The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at The University of Western Ontario is committed to creating the best learning environment in Canada. Our internationally renowned, award-winning teachers, researchers, and dedicated staff offer students the educational experience of a lifetime.
Classical Studies 
As one of the largest and most respected Departments of Classical Studies in the country, we place our graduates in the best graduate programs both in North America and overseas. The Department of Classical Studies at Western Ontario offers a research intensive environment in which undergraduate and graduate students explore ancient Greek and Roman culture.
In studying ancient Greece and Rome we gain deep understanding of the origins and development of Western culture; more importantly, we engage with important and enduring questions about what it means to be a thinking, reasoning human. In addressing these questions, we benefit from a rich heritage from the Classical world including nearly three thousand years of language, literature, art, science, philosophy, and history. To consider these and other aspects of the ancient world by means of a broad variety of methods is a rigorous challenge, but one that trains the intellect, making us into careful readers, acute observers, articulate communicators and informed citizens.
French StudiesMastery of French is an undeniable asset for any career in Canada. In the Department of French Studies, not only can you work toward an advanced level of spoken and written proficiency in the language, but your can also study literature (from all regions of the French-speaking world), literary theory, culture and civilization, linguistics, and translation. Language courses also include work in the Language Learning Centre, which is a state-of-the-art multimedia facility. Our Certificate in Business French can be combined with a degree in French or any other subject area.
The Department of French offers more than 50 different courses in a wide-range of areas. Western's five-week French immersion program in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec was the first, and is now the most recognized program of its kind in Canada. You can also spend your third year in Quebec City at the Universite Laval, or in France at the University de Nice or the Universite de Tours.
Film StudiesCritically engage in the art of cinema and explore the global and historical conditions that have made it one of the most influential forms of visual culture. Develop strong skills in ciritical thinking shaped by contemporary, interdisciplinary scholarship. All of our film programs offer the opportunity to study a wide range of contemporary and classic films. Narrative, documentary experimental film and video are examined within historical, theoretical and critical streams, with specific emphasis on the study of national cinemas. Attention to modes of film production, distribution, exhibition, and reception, places the study of cinema in larger social and political contexts.
While Western's Film Studies Department does not focus on film production, we do offer courses in film aesthetics that include a video production component. The Western undergraduate Film Society hosts a popular annual video festival and competition to screen student productions.
EnglishWhether you are interested in Fantasy or Renaissance love sonnets, graphic novels or contemporary Canadian poetry, electronic hypertexts or Romantic and Victorian poetry, Creative Writing or Shakespearean drama, we have a wide range of exciting courses from our foundational first-year classes, to advanced fourth-year seminars, and theatre arts courses offered in partnership with the Stratford Shakespeare festival.
Our English department is an inspiring mix of award-winning teachers, internationally recognized scholars, creative writers, and original thinkers - professors whose knowledge and enthusiasm in the classroom create a stimulating environment for the study of literature, theory and culture in all their richness and diversity. English is enormously valuable for giving students a knowledge of language, literature, and culture; highly developed communication skills, both oral and written; and training in close reading, critical thinking, and persuasive argumentation - skills and strengths that you can carry into any career.
Modern Languages and LiteraturesOur department excels at creating links between ideas, cultures, art forms and people: a great preparation for a globalized world. We teach 9 different languages. Take the time to immerse yourself and study abroad or earn a practical certificate with just three courses. Through our programs in German, Italian and Spanish learn to use new languages to discover literature, art, music and film from around the world. Engage the nature of language and language acquisition through our Spanish linguistics program. Participate in the life of your community through service learning. Read across literatures and cultures to study world literature in translation by exploring our unique program in Comparative Literature and Culture. Join us and acquire new perspectives on yourself and your world!
Women's Studies and Feminist ResearchWomen's Studies is a dynamic field that focuses on issues of social justice. At Western, many topics are integrated into this interdisciplinary area of study, resulting in a broad variety of courses, which may be combined according to the degree chosen. All aspects of feminist research are reflected in course offerings which include feminist theory, gender and health, sexuality studies and queer theory, feminism across boarders, legal issues facing women, violence against women, women and work, politics, and women and the creative arts.
Visual ArtsThe undergraduate programs in Visual Arts integrate the study of art history and visual culture with lively, contemporary art production. Students may focus on studio practice, art history, museum/gallery studies, or any combination of these areas. All programs are housed in the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre, a state-of-the-art facility with well-equipped studios, modern classrooms, a gallery, and a visual resources library. This dynamic learning environment will foster your visual literacy whether your goal is to create art works, to study historical and contemporary forms of visual culture, or to acquire the skills for curatorial work or arts administration. Students interested in pursuing a studio-based degree must submit a portfolio for consideration regarding direct entry when applying to the University, or they may take a Foundation studio course as means of posisble entrance into the BFA in second year.
PhilosophyClear, effective thinking is absolutely essential for dealing with the complexities of the modern world. The study of philosophy helps students perfect analytical and critical reading, writing and reasoning skills through an examination of the works of the world's most celebrated philosophers. The ultimate goal of this study is an understanding of issues fundamental to our nature and the nature of the world we inhabit, including the structure of reality, knowledge, truth, rationality, value, obligation, human nature and the existence of God. The philosophical study of these theoretical and practical problems typically enhances the prospects of those students who wish to pursue law, business, journalism, library science, education or medicine, among other disciplines.
Program inWriting, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication By combining creative and professional experiences with rhetorical theory, and by exploring multi-modal technologies, students emerge as articulate problem-solvers capable of engaging, collaboratively or individually, in a global context. Graduates gain experience and competence in the creation and production of high-quality spoken and written texts for a wide variety of audiences that can be applied to a wide range of academic, professional, and creative contexts and purposes.
Linguistics ProgramLanguage is the chief means by which humans communicate. Its scientific and humanistic study goes back to ancient times, and now included the study of individual languages as well as the search to identify features and structure which are common to all human languages. The study of linguistics is indispensable for anyone interested in working on a particular language or with language in general. Linguistic students also develop excellent analytical skills for any career, from software development to public service to law school.