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 BA 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 required courses (except where stated):
ENGL 1100Introduction to University Writing3
3 credits from courses in ENGL at the 1200 level designated as Writing Intensive (WI) 13
3 credits from courses designated as Quantitative (QUAN) 13
3 credits from courses in the Faculty of Science or from the following Geography courses: 23
GEOG 1102
Physical Geography
GEOG 2310
Climatology
GEOG 2320
Geomorphology
GEOG 2390
Quantitative Methods in Geography
GEOG 2400
Introduction to GIS
15 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 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 following list of eligible courses: 3
CREE 1100
Introduction to Plains Cree Language and Culture
FREN 1100
French for Beginners I
FREN 1101
French for Beginners II
FREN 2200
Intermediate French I
FREN 2201
Intermediate French II
FREN 3100
French Oral & Writing Skills
FREN 3300
Upper Intermediate French I
FREN 3301
Upper Intermediate French II
JAPN 1100
Basic Japanese I
JAPN 1101
Basic Japanese II
JAPN 2200
Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 2201
Intermediate Japanese II
JAPN 3300
Upper Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 3301
Upper Intermediate Japanese II
MAND 1100
Beginner Mandarin I
MAND 1101
Beginner Mandarin II
MAND 2200
Intermediate Mandarin I
MAND 2201
Intermediate Mandarin II
MAND 3310
Upper Intermediate Mandarin: Reading And Writing I
MAND 3311
Upper Intermediate Mandarin II: Reading and Writing
MAND 4321
Business Chinese I
MAND 4323
Business Chinese II
MAND 4481
Modern Chinese Literature I
MAND 4483
Modern Chinese Literature II
PUNJ 1100
Introductory Punjabi I
PUNJ 1101
Introductory Punjabi II
PUNJ 2200
Intermediate Punjabi I
PUNJ 2201
Intermediate Punjabi II
PUNJ 3300
Learn Punjabi Through Punjabi Canadian Literature
PUNJ 3301
Learn Punjabi Through Punjabi Literature
SPAN 1100
Basic Spanish I
SPAN 1101
Basic Spanish II
SPAN 2200
Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 2201
Intermediate Spanish II
SPAN 3310
Advanced Spanish Conversation through Film
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

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

2

Each course is listed in the University Calendar with an attribute that identifies its Faculty. Courses from the Faculty of Science have the attribute SCIH. Use Course Search to find all courses from a particular Faculty or with a particular Attribute.

3

Students need only 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 waived.

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.

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

Back To Top