Bachelor of Economics (Honours) in Development (Co-op)

at Carleton University Canada

Where better to study politics than the nation’s capital? Our location in Ottawa provides you with numerous chances to see politics not only nationally but internationally. You will examine such topics of study as international relations, transitions to democracy, parties and elections, globalization and social movements, and the culture and ideas of politics.

International or local exchanges are an exciting possibility during your third year, and you may also choose to undertake an internship of your choosing, with permission of the undergraduate supervisor. In fourth year, an internship with the Washington Center is an option for consideration.

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.

The Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Design) program provides students who are seeking a professional career in architecture with an emphasis on design. The program’s strength lies in its ability to deliver an architectural education through an exploration of diverse disciplines that influence the built environment. This model of architectural education is, by necessity, a comprehensive one. It not only prepares students for a future in the profession of architecture but also provides a broad-based foundation for a multitude of interdisciplinary and related design fields. Students learn to handle the conflicting demands of function, aesthetics, technology and economy, but are trained in a variety of means of expression including writing, model-making, drawing, photography, video, digital media, and verbal presentations.

Students pursue intensive, studio-based studies supported by courses in Architectural History and Technology complemented with Directed Studies Abroad programs (DSA) in the second-term of the third year. Co-Op option is available.

Mathematics
Mathematics and statistics are driving forces behind many of today’s advancements in medicine, economics and business, and science and technology. The solid mathematical knowledge and skills you acquire at Carleton will give you a competitive edge in a wide variety of careers and prepare you to contribute to the next generation of innovations.

Physics
Physics is the study of the most basic natural phenomena—from the smallest particles to the largest structures of the universe, from the beginning to the end. Physics is also the scaffolding behind the technology found in numerous current advances such as in smart phones, self-driving cars and radiation treatment of cancer. Physicists are keen to understand the nature of the world around them, as well as to control it for the betterment of humanity. They use their creativity to solve challenging problems, whether they are creating very powerful lasers for eye surgery, colliding particles at very-high energy, or descending deep down into underground mines to investigate the most basic building blocks of matter. Physicists look for and examine patterns in nature in order to formulate natural laws. They push scientific boundaries by exploring unknown territory through theory and experimentation, often thinking about and describing our physical world in ways that we cannot yet observe in nature.

According to the executive summary of the “White Paper” on International Development Studies in Canada published by the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID) and the North-South Institute in October 2003, “the study of development provides a window on the world of inequality and the possibilities of overcoming it both internationally and domestically.” At Carleton, students pursuing the Global Development specialization will gain a multidisciplinary perspective on this broad and important field by taking foundational courses in anthropology, economics, geography, and political science. The program’s core courses together with a rich selection of electives will help students understand the way the world is unfolding in the face of increasingly urgent challenges from climate change to human security to global epidemics. This specialization will be of particular interest to students who aspire to work on development issues in various government departments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and certain types of companies operating internationally.

Are you interested in global environmental issues like climate change? This specialization looks at global processes and their impact on the environment, focusing attention on the emergence of the environment as a key theme of globalization. You will have the opportunity to develop an integrated understanding of global environmental issues, processes, patterns and solutions, as well as a skill set for conducting a critical analysis of current approaches to these issues and methods to implement and effect change. You will examine global biophysical systems and human-environment interactions, and you can also choose areas of interest within the specialization (such as human geography, urban networks, global environmental politics, sustainability or environmental change).

Modern biology in the postgenomic age is being greatly enriched by the infusion of ideas from computer science, information science, mathematics, systems research and statistics. Bioinformatics taps into the vast datasets accumulating in the life sciences, combining techniques from informatics and computer science to solve biological problems such as gene identification, drug interactions and protein structure, the answers to which will be at the forefront of the application of personalized medicine. At Carleton, you will take courses in several areas including bioinformatics, biology, biochemistry and computer science.

Linguistics is the scientific study of one of the most fundamental aspects of being human: using language to communicate. Linguists explore a range of fascinating areas, including how language is represented and processed in the brain, the psychology of language, clinical applications of linguistics in treating language disorders and delays, how children acquire language, and the biological and evolutionary aspects of language.

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 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.