Master of Family Studies and Gerontology (Course-Based)

at Mount Saint Vincent University Canada

Our Masters programs in Studies in Lifelong Learning prepare students with knowledge and skills to take leadership roles as lifelong educators. Our graduate students benefit from our small classes, knowledgeable instructors, hands-on experiences, and an exciting curriculum. Whether they are interested in supporting learning in formal education institutions, families, communities, or workplaces, students find our program rich, engaging, and pertinent. Our students come from many different educational and workplace backgrounds. The common denominator is that they are interested in how learning occurs across the lifespan. Often they are currently involved or would like to become involved in teaching other adults.

Acquiring new skills
A graduate degree in lifelong learning will provide you with a wealth of academic knowledge and research that will be effective in the workplace, and best-practice methods for sharing information with others, and more – including:

• Understand the process of learning across the lifespan
• Design educational programs (workshops, seminars, curriculum)
• Strategies for teaching effectively
• Improved communication skills
• Increase your capacity for creativity

Connect Through Practicum
Students in the program gain practical experience through a practicum. The practicum is a full unit course that provides students with an opportunity to take some of the concepts, theories and ideas that they have learned about in the program and put them into practice. Over the course of two semesters, students will work with their practicum instructor and a mentor at their practicum site to develop and carry out a “hands-on” project that fits with their particular interests.

The practicum requires approximately a hundred and fifty hours of work, is voluntary (so no payment can be received for this work), and is usually done with a community organization although sometimes it is done in the student’s place of work, provided the practicum tasks are clearly above and beyond work that they would be paid for.

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.

At the 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.

Our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is designed to meet your needs and interests. We will provide you with a solid foundation in business, whether you decide to enter into our General Studies Program or focus on a specific area.

Accounting
To earn a BBA with an accounting major, you must complete a total of six full units of accounting courses in your degree program. If you plan on completing the CPA designation after graduation, you should, without question, contact an accounting faculty member to discuss what courses are necessary for entry into the CPA program.

The Master of Arts program in School Psychology is a speciality program which prepares students to enter the profession of school psychology. The program is designed to address the academic, research and professional practice requirements for registration/licensing as a psychologist in provinces/territories where master’s level preparation is permitted. As well, the program is designed to enable participants to move to doctoral level programs.

The two-year full-time program balances research, theory and practice. It follows a holistic approach to children, youth, and young adults as key collaborators, along with their parents/guardians and other professionals, in addressing their individual strengths and needs within the context of home, school and community.

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour, examining both the biological and social reasons why humans act the way they do.

Program Highlights
Psychology is also one of the more popular subjects to study as an undergraduate student, which means that most universities offer psychology courses. Psychology at the Mount is different than it can be at other schools, for three big reasons:

The Mount has a unique historical connection to the education and advancement of women. To this day, we remain committed to the education of women, and have a well-established women's studies program. Students can declare a minor, major, or honours in the undergraduate women’s studies program. Women’s studies places women’s experiences and knowledge at the centre of critical inquiry. Students in women’s studies courses learn about the ways in which women’s societal position can be transformed. In examining the accomplishments and struggles of women, it considers the complexities of race, class, sexual orientation and ability, from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives.

The Bachelor of Public Relations is a four-year degree that is respected nationally and attracts students from across Canada and beyond. In 1977, the Mount became the first Canadian university to establish a professional degree in public relations, and remains the only institution to grant the Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education). The Mount has been recognized for excellence in public relations education by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), and boasts an impressive roster of faculty with interests ranging from change management to social media, literacy and ethics.

Connecting to industry via co-operative education:
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Public Relations program are required to complete the co-operative education component, taking their knowledge to the real world with hands-on experience. Each year, hundreds of employers across Canada give students the opportunity to gain experience in government, corporate, agency, education and non-profit sectors. By completing three work terms over the course of your degree, students graduate with a full year of work experience. Learn more about co-operative education »

Making theory relevant
Inspired by a desire for public relations excellence, students will explore various theoretical perspectives to gain confidence and understanding of public relations as a practice focused on the ethical and strategic management of relationships. From there, theories become applied to relevant and timely discussions and coursework, deconstructing and analyzing real-world events, crises situations and conversations had in new media. Courses offered »

In this program, you will develop a wide range of skills, knowledge and dispositions of a professional educator. Your professors will emphasize reflective practice, diverse teaching and learning methods, and professionalism. The degree will prepare you to recognize and value teaching and learning as a vital activity across a variety of workplace settings - both inside the classroom and out.

Program Options:-
You can choose from two programs: the Elementary or the Secondary program. These program options will help you to become a scholar, a teacher or a highly-qualified professional with future leadership potential. Both programs require 10 units of study organized over two years. Read the official Academic Calendar Program Description » 

Elementary - The program examines the young learner and encourages reflective practice. It offers courses in philosophy, social and cultural contexts, as well as core curriculum in subjects such as mathematics, language arts and science. Learn more about our admission requirements>>

Secondary - The program has a strong focus on examining contemporary culture and encouraging critical thinking. As a student, you'll have two focused disciplines within a variety of subject areas such as social studies, English, mathematics, science or French.  Learn more about our admission requirements >>

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.

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.