Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Honours) with Emphasis in Social Sciences

at University of Ottawa Canada

Ethical issues are taking on a greater importance in society and in our lives. Think, for example, of the questions raised by medical advances that challenge our concepts of life and death, or the privacy issues created by the growing use of the Internet. This multidisciplinary program in ethics is both theoretical and applied. You reflect on fundamental issues in moral and political philosophy and come to understand the nature of ethics issues in health care, business, law, communication, criminology, social work, public affairs and other areas.

Environmental studies delve into some of the most significant issues of our day, such as anthropogenic climate change, urban pollution and possible threats to human health. You learn how to use applied research tools and management principles that can be applied in a variety of areas, such as conducting environmental impact assessments and resource management.

The option in management is designed to provide students with general management skills while balancing practical and analytical concerns in the search for improvements to the decision-making process. It emphasizes creativity, innovation and the ability to generate project ideas, to evaluate them and to bring them to fruition. 

History is the discipline that focuses on the diverse and complex ways that individuals and groups have created and adjusted to change over thousands of years around the world. In studying change over time, history students learn to interpret evidence of human thought and behavior, in order to understand the impact of individual and collective decision-making, the changing relationships among people and societies, and between humans and their environment.

Communication
Ours is the communication and information age. Analyzing how information is gathered, produced and distributed today helps us understand the communication processes that drive a variety of settings: social, cultural, political, organizational, economic and legal. In this program, you will develop critical and analytical skills in order to evaluate the nature and impact of technology and media on society, organizations and interpersonal relations. You will have the opportunity to be exposed to the latest developments in the field of communication (communication strategies, digital media, evolution of the media industry, advertising, crisis communications, negotiations, etc.). The Department of Communication offers courses in two main areas: media studies and organizational communication (internal and external communication in public and private organizations, health communication, organizational change, etc.). Combining theory and practice, our programs develop your critical and analytical skills and prepare you either for a professional career or for advanced studies.

Sociology
Sociology involves the study of societies, specifically their institutions, cultures, and transformations. Sociologists seek to uncover the processes, rules, and norms that govern social relations. They seek to understand issues such as the origins and consequences of social inequalities and collective behaviours. In our programs, students have the opportunity to apply theoretical approaches to real-world cases and learn how to use research tools such as interviewing, discourse analysis, surveys, and statistical analyses. The connection between theory and research enables students to understand a range of contemporary social issues, such as poverty, ethnic relations, deviance, gender relations, international development, power, and technology.

Public policy decisions shape daily life and well-being. Many essential services, such as health care and education, are provided by the public sector. Using their regulatory powers, governments establish the framework for competition between firms and they protect the environment. In return for public services, individuals and firms must pay taxes. This interdisciplinary program, which draws on the tools of economic analysis, gives students a better understanding of the challenges linked to public-sector economics (federal, provincial, municipal). Domains of application include the labour market, health care, education, environment and taxation.

The School of International Development and Global Studies (SIDGS) offers interdisciplinary programs leading to a Master of Arts (MA) in International Development and Globalization and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Development.

The master’s program is offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Law (common law and civil law), and the Faculty of Social Sciences and includes a co-op option.

The SIDGS offers an interdisciplinary MA program that exposes students to a broad range of development theory, policy and practice, while also permitting specialization in one of four fields: Conflict, Transitions and Peace; Growth, Private Sector and Social Inclusion; Livelihoods, Resources and Sustainability; and Social Movements, Equity and Human Rights.  Students have opportunities for hands-on practice through Co-op and international internships, as well as for networking with development policymakers and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the federal capital.

The School of Music at the University of Ottawa is one of the country's leading music schools. It is the ideal place to nurture your passion for all things musical and to pursue the rigorous training needed for an active and successful career in the field. We maintain close ties with renowned institutions such as the National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Our program boasts state-of-the-art music facilities and internationally recognized professors who perform around the globe and publish in leading academic journals. We are a full-service music school offering programs in performance, composition, music education, piano pedagogy, theory and musicology. 

Although any of our programs can pave the way for a career in education, musicology, music journalism or arts administration, the Bachelor of Music (BMus) is designed specifically for students wishing to become career musicians. Admission to the BMus therefore requires that you audition on your main instrument and demonstrate an intermediate or advanced level. In addition, the University of Ottawa is one of the only institutions in the country to offer the possibility of combining the BMus program in performance with a major in science.

The Department of English offers the degrees of Master of Arts (with coursework, major research paper, or thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy in English. Both programs equip students to pursue advanced studies in British, Canadian, or American literature informed by a broad knowledge of literary history and by recent developments in literary criticism and cultural theory. The department is well known for its annual Canadian Literature Symposium, and its faculty is distinguished and well-published. The Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) has consistently awarded the department the council's highest rating.

The Major in Visual Arts allows you to have the same range of course experiences as the BFA– including compulsory practical and theoretical courses but offers a greater number of electives so that you might pursue a broader range of interests. Majors can combine their degree with either a Minor or a second Major. It is an excellent preparation if you wish to pursue careers in such fields as fine arts education, project or communications officer in artistic organizations, artist agent, conservator, or curator.