麻豆社

Below, you'll find many of the frequently asked questions future Dal students ask about studying in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS). Hopefully you find the answers to many of your questions below but if you have other questions about FASS, please email fass@dal.ca or connect with an advisor lised on www.dal.ca/connect听.

What are your signature program(s) in FASS?

That鈥檚 a hard one to answer because one of the best things about FASS is how you can build your own path (choose your own adventure!) by combining majors, minors and certificates in a way that suits you best. This includes programs from some other faculties, most commonly Science and Management.听

Inside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences we have:听

• Humanities and Languages: Classics 鈥� Contemporary Studies 鈥� Creative Writing 鈥� Early Modern Studies 鈥� English 鈥� European Studies 鈥� French 鈥� German 鈥� History 鈥� History of Science and Technology 鈥� Philosophy 鈥� Religious Studies 鈥� Spanish and Latin American Studies
• Social Sciences:听International Development Studies 鈥� Political Science 鈥� Sociology and Social Anthropology听
• Performing Arts:听Cinema and Media Studies 鈥� Music 鈥� Theatre: Acting, Costume Studies, Stage Design and Technical Theatre, Theatre Studies
• Multidisciplinary programs:听Black and African Diaspora Studies 鈥� Gender and Women鈥檚 Studies 鈥� Law, Justice and Society.

What is the difference between the Social Sciences and the Humanities?

Great question! In your first fall semester, we will ask you to take either ASSC 1300: Introduction to the Humanities or ASSC 1400: Introduction the Social Sciences so you might be wondering which you will prefer.听 The humanities help us understand and interpret the human experience, as individuals and societies.听 At Dal, the humanities include the study of philosophy, history, languages and literatures, broadly speaking 鈥� including classics, theatre, and cinema & media studies.听 The Social Sciences tend to focus on how societies work, and on evidence-based understanding of social problems.听 This includes the study of politics, sociology, social anthropology, and development.听听

Why do I need to take an ASSC 1300 or ASSC 1400 course?

We require all new Bachelor of Arts students to take one of these courses, because they provide an excellent introduction to university and the faculty, setting you up for success. These engaging, team-taught courses introduce you to a variety of disciplines that you may not have previously experienced. They also offer advice and direction to new FASS students on how to adapt to life as a new university student and get the most out of their university studies. This includes advice about study skills as well as planning the student鈥檚 course of studies.

Do I need to declare my major before I register? When do I need to declare my major?

No, you do not need to declare a major before you register.听 Students usually use their first year at FASS to explore, declaring their majors in their second year.听 There is a lot of flexibility built into BA programs.听 However, if you think you know what you want to major in, have a look at the requirements for that program so that you can take any required or recommended 1000-level courses.听 Once you decide which major(s) you would like to pursue, there is a simple online form to complete.听 Students can (and do!) change their minds during the course of their degree.听 That鈥檚 okay too.

Do I need to take a second language course to graduate?

Yes, you do (although you can take math instead, for a small number of majors).听

Do I have to take the language requirement in my first year?听听

No, but we think you should!听 You need 6-credit hours of a language to graduate with a BA, so you can put it off.听 However, if you take a language in your first year, you are opening yourself up to a new perspective.听 An important bonus: the modern languages are taught in smaller classes where you will get to know your classmates and your professor.听

Can I study French as a minor/major?

Absolutely, FASS has majors, minors and graduate programs in French.听 Even if your Major is in another faculty, you can probably add French to your program. We have study abroad and exchange opportunities too.

What are the differences between BSc Economics and BA Economics, BSc Psychology and BA Psychology?

We know this one is confusing.听 There are a variety of programs that can be taken as a BA or BSc.听 In these cases, the program requirements are the same, but the general degree requirements are a bit different.听 To take Psychology as an example, either way, you need to take the same Psychology courses, but you will have small differences in your general degree requirements.听 For example, in the BA you need to take an additional language, whereas in a BSc you have to take Math.听听

Can an Arts major be combined with a major from a different faculty?

Absolutely.听 It is very common to double major combining a FASS major with a major from the Faculty of Science, or the Faculty of Management. FASS programs are very flexible. You can also take minors (which are fewer courses than a major) in Community Design, Computer Science, Informatics or Journalism.

If I started in the BA, can I choose another major/minor from another faculty? Or, can I transfer to another faculty?

Yes, you can, to both questions.听 Many students move from one faculty to another.听 Depending on when it happens, and the requirements of the new program, it may take you a bit of extra time. It鈥檚 even easier to add a major or minor from another faculty. The most common ones to combine with FASS are Faculty of Science and Faculty of Management.

Is Law, Justice and Society a direct-entry program?

No. The only direct entry undergraduate program in FASS is the Bachelor of Music. All other programs are part of the general BA. Students usually declare their major in the second year.听听

Most universities have FASS type programs, what makes FASS at 麻豆社 unique?听

We love this question!听 FASS at Dal is the perfect in-between. We have world-class scholars, researchers and creators, like some of the bigger schools you鈥檝e heard of, but those researchers and professors are in the classroom, teaching undergraduates like you, as is more common in smaller schools. Almost all of our instructors are professors with active research, research/creation or artistic portfolios. That means you are learning from people who are involved in current developments in your field(s) of interest.听 Add to that the full slate of professional programs, and the amazing city of Halifax on the ocean, and its 鈥渏ust right鈥�.

Are there international exchanges/programs available.

Yes, we have lots of international exchanges (where you can go to another University in a different part of the world for a term or two) these are run by the听International Center听with opportunities in 22 countries. We also have excellent Study-Abroad progams, where you take a Dal-run course in another country.听 For example, at the Baroque Theatre Foundation of the Castle at Cesky Krumlov (the Czec Republic) or to immerse yourself in French in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, as two of many examples.听听You can learn more about the FASS departmental study abroad programs here.

Can I take classes in other areas of study along with FASS

You certainly can.听 You have plenty of space for electives and it鈥檚 a great idea to use this space to broaden your horizons. FASS students are required to take 6 hours (two half classes) in the Faculty of Science as part of their degree.听听

How big will my classes be?听听

In FASS, classes run the gamut from large lectures (up to 400 students) to small seminars (as few as 15).听 In your first year, you will be in the large ASSC 1300: Introduction to Humanities, or ASSC 1400: Introduction to the Social Sciences, but this course includes smaller discussion groups of about 30, called tutorials led by the professors. Your language classes will have fewer than 36 students providing opportunities to engage actively with the material. Your writing class will be larger, but also with a tutorial.

Can I talk to my professors at Dal?

Yes!听 And you should.听 All professors in FASS have office hours.听 The time and place will be on your course syllabus, and on the course learning site (Brightspace).听 This is time that they have set aside just to talk to students, so take advantage.听 Professors want to support your learning.听 When we ask upper year students what they wish they had known when they started out, one of the most common answers is, 鈥淚 wish I had gone to talk to my professors sooner.听 They aren鈥檛 scary at all.鈥�

Are there any CO-OP/internship opportunities?

FASS doesn鈥檛 have any co-op programs (yet!) but many students work on and off campus.听 We also have a variety of听experiential learning听and hands on education 鈥� especially at the Fountain School of Performing Arts.听听

Where should I go for academic advising?听

For general advising as a BA student, the听Bissett Student Success Center听is your go-to.听 Each department and program also had advisors for program specific questions.听 You will be able to find those on the departments鈥� web pages.听 People are always happy to talk to you.

What kinds of careers have FASS graduates recently pursued, are there specific examples of alumni stories that can be shared?

In a recent survey of FASS alumni who had graduated 6 months before, we asked where they were working.听 Over 80% were working.听 Of those 20% each were in government and public administration, the health sector, and marketing and sales.听 A smaller percentage were in business and management, community and social services, finance, and public safety sector.听 And that鈥檚 just in the first six months.听 As alumni add more work experience to their education, their horizons expand.

We love sharing our students' and alumni's successes. Read about some of the Dal FASS students' experiences here and read about many of the amazing FASS alumni here. You can also learn more about FASS students and alumni on our , , and pages!

Where can I go after my BA?

Anywhere!听 A BA is perfect preparation for lots of jobs, and also for further education.听 In a recent survey of BA grads 6 months after graduation, 81.3% were working and 21.9% were pursuing further education 鈥� grad school, professional programs, and diplomas.听 For example, Law School, Med School, Social Work, Masters of Public Administration, and Masters in Health Administration are all professional programs that require an undergraduate degree, or part of one to apply.听 These programs have few specific pre-requisites (and sometimes none at all), but a strong background in a FASS program you are passionate about can make you a great candidate.听听

What kind of salaries do FASS graduates earn?

In a recent survey, we asked graduates what they were up to 6 months after they graduated with a BA.听 Over half (53.8%) were earning more than $50,000 a year. There is also research that shows that, although students in STEM fields do earn better directly out of university, over the long-term BA students catch up and even surpass their counterparts, many taking on leadership roles. (Did you know that the President of 麻豆社, Dr. Kim Brooks, has a BA in English?)

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