Rarely does the world present itself in neat packages contained within the boundaries of a single discipline, and so neither do we.

Why a first-year programme?

Our Foundation Year Programme has erased the traditional separations between subjects and instead unveils the history of Western thought by exploring the ways in which these subjects overlap and interconnect. Students are guided from Mesopotamia to the present along the spines of our history’s great books and through the minds of our most influential thinkers, consistently coming together in engaged discussion to grapple with these ideas within the intimate and comfortable setting of small tutorial groups.

Not only does FYP expand its students understanding of the Western tradition through its education, but it also exercises their academic skills through its requirements. Students hone their ability to think critically, discuss their ideas confidently, as well as efficiently read and analyze texts. The programme also advances students’ experience and skills in academic paper writing, formulating arguments and ensuring effective communication. Truly creating a foundation to any education or career, FYP’s interdisciplinary and challenging approach means nearly every door has been opened, from music to science, from journalism to law.

Why interdisciplinary studies?

The College’s interdisciplinary method exists outside of the Foundation Year Programme. Our upper-year honours programmes in Contemporary Studies, the History of Science and Technology and Early Modern Studies approach their subject matter from all angles, allowing students to study ideas and events from multiple perspectives. At King’s, we believe this way of understanding means problems, information and ideas can be evaluated and questioned within their larger context, creating a holistic approach to understanding both in and outside the classroom.

Students' academic skills are also sharpened as they learn to read and listen critically, while still being open to new ideas, as well as to speak persuasively and with passion. An interdisciplinary approach also sets the stage for team teaching, and so students are exposed to the many perspectives of a faculty rich in both experience and dedication to undergraduate education.

Why a school of journalism?

The value of a journalism education has undoubtedly changed, but it hasn't lost its worth. Much like how political science and history departments don't simply train their students to be politicians and historians, journalism schools aren't merely preparing their students to be journalists. This is an education that exercises the ability to spot the key arguments in any issue, to analyze that information, and to convey that which is uncovered both clearly and concisely. Our graduates go on to become lawyers, business and medical professionals, authors, communicators and marketers—any profession where writing, communicating and analyzing are vital.

But many will also stay within the field of journalism—and, for the first time in years, these new graduates will have an edge in the marketplace over experienced veterans. Graduates of today can tell stories using words, pictures, sounds, maps and graphs. They have a grasp on the new tools of storytelling—HTML and PHP, Flash and Soundslides, podcasts and social media—and are in a position to invent the next generation of public-service journalism.

The traditional, core models of journalism have not been forgotten. At the hands of an award-winning faculty, many of whom are still working, passionate journalists, our school teaches journalism as both a skill and a craft, instilling the importance of watchdog journalism, original reporting and ensuring the public has access to essential knowledge.

Why science at King’s?

In line with our interdisciplinary approach, science options at King's allow for simultaneous exploration in both the arts and sciences, in particular with the science option of the Foundation Year Programme and, later, the History of Science and Technology Programme.

FYP allows first-year students to investigate the evolution of scientific theory throughout Western history and examine the impact science has on art, culture, religion and politics. And HOST, one of our internationally recognized combined honours programmes, can supplement lab studies with an arts-based cirruculum that provides new insights into the history and evolution of science. King's also gives students full access to the programmes and services at one of the leading institutions for scientific research in the world: Dalhousie University.