Welcome to Religions and Cultures at Nipissing
Are you curious to learn about the different kinds of religions all around the world? Do you want to know more about where they came from, how they’ve impacted our cultures, and how they continue to influence our world today? Do you often wonder about fundamental questions on the meaning of life, what happens after we die, what it means to be a good person—and how each religion around the world deals with those questions?
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Religions and Cultures
Lifting The Lid Festival of Death and Dying
Nipissing university students are death ambassadors who are changing the conversations on death and dying.
Religions and Cultures at Nipissing University
We take field trips, invite guest lecturers and presenters, and incorporate discussion of current issues and events in classes. North Bay has many houses of worship, including synagogues, mosques, temples, and churches of various faiths, where you can study first-hand the traditions and teachings of many religions.
More and more, we’re offering students a chance to enrich their classroom experience with real-world opportunities. Recently, as part of the Death, Dying, and Spirituality course, we placed students at a palliative care facility where they assisted the board with documentation, creating brochures, and tracking data.
Religions and Cultures Club
You’ll meet other like-minded students and get involved in respectful open-forum discussions on topics you’re passionate about. The student-run club holds meetings, movie nights, social events, and guest speakers to enrich your learning and just have fun.
Student Writing Guide
Academic Support Services
Our goal is to support your academic and personal development. Look for assistance with accessibility services, learning style assessments, writing skills, writing formats, study strategies, time management, note-taking skills, academic resources, group seminars, peer support, career development activities, and more. Learn More...
Financial Support Services
Achieve your goals on time and on budget. We’ll help you fund your education through scholarships, awards, bursaries, government assistance, and work study programs. Learn More...
Internationalize your Degree
If you want to experience a year or a semester at one of our partner schools across the globe, we have support services and programs to help you get there. If you want to assist International students with adjusting to life in Canada, we’ll connect you. Check out your options...
Personal Counselling Services
Our registered counsellors offer free, year-round personal counselling services, specialized therapeutic groups, referral services and a host of wellness, educational and awareness events to all full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. Learn More...
Residences
Our top-rated residences will make you feel right at home. You will make fast friends with your residence community. Our student leaders, Residence Dons, and award winning residence staff give tutorials on everything from the basics of laundry and cooking to making connections within the community. Learn More...
“I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.” Confucius
Experiential learning is an effective medium that enhances and reinforces classroom learning. In addition, skills and competencies in the areas of communication, teamwork, analysis, work ethic, and problem solving are all learning outcomes that assist with finding the right career path for you.
Third and fourth year Arts and Science Students will be interested in our 3 credit course, UNIV 3006 Experiential Learning for Arts and Science Students. Within this course, academic assignments and at least 60 hours of placement in the community within a field that is related to your course of study is offered.
Experiential Learning Program for Arts & Science Students (ELAS)
The Experiential Learning for Arts & Science Program (ELAS) is an exclusive project between Student Development & Services, the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce (NBDCC) and the Faculty of Arts & Science. This project focuses on providing students with hands-on learning experiences directly related to their academic interests.
With a strong emphasis on learning competencies, the ELAS immerses students with enriched learning opportunities that focus on the development of professional skills resulting in confident, successful and highly employable graduates ready for the workforce.
The ELAS program provides support for Arts & Science students to participate in activities such as:
- Conferences and speakers
- Site visits and field trips
- Work placements
When it comes to experiential learning at Nipissing University, you have lots of choices. Let us help you navigate your options, so you can find the best fit for your personal and professional goals, as well as your schedule.
Visit nipissingu.ca/academics/ELAS for more information.
Leadership and Community Engagement
If you are eager to get involved beyond the classroom, take part in the annual Undergraduate Research Conference, which gives you the opportunity to present your work to peers, professors, and family members. You may also have opportunity to work as a Research Assistant to help a professor conduct research and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Record of Student Development
Your experience at Nipissing University is more than just the time spent learning great things in lectures, labs, and seminars. It’s also about the activities you are involved in outside of the classroom, the causes you champion to make change on campus, the clubs you organize, the awards you receive, the workshops you participate in, the volunteering you do, and all the learning that occurs outside of the classroom.
The Record of Student Development (RSD) is Nipissing University's way of recognizing that learning is happening everywhere on campus. It is a formal record, otherwise known as a co-curricular transcript, where you can include workshops, volunteer experiences, awards, activities, and on campus employment experiences that you participate in throughout your degree.
Each RSD Approved activity in our database is linked to competency areas employers are looking for such as:
- Critical Thinking
- Leadership
- Digital Literacy
- Equity and Diversity
- Emotional and Interpersonal Intelligence
- & more!
To see the full list of competencies and get started building your Record of Student Development go to: rsd.nipissingu.ca
Nipissing University Student Union (NUSU)
Students attending Nipissing University in North Bay and long distance students are members of the Nipissing University Student Union. Our organization strives to represent students democratically, provide a communication framework, and lobby for legislative change on issues that affect students.
Athletics
Exercise and healthy competition always help to clear the mind.
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
Nipissing’s Athletics Department offers a wide range of intramural activities to keep you on your game
LAKERS CLUB SPORTS
Club sports are available to all Nipissing students and are both recreational and competitive.
VARSITY SPORTS
Go Lakers! Our varsity athletes always bring their “A” game. Get your friends together and come out to cheer on your favourite teams.
STUDENT ATHLETICS CENTRE
Whether you are a gym enthusiast or a weekend warrior, Nipissing has just what you need.
Chair
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Program Representative
Extension4154EmailWebsite—
Full-time Faculty
Associate Professor, Associate Dean, Arts & Science - InterimReligions and CulturesExtension4429Website—
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Studying at Nipissing University has deepened my understanding of how religion continues to be one of the most powerful forms of social organization around the world. The amazing professors at Nipissing have taught me to recognize religion in incredibly diverse and, at times, unexpected aspects of life, and use this understanding in new and exciting ways. One of the most intriguing things, for me, has been to look at the way that beliefs continue to influence governments around the world, from war in the Middle East to political activism here in North America. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from such intelligent and kind professors and to work so closely alongside them in ways that will continue to propel me through the rest of my academic career!
Nathan Olmstead, - BA(Hon.) '16 Psychology and Religions & Cultures
Here at Nipissing University, I am a Business Administration student because it seemed practical and modern. While I do love my business courses, I am so happy I took the time to explore some of the other courses Nipissing has to offer. Religions and Cultures will open your eyes. To be completely honest, these courses will make a better person- you’ll become unbiased, open-minded, and gain a better understanding of human beings. Take a Religions and Cultures course. You won’t regret it.
Emily Bond, BBA '16
I originally took religion as an elective, and found it so fascinating I ended up majoring in it. Taking just one religions and cultures course will enrich your understanding of the world and foster greater empathy with our world’s diverse cultures and religions. Furthermore, the skills you develop in these courses – such as critical thinking and coherent, analytical writing – are applicable to a variety of career paths. I currently study Library & Information Science at Western University and felt extremely well-prepared by my education at Nipissing.
Cameron Gordon, BA(Hon.) '15, MLIS candidate
Many students continue their education as Masters and Doctorate students, while others attend professional schools like law and teaching. In terms of career fields, the wide scope of an education in Religions and Cultures means that the only limit is your imagination! You might be drawn to careers in culture, business, teaching, or government—to name only a very few.
A degree in Religions and Cultures teaches you important skills of critical thinking, critical reading, and writing well. Not only do employers value people who can do these things, these skills will help you make personal sense of the world, develop compassion, and make well-rounded, ethical life decisions. It’s these skills that make our graduates highly successful in a variety of career options, from law school to international development to not-for-profit organizations.
Career and Academic Options
- Graduate Studies
- Professional School (Education, Law, MBA)
- Careers in politics, journalism, government, and for non-government, development, and multi-cultural organizations