Enabling Arts Students to Minor in STEM (May 2025)

This proposal is guided by a key strategic question: How can we create sustainable revenue opportunities for the university while advancing our academic mission? In response, we propose a new interdisciplinary program that supports Carleton’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation while attracting new student segments and responding to labour market needs in a financially sustainable way.

Developed by one of Carleton Leader’s Strategic Impact Groups (SIG), the program bridges academic innovation and workforce development by integrating the strengths of the arts, business, and Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) faculties. It addresses a critical gap in Ontario’s postsecondary landscape by allowing arts and business students to pursue a STEM minor without the full academic workload commitments of a traditional STEM major.

Aligned with the Ontario government’s priorities around talent development and economic growth, this program positions Carleton University as a leader in interdisciplinary education and forward-thinking program design. This innovative initiative exemplifies Carleton’s strategic direction as it charts its course toward its centennial year.

SIG Members:

• Emma Bowie, Director, Department of University Communications
• Emily Gray, Associate Dean (Recruitment and Retention, Professional Graduate Programs), Sprott School of Business
• Danielle Manley, Director, School of Nursing
• Nadeem Siddiqi​, Vice-Provost (Graduate Studies), Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
• Sarah Simpkin, Associate University Librarian (Academic Services), MacOdrum Library
• Prashant Waghmare, Associate Dean, Director of Mechanical Engineering Practice, Faculty of Engineering and Design