COURSE CURRICULUM

The Visual and Material Culture Studies (VMCS) program at Mount Allison offers a diverse and interdisciplinary range of courses that explore human creativity, visuality, and material production across time and cultures. Courses are organized into two main streams: Visual Culture, which examines images, viewership, media, and practices of looking, and Material Culture, which focuses on human-made and modified objects from historical and contemporary contexts. Foundational courses include VMCS 1201 Introduction to Visual Culture and VMCS 1301 Introduction to Material Culture, while other offerings cover global cities, archaeology, fashion, popular culture, textual culture, and field-based studies. Advanced courses and independent study options, including the Honours Thesis, allow students to engage in specialized research and experiential learning. Prerequisites vary, with some courses requiring second- or third-year standing or permission from the department, ensuring progressive skill and knowledge development. The program also offers two certificates: Visual Literacy and Culture, and Intercultural Communication and Global Citizenship, which provide focused pathways for academic and professional growth. Through its multidisciplinary, cross-cultural, and hands-on approach, VMCS equips students with critical thinking, analytical, and interpretive skills, preparing them for careers in cultural institutions, media, education, research, and related fields. Mount Allison acknowledges its location on the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq, fostering a commitment to respect and engage with the cultural and historical context of the land.