Bachelor of Arts + Master of Arts in English

at Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo Campus Canada

If you are an excellent student with superior abilities in chemistry, physics and mathematics then Laurier’s Chemistry and Physics program is a match for you. This program combines some of the best of our Bachelor of Science (BSc) programs in Chemistry and Physics. You'll graduate with a solid theoretical foundation in chemistry and physics through both classroom lectures and laboratory experiments.

The focus of Laurier’s Chemistry and Physics program is on the chemical and physical properties of materials at the bulk scale (where dimensions are effectively infinite) and at the nanoscale (where dimensions are 1 to 100 nanometers).

At the bulk scale, classical mechanics can generally be used to describe the material. However, at the nanoscale, quantum effects can be very important and the properties of the material can be very different. For example, whereas bulk gold is inert, gold nanoparticles have been shown to catalyse a variety of chemical reactions.

Your materials science and quantum mechanics courses (and nanoscience courses) in both chemistry and physics will provide you with a unique skill set which will enable you to understand the properties of existing materials and which will give you the ability to design new materials with unique mechanical, optical, electronic or magnetic properties, which could have applications not only in chemistry and physics but also in disciplines as varied as computing and medicine.

ABOUT PHYSICS AT LAURIER:-
Our Physics program provides you with a strong foundation in Newtonian physics, electricity, magnetism, optics and electronics, in combination with mathematics. You can choose additional specialized courses in electronics and applied physics.

You’ll also have the option to put your learning into practice by participating in faculty research projects, such as:

• Controlling light-matter interactions at the nano scale and designing ultra-sensitive biosensors.
• Constructing fibre lasers.
• Simulating semiconductor nanostructures.
• Exploring quantum computers.

Classes in physics are small, which means you’ll have a lot of interaction with your professors.

While exposure to high school computer science and physics is useful, our first-year Computer Science and Physics courses will provide you with the required background.

WHY PSYCHOLOGY?

By studying psychology, your insights into human behaviour will prepare you for many career options in social service agencies, human services or health.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology program provides you with a liberal arts education that includes broad exposure to the major sub-fields of psychology along with some training in research methodology and statistics. The program is designed to provide you with the analytical skills and information useful for a broad range of career options.

In addition to the BA in Psychology, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, which focuses more on the structures, functions, and workings of the brain and its interaction with our bodies and environment.

ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

The BA in Psychology program at our Waterloo campus is structured to ensure that you are exposed to the breadth of content that exists within the discipline, while still permitting sufficient flexibility for you to pursue your own particular interests.

You'll come away with a solid understanding of the principles of human behaviour and be able to apply these principles in a responsible, engaged way.

We offer two different streams in our BA in Psychology degree and you will apply for these streams at the end of your second year:

Psychology stream: Offers you broad exposure to the major sub-fields of psychology, and prepares you for employment or graduate studies outside of psychology such as social work, teacher’s college, law school or speech language pathology.

Research specialist stream: Offers you training in research skills, along with considerable in-depth exposure to at least two of the sub-fields of psychology. You’ll also have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate thesis in your fourth year.

You can also add a Specialization in Community Psychology.

The Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier and the Cheriton School of Computer Science at the University of Waterloo (UW) have teamed up to give you 2 highly respected degrees from our two outstanding institutions. In this double-degree program, you’ll earn both a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) from UW and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Laurier in only 5 years.

The information explosion of the modern age has resulted in extremely large data sets and a need to understand how to analyze and make sense of big data. Advances in hardware, software and statistical techniques are giving rise to automated methods to analyze patterns and models for all kinds of data, with applications ranging from scientific discovery to business intelligence and analytics.

As a result, data-driven decision making is quickly becoming the standard in almost every industry and has created an unprecedented demand for data-oriented professionals across a wide range of industries, organizations and disciplines. Given the volume of the data sets in question, it is nearly impossible to extract patterns, trends and behaviours without some degree of mathematical guidance and programming expertise.

About Data Science at Laurier
Our Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Data Science is the first undergraduate degree of its kind in Canada.

Our Data Science program seeks to address the data-related needs of modern business and industry. As a graduate of this program, you'll be prepared for many and diverse career opportunities through your study of mathematics, statistics, data analytics and computing technologies and methods. You’ll also take courses in computer science, data analysis, business and economics.

ABOUT PHYSICS AT LAURIER:-
Our Physics program provides you with a strong foundation in Newtonian physics, electricity, magnetism, optics and electronics, in combination with mathematics. You can choose additional specialized courses in electronics and applied physics.

You’ll also have the option to put your learning into practice by participating in faculty research projects, such as:

• Controlling light-matter interactions at the nano scale and designing ultra-sensitive biosensors.
• Constructing fibre lasers.
• Simulating semiconductor nanostructures.
• Exploring quantum computers.

Classes in physics are small, which means you’ll have a lot of interaction with your professors.

While exposure to high school computer science and physics is useful, our first-year Computer Science and Physics courses will provide you with the required background.

We believe a successful Economics program provides a combination of sound mathematics, strong statistical analysis and the ability to powerfully convey these findings. Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics provides rigorous training that will give you both theoretical and empirical methods to understand, interpret and communicate the key issues in today’s society.

Laurier’s Economics department is uniquely positioned within our Lazaridis School of Business and Economics to provide you with the option to complete your degree in Economics and Accounting or Economics and Financial Management. The end result is an Economics graduate that has the tools and skills to make a huge impact in the workforce.

LEARN AND EARN:-
As an Economics student, you can take part in our business degree co-op program – the largest in the country – where you can explore different career options and develop skills for your future during three work terms.

Mathematics is a dynamic, evolving subject with many fascinating applications. Mathematics is often used to solve problems from the sciences, the arts and business – once put within the framework of mathematics, real-world problems can be solved in an efficient and reliable manner.

As a Mathematics student, you’ll study why modern business models heavily depend on probability and statistics, first developed in analyzing astronomical and census data and gambling. This is just one example why mathematics has been, and will continue to be, of vital importance to the world we live in.

Our Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mathematics focuses on the mathematics and statistics used in the social sciences, the humanities and business. You can combine our Mathematics program with many other disciplines, including Economics. We also offer a program specifically in Financial Mathematics, in addition to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Mathematics, which emphasizes the role of mathematics and statistics in the natural and computer sciences.

CONCENTRATE YOUR STUDIES:

• You can select elective courses in mathematics and statistics within six optional concentrations:
  • Analysis and Geometry
  • Discrete Mathematics and Algebra
  • Mathematical Modelling
  • Statistics and Data Analytics
  • Financial Risk Management
  • Computational Finance

If you're successful in your application to the BA + Master's program in English, you'll receive two conditional offers of admission:

• One to undergraduate studies (BA) in English
• One to graduate studies (master's) in your undergraduate program.

This means that if you decide to continue your studies at the graduate level, you don’t need to apply to the master's program at Laurier, because you’ve already received a conditional offer of admission. You will begin your master's program after you graduate from your BA degree program.

BENEFITS OF THE BA + MASTER'S
Students accepted into the BA + Master's program receive mentoring and skills development opportunities throughout their undergraduate degree that will help them achieve the admission requirements for the graduate program, and help turn the conditional offer into an acceptance.

BA - English
We offer you a chance to explore language and narrative in print and electronic media. Our vibrant program allows you to develop your critical reading, analytical and writing skills in preparation for working in a globally connected world. You'll learn the practice of effective communication and other keys to professional success in careers as diverse as education, law, politics, and public relations. Our innovative classrooms emphasize active learning in small group settings where you'll study literary and film texts drawn from the breadth of English-speaking cultures.

Taught by scholars who are internationally recognized researchers, teachers and award-winning writers, our courses include British, Canadian, American, Indigenous and World literatures that participate in conversations that have endured over thousands of years, and which continue to fascinate our contemporary world via the screen and page.

As a student in the Water Science and Environmental Health program, you'll learn the underlying scientific principles, processes and theories concerning the physical, chemical and biological properties of water and the factors that play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem and human health.

Through a combination of training and practical work experience, including co-op, you'll identify and solve ongoing threats to our water resources including those caused by human activities and climate change. You'll be able to recognize that the availability of safe, clean water and its resources is a fundamental question of social justice.

This program will help you develop the skills needed to apply quantitative and computer analysis to assess, monitor and sustainably manage land and water resources. You'll understand the critical need of government responsibility for managing and protecting water and Earth's resources.

Throughout your studies, you will feel empowered to contribute to the quest to improve the availability, security and reliability of human water supplies, while ensuring the whole ecosystem and human health.