"As one of North America's major research universities, UCLA seeks to strengthen its connections and exchanges with Canadian institutions. While having a great deal in common, the U.S. and Canada are sufficiently different societies. We have much to learn by comparing our distinct outlooks and approaches to similar issues."

UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale

Canadian Studies at UCLA
Established in 2001, the Canadian Studies Program at UCLA fosters a better understanding of Canadian society and its relationship with the United States. Through its teaching, research, and public lecture series, the Program facilitates awareness of issues of mutual concern to the two countries among students, faculty, and the public at large.

Why Canadian Studies?
Canada and the United States form one of the strongest economic, political, security, and cultural partnerships in the world.

Economy:
- The two-way flow of goods, services, and income between Canada and the United States constitutes the largest bilateral economic relationship in the world. 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in trade cross the Canada-U.S. border every single day.
- Canada buys more U.S. goods than all 27 countries of the European Union combined and more than all of Latin America and the Caribbean.
- In 2005, California and Canada traded over $30.5 billion in goods, providing a significant stimulus for both economies. 832,250 California jobs are supported by Canada-US trade.
- Canada is the United States’ leading foreign source of energy.
- The U.S. is the largest foreign investor in Canada. In 2006, U.S. direct investment in Canada was worth more than $241 billion USD, while Canadian direct investment in the U.S. was close to $197 billion USD.
- One million Canadians live and work in California - 325,000 in the Los Angeles area alone.

Security:
- Together, Canada and the United States are committed to building a “Smart Border” to ensure the secure flow of people, goods, and services between the two countries.
- Canada is one of the strongest allies of the U.S. internationally, an important defense partner, and an effective broker in the world.

How is Canadian Studies Organized at UCLA?
Canadian Studies at UCLA supports the addition of Canadian content and comparative studies of Canadian and US issues across the curriculum. By the use of small grants to departments and projects, Canadian Studies has recently supported lectures, speeches, conference, and travel in these areas: North American security and economic cooperation, immigration issues and policies, the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, and political ethics in Canadian context. From 2001 through 2005 the Canadian Studies Program focused on bringing one distinguished Canadian scholar or public figure to UCLA as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies. Please see the list of our visiting faculty in the link labeled "Visiting Faculty in Canadian Studies at UCLA".