A commitment to finding new and more effective ways of studying the liberal arts has made St. Thomas University is a leader in innovative and interdisciplinary programmes and electives, pioneering courses of study in the fields of aging, native peoples, human rights and criminal justice. Our professors are known for developing innovative new curricula that inspire and challenge their students.

The Aquinas Programme

For first-year students, the Aquinas Programme is an innovative approach to learning that combines three academic disciplines in a small-class setting where seminars, team teaching, and interdisciplinary approaches foster a high level of literacy and critical thinking.

• If you like to read and write and enjoy discussions,
• If you are interested in ideas and strive for deeper meaning,
• If your goals for university include greater awareness and understanding,

…then you’ll want to take advantage of the Aquinas Programme.

As students engage in the Aquinas curriculum, they broaden their horizons and hone their critical skills. While providing required first-year credits, Aquinas thoroughly introduces academic disciplines and opens areas for exploration and discovery. Aquinas challenges and inspires – it is an ideal way to begin a rewarding university education.

First-year students typically take five courses in five academic subjects. In Aquinas, three of these courses are organized into one section with a common theme and the same group of students and professors, an intellectual home base from which to explore. Enrolment is purposely limited to create a close-knit community of learners.

• You’ll learn to organize and evaluate ideas, build understanding and express your opinion.
• You’ll become aware of differing and conflicting perspectives.
• You’ll quickly develop university-calibre skills in reading and writing as

… your ability to think for yourself matures.

To view your options in 2008–2009, visit:

http://w3.stu.ca/stu/academic/departments/aquinas/courses.aspx

Bachelor of Arts - Major in Journalism

Journalists are critical, independent thinkers who require a broad knowledge of many subjects in conjunction with writing and analytical skills. With its liberal arts foundation, the St. Thomas Journalism programme provides the necessary depth of understanding, along with the practical newsroom experience that students require in order to tell their stories in a professional setting.

St. Thomas is one of the few universities in Canada with an undergraduate Journalism programme. It is the only programme in Canada using state-of-the-art classrooms and editing suites in a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast centre. Graduates from the Journalism programme are working for CBC, ATV, Global, and Brunswick News, as well as in related fields.

As part of the programme, the Dalton K. Camp lecture series attracts such innovative voices in journalism as Naomi Klein and Moses Znaimer. The new Irving Chair in Journalism will bring a distinguished journalist to campus each year for teaching and public lectures.

Interdisciplinary Studies

St. Thomas has been at the forefront in developing interdisciplinary majors and electives, and the interdisciplinary major/honours options allow students to tailor a programme to their interests and goals.

These programmes focus attention on emerging issues and explore common themes through courses offered by a number of academic departments:

• American Studies
• Canadian Studies
• Film Studies
• International Relations
• Irish Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Medieval Studies
• Social Justice

Academic Exchanges

Studying abroad on academic exchange is enormously rewarding, giving you first-hand experience of studying and living in another culture. St. Thomas offers academic exchange opportunities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. These exchanges provide the opportunity to explore new languages, cultures and customs while earning university credits. A limited number of modest student bursaries are available.

St. Thomas has exchange agreements with several universities and we encourage you to explore their websites to learn more about the opportunities available to you.

Australian Catholic University - Australia - http://www.acu.edu.au
Hokusei Gakuen University - Sapporo, Japan - http://www.hokusei.ac.jp/
Orebro University - Orebro, Sweden - http://www.oru.se/
Universidad del Norte - Argentina - http://www.unsta.edu.ar/
Universidad FASTA – Argentina - http://www.ufasta.edu.ar/
Universidad Santo Tomas - Chile - http://www.ust.cl/
Université du Quebec - Quebec - http://www.uqam.ca
University of Malta - http://www.um.edu.mt/
University of St. Thomas - Houston, Texas - http://www.stthom.edu/

Model United Nations

St. Thomas University students have an impressive history of involvement with United Nations simulations and have competed with distinction in tournaments in Ottawa, Toronto, New York, the Netherlands, and at Harvard University. St. Thomas was one of 50 universities competing in the Canadian Association of United Nations (CANIMUN) tournament this past year, and many student delegates from St. Thomas University received awards for their work.

Please see POLS 3613 for more information.

Bachelor of Social Work

Social work is an exciting, demanding and immensely rewarding profession. Social workers attend to those in distress, and identify and seek to remedy the problems in society that create inequality and social injustice.

St. Thomas offers the only professional English language Social Work programme in New Brunswick. The Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work has consistently awarded the highest level of accreditation to the programme. This post-degree programme offers an intensive curriculum to graduates that strikes a balance between social work theory and practice, and a liberal arts education. The St. Thomas Bachelor of Arts Programme provides an exceptional foundation for the post-degree programme.

Bachelor of Education

Good teachers change people's lives - they are leaders and mentors who challenge and inspire, helping students reach their full potential. The Bachelor of Education Programme at St. Thomas University encourages students to become teachers who make a difference.

This post-degree programme combines extensive practical classroom experience with professional courses. It explores co-operative learning and teamwork along with a variety of practical teaching techniques to help enrich the learning experience of the next generation of students.

Intensive and fast-paced over eleven months, the programme has the same course work and certification as two-year programmes elsewhere. Students concentrate in one of three areas: elementary (K-5), secondary (6-12), or French second-language teaching. As enrolment is limited, admission to this programme is competitive.

Bachelor of Applied Arts Programme

The Bachelor of Applied Arts Programmes in Gerontology and Criminal Justice combine the benefits of university study with community college training. These career-specific, four-year programmes, developed in partnership with the New Brunswick Community College, combine the fundamentals of a liberal arts education with technical skills training, and the opportunity to gain practical experience. Moreover, a Bachelor of Arts credential or a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in a liberal arts discipline can usually be achieved with one additional year of study.

The first of its kind in Canada, the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Gerontology examines aging and issues that affect the elderly. Developed in response to demands for graduates with applied practice in the field, it combines a quality liberal arts education with a theoretical foundation in gerontology along with human-services training and hands-on experience in the design and delivery of services to the elderly. This four-year programme is offered in collaboration with the New Brunswick Community College ( Saint John).

St. Thomas was the first Atlantic Canadian university to offer a Major in Criminology and is the only Canadian university offering a Criminology Certificate with a Social Justice component. The Bachelor of Applied Arts in Criminal Justice is the only one of its kind in Canada. It prepares students for work in the various sectors of the criminal justice system through practical training and a liberal arts education. Graduates work in community correctional practice, policy analysis, programme design, or private sector management. It is offered in conjunction with the New Brunswick Community College (Miramichi) and students take the first and second year of this programme at the community college.