Bachelor of Science, Major in Physical Geography and Environment

at EduCo - Western University Canada

Language is the chief means which members of the human species use to communicate with each other. Its scientific and humanistic study is called linguistics. The history of linguistics goes back to ancient times, and during the 19th and 20th centuries it flourished and came to be associated most strongly with the scientific study of individual languages of the world as well as with the search to identify those traits which are common to all languages.

The study of linguistics is indispensable for anyone interested in a particular language or in a discipline with a focus on language in general. Students in many different fields of study find that linguistics makes an interesting and engaging elective or optional course (when combined with the discipline of language study, it is excellent preparation for law school, for example). In terms of careers, this means that anyone interested in language teaching of any sort (such as a Bachelors of Education, or TESL certification), in communicative disorders (including both Audiology and Speech Pathology), in translation or in interpreting should be sure to include some linguistics courses in their undergraduate preparation. The addition of linguistics, the scientific study of language, further enhances your academic program with critical and analytical skills, while contributing to your better understanding of human language (English, French and others), not simply from a grammatical or spoken perspective but also from a scientific approach.

Medical Biophysics is best described as a discipline that improves people’s lives. And it draws on many research areas, techniques and technologies to improve human health. In studying medical biophysics you will apply the principles of biology, mathematics, physics and engineering to solve problems. When you study Medical Biophysics, you learn how to apply your knowledge of mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics to areas such as medical imaging, cancer therapy, biomechanics and cardiovascular disease.

Medical Biophysics students take basic principles from mathematics, the physical and biological sciences, and computer science, and apply them to improving medical diagnosis, treatment and patient health. The experience of students in Medical Biophysics goes beyond “textbook knowledge” and places them in settings where they solve real-world problems such as: how blood flows in arteries and veins, designing a better joint replacement, improving lung ventilation in asthma, how MRI forms images of the brain, and targeting radiation therapy in cancer to protect the healthy surrounding tissue.

Our programs in Middle East Studies offer students the opportunity to gain expertise in the Middle East and develop analytical skills of contemporary politics and business opportunities. The region has an economic growth potential for investments, markets, innovation and skills development.

The concentrated program of studies is aimed to provide students with the opportunity to specialize in the Middle East. The program offers the possibility to enrol in a combination of courses related to the Middle East from such disciplines as History, Sociology, Economics, Anthropology, Political Science, Religious studies and Modern Languages. One may choose a Major in Middle East studies (7 courses) or a Minor in History with specialization in the Middle East (4 courses). Students can also opt for specialization in only one of these disciplines: Religious Studies, Modern Languages, History, Social Studies or Politics of the Middle East.

The Bachelor of Science (Honors Specialization) program is designed to give students a deeper appreciation of the life sciences. In addition to investigating courses throughout the broad scope of Kinesiology, that include exercise physiology, biomechanics, anatomy, sports injuries, exercise psychology, sport management and professional ethics, students must choose courses such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math from the Faculty of Science.

English Studies
The English courses cover a range of literary traditions, including British, Canadian, American, and global and Indigenous literatures, and allow students to explore literature from its earliest classics (such as Beowulf) to contemporary best sellers (such as Game of Thrones). Our courses give students the ability to participate in an ongoing conversation about literature, theory, and culture. Students will develop the research methods, analytic tools, critical thinking and communication skills that are necessary for basic and advanced study and that will serve them well in any field they might pursue upon graduation.

Writing Studies
By combining creative and professional experiences with rhetorical theory, Writing Studies students emerge as articulate problem-solvers capable of engaging, collaboratively or individually, in a global context. Graduates will gain experience and competence in the creation and production of high quality texts for a wide variety of audiences that can be applied to a wide range of academic, professional, workplace, and creative contexts and purposes. Writing Studies provides life-long skills in a life-span activity that will continue to deepen and develop alongside graduates’ engagement in their professional lives.

Don’t you love to dig into an idea until you really understand where it comes from and what it connects with? That’s what we do in Classics. The ancient Mediterranean world lives on in our modern experience. We see it in sports, medicine, sexuality, law, and politics—everywhere, really. We dive into the language, literature, philosophies, and archaeology of the Greek and Roman world.

Genetics is the study of the process and implications of trait inheritance which is linked explicitly to the concept of the gene and the molecule DNA. The Department offers four modules in this foundational area of biology that are built upon its research and teaching strengths. In the area of molecular genetics students will be able to take a range of courses focused on gene structure, function and regulation that introduce modern 'omic' approaches (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) that are taught using a range of animal, plant and microbial systems. Related topics such as genetic engineering and developmental genetics form the basis of additional courses. Building on research expertise in other subdiscipline there are courses in behavioural genetics, and evolutionary genetics.

Are you interested in understanding the universe and our place in it? Consider studying astrophysics at Western! Through the interaction of light and matter, you can access the universe through observatories around the world and in space. Astrophysicists at Western will help you explore black holes, exoplanets, meteors, the atmospheres of Earth and other planets, the dust and gas between the stars, and the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. With the skills acquired in this module, our graduates stand out with their involvement in cutting-edge research, including the recent discovery of gravitational waves and new planets beyond our solar system.

Writing Studies aims to provide students with the ability to affect the world, both inside and outside the university, by helping them become self-directed, creative, and intellectual agents able to engage effectively with and contribute to the resolution of problems through the use of language both written and spoken. Our program combines the core activities of our contemporary social, political, and cultural world with the study and mastery of the constitutive and social dynamics of writing, rhetorical theory, and texts to provide pragmatic and intellectual tools for our graduates throughout their professional, intellectual, and social lives.

Countless studies and surveys rank "communication skills," "clarity," and "writing/research skills" as the most sought after qualities among new graduates by leading employers. Welcome to what is arguably the most versatile and transferable degree option and menu of courses available to help you meet and even exceed those expectations, all while studying among world class intellectuals at one of Canada's most historic and beautiful campuses.

Computation is now fundamental to scientific discovery and engineering design alike. The Boeing 777 Dreamliner, for instance, was conceived mostly on a computer, complete with detailed calculations of aerodynamic and control properties. Drugs can also be designed on computers as can modern materials. To become an expert in the algorithms behind these innovations, take our Scientific Computing and Numerical Methods program.