Canadian Studies Program

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Program Requirements

The Canadian Studies program offers a wide range of classes, beginning with a structured group of core courses and beyond to a large selection of cross-listings. Many faculty members at Dalhousie teach in the Canadian Studies program and in another department. Our cross-appointed team of professors offer a vast knowledge base of Canadian Studies from the perspective of their home disciplines.  

You might choose to pair Canadian Studies with History, English, Gender and Women's Studies - or Environment, Sustainability and Society, through the College of Sustainability. Explore these options further with the Canadian Studies Coordinator, Dr. Jerry Bannister (Bart.Vautour@dal.ca) or contact an academic advisor.

Concentration in Canadian Studies (90-Credit Hour BA)

This three-year program is a general liberal arts degree with a concentration (i.e., a Minor) in Canadian Studies. It permits a wide range of choice in the selection of classes. Besides the general degree requirements for all BA degrees, students are required to take:

  • Six credit hours in French (a class in an Indigenous language may be substituted, as a transfer credit).
  • At least 18 and not more than 27 credit hours in Canadian Studies electives above the 1000-level including CANA 2001.03: The Idea of Canada: Social and Political Perspectives, and CANA 2002.03: The Idea of Canada: Cultural and Literary Perspectives.
  • At least 6 credit hours must be at the 3000- or 4000-level in Canadian Studies.
  • After the first 30 credit hours, students must take 6 credit hours in each of two subjects other than Canadian Studies.

MINOR in Canadian Studies (120-Credit Hour BA or BSc)


At the 1000 level

  • Six credit hours in French (a course in an Indigenous language may be substituted, as a transfer credit)

2000-4000 level

A minimum of 18 and a maximum of 27 credit hours from the wide range of Canadian Studies electives including:

  • CANA 2001.03: The Idea of Canada: Social and Political Perspectives (or CANA 2000XY)
  • CANA 2002.03: The Idea of Canada: Cultural and Literary Perspectives (or CANA 2000XY)

Note:  CANA 3000.03: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Canadian Themes and CANA 4000.03: Seminar in Canadian Studies, may also count towards the Minor requirement.

DOUBLE MAJOR in Canadian Studies (120-Credit Hour BA or BSc)

At the 1000-level

  • Six credit hours in French (a class in an Indigenous language may be substituted, as a transfer credit).

At the 2000 to 4000 level

  • A minimum of 30 and a maximum of 48 credit hours of Canadian Studies courses, for a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 84 credit hours in the two major subjects.
  • Note: for students starting their program in September 2019: a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 48 credit hours of Canadian Studies courses, 18 of which must be at the 3000-4000 level, for a minimum of 60 and a maximum of 84 credit hours in the two major subjects.

Including

  • CANA 2001.03: The Idea of Canada: Social and Political Perspectives (or CANA 2000XY)
  • CANA 2002.03: The Idea of Canada: Cultural and Literary Perspectives (or CANA 2000XY)
  • CANA 3000.03: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Canadian Themes
  • CANA 4000.03: Canadian Studies Senior Seminar  
    Further Canadian Studies electives as required. (CANA 4001.03: Research Topics in Canadian Studies may count toward this requirement.)

COMBINED HONOURS in Canadian Studies (120-Credit Hour BA or BSc)

At the 1000-level

  • Six credit hours in French (a class in an Indigenous language may be substituted, as a transfer credit).

At the 2000-4000 level

  • A minimum of 30 and a maximum of 48 credit hours of Canadian Studies courses, with a minimum of 66 and a maximum of 84 credit hours beyond the 1000-level in the two honours subjects.
  • Note: for students starting their program in September 2019: a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 48 credit hours of Canadian Studies courses, 18 of which must be at the 3000-4000 level, for a combined minimum of 66 and a maximum of 84 credit hours in the two honours subjects.

Including

  • CANA 2001.03: The Idea of Canada: Social and Political Perspectives (or CANA 2000XY)
  • CANA 2002.03: The Idea of Canada: Cultural and Literary Perspectives (or CANA 2000XY)
  • CANA 3000.03: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Canadian Themes
  • CANA 4000.03: Canadian Studies Senior Seminar
  • CANA 4001.03: Research Topics in Canadian Studies
  • Further Canadian Studies electives as required.

Note: Canadian Studies must be the second subject in a combined honours program. Canadian Studies is not available as a Concentrated Honours program.