Bachelor of Arts in Sport and Physical Activity Leadership (Co-op Optional)

at Cape Breton University Canada

Help contribute to a future we can all be proud of with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environment (BASE). CBU’s first fully interdisciplinary degree, the BASE program takes advantage of the natural resources available among the breathtaking scenery on Cape Breton Island. The BASE program reflects a university-wide commitment to teaching and research in environment and sustainability, and is enriched by Indigenous perspectives.

With dedicated professors and unprecedented research opportunities, the breadth of the BASE program ensures graduates have wide-ranging skill sets. When you enroll in BASE, you are immersed in three streams simultaneously: a science concentration; an arts/social science concentration; and a core set of environment-themed courses specially designed for this program.

Each year, the themes of these courses may change to reflect our world-class faculty’s specialties or timely environmental issues. Respect for, and inclusion of, Indigenous knowledge is a guiding principle of BASE. All students will have the opportunity to take Mi’kmaq Studies courses toward their degree, preparing you to be an active and responsible agent in the development of sustainable environmental practices.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Communication and writing in science and arts/humanities fields.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Experience in multiple academic disciplines.
• Solid background in science and arts/humanities/social science.
• Deep knowledge of relevant environmental issues.

Why study at CBU?

• This dynamic program attracts students from around the globe who are passionate about making a positive impact on the ever-changing world around them.
• The BASE program was developed with two primary objectives: to bridge the arts and sciences; and to provide a unique education in environmental issues and sustainability.
• The entire island is yours to explore. That’s why you’ll find learning outcomes include knowledge about local and global environmental issues, as well as practical skills in writing, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. Plus, the fluid communication of ideas in a small-knit community means your hard work will get noticed. At its core, this program prepares students to consider environmental issues from a broad range of angles, and to develop interdisciplinary approaches to creating solutions.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Field Course (ENVS3104)
• Volunteer and extracurricular opportunities (e. CBU Environmental Society, Science Atlantic Environment Conference)
• Co-op option, examples include:
  • Parks Canada technical positions
  • Parks Canada Outreach and Education positions
  • ACAP
  • Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association technical positions
  • CBU research assistantships
  • Tourism organizations outreach positions

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

French is one of the most widely spoken languages in Canada after English and hence it has great professional as well as academic value. CBU offers an undergraduate level course for four years in French with excellent faculty and an exquisitely designed curriculum. Learning a language is a an obvious upper hand over other people and gives the students a cutting edge over other people willing to enter the Canadian workforce and various government degrees.

Since learning a language can be a daunting task, students are guided through this course with step by step instructions to students as well as personalized attention from the teachers. This four year course is divided into multiple sections, with each level and section dealing with various specificities of the French language. The first two years of the course deals with improvement of the listening and speaking skills. The third year of the program deals with linguistics and French literature. This year is very crucial for the students for it helps them delve into the literary aspects of the French language. By the fourth year students have the opportunity of studying francophone studies at a deeper level.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Our communities are the threads that tie our country together. From helping to build a strong economic engine, to facilitating the cultivation of our healthy food, each community plays an important role in the development of our society. The Cape Breton community, although small in size, is big in opportunity. Here, you’re free to explore a welcoming island with warm people who see the same potential in you as you do in them.

The MBA in CED offers a leading edge curriculum that includes all business subjects found in traditional MBA programs, with an emphasis on economic development, leadership, governance and management of change. The program resonates with people who aspire to play leadership roles in the private, public and community sectors.

There are many MBA programs around the globe. However, the program found here at Cape Breton University is the only one in Canada that includes community economic development at its core. It’s for people who want to make a difference where they live and work. Here, we teach the lessons that inspire students to make a positive change wherever they go. The MBA in Community Economic Development has been offered by the Shannon School of Business at CBU since 1997.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Advanced analytical and strategy skills
• Advanced interpersonal and communication skills
• Advanced research skills
• Application of an international perspective to risks and opportunities in managerial decisions
• Integrated knowledge through interdisciplinary approaches
• Management of change, growth, and new opportunities
• Strategic leadership
• Understanding of the role of business and community in affecting the economy, quality of life, health, and the environment
• Understanding of community economic development and business

Now, more than ever, Canada’s health care system needs strong, compassionate and capable leaders. By studying CBU’s Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Health Care Management, the only of its kind in the Maritimes, you’ll learn the essential skills and aspects of managing and leading a health care unit successfully and efficiently.

In a climate of rising costs and tighter budgets, health care units are in the continual process of adapting, innovating and reinventing themselves. Health care organizations are looking for employees who are knowledgeable of policy and quality of service directives and, at the same time, have the skills to manage people, resources, innovation and costs. The comprehensive curriculum of this program allows students to learn essential aspects of managing a health care unit, including accounting, statistics, analytics, organizational behavior and more, all within a culturally respectful environment.

This program is for domestic or international students who have an undergraduate degree, and wish to pursue supervisory careers in the field of health care. Or, for those students wishing to gain a foundational knowledge of management prior to pursuing a Master’s degree.

What skills will I gain from this program?

• Understand the effect of external environments (political, legal, market, sector) on the management of health care organizations
• Use data analytics tools and techniques to make strategic decisions, support operational goals and maximize resources
• Understand and respect the diverse beliefs, values and health care needs of the community, including Indigenous health care priorities, barriers and needs
• Ability to integrate technical knowledge of management, incorporating theoretical and ethical concepts in managing people, operations and finances

Experiential Learning Opportunities
Choice of completing a 12-week internship placement within an organization Or, completing a capstone project where students are supervised and closely mentored by their professors, having the opportunity to apply skills to a business project.