Bachelor of Education (Elementary/Secondary)

at Mount Saint Vincent University Canada

Political Studies looks at socio-political change, conflict and governance at all levels of society, from the local to the global stage. Political ideas and values mold our society and shape the way we see and think. Political Studies helps you understand why governments make the decisions they do, teaches you to critically evaluate these decisions and allows you to be an informed, active citizen.

Students are also provided with tools essential to creating and implementing policy change. As a Political Studies student, you’ll educate yourself in how political systems work, look at the sources of local, national and international conflict and grapple with current issues in political life. As an example, take a look at some of the work our students have done in the POLS 3310 – American Politics in the Age of Trump – course:

• Pre-Election Predictions Blog POLS 3310 (PDF)
• Presidential Election Results overview POLS 3310 (PDF)
• Elections Post-mortem blog POLS 3310 (PDF)

In our program, we emphasize three important areas of the discipline of political science: Canadian politics (both national and regional), political thought (both classical and contemporary) and international affairs. We encourage our students to sample from all these areas, to help them understand the political significance of globalization.

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.

At Mount, we are aware that the business world is both thought-provoking and diverse. Our program will equip you with essential leadership skills. These skills will prepare you for your career in business, whether you choose to become an entrepreneur or work in a large corporation, a small business, or a not-for-profit organization.

International Option – With our International Option in Business Administration you can explore opportunities to study for a semester at a partner university outside of Canada.

In your second year, you will be eligible to enter the Co-operative Education BBA program. If you choose this option, you will complete three paid co-op work terms. Each work term is a full unit of academic coursework. That means that the Co-op BBA consists of 23 units of study over four years. Each co-op work term is in your field of study and consists of a minimum of 13 weeks of full-time, paid employment.

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.

Public Policy Studies at the Mount is an interdisciplinary program that concentrates on Canadian public policy and global issues. Students enrolled in the program take a range of courses in both political science and economics and choose from a large pool of courses from a number of disciplines.  Students complete the academic requirements with a senior seminar designed to integrate their new-found knowledge and provide them with broadened perspectives on important dimensions of public affairs.

The goals of the Public Policy Studies program are to provide students with sufficient coursework to ensure they develop capacities in such skill areas as critical thinking, policy analysis and communication.  Through this, the program aims to prepare students for potential careers in public service and to be effective participants in democratic society.

The degree with a major is intended for those students with a clearly focused interest who wish to gain knowledge in depth of a single discipline.

Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so 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. In order to complete the major in Economics it may be necessary to complete courses at another university.

Our Master of Arts program in Child and Youth Study will help you to develop an understanding of issues that affect children and youth in our region, in Canada, and around the world. In this thesis-based program, you will conduct focused and relevant original research in areas like early intervention, child and youth development, social justice, race and ethnic relations, child and youth health and wellness, play, and more.

Professional skills
This program will help you to become a leader, a researcher, or an educator in this field. Our Master’s program builds on the knowledge and skills that you developed through your undergraduate education and practical experience. In both course work and in thesis research, you’ll delve into the theories that support the practices of professionals who work in the field of child and youth study.

Meaningful research
In the MA (Child and Youth Study) program, you will research issues that affect children and youth, as well as their caregivers, educators, and the many other professionals who work with them. Each student works with a faculty member to develop an original thesis topic, and to research and write a thesis. Recent student research focuses on areas such as children’s experiences of equine therapy, cultural sensitivity and early intervention, including persons with disabilities in faith communities, and more. More about students research (digital commons)

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.

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.

This certificate provides a solid foundation in the field of accounting. It will be of interest to those working in the accounting field and to those with non-business university degrees working in administrative positions.