Bachelor of Arts - Rural & Community Studies (Optional Co-op)

The Department of Rural Development offers programs focused on rural studies and rural development that are unique in Western Canada. The establishment of the Department of Rural Development at Brandon University in 1999 is a response to the issues facing rural communities. The Department of Rural Development will increasingly become a resource for affecting change in these communities. The Department offers programs focused on rural studies and rural development that are unique in Western Canada.

The Rural and Community Studies Program (RCSP) provides students with the opportunity to design an individually tailored degree that combines courses in rural and community studies with courses from traditional disciplines (e.g. Sociology and Geography). The purpose of this program is to provide students with a better understanding of the social, economic, and environmental issues facing rural regions, and in doing so, provide the skill base to assist those in rural regions to prepare for and adapt to such issues. Relationships with the graduate program in Rural Development and opportunities within the Rural Development Institute allow students to gain practical experience through research work.