Bachelor of Art (Honours)

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

Media dominate our world and shape our perceptions of reality. In this popular program, students navigate and engage with the theory, principles and practice that shape our ever-changing media landscape. In Media Studies, you’ll examine the influence of advertising and ideology, the political economy of media corporations, the foundations of media arts, and the ecological impact of media technologies. You’ll also benefit from our interdisciplinary curriculum, learning across subjects from the arts and sciences, and across environments from the classroom to the community to prospective career paths through the co-op stream. Through the Media Studies Co-op degree, you will get the full picture of media, from influence on ideology to individual imaginations.

Resume Boosters:

• Explore your strengths and career interests, and graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the new four-year B.A. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• Chart your own course by taking classes from a dozen contributing departments including Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Computer Science, and Political Studies
• Take workshop, internship, and community-based research courses with professors and media professionals and gain experience working with organizations like Artspace, Global TV, Trent Radio, and the ReFrame Film Festival
• Get hands-on as you build a portfolio of your work with media new and old: compose music, code video games, write blogs, create podcasts, take photos, and report the news

Geography at Trent is more than learning in a classroom. It’s an expedition. You will learn about real-world issues and critical perspectives related to both human and physical geography. You will explore complex issues such as the causes and impacts of climate change, health geography, water resources, and the historical roots of geopolitical conflicts. At Trent, we believe the best way to learn geography is through an interactive environment. Small group learning and experiences outside of the classroom are pillars of the program.

Climate Change Science & Policy (Specialization)
Dive into the challenges and solutions for climate change—environmental, economic, political, social—and build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that equip graduates for the growing number of climate-related careers.

Climate change is the leading global environmental issue, but its impacts extend beyond the natural world, into business operations, politics and policy development, social justice movements, law and more. If you find yourself trading the car for public transit, reviewing a company’s environmental initiatives or participating alongside millions of others in global Climate Marches, this specialization is for you.

Trent’s Climate Change Science & Policy specialization draws on faculty specialties in Trent’s School of the Environment (TSE) and from affiliated departments, providing students with a robust, well-rounded education that could lead to a variety of careers supporting climate solutions that can have profound impacts on societies for future generations.

Resume Boosters:-

• Graduate from one of only two climate change-focused programs in Canada
• Develop a broad-base of skills and background in the science of climate change and policy perspectives related to it
• Learn from and work alongside professors who are experts in their field and practicing climate change practitioners, such as the first-ever Canada research chair in environmental geoscience
• Study in the Trent School of the Environment, a research-intensive unit that nurtures collaboration with diverse faculty specialties and expertise as well as opportunities for applied learning
• Benefit from access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities in Trent’s DNA, Life & Health Sciences Building and Water Quality Centre

An important field of study particularly in today’s social media-focused world, Sociology helps us achieve a greater understanding of the complex yet simplistic nature of humankind, and the societies in which we choose to organize ourselves. Rooted in the social sciences and inspired by a passion for social justice, Trent’s Sociology program engages students in understanding and acting on the consequences of social change. Through this degree, you’ll explore and question a diverse range of social topics, completing your studies with a heightened understanding of human relationships and society. A sociology degree is an excellent foundation for law school, teachers college, social work or similar programs.

Resume Boosters:-

• Conduct original research with one of our award winning faculty members, in areas of LGTBQ issues, the pharmaceutical industry, or human rights in prisons as part of our research practica opportunities
• Meet and learn from leading thinkers in the field through guest lectures and speaker series held throughout the year
• Present your work at a symposium with other undergraduate students

Anthropology is the study of the human experience, from our earliest ancestors to contemporary digital society. You will learn to see humankind as complex social and biological beings with the capacity for language and culture. Drawing on insights from archaeology, and cultural, linguistic, and biological anthropology, you will explore the extraordinary variability in human adaptation, organization and belief, and how the common circumstances we face unite us.

Resume Boosters:-

• Get your hands dirty on a global scale through our archaeological field schools in Greece or Belize
• Dig up the past right here on campus through the Ontario Archaeology Field School, a full-credit Anthro course that runs each summer
• Study different cultures first-hand through a year abroad program in virtually any country worldwide – Ghana, Ecuador, Thailand, France? The choice is yours.

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behaviour and the mind. You will study the principles of behaviour through lectures, labs, seminars and research. Explore topics from sleep and dreams to health, sexuality, and perception. You will acquire both research skills and a broadly-based background in the basic content of the discipline, combined with the opportunity at upper levels to focus on more specialized topics.

Resume Boosters:-

• Undertake an undergraduate independent research thesis or research practicum and work one-on-one with award-winning faculty
• Apply the skills you learn in the classroom to a real-world healthcare setting through unique new research placement on aging
• Get excellent reference letters from your profs for grad school or your first job thanks to our highly-personalized learning environment

Dive into the challenges and solutions for climate change—environmental, economic, political, social—and build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that equip graduates for the growing number of climate-related careers.

Climate change is the leading global environmental issue, but its impacts extend beyond the natural world, into business operations, politics and policy development, social justice movements, law and more. If you find yourself trading the car for public transit, reviewing a company’s environmental initiatives or participating alongside millions of others in global climate marches, this specialization is for you. Trent’s Climate Change Science & Policy specialization draws on faculty specialties in Trent’s School of the Environment and from affiliated departments, providing students with a robust, well-rounded education that could lead to a variety of careers supporting climate solutions that can have profound impacts on societies for future generations.

Resume Boosters:

• Graduate from one of only two climate change-focused programs in Canada
• Develop a broad-base of skills and background in the science of climate change and policy perspectives related to it
• Learn from and work alongside professors who are experts in their field and practicing climate change practitioners, such as the first-ever Canada research chair in environmental geoscience
• Study in the Trent School of the Environment, a research-intensive unit that nurtures collaboration with diverse faculty specialties and expertise as well as opportunities for applied learning
• Benefit from access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities in Trent’s DNA, Life & Health Sciences Building and Water Quality Centre

Our unique collegial learning environment means you’ll make your mark in this program, getting to know your professors one-on-one – great for personal references that make the difference on grad school applications or making an impression in interviews.

Whether you swoon over Shakespeare’s sonnets or are bewitched by Harry Potter novels, English Literature makes a lasting impact on how we write and share stories of the human experience. Trent’s uniquely flexible English Literature program is designed to prepare you for any career that demands creativity, critical inquiry, and strong communication skills. Explore literature, culture and the history of ideas in courses ranging from medieval romance to contemporary graphic fiction.

Literary History (Specialization):-
How has the written word evolved since the days of The Canterbury Tales and King Arthur? For English Literature majors considering grad studies or a career in English lit, this captivating specialization provides a great opportunity to explore a broad spectrum of historical literary knowledge — essential expertise for any future scholar, teacher or author.

If you’re an English Literature major considering graduate studies or a career in English literature, this captivating specialization will give you a thorough understanding of English writing and storytelling throughout the ages.  By the end of your degree, you’ll be equipped with a broad spectrum of historical literary knowledge — essential expertise for any future scholar, teacher or author.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain a thorough background in English literary history, giving you important context for grad studies
• Explore a range of hands-on learning experiences including dramatic performance, music, creative writing, peer-assessed active learning or an independent reading project.
• Participate in seminar and workshop classes that provide opportunities for discussion, critical thinking, and interaction with leading scholars

Computing Systems
When you study Computing Systems at Trent, you'll get a chance to develop your skills in designing, implementing, and integrating software applications - everything from supercomputers to game boards. This degree will equip you with the skills required for a successful career in the ever-changing tech sector. Get advanced use of the latest science and digital technologies, with assistance from professors who are experts in their fields. You can also work with real-world clients from industry, government, and education through a third year internship course and fourth year project course.

Media Studies
Earn credit for doing as well as thinking, gaining hands-on experience by fabricating 3D-printed objects, bending circuits, shooting on 16mm film, creating fake social media profiles, and more. In Media Studies, you'll examine the influence of advertising and ideology, the political economy of media corporations, and the principles of multimedia design. You'll also benefit from our interdisciplinary curriculum, learning across subjects from the humanities to the sciences, and taking workshop, internship, and community-based research courses with your professors and media professionals.

Are you interested in starting your own business, patenting an idea, or working in a corporation or small enterprise? In a world that thrives off of innovation, creative thinking and savvy ideas, this program will help you develop your business acumen and better prepare you for a rewarding career in marketing, sales, product development or brand management. You will explore everything you need to know about the strategic implementation of ideas from the incubation phase to the marketplace. Topics such as entrepreneurship, marketing, branding, and advertising will be covered in order to provide you with the foundational tools to start a business, pursue a passion for research and innovation, or simply to improve marketability to potential employers.

This intensive postgraduate certificate program is open to students who hold an undergraduate degree from any accredited university. Graduates from sciences, social sciences, and the humanities will find the courses particularly engaging should they wish to start their own business, market an innovation, or patent a recent idea or product. The strategic implementation of ideas from the incubation phase to the marketplace is also explored. Trent University is now accepting applications

Politics shape everything society touches, influencing what we believe, how we live and what we do to create order in a chaotic world. In this program, you’ll learn to make a positive impact through shaping and influencing social policy, focusing on Canadian politics, world politics and political theory. You’ll find yourself debating and exploring ideas surrounding democracy and global politics, closely examining power relations and relationships between state, business, and citizens.

Public Policy (Specialization):-
In today’s challenging political environment, the world needs new leaders who are driven to find the best solutions to society’s problems. The specialization in Public Policy is the ideal path for students in Political Studies who are interested in pursuing a career in public service, think tanks, as well as non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.

Resume Boosters:-

• Apply your learning to the real world through a community engagement project or political internship
• Get published – complete a fourth-year thesis under the supervision of expert faculty who are leaders in the field
• Go global and internationalize your degree (and experience) through a study abroad opportunity