Interdisciplinary programs
An Interdisciplinary Major is a program consisting of 42 or more credits comprised of courses from a range of disciplines. Interdisciplinary Minor programs usually consist of 24 or more credits and are to be combined with a department Major, Specialization, or Honours. Interdisciplinary Certificate programs normally consist of 30 credits and can be taken as independent programs. Interdisciplinary Major, Minor, and Certificate programs are listed below.
The MSc/MASc in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology introduces students to a broad range of theories and hands-on skills needed to thrive in this cutting-edge, highly interdisciplinary field. Nanoscience/nanotechnology examines the science and technological capabilities of materials and devices on the nanometer scale. Research and development in this area spans from the fundamental physical science of materials to biological and environmental implications, to technology development and device engineering. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams to develop a strong track record in research, and walk away with marketable skills in the emerging advanced materials sector. They will acquire specialized knowledge, learn how to bridge the science and engineering cultures, and how to interact with both scientists and engineers.
INDI is a unique program housed in the School of Graduate Studies that enables students to pursue individualized and interdisciplinary scholarly pursuits. INDI stands for individualized, interdisciplinary and independent. Pursuing INDI graduate study enables students to engage in research that could not be accomplished within a traditional disciplinary setting.
The Minor in Human Rights will enable you to take courses in a variety of disciplines, including Political Science, History, Philosophy, Religion, Journalism, Theology, Sociology, and English, linked by common concerns with the welfare, responsibilities, and rights of contemporary citizens in Canada and abroad.
The Minor in Law and Society will enable you to study law in an interdisciplinary way, from the perspectives of Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Religion, and others. You will study law not as a set of rules, but as an important discourse within society (in Quebec, in Canada and globally).
The Major and Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, offered jointly by the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Arts and Science, draws its curriculum from a variety of disciplines. It explores the myriad ways in which sexuality is manifest in, and affects, culture, social organization and identity.
The primary purpose of a Minor in Sustainability Studies is to enable students to complement their Specialization, Major, or Honours program with the systematic development of literacy in sustainability. Students will learn to situate the knowledge they gain from other disciplines within the context of complex global and local issues, such as biodiversity loss, or social injustice, while gaining a sophisticated understanding of the specific ways in which such issues interact directly with their chosen field of study. Students will also have the opportunity to contribute directly to the pursuit of sustainability through internship and research opportunities on campus and in the outside community. Courses include Biodiversity and Ecology, Current Issues in Personal and Community Health, and Economics of the Environment.
The Minor in Israel Studies is a 24-credit program intended for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science who wish to complement their core area of study with a selection of courses on Israel. The program is designed to equip students with the skills to engage in a balanced, critical and reflective approach to the study of Israel, a land of competing narratives, aspirations and claims. The minor offers courses in the following areas: Languages (Hebrew and Arabic); Politics and Religion in Israel; Israel and the Middle East; and a range of electives including Women in Israel and Studies in Near Eastern Art and Architecture.
With a fifth of the world's population, one of the world's oldest civilizations, and an immense political and religious sway, Southern Asia affects our lives every day. When you look at the social and cultural systems of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, or examine religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism or Jainism, you learn how to relate to the world, an essential education for today’s world.
To study the customs, social organization, ideas, history and present-day conditions in Southern Asia you must take courses from a range of disciplines: religion, history, political science, film studies, economics, English, and sociology and anthropology.
Our program allows you to focus on your interests. You might connect with your heritage, study an element of contemporary religion or society, or acquaint yourself with an ancient culture. Either way, you’ll leave us with well-developed insights into the art of intercultural dialogue, and expert knowledge of Southern Asia’s important contributions to the world.
The Department of Religion offers a 42-credit Major and a 24-credit Minor in Southern Asia Studies.
