Bachelor of Arts degree

Why earn a Bachelor of Arts degree?
Why study at UFV?
What majors does UFV's BA program offer?
What  minors does UFV's BA program offer?
What extended minors does UFV's BA program offer?
What do I need to get in?
Program requirements
Writing requirement
Reasoning requirement
Humanities requirement
Social science requirement
I'm interested. What should I do next?
When should I apply?
How much will it cost? 
Can I speak with someone about my options?

Why earn a Bachelor of Arts degree?

UFV’s Faculty of Arts offers a BA degree program with a wide variety of majors, extended minors, and minors. Our goal is to help students realize their potential as members of local and global communities, as inheritors of traditions, and as creators of possible futures. Maintaining high academic standards, we offer innovative disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and applied degrees and diplomas, which will prepare you for both continued scholarship and employment.

Why study at UFV?

At UFV, we have designed academically challenging programs to meet students’ intellectual, artistic, and vocational needs. Our students are engaged in learning that integrates theory and practice and that draws connections between the methods and subject-matter of different disciplines. We offer small class sizes, personal attention, and a student centred community. Breadth and flexibility characterize our wide range of programs, as does direct relevance to UFV’s Fraser Valley region. At the same time, there is an international and cross-cultural focus to much of our teaching and research. But in all that we do, we are guided by a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. A UFV BA will prepare you for employment, entrepreneurship, further education, and the social and ethical obligations of citizenship — both locally and globally. In short, it prepares you for life.

What honours, majors, minors, extended minors, does UFV's Bachelor of Arts program offer?

While you are working towards your BA degree, you will need to complete the requirements of either one major or two extended minors. You can also choose to add a minor or multiple programs.

UFV offers honours in:

English
Geography (concentrations in Original Geography, Environmental Studies, Geographic Visualization, International Issues, Physical Geography or Urban Studies)

UFV offers majors in:

English
Geography (concentrations in Original Geography, Environmental Studies, Geographic Visualization, International Issues, Physical Geography or Urban Studies)
History
Mathematics
Psychology
Sociology
Sociology/Anthropology

UFV offers extended minors in:

Biology
Computer Information Systems
Criminal Justice
English
French
Geography
History
Latin American Studies
Mathematics
Mathematics – Statistics option
Psychology
Theatre
Visual Arts

UFV offers minors in:

Anthropology
Applied Ethical and
Political Philosophy
Business Administration
Communications
Computer Information Systems
Criminal Justice
Economics
English
French
Geography
History
Kinesiology
Latin American Studies
Mathematics
Mathematics – Statistics option
Media and Communication Studies
Sociology
Theatre
Visual Arts

What do I need to get in?

UFV Bachelor of Arts program has entrance requirements with specific options depending on you and your educational background.

Option one: High school (for students with high school graduation only)

1.  B.C. Secondary school graduation or equivalent and,
2.  a minimum of a B average in English 12 and 2 other grade 12 courses that offer a provincial
     exam (mandatory or optional).

Option two: University entrance (for students who have attended some post-secondary school) 

• completion of a minimum of 30 Arts/Science university-level credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.33 on all credits attempted, or 
• completion of a minimum of 9 Arts/Science university-level credits with a GPA of  3.0  or better on all university-level credits attempted, or 
• a BC Associate of Arts degree, or UFV diploma in Liberal Arts, Visual Arts or Theatre.  Students must achieve an average overall grade of C (cumulative GPA of 2.0) calculated on all courses that could apply towards the diploma or Associate degree.

Program requirements

Note: The lower-level requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree program are not identical to those of the Associate of Arts program. To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree at UFV, you must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits applicable to the program and achieve a cumulative program GPA of 2.0, a GPA of 2.0 in your major/extended minors/ minor program(s), and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all upper level courses.

Of the 120 credits, you must also meet these requirements:

• 65 credits must be in Arts subjects* 
• 45 credits must be at the 300-400 level (upper level)
• at least 60 credits must be completed at UFV, of which 30 must be upper level
• at least 15 upper-level credits that count towards your major must be completed at UFV.
• at least 30 credits must be completed at the upper-level in the chosen major - see individual subject areas for specific major requirements.
• The lower-level (100-200 level) requirementsfor at least one Arts major must be satisfied - see discipline requirements.
• the Arts division general requirements must be satisfied (see below) 

 *Anthropology, art history, communications (CMNS 155 and above), criminology/criminal justice (excluding CRIM 201, 202, and 203), economics, English, film, geography, history, international studies, Latin American studies, mathematics/ statistics, media and communication studies, modern languages, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, SCMS, theatre, and visual arts.

All UFV courses specified for degree programs and Education and TESL are acceptable for the remaining 55 credits of elective. Of these remaining 55 credits, up to 12 credits may be chosen from any UFV course, 100 level or higher, or UFV assigned transfer credit at the 100 level or higher.

Bachelor of Arts general requirements

Breadth requirement

If you are enrolled in a major, you must complete at least 30 credits in five or more subject areas outside the Arts major. No more than 12 credits from any one subject area can be used to fulfill this breadth requirement. If you are enrolled in two extended minors, you must complete at least 30 credits in five or more subject areas of which one can be one of your extended minors. No more than 12 credits from any one subject area can be used to fulfill this breadth requirement.

These breadth requirements will be met in part by fulfilling the following requirements:

Writing requirement

Students must take at least one of:

English 105 English 210 Communications 155

Reasoning requirement

Philosophy 100, or at least three credits from each of the following lists:

Humanities

Art History 205, 316 Communications 251, 360 English 150, 364 History 300 Math 265 Theatre 201, 453

Social Sciences

Anthropology 301 Economics 100 Geography 241, 452 Math 104, 106 Psychology 408 or 202                                                                                            (202 may be met by PSYC 210 if previously completed) SCMS 255 Sociology 350

Lab Science requirement

One course from the following:

Astronomy 103 or 104 Biology 100 level or above Chemistry 100 level or above Geography 101 or 102 Kinesiology 163 or 170 Physics 100 level or above Psychology 202                                                                                                       (may be met by PSYC 210 or 220 if previously completed)

Humanities requirement

At least two courses from:

Art History English 120 or higher Film French Halq’eméylem History Interdisciplinary courses                                                                                 (courses are determined by an Arts Advisor) Japanese Linguistics Mandarin Mathematics Music Philosophy 100 or higher Punjabi Religious Studies Russian Spanish Theatre Visual Arts

Social Science requirement

At least two courses from:

Anthropology Criminal Justice                                                                                                     (contact an Arts Advisor for details on acceptable courses) Economics Geography 111 or higher Interdisciplinary courses                                                                                 (courses are determined by an Arts Advisor) Latin American Studies Media and Communication Studies Political Science Psychology Social, Cultural, & Media Studies Sociology Women’s studies 101, 201

Footnotes:

Where can I get more information?

It’s best to consult the UFV calendar at www.ufv.ca/calendar for a complete list of major, extended minor, and minor requirements, and for course descriptions. It’s also important to note if you are thinking of a career in teaching, you must, while following the above requirements, take into account the requirements set by the B.C. College of Teachers. Find out more at www.bcct.ca

I’m interested. What should I do next?

Check out our online calendar at www.ufv.ca/calendar and read the Bachelor of Arts section carefully. From our website you can go to www.ufv.ca/ar/forms and download the application form. Fill it out and submit it, along with the required documents and the $45 application fee (the $45 will be waived for the current UFV Arts Studies and Associate of Arts students), to the Admissions and Records office at any UFV campus or centre or through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca

When should I apply?

If you want to start your studies in September, you should submit your application to UFV starting October 1. Alternately, if you’re thinking about starting in January, the submission date is August 1. Admission is on a competitive basis and meeting the minimal requirements does not guarantee your admission. If you meet all the entrance requirements but the program is full, you will be given an opportunity to register in Arts Studies.

How much will it cost?

It’s best to consult the Fees and Other Costs section of the UFV calendar for tuition fees, keeping in mind that new fees are usually set each May. You should also visit the UFV Financial Aid and Awards office, which facilitates the disbursement each year of about $12 million in federal and provincial student loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships, and awards to UFV students. A helpful budget planning worksheet is available online at www.ufv.ca/fineaid/budget

Can I speak with someone about my options?

Absolutely. We want to hear from you! If you’re unsure of your direction, contact Student Services at 1-888-504-7441 to arrange a tour, attend a Becoming a Student info session, connect with an educational advisor, or arrange for career counselling. If you need more information about the Bachelor of Arts degree program, contact the Arts Advice Centre at 604-557-4028 or visit www.ufv.ca/arts