Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies

at Mount Saint Vincent University Canada

The Communication Major is a multidisciplinary program which draws from a variety of approaches, theories, methods and other resources to analyze communication in social, political and cultural environments that are rapidly changing and increasingly complex.  This program is designed to meet the needs of students interested in an undergraduate degree in Communication, grounded in a foundation of communication and media theory, research and ethics.  Students who have an interest in media literacy, interpersonal, small group and organizational communication as well as the sociopolitical aspects of communication within today's society are well-suited for this program.

Program Objectives
Students enrolled in the COMM Major program (having selected Communication as their major) will complement core strengths in Communication with required courses from a number of related disciplines as well as elective courses.  Together, these elements work to provide students with an introduction to the dynamic context in which communication occurs

The objectives of this program are to:

• Encourage students to develop a broad understanding of communication theory;
• Contribute to the advancement of communication as both a field and a discipline;
• Provide enhanced opportunities for students to study the contextual nature of communication in its various forms;
• Develop within students an appreciation of the processes which define human communication;
• Develop within students an appreciation for and awareness of ethical communication.

Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management, you’ll receive in-depth education in the many facets of this booming industry. From planning and marketing to operations, you will learn the skills and knowledge you need to forge a career in a multi-billion dollar global industry.

The diploma program is the ideal choice to acquire specialized knowledge in the tourism and hospitality fields.

• If you have work experience in tourism and hospitality and you want to further your education.
• You already have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline.
• You have completed the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality program and want to further your tourism education.
• You will receive a thorough understanding of the industry, which will prepare you well for a successful career.

A Master’s degree in Curriculum Studies will help you to develop the advanced skills to address different student needs and interests by examining how curriculum affects student success.

This program is designed to accommodate different student needs and interests related to the curriculum of schools and other educational institutions. A student may choose to focus upon curriculum theory and practice or, alternatively, on the pedagogy of a particular discipline or subject field. Concentrations in the education of young adolescents, teaching English as a second language and supporting learners with diverse needs and exceptionalities are also offered. Programs are developed in consultation with the faculty advisor, who must approve all course selections.

As well, cohort groups of interested participants have been organized in a variety of focus areas including teaching learners with diverse learners, technology integration, curriculum leadership, teaching English as an additional language and rural education. All on campus programs are now treated as concentrations rather than cohort groups with the exception of technology integration.

The Master of Applied Human Nutrition program provides students with the opportunity for advanced level study in nutrition, with an emphasis on issues related to community nutrition, food and human nutrition. The programs explore the theoretical foundations of nutrition through critical reflection on current research and practice within the discipline and drawing from other related disciplines. The Master of Applied Human Nutrition is comprised of five units of coursework.

Learn how to determine an organization’s human resource needs and guide both employees and management through the internal and external demands of an ever-changing environment we all must operate within with a major, concentration, or minor in Human Resource Management. You can choose this specialty area within the Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Mount Saint Vincent University.

This specialty area of study provides relevant knowledge in the areas of human resource management strategy, recruitment, training and development, compensation management, labour relations, managing diversity, organizational topics, organizational behaviour, values in a business society, international human resource development, and organizational change.
A sample of courses offered include human resource management, Organizational Behaviour, Labour Relations, Strategic Compensation, Managing Diversity: Gender and Other Issues, Recruitment and Selection, Strategic Human Resource Development, International Human Resource Management.

A specialty in human resource management can prepare you for many career opportunities. The list of positions job is extensive. Examples include human resource consultant, human resource executive or manager, training and development officer, organizational development manager, payroll specialist, labour relations officer, human resources recruiter, talent acquisition manager and any multitude of jobs that require strategic input from a human resource professional that can help plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization.

The Family Studies and Gerontology program offers studies in two areas: (1) Gerontology, which focuses study on issues related to aging, and (2) Family Studies, which encompasses a study of individuals and families across the life course. Students are prepared for a variety of careers in the social welfare, aging policy and family support sectors that focus on prevention, support and community development. For example, graduates of this program are employed in family resource centres, transition houses, senior centres, long-term care facilities, and government departments that develop programs and policies related to issues associated with aging individuals and families across the life course.

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

English is not just a language we speak; it is an art form, a history, and an expression of thought and being. By studying English you gain a comprehensive understanding of its language and literature, while exploring its connection to other areas of study and everyday life. Through developing invaluable skills in critical reading, writing, analysis, and research, you become more flexible and creative in your thinking as well as improving your abilities as a communicator -- abilities that are an asset for any future career.

Our courses appeal to a wide variety of students-from those who are interested in a particular genre of literature and want to take one or two courses, to those who want to explore a certain theme in more detail, to those wishing to take a minor, concentration, combined major, major or honours in English. In addition, the department offers a minor in Writing. Courses designated ENGL/WRIT may be counted toward either the Writing minor or the English honours, major, combined major, concentration, or minor. Courses designated WRIT can be counted only toward the Writing minor.

Experiential or hands-on learning is integrated into all ENGL/WRIT courses. All courses include activities that are directly relevant to the type of work undertaken by English graduates in their later careers.

Any student wishing to do a major, combined major, or concentration in English, or who wish to minor in English or Writing must consult with the department Chair, who will assign the student to an advisor. The student’s program should be planned in consultation with the advisor. Students wishing to take honours may apply after completing 10.0 units of university study.

As a student in one of our graduate programs, you’ll develop a deep and meaningful understanding of the disciplines of communication studies and public relations–the philosophies, the principles and how these apply to scholarly and professional practice.

Master of Public Relations
This is an applied (non-thesis) program for applicants with undergraduate degrees in Public Relations, Communication, Business, Commerce and related fields. It will prepare you to excel as a practitioner, and to become a leader in your field.

The Mount's Cultural Studies program is the only degree program of its kind to be offered in Eastern Canada. In this program, you will study the nature and criticism of culture in its multiple forms and expressions, including literature, film, visual art, and popular culture. This interdisciplinary program fosters inquiry into the social and political conditions in which thought and expression take place. Forms of cultural expression such as films, literature, and paintings are thus analyzed both as texts and as practices in context. 

The Research Master of Arts degree is intended for those who wish to pursue specialized scholarly study under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of the Faculty of Education. The degree can be taken in connection with any of the graduate program areas offered by the Faculty of Education; the focus of the degree is research. The degree requires a minimum of 5.0 units. Coursework will vary according to the background of the student. The thesis can count for a minimum of 1.0 unit and a maximum of 5.0 units.