Bachelor of Arts Degree Framework

KPU’s Bachelor of Arts degree programs offer an integrated educational experience that helps students develop an appreciation for the relationships among personal, societal, and global well-being, and the personal implications for such issues as the basis of ethical judgment, social diversity, and the expectations of social responsibility. Students will develop skills to apply effective research, writing, and oral skills to problem-solve and develop into innovative, critical and creative thinkers.

Students can create a Bachelor of Arts degree from a variety of majors and minors that meet their specific interests and goals, and which will prepare them for a wide range of careers after graduation. All Bachelor of Arts degree students will gain valuable skills that are required in today’s changing labour market including communication skills, critical thinking skills, research skills, problem-solving skills, personal management skills and time management skills.

The following Majors offered by the Faculty of Arts adhere to the Bachelor of Arts Degree Framework:

  • Anthropology
  • Asian Studies
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology (also: Honours)
  • Double Major
  • Double Minor
  • English (also: Honours)
  • Geography, Applied
  • History
  • Human Behaviour and Applied Psychology (also: Honours)
  • Journalism (also: Honours)
  • Philosophy (also: Honours)
  • Policy Studies
  • Political Science
  • Psychology (also: Honours)
  • Sociology

Faculty's website: kpu.ca/arts

Admission Requirements

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must be admitted to the Faculty of Arts.

Declaration Requirements

Students declaring a Bachelor of Arts Major or Minor must satisfy common as well as area-specific declaration requirements. See Declaration Requirements for individual areas of study.

Curricular Requirements

The following core requirements are to be completed for all Bachelor of Arts degree programs:

A total of 120 credits which includes:
A minimum of 65 credits from courses in Arts at the 1100 level or higher65
A minimum of 45 credits from courses at the 3000 level or higher45
A minimum Program GPA of 2.00 with a minimum grade of 'C' in all of the following courses (except where stated):
ENGL 1100Introduction to University Writing3
Writing Intensive (WI) Requirement3 credits from courses in ENGL at the 1200 level designated as Writing Intensive (WI) 13
Quantitative (QUAN) Requirement3 credits from courses designated as Quantitative (QUAN) 13
Science Requirement 3 credits from courses in the Faculty of Science or from the following Geography courses: 23
Our Dynamic Earth
Mapping and Geographic Information Systems
Breadth Requirement15 credit Arts breadth requirement consisting of a minimum of one course in at least three (3) separate Arts disciplines outside of the focal academic discipline, one of which must be at the 3000 level or higher.15
Second Language RequirementSecond language at the Grade 11 level (Beginner or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement) or 3 credits of undergraduate level non-English language instruction selected from the list of eligible courses below. 3
Courses required for the major and/or minor program(s) 4, 5
Students are normally expected to complete at least 60 credits at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for a Bachelor of Arts degree; if an exemption is granted, then residency may be limited to no fewer than 30 credits. In any case, at least 50% of the required upper-level credits within the focal academic discipline must be completed at KPU.
1

Approved Writing Intensive and Quantitative courses are listed in the University Calendar with the attribute WI and QUAN. Use Course Search to find all courses with a particular Attribute.

2

Use Course Search to find all courses from the Faculty of Science.

3

Students need to achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement fullfilled.

4

The BA core requirements are not exclusive of program requirements - i.e. particular courses used to fulfill the Bachelor of Arts core requirements may also be used to fulfill requirements for major and minor programs.

5

A Double Major as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree consists of the completion of the requirements of each of two specific majors within a single baccalaureate degree with no limitation on the sharing of courses between majors. Conditions for Minor programs are outlined in the Framework for Minors.

Second Language Requirement: Eligible Courses

CREE 1100Introduction to Plains Cree Language and Culture3
FREN 1100French for Beginners I3
FREN 1101French for Beginners II3
FREN 2200Intermediate French I3
FREN 2201Intermediate French II3
FREN 3100French Oral & Writing Skills3
FREN 3300Upper Intermediate French I3
FREN 3301Upper Intermediate French II3
JAPN 1100Basic Japanese I3
JAPN 1101Basic Japanese II3
JAPN 2200Intermediate Japanese I3
JAPN 2201Intermediate Japanese II3
JAPN 3300Upper Intermediate Japanese I3
JAPN 3301Upper Intermediate Japanese II3
MAND 1100Beginner Mandarin I3
MAND 1101Beginner Mandarin II3
MAND 2200Intermediate Mandarin I3
MAND 2201Intermediate Mandarin II3
MAND 3310Upper Intermediate Mandarin: Reading And Writing I3
MAND 3311Upper Intermediate Mandarin II: Reading and Writing3
MAND 4321Business Chinese I3
MAND 4323Business Chinese II3
MAND 4481Modern Chinese Literature I3
MAND 4483Modern Chinese Literature II3
PUNJ 1100Introductory Punjabi I3
PUNJ 2200Intermediate Punjabi I3
PUNJ 2201Intermediate Punjabi II3
PUNJ 3300Learn Punjabi Through Punjabi Canadian Literature3
PUNJ 3301Learn Punjabi Through Punjabi Literature3
SPAN 1100Basic Spanish I3
SPAN 1101Basic Spanish II3
SPAN 2200Intermediate Spanish I3
SPAN 2201Intermediate Spanish II3
SPAN 3310Advanced Spanish Conversation through Film3

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). Transcripts will indicate majors and/or minors in a specific field of study.

Note: Students may not earn an Honours credential or obtain additional major or minor designations for a credential that has already been awarded. All declarations must be made prior to graduation.

This online version of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Calendar is the official version of the University Calendar. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, KPU reserves the right to make any corrections in the contents and provisions of this calendar without notice. In addition, the University reserves the right to cancel, add, or revise contents or change fees at any time without notice. To report errors or omissions, or send comments or suggestions, please email Calendar.Editor@kpu.ca

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