Canadian Studies

Faculty: Faculty of Arts
Degree options:  

• Bachelor of Arts, honours or major in Canadian Studies
• Any degree, minor in Canadian Studies
• Undergraduate certificate in Canadian Arts and Culture

Mount Allison’s Canadian studies program is one of the oldest in the country.

The program explores Canadian issues and realities, such as the country’s vast and varied geography, regional distinctions, history and politics, public policy, culture, economy, the environment, Indigenous peoples, bilingualism, and multiculturalism.

Canadian studies courses at Mount Allison address some of the most pressing topics in contemporary society: diversity, community, cultural literacy, and national identities.

In first year you will take introductory courses that examine contemporary Canadian issues and institutions as well as Canadian culture and identity.

Second year course options include cultural diversity, media and pop culture, regionalism, and Canadian foodways, while in third year you can explore gender in Canada, Canadian-American relations, and contemporary issues.

Your fourth year provides opportunities for independent studies, seminars, and advanced studies in courses such as Culture of the Maritimes, Aboriginal Political and Legal Issues, and Imagining Canada.

Canadian studies is an interdisciplinary program, which means that in addition to your Canadian studies courses, you will take Canadian-centred courses from fields including:

• History (immigration in Canadian history, labour history, urban history)
• English (Canadian literature, Canadian drama)
• Sociology (citizenship, identity and difference; comparative social policy; non-profit organizations; refugee studies)
• Music (survey of western music, music in Canada)
• Geography (natural resources management, rural and small town Canada, Canadian environmental planning and management)
• Economics (economic issues in Canadian public policy, taxation and fiscal federalism)
• Fine Arts (art history, Canadian art)
• French (Quebec literature and culture; Acadian history, culture, and language)
• Political science (political parties and elections in Canada, environmental conflicts in Canada, interest groups and social movements, Canadian foreign policy)
• International relations (Canada, globalization, and international development)

Find a list of Canadian studies courses in the academic calendar — Canadian studies.

NEW! Undergraduate certificate in Canadian Arts and Culture

The certificate in Canadian Arts and Culture invites students to experience and analyze different kinds of creative production, including music, theatre, literature, and visual art, made in Canada.

Undergraduate certificates are open to Mount Allison students in any program of study. Certificates (12-18 credits) are taken during your Mount Allison degree, and must be combined with a major/degree program.

Not sure about the difference between a major, a minor, an honours, and a certificate?

Popular career paths for Canadian studies graduates include:

• public policy analyst
• municipal, provincial, or federal elected representative
• community/urban planner
• foreign service officer
• journalist
• aboriginal liaison
• entrepreneur/business analyst
• museum curator/director
• arts administrator
• mediator/conflict resolution specialist
• public relations specialist
• teacher/professor
• social media specialist
• immigration officer
• economic development officer
• demographer
• heritage researcher/interpreter
• tourism development officer

Alumni spotlight

Kylie de Chastelain ('14)
Bachelor of Arts, honours Canadian studies and sociology
Head of Content & Community, Live Better With

"With liberal arts, you can see a broad picture of what many different careers might look like, and learn many different ways of thinking."

» Travelling the road to Rhodes

“I was intrigued by the idea of learning more about the country I live in. Canada occupies a very unique place in the global community. I love international relations, but I didn’t understand how I could study it successfully without a solid understanding of my own country and its specific circumstances. After a few weeks in the intro courses, I was hooked. Every week there was something new and complicated to discuss — no easy answers. I realized I cared too much about these issues not to study them further.”

Kylie de Chastelain
Double major, Canadian studies and sociology (’14)
Mount Allison's 52nd Rhodes Scholar
Georgetown, ON

“I love that the program offers courses on the broadest range of topics, all of which are situated in a common foundation — Canada. I was glad to find that the program was not overly concerned with empty nationalism. Rather, it focuses on critical inquiry of relevant issues.”

Ryan van den Berg
Honours Canadian studies, minors in history and French ('14)
Ottawa, ON

National reputation
Mount Allison was among the first universities in the country to establish a Canadian studies program. This well-respected program has earned a national reputation for excellence.

Centre for Canadian Studies
As a Canadian studies student, you can take advantage of Mount Allison’s Centre for Canadian Studies, an active research centre that works closely with the Canadian studies academic program. The Centre supports and extends student learning through an exceptional program of public lectures, conferences, and extracurricular events; hosts visiting scholars; and supports student initiatives and academic projects. Visiting speakers, like The Book of Negroes author Lawrence Hill and novelist Jane Urquhart, often take the time to visit classes while they are on campus.

Work opportunities
Third and fourth year students have opportunities to work as teaching assistants. There are also opportunities for internships at the Centre for Canadian Studies.

Some professors hire students as research assistants. In addition, there are internship opportunities, such as the Bradbrooke Smith Internship in Canadian Studies.

Edgar and Dorothy Davidson Collection of Canadiana
Mount Allison is home to the Edgar and Dorothy Davidson Collection of Canadiana, a rich collection of Canadiana books, imprints, and manuscripts of great rarity and value, and examples of early Canadian glass, 18th century Canadian furniture, and 19th and 20th century Canadian paintings and sculptures.

Davidson Lecture
The annual Davidson Lecture brings a distinguished Canadianist to campus to speak on a matter of importance to the country, while the annual Stanley Lecture is given each year by a Mount Allison Canadianist.

Faculty spotlight

Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Jewett
Adjunct professor, Canadian studies

Areas of expertise include Canadian history, environmental history, and sport history