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Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability

Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability

Programs

The College's programs in Sustainability and Diversity Studies complement one another. Each is concerned with one of the major global issues of our time that needs to be understood from an interdisciplinary perspective.

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blueprints for change gala

While Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability aims to maintain a high level of academic activity in the classroom, we prefer to stress performance requirements rather than admission requirements. For new Concordia students, admission to the College is therefore open. However, students must get at least a B in every class that counts towards the Minor in Diversity and the Contemporary World to graduate with this program and must average a B in the courses they take towards the Minor in Sustainability Studies to graduate with this program. With this in mind, current Concordia students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 to add either one of these two programs. The Sustainabiltiy Studies Elective Group  has no GPA requirement and is open to all Concordia undergraduate students. The Microprogram in Sustainability Principles also has no GPA requirement; it is the only one of our programs that is only open to those not enrolled in a degree program.

Interested students have two options to add our programs:

  1. Prospective students can indicate their interest in the College when applying to an undergraduate program at Concordia by selecting the Minor in Diversity and the Contemporary World, the Minor in Sustainability Studies, or the Microprogram in Sustainability Principles as an option on their initial application. Note that neither of the Minors can be selected without also selecting a Major program; the Microprogram is the only stand-alone program not part of a larger Bachelor's degree. The Admission Application Centre will inform us of student interest as soon as they have been admitted to the University.
  2. Current Concordia students can book an appointment to speak with our academic advisor, Rebecca Tittler, through our online booking system  or call us (514-848-2424 x2125) if they would like to add one of our two Minors or the Elective Group to their Bachelor's degree.  Rebecca will answer any questions and make sure the program is a good fit for the student before adding it to their academic plan.

What we offer

About the Minor in Diversity and the Contemporary World

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Our interdisciplinary Minor emphasizes the need for communication across all disciplines in the Arts and Sciences. This flexible programme is designed to complement a student's Specialization, Major, or Honours. The programme consists of 24 credits.

During its first nine years of existence, the College offered a single program known as the Minor in Diversity and the Contemporary World.  Currently the College offers several interdisciplinary courses taught on the Loyola campus as part of the original Minor.  The scholarly content of these courses is concerned with the advantages and problems raised by variability in fundamental aspects of nature, human functioning, and human experience.  These courses deal with variations in basic processes such as communication and human development across cultural contexts as well as with the importance of understanding the intersection between biodiversity and human behavior and issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.  The Minor recognizes the increasing global importance of inter-cultural contact in multiple aspects of life and the need for an appreciation for complex associations between diversity in nature and human life.    

 

For a complete list and description of the courses that can be taken towards this program this year, refer to the Courses page.

Talk to someone

For an advising appointment, please contact Dr. Rebecca Tittler by email at loyolacollege.fas@concordia.ca or by phone at 514-848-2424 x2125.

Read full program details
See the list of courses currently on offer

About the Minor in Sustainability Studies

A photo of people wearing protective eyewear, rubber gloves, and lab coats sorting waste as part of a waste audit

The Minor in Sustainability Studies is designed to foster a deep understanding of how humans interact with the natural world, while recognizing the need for humans to live on the income from nature’s capital rather than on the capital itself.  While the natural sciences provide advice, targets, critiques and technological solutions to achieve sustainability, the social sciences and humanities contribute to the development of effective policy and ethical options to achieve these goals.  Building on the teaching and research expertise within the Faculty of Arts and Science, Faculty of Fine Arts, and John Molson School of Business, the Minor integrates the natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities to develop innovative understandings of sustainability through the in-depth exploration of science, policy, and value systems. Students who registered for the Minor before January 2019 must complete 30 credits in the program. Students beginning in or after January 2019 must complete 27 credits for this program.

Program Content

The Minor in Sustainability Studies is designed to complement a specialization, major or honours program, enhance opportunities within the students’ major of study, and support future graduate and professional studies. The main goals of the Minor are to develop sustainability literacy from a broadly interdisciplinary perspective and situate the knowledge students gain from their focal disciplines within the context of complex local and global sustainability issues. The secondary goals of the Minor are to support the development of globally responsible citizens and promote sustainability engagement on campus, in the local community, and globally. The Minor supports its vision through (1) broad, flexible, interdisciplinary course offerings from across the university, allowing students to tailor their curriculum to their individual needs and interests while seeking expertise and insight from outside of their major discipline and (2) experiential, hands-on learning in the classroom and through applied research and internship opportunities, which gives students an advantage in their future careers and in graduate and professional studies. 

 

For a complete llist and description of the courses that can be taken towards this program this year, refer to the Courses page.

Talk to someone

For an advising appointment, please contact Dr. Rebecca Tittler by email at loyolacollege.fas@concordia.ca or by phone at 514-848-2424 x2125.

Read full program details
See the list of courses currently on offer

About the Elective Group in Sustainability Studies

A photo of a hand holding a plant over soil

Many of the most pressing issues of the day have to do with the way humans interact with the environment. In fact, it can be argued that our very survival depends on our ability to interact in a sustainable way with the non-human components of the Earth. The issue of sustainability therefore cuts across disciplines, as does this elective group. Sustainability studies are therefore a good complement to any degree. With this in mind, this elective group is open to BA, BSc, BFA, and BComm students. This is a 15-credit program.

Program Content

The Elective Group in Sustainability Studies is designed to complement a specialization, major or honours program, enhance opportunities within the students’ major of study, and support future graduate and professional studies. This program is specifically designed for students who do not have space for the Minor in Sustainability Studies but are still interested in the field. The main goals of the Elective Group are to develop sustainability literacy from a broadly interdisciplinary perspective and situate the knowledge students gain from their focal disciplines within the context of complex local and global sustainability issues. The secondary goals of the Elective Group are to support the development of globally responsible citizens and promote sustainability engagement on campus, in the local community, and globally. The Elective Group supports its vision through broad, flexible, interdisciplinary course offerings from across the university, allowing students to tailor their curriculum to their individual needs and interests while seeking expertise and insight from outside of their major discipline.  

For a complete list and description of the courses that can be taken towards this program this year, refer to the Courses page.

Talk to someone

For an advising appointment, please contact Dr. Rebecca Tittler by email at loyolacollege.fas@concordia.ca or by phone at 514-848-2424 x2125.

Read full program details
See the list of courses currently on offer
About the Microprogram in Sustainability Principles
A photo of a green vegetable garden with trees and a building in the background on the Loyola campus

The Microprogram in Sustainability Principles is designed to provide sustainability literacy to those not seeking to complete an entire Bachelor's degree. Through a cross-disciplinary cluster of carefully designed online and in-person courses, students will learn to think deeply about societal issues and provide solutions from a sustainability perspective.

Program Content

The Microprogram in Sustainability Principles is designed as a stand-alone program for students  and professionals from all walks of life, regardless of whether or not they already have a Bachelor's or other degree(s). The main goals of the Microprogram are to develop sustainability literacy from a broadly interdisciplinary perspective and situate this knowledge within the context of complex local and global sustainability issues. The secondary goal of the Miroprogram is to provide accessible support for the development of globally responsible citizenship and engagement. The Microprogram supports its vision through (1) interdisciplinary course offerings from across the University and (2) a mix of in-person and online courses for maximum accessibility.

For a complete list and description of the courses that can be taken towards this program this year, refer to the Courses page.

Talk to someone

For an advising appointment, please contact Dr. Rebecca Tittler by email at loyolacollege.fas@concordia.ca or by phone at 514-848-2424 x2125.

Read full program details
See the list of courses currently on offer

Become a member of the College

* The "Member of Loyola International College" will appear on the student's transcript and diploma for those who started their programs before the college's name changed.

A photo of students interacting in class

After taking 9 credits (3 LOYC courses) at Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability (previously known as Loyola International College), or just by enrolling in any of our programs, you automatically become a Member of Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability. Membership in our College grants you the following benefits:

  • Full access to Loyola College's facilities (Computer/Conference room, Lounge)
  • Updates on Loyola College's different events.
  • The " Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability" status in your transcript and diploma. *

After successfully completing three LOYC courses*, please email us at loyolacollege.fas@concordia.ca requesting that this be added to your transcript.

For a complete list and description of the courses that can be taken towards this program this year, refer to the Courses page.

*Note that student wishing only to add the Membership without completing once of our other programs must earn at least a B in three LOYC courses to do so.

See the list of courses currently on offer
Take elective courses
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The interdisciplinary nature of Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability provides the perfect complement for your education at Concordia University, and we encourage students from all faculties to take LOYC courses as electives.

See the list of courses currently on offer
 
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