Double Degree - Bachelor of Arts - Religious Studies & Bachelor of Business Administration - Political Science (Optional Co-op)

Program Description With a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Management (B.A./B.Mgt.) degree, the student can explore a multitude of interests and careers. For example, if the student is interested in managing an art gallery, they can major in art and general management. If sports marketing ignites their passion, they can major in kinesiology and marketing. The Combined B.A./B.Mgt. degree program takes five years (50 courses) to complete and leads to the conferral of two degrees.

Bachelor of Management - Political Science

Political science is the systematic study of government, politics and political behaviour. It looks at how political conflict is organized and resolved, how rulers are chosen, how governmental decisions are taken and what policies and laws are determined and implemented. This can be done in settings ranging from Canada as a whole, to provincial and local governments, to other countries to the relations among countries. It also considers how political actors understand their obligations towards one another and the degree to which decisions are ethically determined or out of convenience.

Political science students will study the principles, organizations, and administration of government. The major includes both management and political science courses. The political science major offers flexibility to choose courses that fit each student’s personal and career interests. In addition to the required courses, political science majors can choose six political science and three management electives.

Bachelor of Arts - Religious Studies

People encounter religion in many manifestations frequently on TV and the Internet: breathtaking mosques, colossal Buddhas, the Pope addressing huge crowds, brutal religious wars or unusual rituals.

Studying religion enhances the understanding of what it is to be human. It enables people to learn more about the diverse cultures of the world, their ancient histories and their highest values. While students may not discover the meaning of life by studying religion, they will learn how others have answered that perennial human question, and how those answers have shaped people’s lives and the lives of those around them.

The University of Lethbridge is a secular (non-religious) institution of learning; the University does not try to promote belief in any of the religions that are studied. Rather, the program attempts to study religion in as objective a manner as possible. Of course, each person faces challenges when trying to do so with neutrality, because people may have predispositions for or against particular religions, or toward religion in general.

In religious studies, the explorations are wide-ranging, embracing the human religious response, from the great world religions to marginal and quasi-religious phenomena, such as shamanism and magic. The program examines history, social and cultural configurations, symbolism, and literature, as well as theologies and metaphysical philosophies within belief systems. Students will study shared themes and marked differences in myths and rituals, and how religion permeates even secular lives.