Carleton University is a contemporary, enterprising university situated in Canada’s capital. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in the disciplines of arts, social sciences, engineering, and science and through many professional schools and institutes. Specialized research is carried out in more than 84 organized research centres. With some 18,207 full-time and part-time students from the national capital region, from across the country, and from more than 107 countries around the world, Carleton has acquired a reputation that is world-wide.
Founded in 1942 as a non-denominational, private, co-educational college, Carleton initially occupied a few rented classrooms in church basements and high schools in downtown Ottawa. Full-time programs were offered in 1946 in journalism and public administration. Rapid expansion during the following years led to the development of a new campus on a large and picturesque site between the Rideau River and the historic Rideau Canal.
Carleton’s location in Canada’s capital has shaped its philosophy and character in a special way. Throughout its fifty-four year history, Carleton has explored the Canadian perspective in many fields and utilized Ottawa’s unique resources to give its students an advantage that few other universities enjoy. In the pursuit of academic excellence, Carleton has played a national role in contributing to the quality of public discourse in Canada and to the advancement of our country’s international relations. Looking to the future, the University is at the forefront in developing new partnerships, new programs, and new directions in teaching and research that will enable its graduates to lead in meeting the challenges of tomorrow. Forging ties with business, industry, government, and other educational institutions will ensure the most relevant education and most current research that is leading-edge.
The first undergraduate degrees, awarded in 1946, were in journalism and in public administration, and the first graduate diploma in 1954 was in public administration. Today, the University offers graduate instruction leading to the master’s degree in some 40 fields and to the doctorate in 19 fields. In 1996-97, The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research registered some 2,332 students in full-time and part-time studies.
Carleton has set as its major goal in graduate studies the promotion of the spirit of independent investigation and the pursuit of scholarly work of consistent high quality. By concentrating on certain fields of study and by electing areas in which it had a comparative advantage, the University has been able to ensure great success in the pursuit of these goals. With outstanding scholars, challenging and imaginative programs, excellent students, libraries, laboratories, and other resources and facilities, the University can provide its students with the most current and relevant education. Graduate programs in science and engineering are enhanced by linking resources and expertise with the University of Ottawa to create institutes that are among the finest in the country. Moreover, students in all programs have access to the vast number of scholars working in government organizations and to the special facilities associated with these national and international institutions.
Carleton University’s 29 buildings occupy a beautiful 62-hectare campus just 10 minutes drive south of Parliament Hill. A special feature of the campus is an extensive underground tunnel system which makes the University especially accessible for students who have mobility impairments. The Mac-Odrum Library houses more than a million volumes and an extensive collection of microfilms, archival material, maps, documents, and prints, all accessed by an on-line catalogue system with terminals on every floor. Reading rooms and special interest resource centres are maintained by many departments on campus. Accommodations for over 1,600 students is provided in Carleton’s seven residence buildings, and cafeterias throughout the campus offer meals and snacks. The physical recreation centre houses facilities for a wide range of activities from individual fitness to interuniversity team competition in a number of sports. Special-interest clubs, public lectures, concerts, films, live theatre, conferences, and conventions bring many dimensions to campus life.
Recreational, cultural, and leisure-time activities to suit every taste abound in the national capital area. The National Arts Centre, the Museum of Civilization, and the National Art Gallery enlighten and entertain in both English and French. Carleton boasts the world’s longest winter skating rink, the Rideau Canal, at its doorstep, and miles of bike paths and walking trails surround the picturesque campus along waterways and greenbelts.
All academic and administrative buildings are smoke-free. Smoking is allowed only in the smoking sections of the cafeterias and pubs in the University Centre and Commons buildings and residences.
Graduate Diploma in Public Administration
(D.P.A.)
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Anthropology, Applied Language Studies, Canadian Art History, Canadian Studies, Central/East European and Russian-Area Studies, Communication, Comparative Literary Studies, Economics, English, French, Geography, German, History, International Affairs, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Political Economy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Religion, Sociology, and Spanish
Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.)
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, and Telecommunications
Technology Management
Master of Journalism (M.J.)
Master of Management Studies (M.M.S.)
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Information and Systems Science, Mathematics,
and Physics
Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Biology, Chemistry, Comparative Literary Studies, Computer Science, Earth
Sciences, Economics, Engineering (Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical),
Geography, History, Management, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science,
Psychology, Public Policy, and Sociology
Joint programs with the University of Ottawa are
offered in the following
areas: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics
and Statistics, Physics, and Economics.
The Institute of Neuroscience collaborates with the University of Ottawa to offer a Specialization in Neuroscience.
The Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology offer a collaborative program in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology.
The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Studies at the University of Ottawa collaborate to offer a Specialization in Biostatistics.
The Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Computer Science and the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering participate with ConGESE (Consortium for Graduate Education in Software Engineering) to offer a Specialization in Software Engineering.
The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa offer a joint Master of Arts in International Affairs and Bachelor of Laws degree (M.A./LL.B.)
The master’s hood, made of black silk, is of simple or Oxford shape with an open lining of two chevrons (red and black) on a silver field. The border of the hood denotes the degree granted, according to the following colour combinations: arts — white; journalism — white with a black cord sewn slightly in from the lower border; management studies — camel brown with a black cord sewn slightly in from the lower border; science — golden yellow; computer science — royal blue; social work — cream; architecture — cerise; engineering — orange. The master’s gown is of full style, made of black silk or rayon, with full gathered yoke behind and closed sleeves with an opening at the elbows.
The Doctor of Philosophy hood is also made of silk, but completely opened to show the lining, and provided with a purple border. The doctoral gown has the same style as the master’s and is made of royal blue cloth with facings of light blue silk.
The gown of the Honorary Doctorate of Laws,
Literature, Science, Engineering,
Architecture, or Fine Arts is a blue robe with bell-shaped sleeves, made
of fine royal blue cloth with facings and sleeves in light blue silk. The
hood is made of the same material as the gown, has the same lining as that
for the degrees granted by examination, and is bordered with purple for
the degree of Doctor of Laws, vibrant blue for the degree of Doctor of
Literature, dark red for the degree of Doctor of Science, orange for the
degree of Doctor of Engineering, cerise for the degree of Doctor of Architecture,
and dark cardinal for the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.