COURSE CURRICULUM

The four-year Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (BACS) in History at Cape Breton University is designed to provide a progressive understanding of historical events, ideas, and societies while emphasizing critical thinking, research, and community engagement. In the first year, students take introductory history courses along with core community studies and general arts subjects, focusing on foundational skills in writing, analysis, and understanding historical methods. The second year introduces more specialized historical study, including courses in Canadian history, Atlantic Canada’s heritage, Indigenous history, and global civilizations, helping students develop a broader perspective on historical change over time. In the third year, students engage in advanced and thematic courses such as political, social, cultural, and economic history, along with community studies courses that may include research methods and applied learning opportunities. The fourth year emphasizes advanced seminars, independent research projects, and capstone-style work that allows students to conduct original historical inquiry and apply their learning to real-world or community-based contexts. Across all four years, the program builds strong skills in critical analysis, communication, and research, while encouraging students to connect past events with present-day issues. Overall, the curriculum prepares graduates for careers in education, public history, archives, law, journalism, heritage management, and other fields requiring strong analytical and interpretive abilities.