COURSE CURRICULUM

The three-year Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (BACS) in History at Cape Breton University is designed to build a strong foundation in historical thinking, research, and community-focused learning. In the first year, students take introductory history courses along with core community studies and general arts subjects, focusing on developing skills in writing, critical analysis, and understanding historical methods. The second year introduces more specialized historical study, including Canadian history, Atlantic Canadian history, Indigenous histories, and broader world history themes, helping students understand historical change across different regions and time periods. In the third year, the program shifts to more advanced and applied learning, with upper-level history courses that focus on political, social, cultural, and economic history, along with community studies courses that emphasize research methods and real-world application of knowledge. Students also develop stronger abilities in source analysis, interpretation, and independent research through assignments and seminar-style learning. Across all three years, the curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and an understanding of how history connects to present-day social issues. The flexible BACS structure allows students to combine history with other disciplines, preparing graduates for careers in education, public history, archives, government, journalism, heritage work, and community development, as well as for further academic study.