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Wilson College’s Leadership & Civic Studies (WCLCS) program is Canada’s only Combined Honours degree that has students engage with real-life issues and learn to think critically and creatively about our collective future.

As a small cohort, students can expect an interdisciplinary approach to civic studies that combines topics in the humanities and social sciences with an exploration of diverse models of leadership. Our program integrates experiential learning, research, practical application, and public engagement as we build our students’ understanding of how to foster an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable civic culture in Canada and beyond.

Target enrolment: 40 students

Minimum average required for admission (supplementary application also required): Mid-80s

For more information on admissions and our supplementary application, visit our website here.

Wilson College stands at the forefront of leadership and civic studies in Canada. The College merges the rich academic heritage of McMaster University with innovative education and research in leadership and civic engagement.

Offering the country’s only Combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in Leadership & Civic Studies and another subject, Wilson College is dedicated to developing ethical leaders capable of shaping a sustainable future for Canada and beyond. Our unique living-learning community fosters a dynamic environment for intellectual growth and societal impact, providing our students with unique opportunities to learn from and about each other.

Wilson College is built on the following five core values:

  • Innovative education: We embrace hands-on learning and co-curricular programming that prepares leaders for the challenges of the future.
  • Ethical leadership: We cultivate a deep sense of ethics, responsibility and service among our students and faculty.
  • Civic engagement: We collaborate with local, regional, and national communities to build spaces with room for all voices.
  • Inclusive excellence We promote a diverse and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.
  • Resolve: We champion perseverance and determination as core leadership traits.

Our program fosters connection and growth through a living and learning environment. All Level I students are guaranteed first-year residence and will participate in activities and events throughout the year, including guest talks, service trips, and social events. Living in residence is not mandatory to enter the program.

All students will complete a fourth-year work placement and capstone project that partners them with community-based, non-academic organizations. In addition, there will be hands-on projects and events throughout the four-year degree that will connect students with the community and leaders from a variety of fields. These opportunities will be made available to students through their required courses, and also through co-curricular program offerings from Wilson College. Examples may include workshops, speaker series, student’s council, student academic journals, food drives, etc.

Your Classes

First Year Courses:

  • WILSON 1A03 – Introduction to Leadership and Civic Engagement
  • WILSON 1B03 – Inquiry & Contemporary Issues
  • 24 units (8 classes) from Humanities and Social Sciences level one & electives

After completing our general first-year program, students select a second major from the Faculties of Humanities or Social Sciences for your Combined Honours degree. The program will then be made up of disciplinary classes from the joint major, along with courses from the following three themes:

  • Leadership & Civic Engagement
  • Ethics, Governance and Democracy
  • Justice, Human Rights, and Communication

For the second major, there are 22 options to choose from:

Faculty of Humanities

  • Cognitive science of language
  • Communication studies
  • English and cultural studies
  • French
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Media arts
  • Music
  • Global peace and social justice
  • Greek and Roman studies
  • Philosophy
  • iArts (integrated arts)

Faculty of Social Sciences

  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Environment and society
  • Health, aging and society
  • Indigenous studies
  • Political science
  • Psychology, neuroscience and behaviour
  • Society, culture and religion
  • Sociology
  • Work and labour studies

 

For a full list of courses that can be available in this program, please consult the academic calendar.

Admissions