Undergraduate
Cultural Studies
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- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
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- Peterborough
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- Paid Co-op Available
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- Fall & Winter & Summer
- Humanities & Social Sciences (Arts)
At a glance:
- Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Campus Peterborough
- Work Experience Paid Co-op Available
- Program is Offered Fall & Winter & Summer
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- OUAC Codes RCS - Peterborough RCO - Peterborough co-op
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Founded as the first program of its kind in North America, Trent's Cultural Studies program combines critical cultural theory with creative practice across media, film, music, theatre, writing, and the visual arts.
Culture shapes how we see the world, tell stories, express ideas, and understand ourselves. At Trent, you'll examine culture through a wide range of perspectives while developing your own creative practice, learning to critically analyze the forces that shape society and contribute new ideas through artistic and cultural production.
- Founded as the first Cultural Studies department of its kind in North America, offering a distinctive approach that combines theory with creative practice.
- Creative workshops in photography, drawing, podcasting, music composition, fashion, game design, film, theatre, and writing.
- Courses exploring topics such as science fiction, television, popular music, media, visual culture, and contemporary society.
- Research opportunities and close faculty mentorship that support original creative and scholarly work.
- Paid co-op and internship opportunities, including the Peter Gzowski Internship in Radio Production with CBC Radio.
Accelerated Masters
Fast-track your education, by earning your Master’s degree in Cultural Studies in only 12-20 months of graduating from your Honours B.A.
Program Possibilites
Specialize your studies in Cultural Studies with a focus on a specific field within your degree
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Criticism & Theory
Engage with complex and contemporary themes in social and cultural theory. In this interdisciplinary specialization, you’ll be exposed to a wide range of cultural frameworks – everything from gender, sexuality, and the human body, to globalization, technology, and the law. Explore new depths of knowledge within this rich academic department, and set yourself on a solid path for career success.
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Film, Literature & Narrative
In this narrative-focused specialization, students explore the stories told in comparative and world literature, as well as theatre, television, and film. Join in small, interactive class discussions about experimental, historical, or science fiction, while you workshop skills in literary analysis, creative writing, and theatrical production.
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Integrated Arts
Engage in the creative process while you learn theories and techniques from professors who are practicing artists, musicians, actors, and filmmakers. Through small and intensive workshops in visual art, photography, video, and music, this specialization gives you an opportunity to build a resume-enhancing artist portfolio while you explore contemporary and experimental modes of self-expression.
Add an Option to your Cultural Studies degree to explore an additional area of interest
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Theatre Studies
Do you have a love for theatre and the performing arts? Combining areas of study from Ancient Greek and Roman Studies, Cultural Studies, English Literature, Indigenous Studies and Modern Languages and Literatures, this multi-departmental emphasis offers you the opportunity to choose credits from a very diverse selection of courses, all rooted in the history of, theory and performance in theatre.
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Visual Arts
Have a budding interest in drawing, photography, film or graphic arts? Express yourself with this option and study the visual arts through both theory and practice. In addition to workshop classes in drawing, photography, film, and other visual media, you can take courses in theoretical, historical, and contemporary issues in the visual arts from a range of departments. This option is particularly appropriate for future primary and secondary school teachers.
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Digital Humanities
Electronic media has become an integral part of how we view and explore the world. Through this new option you will bring a human-centred perspective to the innovations that continue to transform our shared digital landscape.
Working alongside Trent’s world-renowned faculty, including Canada Research Chairs, you will gain a deeper understanding of how digital tools are applied to solve research problems, and how research within the humanities impacts developments in the digital world.
Career experience while you learn
Every Cultural Studies student has a guaranteed route to paid, credited experience before they graduate.
Paid Co-op Available
- Graduate with paid work experience completing three 12–16-week work terms in the summer of years two and three, and the fall of year four, all as part of your four-year degree.
- Work in areas such as arts & culture, community engagement, EDI, libraries/museums/archives, media & communications, and social services.
Research Opportunities
- Lead your own research through a fourth-year honours thesis, investigating a cultural topic that interests you with mentorship and supervision from an expert faculty member.
- Put research into practice through a community-based research project, working with a community partner to investigate a question that matters to their organization or community.
Field Schools and Hands-On Courses
- Build practical skills through hands-on workshops in photography, drawing, ecological art, animation, theatre, podcasting, music composition, fashion, game design and cinema. Create work you can add to your portfolio while expanding your creative practice.
Study Abroad
- Take your Trent education global. Spend a semester or year studying at one of Trent’s 50+ international partner universities, participate in a summer field course, or gain international experience through a placement or internship.
- With opportunities in more than 35 countries, you can broaden your academic perspective, experience new cultures, and build skills that prepare you for a global career.
Internships
- Gain professional experience through a for-credit internship with a media or cultural organization, applying your learning in a professional setting.
- Build your radio production skills through the Peter Gzowski Internship in Radio Production, with the opportunity to gain experience in radio programming at CBC Radio in Toronto.
Career Paths
- Filmmaker
- Photographer
- Communications Director
- Art Critic
- Fundraising Director
Admissions
Whether you're graduating from an Ontario high school, looking to study in Canada, or training for a second career, Trent has clear pathways for students to apply and be admitted to study at either of our campuses.
Requirements
If you are coming straight from high school in Ontario or are a recent grad, the general admission requirements are:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program-specific prerequisites
- ENG4U with a minimum of 60%
| Admission Requirements | Recommended Admission Requirements | Estimated Admission Average | Co-op Admission Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG4U | 70-75% | 80-85% |
Requirements
Students from across Canada can use their grades from their home province to apply to Trent.
Requirements
International students from outside Canada can apply based on the curriculum of their home country.
Requirements
Mature students can apply to Trent based on previous education and professional or volunteer experience.
Requirements
With many transfer agreements and flexible pathway options, Trent University makes it easy for students to make the most of the credits you have already earned.
Tuition Estimate
Estimate your tuition, ancillary fees, and potential entrance scholarships based on your program, residency status, and academic average.
Tuition
Base Tuition Fee
$6,240.85
Ancillary Fees
Ancillary Fees (non-tuition costs supporting student services, such as athletics, campus safety, college fees, etc.)
$2,122.22
Total:
$ 8,363.07
* The tuition details and scholarships listed are for domestic students only. International applicants should contact the financial aid office directly for equivalent guidance.
Scholarships
If you’re a top scholar with an average of 80% or higher, you qualify to automatically receive an entrance scholarship to Trent. Scholars with 95% or higher? You earn free first-year tuition – no application required.
| Entrance Average | Maximum Scholarship Potential | Details |
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| 95%+ | $18,241 | $6,241 first year Full Tuition + $4,000 x 3 years |
| 90-94.9% | $12,000 | $3,000 x 4 years |
| 85-89.9% | $8,000 | $2,000 x 4 years |
| 80-84.9% | $6,000 | $1,500 x 4 years |
* Available to Domestic students only. Based on 2026/27 tuition for a general arts and science program
Explore additional funding for domestic and international students
- John Gilchrist Memorial Scholarship
- Wayne Greenley Music Scholarship
- Gregory R. Frith Memorial Prize in Cultural Studies
- Andrew Wernick Essay Prize