Bachelor of Arts in History

at York University - School of Continuing Studies Canada

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.

In Classical Studies, we explore the worlds of ancient Greece and Rome, and their enormous impact on the world as we know it today. Some might think that these languages and cultures are dead, but the Greeks and Romans were concerned with many issues that remain fascinating, relevant and important today - love, death, fate, the individual and society, religion, justice, law and so on. Their works form the basis for much of what we know and understand about the world around us today.

The program will introduce you to the richness of thought and expression of the cultures that have shaped the Western intellectual tradition. You'll study the religion, politics, mythology, art, literature, history, archaeology, architecture and philosophy of Greek and Roman society.

Classical Studies is a truly interdisciplinary subject of great breadth. The program allows a broad range of choice of courses in:

• Greek and Roman languages and literature
• Greek and Roman history
• Greek and Roman philosophy
• Greek and Roman archaeology, art and architecture

Our courses will introduce you to and deepen your understanding of a range of analytical approaches, including literary, linguistic, historical, philosophical and aesthetic approaches to classical culture.
Majoring in Classical Studies is an excellent way to develop critical, analytical and logical reasoning skills. You'll learn how to make rational arguments and express them lucidly. You'll gain a thorough understanding of some of the greatest accomplishments in human thought and art.

Streams within the program include:

• Classics – This stream focuses on the ancient Greek and Latin languages.
• Classical Studies – This stream focuses more on the historical and social/cultural aspects and ancient Greece and Rome.

Violations of human rights occur across a broad range of social, economic and cultural areas as well as within the civil and political order. Today we are faced with local and global issues that, in one way or another, impact all of us: denial of education or basic health rights; surveillance and suppression of speech; polarization of incomes or denial of economic security; atrocities of military occupation and war.

Students in York's innovative Human Rights & Equity Studies program explore the roots of human rights violations as they occur across a broad range of social, economic and cultural areas. You'll tackle local and global issues, that, in one way or another, impact us all:

• Denial of education or basic health rights;
• Surveillance and suppression of speech;
• Polarization of incomes or denial of economic security;
• Atrocities of military occupation and war.

York's program investigates rights and equity concerns through a range of disciplinary lenses. Courses drawn from units across York confront problems of basic rights involving physical, emotional and economic security, cultural autonomy and freedom of political expression, viewing rights in relation to the whole person.

• Gain multidisciplinary knowledge by exploring human rights and equity in a diverse array of fields, including sociology, anthropology, philosophy, political science, social work, economics, health, education and the arts.
• Core professors are experts in social and cultural rights and equity concerns related to health and healthcare, economic inequality and poverty, work and unemployment, and social and labour policy.

In today’s media-centric and technologically saturated environment, knowledge of communication is essential for both professional and everyday life. We teach students to question, analyze and creatively reflect on the wide range of media systems and communication technologies that permeate our lives.

This includes:

• How communication processes and information technologies can be used to profoundly shape and transform societies, from strengthening local communities to establishing global networks.
• How culture and media are intrinsically intertwined, from the expression of identities and social relations to the circulation of ideas and the shaping of social and political values.
• How struggles to create, define and regulate public, not-for-profit and for-profit communication systems are implicated in broader issues around citizenship, corporate power, and public accountability.

We offer an interdisciplinary and innovative approach to teaching and learning, and we provide a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses theoretical, applied and experiential learning. Our students become critical, independent, and creative thinkers able to engage with the various dimensions and complexities of communication, whether this involves creating or evaluating media content and information technologies, or addressing significant issues arising out of their production and use. Our graduates work in the communication and cultural industries sector, in the not-for-profit and advocacy sector, and in the public sector. 

With its unique interdisciplinary approach that bridges studio production, art history and curatorial practice, AMPD's Department of Visual Art & Art History offers students the opportunity to become well-rounded professionals in the field, able to lead in the creation, exhibition, critical understanding and communcation of visual culture in diverse environments.

The Honours BA in Art History emphasizes the relationship between visual art and its social contexts, including global cultural exchange. The curriculm focusses on modern and contemporary art, indigenous and settler art of the Americas, Asian art, western art and architecture, art criticism and curatorial studies. Students have hands-on access to original works of art to explore prectical applications of museum and gallery studies.

Recognized as one of the most progressive and socially responsive social work programs in Canada, our Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) combines practical experience with in-class studies in professional techniques and methods.

Social work is concerned with social justice and the impacts of structural inequalities such as poverty, unemployment, discrimination and oppression. It aims to work with individuals, families, and communities and to address policies in order to increase their capacity to bring positive social change, social development, and social cohesion. Social justice work can happen in different employment contexts including family service agencies, children’s aid agencies, general and psychiatric hospitals, school boards, correctional institutions, welfare administration agencies, federal and provincial departments.

Social workers also work in local and international community-based agencies and grassroots organizations to engage in various community organizing and development work to challenge social inequalities and oppression.

The School of Social Work fosters intellectual curiosity and a spirit of inquiry through its emphasis on critical perspectives in social work. In light of its belief in social work as social justice work, the School consistently teaches applied practice skills throughout the curriculum. This curriculum is designed in collaboration with professors, students, field instructors and community representatives to ensure our program responds to the needs of people in their social environments.

You can enter York’s Social Work program two ways:

• The Direct entry program accepts students in their first year of university. You don't need a degree to apply to this program. This is a full-time program with courses offered during the day and evening and takes four years to complete. In the first year, you will concentrate on social sciences, humanities and natural science courses. In the final year, you are required to complete a field placement – giving you vital hands-on experience – in a social service setting.
• The Post-degree program requires you to have a university degree to be admitted. This  program offers courses in the day and evening and could take a minimum of two years to complete. The post-degree program was developed for university graduates who are social work practitioners or who want to pursue a career in social work. You will be exposed to contemporary and socially relevant issues that address the many techniques and approaches used by social work professions as well as partake in a practicum experience that places you in real social work environments.

You will receive a professional social work education that is characterized by a commitment to human rights and social justice. Dedicated instructors, who draw from a strong contemporary curriculum and their own practical experience, give you the opportunity to develop your own social work philosophies and teach applied practice skills throughout the curriculum. You will graduate equipped for professional practice in a wide variety of social work arenas, from work with individuals and families to practice with community, policy, research and international settings.

Flooding, terrorism, global warming and hurricanes are all disasters and emergencies that can be effectively managed – and, in some cases even mitigated – through good planning and response. The recent earthquake in Haiti, the H1N1 pandemic and memories of 9/11 are reminders of the pressing need for qualified and trained professionals in the field.

Disaster & Emergency Management is the discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. In this exciting and rapidly expanding field you’ll explore key concepts, methodologies and technologies used by emergency management professionals while honing your analytical and critical skills. You'll also gain a comprehensive understanding of how emergency management intersects with other disciplines such as psychology and sociology. Discover strategies to help save lives and property, reduce damage and speed a community’s recovery from natural and human-induced disasters and emergencies.

You'll examine a diverse range of topics including:

• Business continuity planning
• Emergency management communications
• Disaster risk management
• Ethics
• Terrorism

In addition to this, you will learn to apply key concepts, methodologies and technologies used by emergency management professionals to complex real-life challenges.

This program prepares you to synthesize large amounts of complex information and make sound decisions in challenging and often difficult circumstances. As a graduate you will be equipped with the skills for a career in emergency preparedness, public safety or consultancy work for a range of opportunities from positions in federal and provincial governments to large multinational companies and non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross/Red Crescent, World Bank, Oxfam or UNICEF.

• Upon graduating, you'll join one of the fastest growing industries in North America.
• You have the option of continuing your education within the disaster and emergency field with York's Master of Disaster & Emergency Management degree — the only graduate program of its kind in Ontario and one of only two in Canada.
• You'll have the opportunity to join The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters.
• Take advantage of experiential learning opportunities and interact with leading professionals who will provide you with a deeper insight into the field. You'll have the option to complete a field experience that will help to foster a greater understanding of the complexities and realities emergency management professionals face.
• You are also encouraged to take advantage of the regular events held by the School of Disaster & Emergency Management. These include conferences and symposiums held throughout the school year to help you apply your education to real-life situations.

Our extensive facilities and our Biochemistry Lab – outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment – provides  you with hands-on training in the laboratory right from the very first year.

The Biochemistry program at York is your gateway to an exciting and rapidly evolving field. Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of life, and as all fields of biology are increasingly seeking understanding at the molecular and submolecular levels, Biochemistry continues to be vitally important to advancing many areas of biology and biomedical science.

Biochemistry looks at topics such as molecular genetics, physiology and the treatment of disease. As a Biochemistry student you will explore the structure and properties of biological molecules and the relationship between their chemical structure and their function in living systems.

Many areas of everyday life owe their development or even existence to biochemists: medical products and diagnostics, new food and its safety, crop improvement, cosmetics and forensic science.

• York's Biochemistry professors include Sergey Krylov, Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry and David Hood, Canada Research Chair in Cell Physiology.
• York houses the Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions which houses more than 70 professors, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students. The Centre uses cutting-edge approaches to gain full understanding of key molecular players and events that can lead to disease, and by doing so, hopes to address prevention and future treatment of many diseases.

The Biochemistry program at York is your gateway to an exciting and rapidly evolving field. Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of life, and as all fields of biology are increasingly seeking understanding at the molecular and submolecular levels, Biochemistry continues to be vitally important to advancing many areas of biology and biomedical science, including molecular genetics, physiology and the treatment of disease. As a Biochemistry student you will explore the structure and properties of biological molecules and the relationship between their chemical structure and their function in living systems.

This four-year program provides you with hands-on training in the laboratory right from the very first year. A fourth-year research project serves as the capstone course of your degree, preparing you for many challenging careers. York Biochemistry students get meaningful and well paid jobs in research, in industry and in teaching. Others go on to pursue graduate studies, here and at other prestigious universities in Canada and abroad. Many enter professional schools in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and business.

Urban Studies at York stresses the importance of fieldwork when studying the social and spatial fabric of cities.

The city is among the most fundamental human institutions. Across history, cities have been sites of basic innovation in economic, political and cultural life — centres of trade, seats of empire and the locale of scientific, social and artistic creativity. Cities retain these roles today and are the home of a growing majority of the world’s population who increasingly live in large metropolitan regions of several million people. Often, as in many Canadian cities, these urban regions are marked by complex social diversity, striking contrasts of wealth and poverty and a challenging array of planning and environmental dilemmas.

Urban Studies is the attempt to understand cities and city life — how they function, the current and future concerns of their residents. This encompasses the political institutions, economic and social relations, physical landscapes and cultural frameworks that constitute the city.

As a student in Urban Studies, you will focus on cities as distinctive entities and explore the meaning and function of cities in the larger society. You'll be taking courses from a broad range of fields including:

• History
• Environmental studies
• Geography
• Anthropology
• Political science
• Sociology
• Psychology.

You will also examine the processes that produce certain patterns of human settlement and chart the changing relationships among areas shaped by urbanization, such as metropolis and countryside, city and suburb, municipality and region.

With its unique interdisciplinary approach that bridges studio production, art history and curatorial practice, AMPD's Department of Visual Art & Art History offers students the opportunity to become well-rounded professionals in the field, able to lead in the creation, exhibition, critical understanding and communcation of visual culture in diverse environments.

Through intensive studio training supported by studies in the history and theory of art, students receive a thorough grounding in the production of art works and comparative cultural analysis across a wide range of traditional and contemporary media. In the initial foundation year, students take courses in all artistic media -- painting, sculpture, print media, drawing, photography and interdisciplinary art -- and then can choose to specialize in one or more areas. At all levels, students are mentored by faculty mambers who are highly regarded artists with active professional practices.

York's Visual Arts students are supported in their exploration and creation with access to facilities unrivalled in Canada, including the Joan Goldfarb Visual Arts Study Centre; the L. L. Odette Centre for Sculpture; spacious, state of the art studios; five student-run exhibition galleries and the award-winning Art Gallery of York University.