Master of Arts in Economics - (Course-Based)

at University of Ottawa Canada

Where does language come from? How does language work? What is the nature of language structure and how is meaning encoded into language? Advances in research and new technologies are revolutionizing the way we try to answer these questions. Using the latest equipment and investigative approaches, our research laboratories make it possible for you to analyze spoken sounds, track eye movement and brain activity during language processing, explore language variation and acquisition, and probe dozens of other theoretical and empirical aspects of language including unfamiliar languages. 

These programs can serve as an entry point for a master's degree in either speech-language pathology or audiology, as well as for subsequent graduate study in theoretical and empirical linguistics.

Geography addresses highly relevant issues like climate change and human adaptation; water resources and their management; community organization and evolution; social interaction in urban space; and northern development in permafrost environments. 

Our programs provide you with the knowledge, tools and technical skills that make you highly employable as soon as you graduate. What's more, emerging technologies such as computer cartography, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) are an integral part of the curriculum, as are unforgettable field experiences in Canada's north land, in the Great Lakes basin and in the Appalachians.

Ever wonder why some countries are richer than others? Ever question why income inequality has been growing? Ever wonder why Canadian politicians worry when other countries may be going bankrupt? Economics can answer all these questions. 

Economics examines how individuals and society make choices in a world where resources are limited. It focuses on the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Two important themes are efficiency (the absence of waste in the use of resources) and fairness. Since making choices is central to all human activities, studying economics often helps explain why people and governments behave in certain ways.

Philosophy
Since it deals mainly with issues that have no simple solutions, philosophy emphasizes the exchange of ideas and debate, and thus cultivates an appetite for deep and serious reflection. By reading and discussing the works of the world's great thinkers on fundamental topics like truth, justice, morality and existence, you sharpen your own ability to think clearly, critically and independently. The Department's curriculum has a twin approach, historical and analytical, and covers political and social philosophy, ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind and logic. 

Political Science
Politics is omnipresent in our lives. Political science seeks to describe, analyze, understand and assess the principles and power relations that govern social life. It revolves as much around the structures and institutions that define these relations and principles as around the ideas and practices that drive them. It studies everything that influences political life and institutions (ideologies, groups, social movements, etc.) on a local, regional, national and international scale.

Our programs offer in-depth training in political science and encourage critical reflection on pivotal issues like citizenship, identity, political participation, globalization and development, governance and the state, and ethics and democracy. A discipline open to many theoretical and methodological approaches, political science constantly exchanges and shares with other fields. At the University of Ottawa's School of Political Studies, you build your knowledge in four subfields of political science: political thought, Canadian and Quebec politics, comparative politics, and international relations and global politics.

Recent discoveries and new technologies are revolutionizing the biological sciences, placing increasing emphasis on integrating knowledge across all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems.  Our programs give students both the intellectual tools and the hands-on experience they need to pursue careers in fields as diverse as conservation and endangered species; land-use management; ecotoxicology; academic, industry or government research; or health care.  Learning takes place through traditional classroom instruction, innovative laboratory projects with state-of-the-art technologies, field-based courses around the world, and a strong research program in which undergraduate students of all years are intensively mentored in a research lab.

The honours program in biology allows for in-depth study in one or more biological disciplines. Students can concentrate on a particular area by choosing one of three options: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Physiology, or Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour. This route includes a compulsory independent research project to equip students with advanced research, analysis and communication skills applicable to diverse careers.  Alternatively, they can pursue diverse interests by selecting a general course of study that includes a number of advanced courses, and they can gain work experience while studying through the Co-Operative Education Programs.

The MHK program in Sport Management is professional course-based and offers students a unique educational experience by exposing them to a wide array of information required to manage sport organizations, such as: marketing, finance, organizational behavior, organizational theory, and legal issues. In addition to benefiting from the faculty members' expertise in sport management, students get unique insights from sport industry executives and get opportunities to participate in real-life projects, activities, and experiences. At the heart of the program is a supervised internship that aims to foster the personal, academic, and professional development of students.

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.

Anthropology
Anthropology involves studying the diversity of human societies through comparative analyses. Anthropologists develop tools that contribute to identifying and exploring a variety of social, cultural, political, economic, environmental and other important issues. Anthropology is unique among disciplines because of its methodological approach, which involves in-depth qualitative field work. Our specialized programs in social and cultural anthropology enable students to better understand and analyze cultural changes and intercultural relations in the context of globalization, development, migration and new technologies.

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.

Biomedical Science is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the fundamentals of human structure and function, as well as those of other animals. The first two years provide a background in human anatomy and psychology, in addition to more in-depth knowledge in basic sciences like biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematics. At the end of second year, in addition to courses in biology and biochemistry, students may choose from an array of optional courses and obtain a minor in one of many programs offered, OR they can choose an option within the biomedical sciences (Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bioanalytical Science, Medicinal Chemistry or Biostatistics).  On graduation, they will be ready for more advanced research training or for admission to a professional program in human health.

The MHK program in Intervention and Consultation is the only course-based professional Applied Sport Psychology program in Canada. This program rigorously prepares students to meet the certification criteria of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association and its American equivalent, the Association of Applied Sport Psychology, two organizations whose mission is to ensure and promote the competence of mental performance consultants (e.g., by verifying successful completion of graduate studies in sport psychology - or an equivalent program - and a 400-hour supervised internship).

The program is course-based with an emphasis on a supervised internship that seeks to enhance the personal, academic, and career development of students. Academic goals include developing such cognitive skills as problem solving, critical thinking, analysis and synthesis and, most importantly, applying theory to practice through consultation internships.