Language and Intercultural Relations

Admission: O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses, including Grade 12 U English.

Notes:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
2. A grade of 70 percent or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English.
3. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.
4. Although not a requirement, students are strongly encouraged to have at least some knowledge of the language of the stream (currently French or Spanish) in which they are interested.

If you are thinking about studying a language at Toronto Met, the process is the same for all four languages we offer. Admission is by an online fluency assessment test and/or by an interview during specific periods in the year. Students should visit the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures website (opens in new window)  to find out about the online fluency assessment test. Admission is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The wide diversity of our students' educational backgrounds makes pre-admission language assessment necessary: it allows faculty to counsel students accurately as to which course or courses are appropriate and it ensures a uniform level of language skills in each class.

Students who have not taken language courses at Toronto Metropolitan University are therefore required to have their fluency assessed to ensure that they are placed at the appropriate level. Please note that students who willfully or inadvertently enrol in the wrong course(s) may be forced to re-enroll at the Instructor’s discretion, or drop the course(s).

In addition to our language courses, we offer a limited number of culture and literature courses taught in English, for which the pre-enrolment fluency assessment test is not required.

The focus of the four-year baccalaureate degree program in Language and Intercultural Relations is to give students both the linguistic and cultural competence needed to enter a global market, and the leadership skills particular to a global workforce.

Students will be prepared for a wide range of cultural encounters - from the known to the vastly unfamiliar. This requires a breadth of knowledge that stems from a humanities education. Based in language studies and anthropology, the degree also includes courses that focus on history, urban and gender studies, human development, political science and psychology.

Students in Language and Intercultural Relations will be exposed to new and exciting career paths, with the choice of one of the following Concentrations:

• Organizational Behaviour
• Language and Cognition
• Translation Studies

Through a variety of experiential learning opportunities, students will acquire cognitive and practical skills, and will be well situated to seek employment in sectors where language and culture specialists are in demand: human resource management, labour relations, business, education, advocacy work, immigrant settlement, social services, translation, public administration, to name but a few. Additionally, students will be able to apply their skills to community development, faith-based field work, urban development, and applied linguistics. Also, some may opt to continue their academic endeavours and pursue graduate studies.

Primarily, though, LIR graduates will work internationally, help foreign international organizations better understand the Canadian market, and help Canadian organizations deal with international stakeholders.

Intercultural Relations constitute an interdisciplinary field of knowledge which draws on theories, practices and methods of enquiry that are related to a wide range of perspectives in the humanities and social sciences. One of the strengths of this BA (Hons) is that it rests on solid foundations: a first year of study that is common to several programs in the Faculty of Arts, with specialization in LIR beginning in Year 2.

Semesters One and Two: In the first year, which is shared with the programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Politics and Governance, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology, students are introduced to Language and Intercultural Relations through courses that launch them on their path to getting better acquainted with the language they have chosen to study, and that provide an overview of intercultural relations as they are manifest around the world. Students also acquire skills and knowledge in Academic Writing and Research and Critical Thinking, and choose electives from a broad range of areas, such as Business, Law, and Natural Sciences.

Semesters Three and Four: In the second year, students study foundational practices in intercultural relations and negotiations through hands-on projects that help them learn how to navigate multicultural communicative events. They are also introduced to the quantitative and qualitative research methods that are necessary to study intercultural relations effectively. It is also in semester three that they may choose their optional Concentration.

Semesters Five through Eight: In addition to becoming increasingly fluent in their language of study, students acquire a better sense of intercultural relations through the use of ethnographic tools and practices. In addition to their program courses, students choose from a broad range of subject areas that complement their professional studies and broaden their career preparation. These include courses in Business, Communication, Finance, Journalism, Law, Marketing, Economics, Geography, Politics, Fine Arts, Psychology, Sociology, and the sciences such as Chemistry and Biology. During that time, they can also work on the basics of a third language of study.

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and four upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

A Concentration is a structured plan of study within a program (6 to 12 core or core electives) that provides an opportunity for advanced or in-depth study in a particular area of interest. Students must declare their concentration prior to applying to graduate. Language and Intercultural Relations students may choose to select an optional concentration prior to commencing 3rd Semester. Courses used to fulfil the requirements of a concentration cannot also be used to fulfil the requirements of a minor.

Students may choose to complete an optional Concentration (from Core Elective Table V) from the list below:

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

The membership of the Program Advisory Council will be announced at a later date. Please visit the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures website (opens in new window)  for updates.