Bachelor of Arts and Science - Religious Studies & Geography (Optional Co-op)

For the Bachelor of Arts and Science, students must complete two majors: an Arts major, and a Science major.

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 understanding of what it is to be human. It enables them 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.

Geography deals with the diverse landscapes around the world. It is about everything from the original formation of the earth’s surface, to the effects humans have on the environment: past, present and future.

The primary focus of the program is to give students the skills necessary to analyze the organization and interaction of all creatures and ecological processes on the planet — and sometimes beyond it — to address real-world issues.

The department is particularly strong in the areas of geographical information science (GIS) and remote sensing, water research and rural & urban studies; areas of spectacular growth in research, teaching and employment for graduates.

Students will have access to the latest hardware and software available in geography, economics, environment, agriculture, ecology, planning etc., as well as state-of-the-art facilities like the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building. This facility provides the infrastructure to support the research interests of University of Lethbridge’s award-winning faculty, the instructors, as they investigate diverse areas such as: weather and climate, water, glaciers, sediments, plants and insects.

Situated in the Oldman River Valley, the University’s location offers an excellent center for field research, surrounded by farm and rangelands, and in easy reach of the Rockies and the city of Calgary.