“A democratic civilization will only save itself if it makes the language of representation into a stimulus for critical reflection – not an invitation for hypnosis.” – Adapted from Umberto Eco


Cultural Studies will help you engage the world more thoughtfully and effectively. It will provide:

  • knowledge of a range of cultural forms, their patterns and their peculiarities which will provide
  • essential skills for functioning in rapidly changing, multi-faceted world
  • experience in negotiating diverse viewpoints, while developing and clarifying your own.

Cultural Studies is a popular option, so classes at the introductory level tend to have robust enrollments – in Mount terms, about 40 students. CULS 1101 is offered in both fall and winter terms to ensure demand is accommodated without sacrificing in-class contact.

Enrollments at the second year level have an average enrollment of about 20-25, with CULS 2202 Music and Culture as a standout exception. It regularly fills to its cap of 40, with a waiting list. The same is true of RELS 2201 Evil, a course that counts towards the Cultural Studies degree. Both tend to fill within a few weeks of posting, so if you’re interested, sign up as soon as you can.

Third year courses under the CULS designation are generally offered as senior seminars with 12-15 students (e.g. CULS 3302 Censorship and Art; CULS 3305 Subcultures; and the CULS 3301 Senior Seminar, which is required for the major). There are two exceptions:

  1. Special Topics courses (CULS 3310, 3311, and 3312) are offered on a yearly basis and are capped at 30 students.
  2. “Count towards” courses from other disciplines that have been approved for inclusion in the Cultural Studies major, minor, and concentration.

The workload is comparable to any other undergraduate option in arts and science. However, students generally have an exceptional range of choice the research topics they pursue. Standard testing methods are employed (short tests, midterms and finals, diagnostic essays and research papers) to ensure a solid knowledge base. Where the student applies that knowledge is always open for consideration.

Cultural Studies is committed to a vibrant, quality classroom experience, with instruction from people who “know their stuff.” For example, the Music courses have regularly been taught by a well-known spoken word artist who is also a scholar in the field; Art courses are taught by the Director of the Mount Art Gallery; and the core Cultural Studies courses are taught by the program coordinator, who was voted “Best Professor in Halifax” in The Coast in 2013.