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Canadian Studies

The Canadian Studies Major program provides an opportunity for contact with the way disciplines in the humanities and social sciences have shaped understanding of Canada. Students in the program will be required to take courses in three of five areas: culture, geography, history, politics and economics, and society. In their third year they will enrol in CDST 350. In their fourth year they will enrol in CDST 450, the Senior Seminar in Canadian Studies, to be taught by the distinguished Canadianist holding the Brenda and David McLean Chair in Canadian Studies.

Interested students are encouraged to consult with the program Chair prior to or upon declaring the Major to discuss their course selections.

For further information please visit Canadian Studies. For enquiries, contact the program Chair.

Major in Canadian Studies

Lower-level Requirements

Students are required to complete 12 lower-level credits from the following list:

  • ACAM 250
  • ANTH 220
  • CDST 250
  • ENGL 222, 231
  • ECON 101, 102
  • FNIS 100
  • FREN 123, 280
  • HIST 235, 236
  • GEOG 290
  • POLI 101
  • SOCI 210

In planning their lower-level credits students should take into account the prerequisites for the 300- and 400-level courses they intend to take in subsequent years.

Upper-level Requirements

In consultation with a Canadian Studies advisor, students will compose a program of 36 upper-level credits comprising:

  • 3 credits of CDST 350
  • 3 credits of CDST 450
  • 30 additional upper-level credits from three of the five areas on the list below, with at least 6 credits from each of the three areas and no more than 18 credits in any area.

Note: Not all courses listed are available in any given year. Also, some courses vary in their coverage of Canada from year to year. With the permission of the program chair, such courses with a major focus on Canada in a given year may be substituted for those listed.

    Culture: (Area 1)

  • ARTH 343, 344, 376, 377, 443
  • CINE/FIST 438
  • ENGL 360, 470, 476
  • FREN 330, 335, 430
  • THTR 325, 425
    Geography: (Area 2)

  • GEOG 327, 328, 426, 468, 497
    History: (Area 3)

  • HIST 302, 303, 305, 307, 308, 324, 325, 326, 329, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 419, 420, 466, 469, 485
    Society: (Area 4)

  • ACAM 350
  • ANTH 304, 329
  • FNIS 310, 320
  • GRSJ 301
  • RELG 312, 420
  • SOCI 310, 410
    Politics and Economics: (Area 5)

  • ECON 336, 365, 436
  • POLI 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 363, 401, 402, 403, 405, 406

Minor in Canadian Studies

The Minor is comprised of 12 lower-level credits and 18 upper-level credits.

Lower-level Requirements

Students are required to complete 12 lower-level credits from the following list:

  • ACAM 250
  • ANTH 220
  • CDST 250
  • ENGL 222, 231
  • ECON 101, 102
  • FNIS 100
  • FREN 123, 280
  • GEOG 290
  • HIST 235, 236
  • POLI 101
  • SOCI 210

Note that students may use no more than 6 lower-level credits in any one discipline towards the Minor.

Upper-level Requirements

  • CDST 350
  • 15 additional upper-level credits from at least three of the five major areas of study listed above in the requirements for the Major.


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