtaking shores of Cape Breton Island and you’ll instantly realize this is a place where philosophy and nature come together to create a unique learning environment. CBU’s modern facilities and accessible faculty make every day a valuable learning experience. Students from more than 40 countries around the world come to learn the lessons they need to plot their path into the future.

Philosophy at CBU helps you create a customized compass for navigating the intellectual, ethical and emotional complexities of life. Engaging philosophically with the world around you can provide a sense of overall direction which is essential for personal, social and professional growth. In the process, students benefit from exceptional training in the art of logical reasoning.

Many of Canada’s top lawyers, writers, business people, and other professionals have undergraduate degrees in philosophy. That means you can trust the skills you learn here to take you well into the future.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• High-level critical thinking skills
• Analytical writing skills
• Ability to discuss complex ideas effectively
• Knowledge of diverse world views & intellectual traditions
• Expertise in understanding contemporary ethical issues

Why study at CBU?
In an ever-changing electronic age, philosophical expertise is essential for untangling the complications of core ethical and legal concepts, such as privacy, self-identity and intellectual property. That’s why, when you’re studying philosophy at CBU, you take a case study approach to examine problems in law, business and other areas that cannot be resolved by simply applying familiar principles and practices.

Our approachable, friendly faculty help you build the solid foundation you need for success in the future. Because of their experience, CBU is a place you can come to learn answers to the world’s toughest questions. For example, are there justifiable limits to the bio-engineering of human life? Does science provide “all the answers?” What roles do love, appreciation of art, athletic achievement, or other experiences play in life? And, in an increasingly virtual world, is it worth trying to distinguish genuine (or “real”) from fake experiences? Once you have the skills CBU prepares you with in our Philosophy program, you can truly go anywhere your passion for success takes you.

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

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

If you’re looking for a place to study the most interesting aspects of life, you have certainly found it. Cape Breton is teeming with as much opportunity to learn about how humans live as anywhere in the world. At CBU, the study of anthropology is a natural fit in a natural wonderland.

Anthropology is said to be the most scientific of the humanities, and the most humanistic of the sciences. Divided into the sub-disciplines of socio-cultural, linguistic, physical and archaeology, anthropology is the discipline that explores the human journey. It is a holistic discipline, meaning that it considers this diverse range of topics necessary to understanding what it means to be human.

This program at CBU aims to challenge our preconceived ideas about our own traditions and ways of life. We examine other, often opposite, notions and ways of living to help determine solutions for living the best life humanly possible. CBU also encourages a reflective approach so that students learn to place their own experiences under the lens of examination. This teaches social sensitivity and a sense of place in the larger context of global human experiences. Anthropology is considered a teachable subject by the Nova Scotia Department of Education.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Ability to design and conduct thorough, independent research.
• Broad understanding of the similarities and differences of human cultural systems.
• Clear understanding of the human species in the context of the evolutionary story.
• Ability to apply an awareness of global human diversity to any future career choice.
• Learn to gather, analyze, and use qualitative and quantitative data sets.

Why study at CBU?

• With students from more than 40 countries, a natural coastline, stunning scenery drawing visitors from around the world, and a distinctive island culture, studying Anthropology at CBU is a truly unique experience.
• We provide students with a four-field approach to anthropology. Faculty who teach anthropology courses have research interests in areas such as medical anthropology, historical archaeology, evolutionary anthropology, anthropology of tourism, Mi’kmaw semantics and typology, language revitalization, Mi’kmaw language pedagogy and much more.
• This diverse range of topics and research areas provides students with a broad base of instruction that reveals the numerous types of topics that anthropological work is actively engaged in.

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.

Tourism has scaled new heights and is one of the most revenue generating industries in the world. It has been beneficial for individuals as well as the society. First and foremost, tourism has generated a large number of jobs and home grown businesses. Tourism is benign for developing and under developed nations which need money to help their economies grow. CBU offers a Bachelor’s program, BBA in Tourism Marketing & Management, which is a four year program that has produced a number of successful graduates. 

The BBA Concentration at CBU studies the business of managing and marketing various tourism products, including destinations, hotels, restaurants, attractions and events. Students are taught about the business related aspects of tourism and how they can maximize their profits in certain areas. The co-operative education program provides students hands on experience in the real world and the expert faculty members who guide the students at every step of the way. This course prepares students to work in the management fields pertaining to tourism and the thorough knowledge of tourism marketing.
 

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.

From the soothing sounds of our singing shores, to the everlasting beat of our vibrant culture, Cape Breton holds music close to its heart.

Build your skills for a solid foundation in music and carve your own path, wherever the tempo takes you. Our BACS music major is the only undergraduate program in Canada to focus on traditional and tradition-based popular music, with particular emphasis on Cape Breton’s rich music traditions.

Students learn about music career options, develop a career network and gain valuable work experience through courses such as Understanding the Music Industry, and Arts Entrepreneurship, as well as our Archival Internship and work placements.

Our music offerings focus on three broad areas: Atlantic Canadian cultures and traditions; popular music; and the study of global traditions (e.g., West African, Eastern European, etc.) through ethnomusicology and folklore approaches.

In all of our program options, we offer a variety of courses, including courses in performance, music theory and composition, genre surveys and histories, issues (e.g., protest, cultural tourism), research methods and business.
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

Why study at CBU?
As a music student at CBU, you’ll be excited to learn some of Cape Breton’s best-known traditional musicians teach here, including popular local artists such as Kyle MacNeil of the Barra MacNeils. That means you’ll be taught by experienced instructors who are both accessible and approachable, which makes a major difference in the intricate world of music.

Our music program uniquely ties together liberal arts courses, performance classes, work placements and community learning to create a truly well-rounded experience. Join students from around the world in one of the most breathtaking locations on the planet, in harmony, as you realize your true potential in music.

Cape Breton is known for its musical traditions. As one of the most celebrated cultural regions in the country, we offer courses that introduce students to a variety of music. From local traditions to music from around the world, popular music to classical music, students learn to analyze the music they love in order to see how it works.

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.

An overlooked factor behind most of the world’s major projects and industries is the ability to time and control how technology is applied in a dynamic setting. At CBU, you can study a technologically advanced approach to electronics and controls. Electronics and controls at CBU focuses on electrical engineering, analog and digital design, microelectronics and industrial systems.

Instrumentation, electronics and controls courses combine theoretical principles with hands-on experience and technical expertise related to electronics, instrumentation and microprocessor control. Aspects unique to electrical technology are emphasized, including topics such as analog/digital design, industrial instrumentation, control and microelectronics.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Electronics and instrumentation.
• Exposure to industrial applications, drawings and standards.
• Programming using assembly, MATLAB, VHLD, and PLC languages.
• Methods of design.
• Electrical troubleshooting.