Bachelor of Education

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.

Did you know that humans have been biotechnologists for nearly 6,000 years? Making wine, beer, cheese and yogurt involve the use of bacteria or yeast to convert a natural product, like milk or grape juice, into a more desirable fermentation product.

Biothechnology is the direct or indirect use of living organisms in an innovative manner in the production of goods and services, or to improve existing processes. Applications of this science include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, genetically modifying agricultural crops and production of vitamins, pharmaceuticals and other economically important products.

York’s Biotechnology program prepares you for a career in this exciting, steadily growing field. This program teaches not only the underlying science but also exposes you to relevant social, legal, ethical and business issues.

Many students ask, how does "biotechnology" differ from "genetic engineering"? Biotechnology is a broad term that applies to all practical uses of living organisms—anything from microorganisms used in the fermentation of beer to the most sophisticated application of gene therapy. Genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies that are being used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms.

This program has been designed to provide a well-coordinated synthesis of carefully selected courses in molecular and cell biology, genetics and biochemistry with others in computer science, economics, business and ethics. It combines the required technical and conceptual scientific rigor necessary for mastery of the discipline with a fundamental education relevant to socio-economic aspects of biotechnology.

York's program is designed to offer you the opportunity to prepare for a career in biotechnology and, at the same time, to provide a sound foundation for postgraduate studies in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry.
Students frequently compete in the Sanofi-Pasteur Healthcare & Biotechnology Venture Challenge. This is a unique opportunity for Biotechnology and Schulich MBA students to create business plans to get products out of the lab and on to the market. In 2010, teams comprised of York Biotechnology and Schulich MBA students were awarded with over $10,000 in prizes.

Biotechnology is the application of science and engineering in the innovative use of living organisms to create new products that improve the quality of our food, our health and our environment. Applications of this science include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, genetically modifying agricultural crops and production of vitamins, pharmaceuticals and other economically important products. York’s Biotechnology program prepares you for a career in this exciting, steadily growing field. This program teaches not only the underlying science but also exposes you to relevant social, legal, ethical and business issues.

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 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. 

York developed the full-time second-entry BScN program in response to an increasing demand for nursing programs which build on prior university learning. It is available to students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits towards any university degree and who meet the program prerequisites. By studying in the concentrated and continuous six semester program, students can complete their BScN in two calendar years. 

As with other programs in the School of Nursing, the second-entry program reflects a unique teaching approach that focuses on cultivating human relationships. This patient-centred approach answers a growing demand for health care services and practitioners that respect patients' values and choices about health and quality of life. It recognizes that every patient has a personal story. We encourage you to question and critical think about conventional assumptions and practices and help you gain the insights and skills that will prepare you to contribute to the evolution of health care in Canada.

Students complete the full time program in two calendar years and will graduate in the fall after the second summer semester. This is a full time program and there is no part time option available.

First year
Students begin with studies in the areas of wellness and health challenges, assessment skills, professional development and issues, knowledge of nursing, thinking, communicating and relating in the context of nursing, applied pathophysiology, and ethical ways of knowing. In addition, students will also complete courses in biochemistry and pharmacology.

Clinical practice in the first year will help students develop their practical skills throughout the continuum of health experiences that persons may face. They then continue on to examining and enacting client-centred care within the context of caring for individuals and families in their homes and rehabilitative settings Last, students will engage in praxis in complex care settings as persons and families deal with acute and chronic health challenges.

Second year
Students will begin to explore additional layers of complexity in nursing practice with courses focusing on nursing research and inquiry, advanced professional issues, nursing in a global context and nurses as leaders of change.

Clinical praxis will focus on partnering with and integrating client-centredness in community settings. Student will continue with the exploration of nursing in the context of human vulnerability and diversity. In preparation for independent practice after graduating, students will undertake 12 continuous weeks of clinical practice that offers them the opportunity to integrate learning from all nursing courses and engage in deliberate praxis.

The French Studies program focuses on the study of language, linguistics and literature while exploring francophone culture around the world. We keep our classes small to give you plenty of opportunity to speak French and interact with professors and classmates. You will be taught oral and written production and comprehension, guided by teaching assistants from France.

The linguistics program exposes you to the many branches of linguistics (syntax, semantics, phonetics, sociolinguistics, etc.) through a variety of practical and theoretical approaches. You will have the opportunity to study linguistics as applied to translation and to second language teaching.

The literature program opens doors to the literatures and cultures of the francophone world with a particular focus on French and French Canadian literature. You will develop analytical skills through the analysis of texts using various theoretical and philosophical approaches.

Study in one of the largest Geography programs in any university in Canada. Whether you're pursuing your Bachelor of Science and focusing on physical geography or gaining expertise about human geography through a Bachelor of Arts, York's program offers you the world at your doorstep.

Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment. There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography.

Geographers also study the linkages between human activity and natural systems. Geographers were, in fact, among the first scientists to sound the alarm that human-induced changes to the environment were beginning to threaten the balance of life itself. They are active in the study of global warming, desertification, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution, and flooding.

In the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Geography program focuses on human geography - how people and their activities are distributed across the globe and how people create and sustain the places that make up the earth's surface. You'll learn how to use geographical theory and methodology to solve real-world problems that have a geographical dimension — urban and regional planning, transportation, tourism and international relations and more. Human geographers work in the fields of urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.

• We are addressing some of the most pressing issues facing human kind today.
• We are committed to hands-on learning, using modern technologies and doing field work to get the facts on the ground, whether they are on the streets of Toronto or in the streams of the Arctic.
• You will be able to use our range of impressive facilities for computing and research. For example, the Geoinformatics Research Lab, the climate laboratory and a web development facility.
• You'll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in our extensive map library.
• Why not check out the Undergraduate Geography Students Club and take advantage of Alumni Career events during the school year.

Whether you are treating a patient, formulating a new drug, unravelling a sub-atomic mystery or modelling climate change, the ability to think and reason at the nexus of disciplines is essential to success. Develop your interdisciplinary mind-set in Integrated Science.  

Integrated Science is an enriched first-year program offering a cohesive set of courses in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics that can be taken as the first year of any York Science program. Integrated Science is designed around the connections between disciplines, allowing you to experience both the depth and breadth of scientific theory and practice. Some of these connections are inherent to the specific disciplines — like enzymes in biology and reaction rates in chemistry, or Newtonian mechanics in physics and derivatives in mathematics. Other connections are driven by larger questions that you will explore through integrated projects. In Integrated Science, you will learn to approach problems and develop solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective, applying the knowledge and skills that you gain within and across disciplines.

Integrated Science offers a number of benefits for first-year science students:

• Small class size: With limited enrolment, class sizes are about a tenth of that of some of the larger first-year science courses. You will quickly feel part of a cohesive and caring community.
• Strong faculty connections: You will get to know your professors very well, so you can begin building your professional network from day one.
• Block scheduling: Integrated Science classes and labs are scheduled in blocks during the week. You will be in the Integrated Science classroom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am to 1pm, leaving your afternoons free for studying or other commitments. In any given week, you will normally have two three-hour labs on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. This type of schedule is especially well suited for students who commute to York or have additional commitments outside of school.
• Innovative teaching and learning methods: As an Integrated Science student, you will progress through four carefully designed stages of learning — Prepare, Apply, Solidify and Integrate — to deepen your understanding of scientific concepts. Professors use innovative teaching practices such as peer instruction in the classroom to further enhance your learning process.
• Depth and breadth in the sciences: If you enjoy all the sciences and aren’t yet sure exactly what you want to focus on, Integrated Science offers you the opportunity to explore across biology, chemistry, physics, and math before entering the second year of any of our York Science programs.
• Preparation for health-professional exams: If you are considering writing your MCAT, PCAT or DAT in the future, then Integrated Science can help you acquire a strong and necessary background in introductory biology, chemistry and physics, as well as teaching you critical-thinking and reasoning skills.

Gain insight into critical business topics such as strategic competition, the internal organization of firms and international issues facing businesses in the changing global marketplace.

Business Economics combines economic theories with the field of business administration. This field of study is concerned with the study and consequences of scarcity and strategic competition. Individuals, households, businesses and nations all experience some level of scarcity in that they do not possess all the resources to satisfy all their wants and needs. Decisions have to be made to balance those scarce resources in order to improve what can be achieved with them.

The Business Economics program is concerned with how:

• These decisions are made;
• The resources of a nation or business are allocated and utilized in the production of goods and services; and
• The rewards of these activities are distributed.

You will become acquainted with all the activities which illustrate the practical nature of the subject, such as commercial reports, articles in newspapers and periodicals and examples from daily life. This program integrates aspects of economics and business studies, focusing on the use of economic analysis and statistical methods to deal effectively with management problems in practical business fields. By applying economic theory to business management, you will become familiar with the analytical and decision-making techniques used in the business world and with the public and private institutional environments within which businesses operate.

Students who take our Marketing & Consumer Economics course work on a real-world market consulting project which gives them the opportunity to develop a full marketing plan for an outside organization.

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