by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Canadian Studies covers Canadian Studies. A Program That Focuses On The History, Society, Politics, Culture, And Economics Of One Or More Of The Peoples Of Canada And Its Pre-Columbian, Colonial, And Pre-Federation Predecessors, Including Immigrant Flows And Related Borderlands And Island Groups. Continue reading for the important information every canadian studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering canadian studies programs.
Our 2026 Best Canadian Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for canadian studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of canadian studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Canadian Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations canadian studies graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a canadian studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a canadian studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to canadian studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 60.5% |
| Master’s degree | 31.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in canadian studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying canadian studies can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to canadian studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to canadian studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of canadian studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,815 |
| 4 years | $54,317 |
| 5 years | $64,382 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for canadian studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers canadian studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $47,517 |
With 4 different canadian studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased canadian studies school rankings to help you.
Students interested in canadian studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American/United States Studies/Civilization | 1,156 |
| Asian Studies/Civilization | 705 |
| Regional Studies (U.S., Canadian, Foreign) | 680 |
| Area Studies, Other | 630 |
| East Asian Studies | 581 |
| Latin American Studies | 498 |
| Near and Middle Eastern Studies | 317 |
| African Studies | 209 |
| French Studies | 143 |
| Russian Studies | 124 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
