Bachelor of Arts in English

at York University - School of Continuing Studies Canada

This cross-disciplinary program offers you a challenging opportunity to study the mind and its processes.
Cognitive science majors will examine the nature of thought, memory, perception and language from a variety of different perspectives in order to acquire a rich knowledge of the mind. You will have the chance to study the different ways in which infants and non-human animals may be able to think and reason without language, how computers may be programmed to demonstrate intelligence and the nature of the relationship between social interaction and cognition.

Our professors are conducting research in such diverse areas as:

• Infant social cognition
• Human-computer interaction
• Cognitive ethology
• Moral psychology
• Artificial intelligence

To gain an expansive knowledge of the cognitive processes we might find in humans, animals and machines, you can combine courses from:

• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Linguistics
• Computer science
• Information technology

In order to integrate findings from different fields, you'll be trained in the methodologies of different disciplines, and you'll have the opportunity to apply these methods in order to examine the nature of thought, memory, perception, language, and other cognitive processes. You will have the opportunity to take courses in:

• Minds, Brains, and Machines
• Neural Basis of Behaviour
• Psycholinguistics
• Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
• Animal Behaviour

Your studies will be enriched by your contact with energetic professors and research groups involved in groundbreaking work in fields such as vision, social cognitive neuroscience, language evolution, autism research, robotics, ape cognition and consciousness.

Designed to inspire, develop and enhance creative and critical thinking, the curriculum in AMPD's Department of Dance fosters deeply embodied and intellectual learning. Canada's largest and most comprehensive dance program educates innovative, thoughtful and articulate dance professionals, prepared to be engaged leaders in diverse environments. 

Program Structure:

Dance students take a common first year and then branch into one of two streams according to their interests and goals. Upper-year students may audition to join the department's resident company, the York Dance Ensemble. They also have the opportunity to gain hands-on training in lighting design for dance, to embrace emerging media and integrate technology into their dance practices, and to extend their professional experience through field placements, collaborative research and guest teaching. 

Streams:

Choreography/Performance:

This stream centres on studio work in contemporary/modern dance, with options in urban, contemporary/ballet and world dance forms. Students acquire specialized knowledge and skills in movement observation, production and performance, informed by an understanding of choreographic elements and principles, somatics and embodied storytelling. they learn to create and present original works in a variety of performance spaces incorporating professional production values and contemporay media technologies.

Dance Education:

Students in this stream explore practical and theoretical aspects of teaching dance in a variety of communities and settings, including innovative approaches and experience working with children, youth, adults in all stages of life, marginalized individuals and people with disabilities. Graduates are prepared to enter the field as educators in recreational, community-based and private settings.

Featured Facilities:

• Five spacious rehearsal studios
• Two choreography studios
• Black box dance theatre-studio
• A 600-seat thrust stage
• Strate Dance Studio Theatre
• Pilates conditioning equipment
• Extensive costume collection
• Audio and video recording facilities
• Extensive library collection of dance books and periodicals
• Dance-specific computer software and peripherals

Specialize in one of these streams: Atmospheric Science, Geomatics Science or Space Science. Atmospheric Science explores meteorology from the turbulent micro-scale to the large synoptic-scale weather systems. Geomatics Science delivers the knowledge and skills to work with terrestrial, aerial and space-observing platforms. Space Science explores the near-Earth space environment, as well as other planets. 

What You’ll Learn
Atmospheric Science explores meteorology from the turbulent micro scale to the large synoptic scale weather systems. In our program, you will learn how we use computer models to forecast the weather and will develop a deeper understanding of the processes that drive severe weather, climate and climate change. You can top off your degree with a Certificate in Meteorology.

In Geomatics Science (formerly Earth Science), you will study about modern geophysics, Earth’s gravity field, satellite geodesy, reference systems, plus surveying and mapping with emphasis in the areas of geospatial science and applications. Our program provides you the knowledge and skills to work with terrestrial, aerial and space observing platforms. Add depth to your degree with a certificate in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing.

Space Science explores the near Earth space environment as well as other planets. You will learn how to investigate and establish new satellite programs for optical aeronomy, dynamics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere and monitoring the recovering ozone layer.

What are the roots of international terrorism? How is world trade affecting the balance of rich and poor nations? What is the effect of the Internet on diplomacy and social movements? This program, offered by our renowned Political Science Department, helps you answers questions such as these.

Global Political Studies encompass international relations, foreign politics and domestic government policy. Topics include:

• Foreign and security policy
• Political economy
• Democratic reform
• War and conflict (including internal strife)
• New social movements
• An examination of the changing "world order" in its economic and political forms

The Global Political Studies program allows students to specialize in international or global politics by combining courses in two of the Department's fields:

• International Relations
• Comparative World Politics

Through this program, you will gain the skills required to analyze global political forces, as well as a broad education. This program provides an excellent background for future public service work abroad, for private sector employment in areas dealing with international issues or for graduate studies in international relations or comparative world politics.

• You'll learn to conceptualize and think critically about global politics and issues such as the uses and abuses of power; rights and responsibilities; and the intersections of community and nation-state with globally defined realities.
• Engage in open discussions with your peers on some of the most contentious political issues and learn to identify the possibilities of acting politically to bring about change.

The History program in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies explores historical events, people and places to help you gain a fuller understanding of, and appreciation for, the role and importance of history and how it impacts current events. Our professors have won university-wide, provincial and national teaching awards. Because of our size, our roster includes many and varied courses taught by experts in their fields.

Choose from courses covering Canadian, African and European history and explore themes such as the immigrant experience in Canada, the Holocaust and global migration.
In addition to courses in social, economic and political history, we offer subjects like:

• Native History
• Black History
• Histories of gender and sexualities
• History and film

Some of our best students go on to MA and PhD programs in Canada or abroad. In conjunction with York's programs in education, many of our graduates become teachers. The study of history teaches many skills necessary to succeed in today's world: critical thinking; research; assembling and analyzing information; and effective oral and written communication. Knowledge of history deepens your understanding of both the past and the present.

• We offer courses covering an almost global geography and ranging in time from antiquity to the fall of Communism.
• Our professors have published books on topics as varied as Halloween, love and death in Renaissance Italy, the world of voyageurs, Canadian marijuana policy and modern Iraq.
• We have 37 full-time professors providing creative, dynamic and innovative teaching. They include one Canada Research Chair, two Distinguished Research Professors, three Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and one member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the RSC.

York's Music program provides an uncommon opportunity to explore the depth and breadth of the art form through a remarkably flexible curriculum that enables students to pursue creative and scholarly work across a wide range of musical genres and traditions, tailored to each individual's unique talents and aspirations.

York's Music program is known for pioneering post-secondary studies in jazz, world, classical and digital music. Students may specialize or generalize according to their interests, developing expertise in a particular area of vocal or instrumental performance or composition, or working in a variety of musical practices and cultural forms. Options include solo, small and large ensemble performance; composition and arranging; education and community arts development; ethnomusicology; and the growing field of musoc media production for cinema, gaming and motion media.

All first-year Music students enter the BFA program. After first year, students whose interests centre on music history, criticism and scholarly research may choose to move to the BA program.

Program Highlights
Courses and workshops in popular music and in non-western performance traditions, such as South Indian, Chinese orchestra, Indonesian gamelan, Caribbean, West African drumming and Celtic Canadian, are a regular feature of the program.

Performance Opportunities
Presenting more than 100 student and faculty conerts a year, as well as master classes with renowned Canadian and international artists, the Department of Music offers countless opportunities to perform and collaborate. In addition to the many student-led ensembles, students can be part of numerous formal ensembles, including:

• Symphony Orchestra
• Jazz Orchestra and Choirs
• West African Drums
• Concert and Chamber Choirs
• Celtic Canadian Folk Ensemble
• New Music Ensemble
• Chinese Classical Ensemble
• Gospel Choir
• Wind Symphony
• Escola de Samba
• Rhythm & Blues Ensemble
• Chamber Strings

To see health in its social context is to look beyond the limits of medicine as we know it.
York’s Health and Society program is an interdisciplinary program bridging critical heath studies, humanities (history, creative writing), and the social sciences (indigenous studies, anthropology, sociology) to consider the social, cultural, political, historical and economic forces that shape health, well-being, and illness in both the Global North (Canada, US, EU, and the UK) and Global South (including nations like Peru, Kenya, Nepal, and many more).

This exciting and innovative program explores a wide range of influences including social media, art and aesthetics, cultural values, capitalist networks, and political ideologies as they shape everyday health and healing. In this program students will consider the scientific controversies surrounding mammograms, female circumcision, vaping, and supervised injection sites; the barriers in providing equitable health care delivery in resource poor and resource developed communities; and structural forces that contribute to poor health like environmental racism (Alberta’s oil sands, Dakota Access Pipeline), the contemporary effects of colonial legislation (like the Indian Act), and exclusionary practices and policies in health care development and delivery.

German Studies encompasses subjects ranging from language, literature and film studies to intellectual and cultural history, urban studies, political science, museum studies, art history and women's studies.

German is a major language of business, diplomacy and tourism in the European Union and Eastern Europe. It is also the language of the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, and the largest portion of Switzerland, as well as Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, areas of Northern Italy, Eastern Belgium and Eastern France. Knowledge of German is vital for Canadians who want to compete in the emerging Eastern European market.

This program is divided into two streams:

• German Language, Literature and Culture — all courses but one are offered in German.
• German Culture and Society — you'll select courses that deal with the German-speaking world (e.g. history, political science, humanities). Language requirement applies.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GERMAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT YORK:

• Students majoring in German are encouraged to study in Germany for one year. York has Canada's best array of exchange programs with partner institutions in German-speaking Europe in conjunction with the Ontario/Baden-Württemberg program.
• Take advantage of the Multimedia Language Centre (MLC) of York University, located in S117 Ross, is a resource centre dedicated to supporting students who are enrolled in programs of study of language, literature and linguistics.

Linguistics constitutes the systematic study of natural language, its formal structures, and social function.
Linguistics & Language Studies examines the building blocks of languages, how they develop over time, how people learn languages, how regional accents differ and more. Why Linguistics at Glendon? Our professors offer an expanse of expertise in the study of sound properties, word patterns, meaning, language evolution, and the relationship between language and social factors.

Gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of business on society and the relations between business, social structures and government - crucial factors in understanding the social environment of business.

Choose from an array of courses within 10 streams of study.
Choose from a dynamic array of courses that explore the political, social and cultural context of business, both in Canada and around the world, including:

• Economics
• Political science
• Law and governance
• Communications
• Business ethics

If you'd like to further specialize your studies, you may wish to pursue a certificate while working on your degree. Certificate programs offer additional background in areas such as management, finance, marketing and organizational behaviour.
Thanks to the flexibility of the program, you'll be prepared to work in public service, corporate business, community and international development, teaching, marketing, human resources, public relations, finance and labour relations.
Gain the knowledge to help you account for, evaluate and transform the various ways that business influences society and society influences business.