What students have to say

I chose the PGOV program because it's one of the only undergraduate programs in the country focused solely on this discipline. StFX has also been the undergraduate university of several distinguished leaders. With the generous support of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, I knew that this program would give me the tools to succeed in my future. The small class sizes have allowed for a comfortable learning environment and great class discussions. We build relationships with our professors which has helped me succeed in this program and has given me opportunities outside the classroom. The culture at StFX and the PGOV program has been everything I could have asked for and more.

I chose the PGOV program because I have always been interested in enacting changes in Canadian policies and politics, and StFX is one of the only undergraduate universities in Atlantic Canada to offer such a program. While I have a particular interest in gender policy/politics, the program has allowed me to learn from a wide range of topics that help me to expand my knowledge on current and past Canadian policies. StFX has taught me so much, and the small class sizes have allowed me to engage with my professors and peers, which has been invaluable to my undergraduate experience. I would highly recommend this program.

The PGOV program provides you with the practical information that would not be found in a theory-based political science program. I have found that the ability to solve problems with feasible, educated, and realistic solutions has become an asset that has proved to be very helpful in all aspects of life. Every professor I’ve encountered offers real-world experience in the policy process. They have worked in policy sectors that play a crucial role in Canada’s continued prosperity and offer a level of insight into these policy areas that would not otherwise be possible without real experience.

I chose the PGOV program because of StFX’s record of developing outstanding leaders. What I love most about the program is that it is an interdisciplinary program. It allows you to bring a policy lens to classes in other disciplines, and enriches public policy classes with everyone bringing perspectives from a variety of disciplines. PGOV is all about challenging ideas. Getting to know your cohort and building a close-knit community where different perspectives are valued and respected will add so much more value to your degree. At the end of the day, you’re getting a degree that allows you to explore different policy sectors early in your policy career.

I graduated from the AQUA program in 2021 and in my opinion, it provided me with the right balance of academic and practical experience. I had the opportunity to participate in many hands-on activities making the program more enjoyable while also allowing a better understanding of the concepts taught in the classroom. The AQUA Program is unique because the flexible degree choices make it possible to try out courses in different subject areas, and the small class sizes mean that you get to know the professors and all of your classmates really well.

The best decision I ever made was deciding to complete my undergraduate degree at StFX. The first semester of school I had all the nervous jitters that every first year does. From trying to make new friends, to adjusting to new classes, while also trying to learn a balance between work and play. Looking back, I can honestly say what made a huge difference for me was being welcomed into the Human Kinetics department, where professors genuinely cared how their students were doing (both in & out of the classroom) and did everything in their power to ensure we all had the tools to succeed

The Human Kinetics program is an incredible opportunity for those students who have wide ranging interests regarding the human body and human movement. The courses allow students to successfully prepare themselves for their future pursuits. The Human Kinetics program greatly helped prepare me for my Masters in Physiotherapy. The program provided the necessary educational foundation, but also the opportunity to develop soft skills, such as patient communication and rapport development that are so crucial to a successful physiotherapist. I would strongly recommend the HKIN department to any future students who want an undergraduate experience that opens so many potential doors for a successful career in whatever they may choose.

I’m a former St Francis Xavier university student from 2020-2023 and I'll be attending Dalhousie sexton campus for civil engineering starting September 2023. The best thing at StFX is the small class sizes, it allows you to build a strong relationship with your professors and classmates. I know if I had a problem 25 years down the road and had no one to call for advice all my engineering professors from StFX would help me immediately.

The women in engineering society has allowed me to form relationships with young women sharing a common interest in engineering in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. My goal is to grow the society by organizing more events to support women in a male dominated educational pursuit. Another important aspect is to advocate for the prevention of gender-based violence and progress in making the engineering program here at StFX inclusive for all. The male dominated classrooms can be intimidating, that’s why we, association members need to support each other.

The Aquatic Resources Program at StFX was the most unique and comprehensive education I ever could've gotten at a university. I would recommend this program to anyone who is passionate about water and the environment because you can tailor your degree to the path you want to take in your career! The best memories I have from AQUA are the small classes and amazing profs, field school, and the overall experience of being at StFX (my favourite place in the world).

In my first year, I took RELS 103 – World Religions: What You Need to Know, which was taught in a rather untraditional way – by 5 different professors! Each religion was taught by the professor who specializes in it, showing just how much the department prioritizes giving its students the best education possible. It gave us a great opportunity to learn from the best even though it was only an introductory course. Since then, I have continued taking extremely interesting RELS courses such as Cults and Alternative Religions, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in World Religions, and Superheroes and the Supernatural. Overall, the Religious Studies department is home to some of the most caring, knowledgeable, and engaging professors that I have met over my academic career.

Doing a Master’s of Celtic Studies at StFX was one of the best decisions I have made, and has benefited me academically and personally. Intensive Old Irish classes offered as part of the program allowed me to develop a key skill for pursuing a doctorate. Dr. Linkletter made me confident that I would be welcome in Celtic Studies, Dr. de Vries helped me overcome my anxiety about giving presentations, and both continue to be role models I look up to. During my degree I made a group of friends, the Biology graduate students, who I still keep in contact with. There is no doubt in my mind that the program was the best choice for me.

The Catholic Studies Program provided a fantastic academic setting to discuss faith, philosophy, literature, and history. After transferring to StFX from a larger university, I was amazed at how quickly this program allowed me to connect with my professors and peers in an intimate learning environment. It truly fostered my love of learning and provided me with an incredible well-rounded approach to Catholicism.

From the beginning of my degree, I was drawn to the incredible passion and dedication of the Catholic Studies Program at StFX. During my four years of study, the Catholic Studies courses sparked engagement like few other courses I took. Bound together by a true love of learning and teaching, the faculty was excellent and the quality of the education and lifelong curiosity they fostered in me and my cohort have remained with me. My Catholic Studies courses will always be among the most valuable experiences I had at StFX.

The StFX English Department played a central role in my professional and personal development. It was more than the books and the poems (wonderful as they were); it was the unlocking of my intellectual curiosity. I am forever grateful for the nurturing faculty, whose mentoring and encouragement helped me view literature, and the world, through new eyes. Some of my professors became my lifelong friends. My English degree was the starting block of a winding and rewarding career path as an educator, journalist, and now as a communications professional.

The CLEN program has provided a space for me to discover and pursue a variety of interests through the interdisciplinary approach that the program puts a student through. The close-knit undergrad experience of STFX plus the exploration of many disciplines have led to a broad range of discovery. This led to the satisfaction of my curious mind which wanted to learn about a multitude of things from a sustainability perspective. I feel prepared to work in a variety of disciplines and to pursue further schooling from my time so far in the CLEN program. Excited to see what the future holds!

The Climate and Environment program provides an opportunity to explore various subjects, all of which offer different perspectives on climate change and environmental issues. Learning about social, economic, scientific, and political ways of thinking has given me a deeper understanding of these issues as opposed to focusing on one discipline. You end up with a well-rounded education while simultaneously being able to tailor the program to your interests. The interdisciplinary approach, along with the amazing faculty and small class sizes, has made my time in the program extremely enjoyable while also leaving me feeling prepared for both post-graduate studies and a career.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at StFX in the Climate and Environment program in many ways. I am currently in my second year and have already had many exceptional experiences and am very excited for what is to come. Academically the program checks of all the boxes for an interesting and interdisciplinary degree. There are so many different ways you can take the degree and you get to try so many different disciplines. Because of the variety of courses to choose from I have chosen many different classes that I would never have expected to enjoy as much as I did. As well, the professors really make the program feel inviting. They truly know what they are teaching at are passionate too. They are also genuinely interested in helping with your pursuits at StFX. Thanks to the amazing professors and faculty in the program I get to go on an international exchange trip to Japan and still complete honors. Overall this program feels like home. I am so proud to be a member of this program and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in an interdisciplinary experience.

The interdisciplinary approach taken throughout the program allowed me to explore a variety of subjects and their relationship to the natural environment which surrounds us. The small classes led to strong relationships among my peers and professors, while also allowing for experiential learning, including field trips. The program prepared me well to pursue a post-graduate degree in Architecture at Dalhousie University. My appreciation of society’s relationship with the environment provides me with a unique perspective on the design process, an environmentally sustainable approach to material use and an understanding of the effects of land use change.

The STFX Climate and Environment program is chock full of amazing teachers, engaging classes, and opportunities to be apart of cutting-edge research. The interdisciplinary curriculum better prepared me for post-graduate research through teaching both the physical basis and social science implications of environmental issues. There are few programs that leave you equally prepared for post-graduate work in either an arts or stem discipline. I am grateful to have been part of the first CLEN cohort!