Arts

The study of the humanities and social sciences will enrich your life and open the way to a rewarding career.

Over and over, graduates of the Faculty of Arts will tell you that their time at university gave them not only marketable skills but also intangible tools they use and appreciate every day. These tools are crucial in today's job market. Beyond easily obtained technical skills, employers often need and look for more qualitative assets in their employees. Flexibility, creativity, analytical skills and effective communication are among the traits they value most highly. The study of the arts develops all these qualities that will not become obsolete; clear thinking and powers of communication have no expiry date.

An arts degree could lead to a career in a wide variety of fields such as:

• community development
• cultural heritage
• journalism/communications
• market research
• policing
• politics

It could be your passport to further study in professional programs such as:

• business
• education
• medicine
• nursing
• social work
• or in academic disciplines ranging from anthropology to sociology

Students can indicate their intention to complete a BA program when completing the General Application for Admission to Memorial University. Most major and minor programs applicable to the BA program do not have any additional admission requirements beyond those for admission to the university.

Application may also be made by contacting the Office of the Registrar at reghelp@mun.ca.

All candidates must complete the following core requirements:

• English
• Second Language
• Numeracy/Science
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Research/Writing

English

• Six credit hours in English at the 1000 level

Second Language

• Six credit hours in a single second language other than English
• This requirement may also be met by demonstration of equivalent competency in a second language, through, for example:
  • success in the French immersion course Français 3202 (or 3212)
  • the completion of an Advanced Placement language examination with an acceptable grade
  • the completion of a high school curriculum in a second language
• A list of courses being offered that will fulfil the second language requirement is provided each semester by the Faculty of Arts at: http://www.mun.ca/arts/undergraduate/lang_requirement.php

Numeray/Science

• Six credit hours in numeracy/science (satisfied by biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, Economics 2010, Economics 2020, engineering, environmental science, geography laboratory courses, mathematics and statistics, physics, psychology, Science 1000, 1150, 1151, 3000, 3001).

Humanities

• 12 credit hours in at least two humanities subjects (satisfied by classics, communications studies, English, French, gender studies, German, history, Italian, Linguistics 2025, 2026, 2030, 2031, 2700, 2701, 2702, 2703, 2704, 2705 or 2706, medieval studies, philosophy, religious studies, Russian, or Spanish).

Social Sciences

• 12 credit hours in at least two social science subjects (satisfied by anthropology, archaeology, economics, Environmental Studies 1000, Environmental Studies 2000, folklore, geography (non-laboratory courses only), history, law and society, linguistics, police studies, political science or sociology).

Research/Writing

• Six credit hours in research/writing. These may be counted towards the major and minor programs and may also satisfy six credit hours from humanities and social sciences. It is recommended that these courses be completed within the first 60 credit hours of your program.
• A list of courses being offered that will fulfil the research and writing requirement is provided each semester by the Faculty of Arts at: http://www.mun.ca/arts/undergraduate/rw_requirement.php
• Students can also obtain the list each semester through the Memorial Self-Service Registration system. Look up Course Offerings in the Registration Menu and highlight Research/Writing in the Attribute Type search box.
• Priority registration for research/writing courses will be given to students who have indicated arts as their intended faculty on the General Application to Memorial University of Newfoundland or to students admitted to any bachelor of music program.

The Faculty of Arts at the St. John's campus offers the BA with majors in:

• anthropology
• archaeology
• Canadian studies*
• classics
• communication studies*
• computer science
• drama and music**
• economics***
• English language and literature
• folklore
• French
• gender studies
• geography
• German language and literature
• history
• law and society*
• linguistics
• mathematics
• medieval studies*
• philosophy
• police studies*
• political science***
• psychology****
• religious studies
• Russian language and literature
• sociology
• Spanish
• statistics

* Students completing a major in any of these interdisciplinary programs must complete a minor or second major, in a single subject. Similarly, students completing a minor in one of these programs must choose a major in a single subject.

** The major program in drama and music is currently under review and is not available for admission at this time.

*** A co-operative education option is available to majors in economics and political science. Admission is competitive and selective. For more information, please see the economics and political science course descriptions sections of this Guide.

**** Admission to the major in psychology is competitive and selective. For more information on admission to the major in psychology, please see the science section of this Guide.

Please note that certain majors and minors within the Faculty of Arts do require mathematics:

• Computer science majors are required to complete Mathematics 1000 and 1001 (or 1090, 1000 and 1001).
• Economics majors and minors are required to complete Mathematics 1000 (or 1090 and 1000).
• Geography majors or minors can complete a BA degree without courses in mathematics. However, the completion of Mathematics 1000 will allow for greater choice in the selection of geography courses.
• Mathematics majors are required to complete Mathematics 1000 and 1001 (or 1090, 1000 and 1001). Mathematics 1050 and 1051 be used toward a minor in mathematics.
• Psychology majors are required to complete Mathematics 1000 or two courses chosen from Mathematics 1090, 1050 and 1051.
• Statistics majors are required to complete Mathematics 1000 and 1001 (or 1090, 1000 and 1001). Statistics 1510 can be taken in either the fall or winter semester.

Bachelor of arts students may also complete minors in all the major subject areas listed above except Canadian studies, communication studies and police studies, as well as in:

• Aboriginal studies*
• business administration
• European studies*
• film studies*
• Faculty of Science subject areas
• German studies*
• international business
• music and culture*****
• music history*****
• Newfoundland and Labrador studies
• Russian studies*

* Students completing a major in any of these interdisciplinary programs must complete a minor or second major, in a single subject. Similarly, students completing a minor in one of these programs must choose a major in a single subject.

** The major program in drama and music is currently under review and is not available for admission at this time.

*** A co-operative education option is available to majors in economics and political science. Admission is competitive and selective. For more information, please see the economics and political science course descriptions sections of this Guide.

**** Admission to the major in psychology is competitive and selective. For more information on admission to the major in psychology, please see the science section of this Guide.

***** For a more detailed description of the music and culture and music history minors, please see the music section of this Guide.

The bachelor of arts (honours) is offered in all of the major subject areas listed except Canadian studies, communication studies, gender studies, law and society, medieval studies, police studies, Russian language and literature, and Spanish. These subjects may be included in some joint honours programs.

Diploma programs are of distinct advantage to students who wish to complement their studies in one or more fields of specialization with a program that will help them relate their knowledge to growing sectors of the economy and to areas of increasing social concern. These programs assume and build upon the theoretical knowledge acquired in the completion of an undergraduate degree and will assist in easing the transition of graduates to the workplace.

Diploma programs consist of between 24 and 36 credit hours in courses as specified in individual programs, including a field component of six credit hours in an approved instructional field placement and/or instructional field courses.

The purpose of the field component of the program is to provide students with an opportunity for practical and instructional field-oriented experiences as a means of broadening and reinforcing the other courses taken in the diploma program. The instructional field component may take a number of forms, depending on the nature of individual programs but typically includes observation of and instruction in practical techniques and methods and their application, as well as the maintenance and submission of documentation and reports appropriate to the area of study.

The following diploma programs are currently available:

• applied ethics
• creative writing
• geographic information sciences
• performance and communications media
• police studies
• professional writing

Admissions to the diploma in English as a second language and diploma in heritage resources programs are currently suspended.

Admission requirements to diploma programs vary considerably. Students are encouraged to consult the University Calendar and/or to contact the office of the Dean of Arts, arts@mun.ca.