Academic School: School of Arts and Social Sciences

Dean: Dr. Andy Parnaby

Program Advisor: Dr. Heather Sparling

Academic Department: Literature, Folklore & The Arts (LiFTA)

Program Start Date: September 2024

Admission Requirements: Admission requirements and standards specific to the program, including, where applicable, a description of the various admission routes.

In the case of an articulated or other collaborative program, provide details on the admission requirements of each program/each participating institution.

Required: Five Grade 12 advanced or academic courses including English, with an overall average of at least 65%.

Students may substitute one Grade 12 open course for one advanced or academic course, except where a particular course is specified.

Name of Program: Gaelic Language and Cultural Sustainability

Program Audit Code: BACS.GLCS.MAJ

Delivery Type: Delivered primarily in person and on campus, although some components will need to be completed online or at a partner institution

Program Type: Undergraduate Degree, Undergraduate Certificates

Credential Name (Parchment and Transcript)

• Bachelor of Arts Community Studies, Major in Gaelic Language and Cultural Sustainability

• Certificate in Gaelic Language

• Certificate in Cultural Sustainability

Program Overview: The Gaelic Language and Cultural Sustainability program was designed in partnership with the Gaelic community and is designed to provide future language and culture leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to safeguard and steward Gaelic language and culture into the future. The program is offered as a major in the Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies (BACS) degree, through which students will become fluent Gaelic speakers and engage with Gaelic culture while also learning about how and why languages become endangered, how languages can be revitalized, how to learn and teach languages, what makes a community resilient, and how to collaborate with other language communities.

Major Requirements:

Gaelic language requirements (24 credits):

• 24 credits of Gaelic language, as follows:

• GAEL 1101 and 1103

• GAEL 2102 OR GAEL 2101 and 2103

• GAEL 3102 OR GAEL 3101 and 3103

• GAEL 4102 OR GAEL 4101 and 4103

Cultural sustainability requirements (24 credits):

• 9 credits of Gaelic, Scottish, Irish, of Celtic culture, such as:

• MUSI 2109: Cape Breton Fiddle Music

• MUSI 2203/FOLK 2113: Intro to Celtic Instrumental Music

• MUSI 2214/FOLK 2261: Intro to Celtic Dance

• HIST 2102: Celtic History

• HIST 3122: The Modern Scottish Highlands

• ENGL 2463: Modern Celtic Literature

• RELS 2105: Celtic Religion & Christianity

• (Note that students completing the Beinn Mhàbu Foundation Year will have completed this requirement)

• ANTH 1105/LACS 1XXX: Global Language Revitalization

• 3 credits of qualitative research methods, such as

• FOLK/ANTH/MUSI 2114: Ethnography

• HIST 2123: Stories We Tell

• COMM 2173: Videography

• AN/S 2217: Qualitative Research Design

• HIST 4101: Digital History

• Beaton Archival Internship

• AN/S/POLS/COMM 3216: Building Resilient Communities

• LACS 3XXX: Language Learning and Teaching

• LACS 4XXX: Language and Cultural Reconciliation

Program Requirements/Regulations: Bachelor of Arts Community Studies 4-year Major/Minor program options (120 credits):

• Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (BACS) Core plus COMS4100 (30 credits)

• Of the 48 credits required in the Major subject, there shall be a maximum of 9 credits at the 1000 level and a minimum of 24 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, of which at least 9 credits must be at the 4000 level.

• Of the 24 credits required in the Minor subject, there shall be a maximum of 9 credits at the 1000 level and a minimum of 6 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

• 18 credits electives

The Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (BACS) core includes two mandatory work placements (which may be paid or unpaid) and experiential learning is integrated throughout its courses.

To graduate with a Major, students must achieve an average of at least 65% overall in the final two years of their degree, and an average of at least 65% in the Major discipline.

Electives: Students who are enrolled in this program can take at least 18 credits of electives.

Certificate Regulations:

The Certificate in Gaelic Language:  consists of 30 credits: 24 in Gaelic language and 6 in Gaelic culture.

The Certificate in Cultural Sustainability: consists of 30 credits: 24 in cultural sustainability and 6 credits in Gaelic.

Condition to Graduation: In addition to meeting all program-specific course and credit requirements, students must achieve an average of at least 65% overall in the final two years of their degree, and an average of at least 65% in the Major discipline to be eligible to graduate. Students will not normally be eligible to graduate while on Probationary status or Required to Withdraw status. A student denied graduation while on Probationary status or Required to Withdraw status may submit a request for Academic Consideration to the Academic Review Sub-Committee.

Additional Information related to the Program Delivery:

• Online/distance options exist for portions of the program, including Gaelic language courses.

• Students may also take Gaelic beyond the first year through the Gaelic College’s 4-week intensive immersion course, offered each May and accredited through CBU. Rooted in the Gàidhlig aig Baile (Gaelic in the Home) method, the 4-week immersion course is highly experiential, involving language learning through activities and incorporating weekly fieldtrips into the community.

• Students have the option of doing the first two years of the program through the Gaelic College’s Beinn Mhàbu Foundation Year program. Students in the foundation year will live in Mabou, in Nova Scotia’s Gaelic heartland, and courses will involve in-community projects, fieldtrips, and other experiential learning opportunities.

• Students also have the option of spending a year on exchange to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland‘s Gaelic-medium college (part of the University of Highlands and Islands). Students interested in going on exchange will typically do so during their third year of study.