Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies with Specialization in Integrated Arts

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

As a graduate of this advanced program, you’ll apply your skills to uncover evidence recovered at crime scenes, draw impartial conclusions based on physical evidence, and present and defend these findings using your foundational knowledge in science.

Beyond TV shows like NCIS or CSI, this highly-rewarding discipline integrates the study of science and law with investigative practice and theory. By studying Forensic Science at Trent, you’ll learn the foundational science of forensics through the study of anthropology, biology, and chemistry, along with uniquely specialized forensics courses. The B.Sc.F.S. degree emphasizes emerging developments in DNA forensic applications and crime scene investigation through courses in laboratory techniques and related case work.

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
• Hands-on internships with federal organizations including Border Services, RCMP, Communication Security, Health Canada, Food Inspection Services
• Direct access to leading experts in DNA profiling, forensics and at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

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

Trent is the only university in Canada to offer students the chance to combine your study of forensics with one of several different academic disciplines. Choose a joint major in forensics in combination with a vast array of complementary areas of study in either the arts or the sciences. Interested in a career in forensics specializing in ballistics? A joint degree with Physics could come in handy. Want to analyze the mental state of criminals, or become a criminal profiler? Combine your Forensics degree with a B.A. in Psychology. The emerging field of computer forensics means a joint major with Computing Systems can help you stand out from the crowd. No matter what your forensic career ambitions are, you have plenty of options at Trent.

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 subdiscipline of your choice, including Federal government internships with Border Services, RCMP, Health Canada, Food Inspection Services
• Direct access to leading experts in DNA profiling, and forensics at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

More than simply the study of numbers, mathematics is a powerful tool that is crucial for helping us make sense of the world around us. In this program, you’ll learn about the fundamental structure of the universe and the limits of human reason. The expertise and skills developed in this program are in high demand in the job market, as mathematical science careers are estimated to be one of the fastest growing occupation sectors in the coming decade.

Statistics (Specialization)
Numbers can reveal a lot about an individual, a society, or even a whole nation. Through a specialization in Statistics, students pursuing a degree in Mathematics will learn to incorporate pure math, big data, and computing to navigate the knowledge interwoven in numbers, paving the way for career success in everything from medicine and communications to marketing and technology.

Analyzing blood or hair specimens at crime scenes; deciphering the cause of death of an individual based on human remains; and identifying illegal products from endangered species– just a few examples of the role forensic biologists play in the field of forensic science. Trent’s Forensics Biology degree gives you all the advantages of hands-on forensic studies, while developing your expertise as a biological scientist. Students of the Forensic Biology degree program receive a comprehensive biology education that includes the study of life - from the level of molecules and cells to populations and communities - applying this knowledge in the practical applications of crime scenes and criminal investigations.

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

What is power? How do power relations and structures shape Canadian society and societies around the world? What is the relationship between states, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, social movements/protests and citizens? Explore these and many other questions in Political Studies at Trent. Here, you will sharpen your analytical skills and learn how to make a positive impact in the world. Focus your political exploration on Canadian politics, world politics or political theory. Immerse yourself in understanding political structures and systems, as you engage in lively debates and discussions alongside sought-after experts in globalization, populism, international relations, and political theory.

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 stream, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• Apply your learning to the real world through a community engagement project, field placement, or research practicum, gaining valuable hands-on experience in qualitative research methods
• 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
• Build a foundation for more advanced study in various domains of Political Studies

Trent is the only university in Canada to offer students the chance to combine your study of forensics with one of several different academic disciplines. Choose a joint major in forensics in combination with a vast array of complementary areas of study in either the arts or the sciences. Interested in a career in forensics specializing in ballistics? A joint degree with Physics could come in handy. Want to analyze the mental state of criminals, or become a criminal profiler? Combine your Forensics degree with a B.A. in Psychology. The emerging field of computer forensics means a joint major with Computing Systems can help you stand out from the crowd. No matter what your forensic career ambitions are, you have plenty of options at Trent.

Law & Policing Specialization
A specialization in Law & Policing provides you with a greater focus on the application of forensic scientific principles and techniques within the Canadian legal system, crime scenes, and policing. As a Forensics major with this one-of-a-kind specialization, you’ll be ideally suited to meet the changing demands of forensic investigation in the law enforcement community.

Explore the environment at the molecular level and use your passion for chemistry to make a meaningful impact on the world. Your studies in Environmental Chemistry will introduce you to contemporary approaches to quantifying contaminants, along with the sources of chemicals, their cycles and the impact they have on organisms and ecosystems in the environment.

Resume Boosters:-

• Undertake undergrad research opportunities working with leading professors and groups
• Benefit from practical work experience through community research projects with local organizations and companies
• Gain experience with advanced instrumentation and modern analytical techniques, preparing you to handle challenging environmental problems from a multidisciplinary perspective

Create a unique educational focus based on your passions and interests, with an interdisciplinary knowledge base
Trent’s joint major programs give you full license to create a degree that's uniquely your own, by combining courses in the arts, sciences, or professional programs. Have a passion for social justice? Combine your Politics degree with Gender & Women’s Studies. Interested in all things tech? Join Media Studies and Computing Systems. Mix and match programs that best appeal to your interests, preparing yourself for a future with more possibility.

Combine degrees. Expand your horizons.
At Trent, you have the flexibility to combine nearly any two programs of your choice. To help you narrow it down, here’s a list of some of our most popular combinations:

• Media Studies and Psychology 
• Anthropology and History 
• English and Media Studies 
• Biology and Psychology 
• Anthropology and Psychology 
• Environmental Studies and Biology 
• Anthropology and Sociology 
• Geography and Canadian Studies 
• Computing Systems and Media Studies 
• Economics and Philosophy 
• Economics and Psychology 
• English and Psychology 
• Psychology and Sociology 
• Computing Systems and Economics 
• English and Sociology 

You can also explore the popular joint major combinations within our professional programs like Business Administration and Forensic Science.

Political Studies:-
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.

Legal Studies (Option):-
Understanding the legal system in Canada is valuable for everyone, not just lawyers and policy makers. A complement to virtually any B.A. or B.Sc. degree, this option provides students with fundamental knowledge about Canadian law. You'll learn about rights and freedoms, what it takes to draft and pass new laws, and how the law influences and is influenced by society and culture.   

An option is a “mini-minor” – a set of courses in one discipline that can be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate degree program, allowing you to focus on an additional subject of interest.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain the diversity of knowledge today’s employers are looking by studying and specializing in not one, but two academic disciplines
• Hands-on learning experiences abound in all Trent programs – gain the competitive edge on your resume