Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English (Co-op)

at Carleton University Canada

How do people interact with nature, and how does this impact the environment? How do societies transform nature? The environment consists of a complex set of human and natural systems of which people are an important, and sometimes dominant, element. Decisions made by individuals, institutions, governments, industries and other actors have the ability to impact the environment in both direct and indirect ways, with consequences for future generations. Understanding the costs and benefits of development and conservation, as well as the underlying values and ethical guidelines for good environmental practice are critical for informed environmental decision-making. It is critical, to both the present and future state of the environment, that dialogue and policy are precautionary, evidence-based, thoughtful and inclusive.

The Environmental Studies program at Carleton University prepares students to be informed, skilled individuals who can participate effectively in the resolution of environmental problems and in the larger environmental debates critical to our future. The program is interdisciplinary and flexible, so that students can focus on the conservation of natural systems, natural resource management, environmental organizations and institutions, sustainable economies, environmental education and activism, or research.

Carleton’s innovative philosophy programs offer courses ranging over the history of philosophy, ethics and social/political philosophy, philosophy of mind and language, metaphysics and epistemology. Starting in first year, you will have the opportunity to take a seminar class (of 30 students) that challenges you to develop your skills in reading philosophical texts and making philosophical arguments. In second year, you will take two courses that are offered just for philosophy majors, ensuring that you have the skills you need to do your best. In fourth year, you will study in seminar classes where the professors share with you, at your level, the new knowledge that they are helping to create.

Carleton is home to the oldest and largest BA program in law in Canada. In the program, you will acquire a strong understanding of the dynamics of law, including its rules, agents, institutions and power structures. You will study legal theory and its application in everyday life and you will be taught by award-winning researchers and extensively published professors. Carleton’s proximity to Canada’s important public institutions, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, Parliament and the Department of Justice can lead to unique work and volunteer opportunities for our students. As an Honours student, you will have the choice of a concentration in Law, Policy and Government; Business Law; or Transnational Law and Human Rights.

In addition to core courses in computer science, this stream includes foundational courses on algorithms. These courses will teach you to design, analyze, experiment with and reason about algorithms that arise in modern applications such as search engines, games, social networks, markets, economics and computer networks. The stream is especially suited for students with strong mathematical ability who wish to pursue an advanced degree or a career in cutting-edge research.

The biomedical and mechanical engineering program integrates life sciences with the traditional mechanical engineering topics of solid mechanics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, materials, robotics and control systems to analyze and solve problems related to biomechanical engineering, biotechnology and medicine. The program provides students with a skill set that enables the development of advanced components, systems and techniques for biomechanical applications that are crucial to modern health care. The curriculum is designed with an emphasis on the development of practical and problem-solving skills based on hands-on laboratory and design work.

Carleton’s Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) is a wide-ranging and career-focused program that will provide you with the skills required to succeed in the rapidly changing worlds of medicine, biomedical research and healthcare research. You will gain a strong foundation in the scientific knowledge and methods involved in the study of human health, along with the capacity to engage in broader multidisciplinary, multi-sector, and multicultural approaches to finding solutions to some of the most crucial health issues of our time.

Global Health
This concentration provides you with the knowledge required to address current and developing international health issues. It focuses on real-world issues of increasing relevance in our interconnected global community—such as infectious diseases and pandemics—in the context of the social and political factors that influence healthcare practices and policies. You will explore such topics as the interaction between pathogens and our immune system, the way that therapeutics and vaccines work, and why it is harder to develop treatments or vaccines for some diseases than for others.

Carleton’s Honor Program in Human Rights and Social Justice requires total of 20.0 credits of which 9.0 credits need to be in Human Rights and Social Justice.  With the help of Human Rights and Social Justice Program students will be able to contribute through theory and practical to people’s struggle to overcome the everyday issues. They give legitimate, social and political apparatuses and procedures for testing types of separation, enslavement and abuse, for example, those dependent on race, religion, sex, sexual direction, national or ethnic source, or political assessment, just as authentic practices of expansionism and misuse. 

Drawing from a wide scope of interdisciplinary themes and comes nearer from the humanities and sociologies, the Human Rights and Social Justice Program gives an outline of recorded and contemporary human rights issues and their effect on human lives in various social settings. Bachelor’s in Human Rights and Social Justice allows students to combine their knowledge and skills and also they are prepared to work in public interest sector, unions, women groups, community groups, governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Earth Sciences
The Earth Sciences program at Carleton offers you the opportunity to study the Earth’s systems, incorporating knowledge from other sciences including physics, biology and chemistry. You will learn about processes (such as evolution, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics and mountain building, formation of hydrocarbon reservoirs and mineral deposits) influential in the Earth’s geologic past that establish our present and future global development. The program offers the opportunity to participate in hands-on field courses that can take you to sites throughout Ontario, across Canada and around the world.

Physical Geography
Physical Geography is the study of the nature and processes of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere, including climate and climate change, geomorphology and landscape formation, soils, permafrost and natural hazards, as well as their importance to society and society’s impact on these natural systems. You will gain field and laboratory experience, and learn the specialized techniques (including Geomatics) for collection and analysis of environmental data.

The Canadian Studies program at Carleton tackles problems related to Canada that do not fit easily into disciplinary boundaries, including the relationship between settlers and the land they occupy, the trauma of colonialism and the process of reconciliation, the complexities of understanding and preserving heritage, tensions between urban and rural parts of the country, nation-branding, and the representation and performance of identity. These problems demand creative and innovative research methods and ways of thinking. The goal of our program is to help students develop the skills necessary to meet them.

African peoples, cultures, societies, places and histories have been deeply affected by the global world, while also actively contributing to it. In this multidisciplinary specialization, you will study a wide range of issues as they apply to Africa, including democratization, human rights, international development, cultural change, migration and refugees, colonialism and post-colonialism, and social justice. You will also acquire an understanding of the larger issues of the politics of development and the relationship between the global north and south. This specialization is administered by the Institute of African Studies, which is the only stand-alone, degree-granting, institute devoted to the study of Africa in Canada.