Bachelor of Arts Honours) in Teacher Education Stream

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

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

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

With 220 million French speakers worldwide (projected to be more than 700 million by 2050), French language and comprehension has become a highly-sought after and important skill. In this program, you’ll immerse yourself in French, French Canadian, and Francophone literatures and cultures.

Quebec and Franco-Canadian Studies (Specialization):-
Learn more than just the grammatical and linguistic elements of the French language, examining the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the language culturally, socially, and politically around the globe.

Go beyond the boundaries of your French major, exploring French as a linguistic force that exceeds provincial borders and has influence across the globe as a language of power. Immerse yourself in the culture, literature, and history of Que?bec and French Canada to understand the social and political dimensions of Canada’s second official language.

Resume Boosters:-

• Take your studies even further by spending a year abroad in Quebec.
• Embrace French-based events, including presentations by guest speakers, public readings, and student-run mini-conferences.

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.

Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies (Specialization):-

Small classes sizes allow you to make connections with professors and open doors to hands-on, undergraduate research opportunities studying homelessness, the criminalization of women, restorative justice, or the impact on Indigenous peoples.

For students pursuing an Honours Sociology degree, this standout specialization explores the study of crime and punishment, the influence of social inequality as a cause of crime, and how criminals and victims are treated by the criminal justice system. You’ll apply your sociological knowledge and potentially perform independent research on homelessness, the criminalization of women, restorative justice or the impact on Indigenous peoples.

This specialization is available to students pursuing a single or joint-major Honours degree in Sociology.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain a solid foundation in legal research methodology and theoretical application that will prepare you for success in a variety of workplace settings
• Streamline and personalize your degree with a focus on crime and society
• Familiarize yourself with case law research by learning from and working with practising legal professionals
• Take a prison-based course that explore restorative justice in all contexts

Media shape our view of the world and orient us in it. You can best navigate this environment by marrying theory and practice. 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.

Accelerated Master's Degree
Earn your Master's degree in Theory, Culture & Politics within one year of graduation from your B.A.

Resume Boosters:-

• Chart your own path taking courses from a dozen contributing departments including Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Computing Systems, and Political Studies
• Take workshop, internship, and community-based research courses with professors and media professionals
• Create a portfolio of your work with media new and old: write zines, compose music, code videogames, report the news, program radio shows, and more

The study of Philosophy can shed light on some of the most fundamental and important questions we ask as human beings. At Trent, you’ll explore your place in the world, the nature of reality, the meaning of human existence, and the limits of knowledge. You will be encouraged to develop your own philosophical positions as you cultivate your ability to reason logically, question commonly held assumptions, and develop a worldview that does justice to the complexity of life.

Ethics (Specialization):-
Social movements like #MeToo, political debates over border walls and Brexit, and headline grabbing questions over cloning and online privacy all make one thing clear - there is growing need for ethically minded individuals in every sector. For students pursuing a single or joint-major Philosophy degree, this specialization offers a solid foundation in ethical theory and applied ethics related to the fields of medicine, resource management, computing, law, and business.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain hands-on experience navigating real ethical scenarios through detailed case studies
• Develop an extensive understanding of ethical theory and knowledge of how it applies to the (sometimes messy) reality of human life
• Put your work on display at the Trent Philosophy Society’s annual student symposium

Have an interest in analytical chemistry and its applications in forensic investigation? This new program is for you. In addition to the hands-on learning received in the fundamental forensic science course options, the Forensic Chemistry program gives you a comprehensive education in forensic chemical analysis, studying everything from biochemical and environmental chemistry to inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.

Resume Boosters:-

• First-hand investigative work with bloodstain pattern analysis, fingerprinting, and evidence recovery in mock crime scenes at Trent’s on-campus Crime Scene House
• Opportunities to research and work directly with scientists in the lab and professionals in the field
• A third-year work placement in a sub-discipline of your choice, including Federal government internships with Border Services, RCMP, Health Canada, Food Inspection Services
• Direct access to leading experts in DNA profiling, forensics and at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

Politics impacts all aspects of life, and importantly, quality of life. In Political Studies at Trent, you will find yourself debating and exploring ideas around democracy and global politics as you examine power relations and relationships between the state, business, and citizens. It is exciting and enlightening to learn how these relationships influence each of our lives, and more broadly, political, economic, and social change nationally and internationally. Our small class sizes and interactive student-professor relationships build confidence, skills, and knowledge for a variety of careers.

Political Theory
Political Theory explores the ideas people use to understand and shape political life. Theoretical premises developed over centuries invest our assumptions, our choices and our rhetoric with meaning. Whether in a global or a Canadian mirror, we see ourselves as liberals, conservatives, neoliberals, socialists, Marxists, anarchists – perhaps postmodern or postcolonial - but always as members of a community. Political theory helps us grasp wider significance from the diversity of political ideas and events shaping our present and our future. Political theory also helps us invest those ideas with new and inspired meaning in the contemporary context.

Chemistry can help you make informed decisions not just about science, but about all of life. An intellectually challenging and rewarding subject, Chemistry explores the diverse makeup of our world and contributes to most other areas of physical and life sciences. You’ll learn about fundamental discoveries in chemistry and work towards contributing to them while gaining experience in modern chemical research, experimental design and technical laboratory skills.

Resume Boosters:-

• Assist in research project with leading experts in the field
• Gain experience working with special equipment for modern experimental and theoretical chemistry
• Get involved as a member of the popular Trent Chemistry Undergraduate Society

Many aspects of modern culture - from the literary elements of comedy and tragedy to our laws and ideals of democratic government - have their origins in Ancient Greece and Rome. Trent’s Ancient Greek and Roman Studies program gives students the opportunity to examine human behaviour and culture in the Ancient Mediterranean. Explore compelling topics surrounding warfare, class struggles, economy, religion, gender, cultural heritage, and the genius of the human spirit - issues as relevant today as they were in antiquity. 

Greek and Latin (Specialization):-
Take your studies of archaeology, history, and literature even further by heading back in time to study writings by the original thinkers. Through language training in Greek and Latin, students pursuing a degree in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies will be able to read foundational texts in their original formats and gain insight into the way these languages cascade into every field of study.

Interested? Consult the program coordinator of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies as early as possible and make sure you begin studying at least one of the languages in your first year. The availability of the Specialization in Greek & Latin, and of Greek and Latin courses beyond the 2000 level, is subject to program staffing conditions.

Resume Boosters:-

• Participate in one-of-a-kind extracurricular activities and projects, like student productions of ancient Greek plays and archaeological excavation in the Mediterranean.