4.15. Bachelor of Professional Arts degree
(four years — 120 credits)
Introduction Requirements Back to 4.0
Introduction
The Bachelor of Professional Arts program is designed for students who have completed an approved two-year diploma or equivalent from a college or institute of technology. Some students may qualify to earn additional credits through Prior Learning Assessment.
There are four majors offered in the Bachelor of Professional Arts degree. Additions and changes may occur during the calendar year. Contact the program advisor if you require additional information..
- 4.15.1. Common Core Courses
- 4.15.2. Communication Studies Major
cmns@athabascau.ca- 4.15.3. Criminal Justice Major
crjs@athabascau.ca- 4.15.4. Governance, Law and Management Major
govn@athabascau.ca- 4.15.5. Human Services Major
hsrv@athabascau.caStudents must comlete the regulations that are in effect at the time they enrol in the program.
Inactive students (student who have not registered for a course within 12 months from the last contract date) must re-enrol and follow the regulations in effect at the time of re-enrolment.
Courses in the Bachelor of Professional Arts (Communication Studies) are available by individualized study. The Criminal Justice courses are available in individualized-study and grouped-study formats at selected sites. Human Services and Governance, Law and Management major courses are available by individualized study. The course syllabus indicates the delivery mode. If you have any questions, please contact the program advisor.
Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their program. However, the Alberta Universities Writing Competence Test may be used to indicate competence in English writing skills.
Degree Requirements
Total credits in the program 120 College diploma transfer (enrolment requirement)
60 Minimum Credits Required Beyond the College Diploma Core courses
Major and elective courses
Total
12
48
60Within the Degree Students are Required to Earn for Degree Completion Senior (300 or 400) level
400 level
Through Athabasca University (residency)
48
18
30Maximum Credits Allowed At the junior (200) level 12 4.15.1. Common Core Courses (12 credits)
- Any university-level computing course, e.g.,
COMP 200 Introduction to Computing and Information Systems
or
INFS 200 Accessing Information
or
CMIS 301 Microcomputer Applications in Business (Windows) (3)- Any 200-level writing course or English literature course e.g.,
ENGL 255 Introductory Composition
or
ADMN 233 Writing in Organizations
or
ENGL 211 Prose Forms (3)- Any 200-level university critical and analytical thinking course, e.g.,
PHIL 252 Critical Thinking (3)- Any senior-level professional ethics, e.g.,
PHIL 333 Professional Ethics (3)
4.15.2. Communication Studies Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts (Communication Studies) allows students to apply their knowledge within a national and international context of mass media and communication. The Bachelor of Professional Arts (Communication Studies) is available to students who have completed an approved two-year communications-related diploma (e.g., public relations, advertising, journalism, multi-media, broadcasting, library and information studies, legal assistant, and marketing) or equivalent. Students may either apply for prior learning assessment credits in this program or discuss an academic assessment with the program coordinator. For general information regarding the Communication Studies major, contact the program advisor.
The common core courses may be taken at any time. Students are encouraged to complete the common core courses early in their program. The common core address skills and knowledge that will help students succeed with the remaining degree requirements.
A maximum of 60 credits may be awarded towards the admission requirements for this program through portfolio assessment by the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) office. A maximum of 30 PLAR credits may be awarded towards the remaining credits in the program.
Students must complete the following:
- the common core (refer to 4.15.1.)(12 credits)
- major courses (27 credits)
- electives (21 credits)
- maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits (30)
Major Courses (27 credits)
Required Major Courses (6 credits)
CMNS 301 Communciation Theory and Analysis (3)
CMNS 302 Communication in History (3)AND
21 credits selected from the following (minimum of 12 at the 400 level)
All courses with the generic label CMNS
POEC 302 Introduction to Political Economy (3)
POEC 393 Canada and the Global Political Economy (3)
POLI 309 Canadian Government and Politics (3)
SOCI 435 Theories of Social Change (3)
SOSC 366 Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3)Electives (21 credits)
From any discipline (a maximum of three credits allowed at the junior (200) level). (21)
4.15.3. Bachelor of Professional Arts Criminal Justice Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts (Criminal Justice) is available to students who have graduated with a two-year approved diploma in criminal justice-related areas from an accredited college or technical institute. The program provides students with two years of Arts and Administrative Studies courses along with specialized senior-level courses in criminal justice. For general information regarding the Criminal Justice major, contact the program advisor.
A maximum of 30 credits may be awarded by portfolio assessment through the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition office.
Students must complete the following:
- the common core (refer to 4.15.1.)(12 credits)
- major courses (42 credits)
- maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits (30)
Major courses ( 42 credits )
A 200-level accounting course or
ADMN 232 Administrative Principles (3)All courses with the generic label CRJS and
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3)
LGST 430 Canadian Legal System (3)
A 300-level organizations course (e.g., ORGB 326, or SOCI 300) (3)
ORGB 327 Leadership in Organizations (3)
SOCI 305 Sociology and Crime or
SOCI 365 Sociology of Deviance (3)
A 300-level research methods course (e.g., SOSC 366) (3)Electives (6 credits)
From any discipline at the senior (300 or 400) level. (6)
4.15.4. Bachelor of Professional Arts (Governance, Law, and Management) Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts (Governance, Law, and Management)(BPA:GLM) is designed to prepare innovative managers and professionals for leadership success in the knowledge-based society and economy. This leading-edge program provides education that promotes vision, creativity, and strategic thinking as requisite skills for knowledge workers in an era of globalization.
The recent reforms in organizations have led to a shift from "command-and-control" management structures and practices to an organizational context characterized by flexibility, innovation, and lifelong learning. The BPA:GLM provides the requisite knowledge and practical know-how needed by professionals for good governance and the successful management of organizational change, particularly the increasing shift to e-governance.
Enrolment Requirements
The BPA: GLM allows students to apply knowledge obtained during the completion of an approved two-year diploma and accredited work experience, toward the completion of a four-year applied liberal arts degree.
Sixty credits are required for degree completion beyond the approved two-year college diploma. Students must complete the following:
- common core (refer to 4.15.1.)(12 credits)
- major courses (15 credits)
- focus area courses (33 credits)
- Students complete 4.15.1. BPA common core.
- Select a minimum of 15 credits from the following required major courses:
ACCT 250 Accounting for Managers or
ACCT 245 Accounting for Managers of Not-for Profit Organizations (3)
CMNS 380 Corporate Communication or
COMM 243 Interpersonal Communications in Management (3)
ECON 301 The Changing Global Economy or
POEC 393 Canada and the Global Political Economy (3)
GOVN 301 Governance, the Public Sector, and Corporate Power (3)
ORGB 327 Leadership in Organizations (3)
GOVN 400 Governance and Leadership (3)
GOVN 440 Governance and Law (3)- There are four focus areas within the BPA: GLM program. Select a minimum of 33 credits from one focus area only.
Focus Area 1. Public Management and Policy Studies
Select 33 credits from the following outline.
Governance and Public Management (Select 12 credits from the following)
GEOG 302 The Canadian North (3)
GEOG 310 Canadian Urban Development (6)
GOVN 372 Public Finance and Budgeting (in development) (3)
GOVN 390 Public Policy and Administrative Governance (3)
GOVN 403 Public Policy in a Global Era (3)
GOVN 405 Innovative Public Management (3)
GOVN 410 Global Cities: The Cultures of Law and Government (3)
POLI 309 Canadian Government and Politics (3)
POLI 311 Aboriginal Politics and Government (3)
POLI 390 Canadian Federalism (3)
Policy Studies (Select 9 credits from the following)
CMNS 401 Cultural Policy In Canada (3)
ECON 321 Economics of Health Care (3)
ECON 385 Money, Banking and Canadian Financial Institutions (3)
HADM 326 Health Issues: Health and Healing (3)
HADM 369 Health Policy In Canada (3)
HIST 329 The Social History of Canada (6)
INST 357 Contemporary Aboriginal Issues in Canada (3)
POLI 325 Canadian Environmental Policy and Politics (3)
WMST 303 Issues in Women's Health (3)
Public Law and Governance (Select 6 credits from the following)
CRJS 426 Aboriginal Government and Law (3)
CRJS 427 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (3)
CRJS 489 Alternate Dispute Resolution (3)
GOVN 440 Governance and Law (3)
IDRL 304 Rights at Work: Grievance Arbitration (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 315 Women and Unions (3)
IDRL 320 Labour Relations and the Law (3)
LBST 200 Introduction to Labour Studies (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3)
LGST 430 Canadian Legal System (3)
General Management Studies (Select 6 credits from the following)
PSYC 405 Creating A Working Alliance (3)
CMIS 351 Management Information Systems (3)
COMM 243 Interpersonal Communications in Management (3)
COMM 377 Communication and Problem Solving in Groups (3)
HRMT/ORGB 386 Introduction to Human Resource Management (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 317 Reengineering the Organization (3)
MGSC 369 Service Operations Management (3)
MGSC 405 Quantitative Approaches to Decision Making (3)
ORGB 319 Motivation and Productivity (3)
ORGB 364 Organizational Behaviour (3)
ORGB 390 Managing Change (3)
ORGB 400 Organizational Culture (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society: Making Sense of Modern Organizational Life (3)
Focus Area 2. Police and Security Management
Select 33 credits from the following outline.
Police and Security Management (Select 9 credits from the following)
CRJS 350 Community Policing (3)
CRJS/GOVN 4XX Police Management (in development) (3)
CRJS/GOVN 4XX Security Management (in devlopment) (3)
GOVN 405 Innovative Public Management (3)
LGST 430 Canadian Legal System (3)
POLI 309 Canadian Government and Politics or
POLI 390 Canadian Federalism (3)Public Law and Governance (Select 6 credits from the following)
CRJS 427 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (3)
CRJS 489 Alternate Dispute Resolution (3)
IDRL 304 Rights at Work: Grievance Arbitration (3)
IDRL 320 Labour Relations and the Law (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3)
LGST/GOVN 420 Criminal Law and Procedure (in development) (3)Law and Justice Studies (Select 6 credits from the following)
CRJS 410 Special Needs Policing (3)
CRJS 420 Environmental Protection and Enforcement (3)
CRJS 425 White Collar Crime (3)
CRJS 426 Aboriginal Government and Law (3)
LGST 479 Local Government Law in Alberta (3)
SOCI 305 Sociology and Crime (3)
SOCI 365 Sociology of Deviance (3)
WMST 422 Woman, Violence, and Social Change (3)Public Management (Select 6 credits from the following)
CRJS/GOVN 419 Corrections Management (in development) (3)
GOVN 301 Governance, Public Sector and Corporate Power (3)
GOVN 390 Public Policy and Administrative Governance (3)
GOVN 403 Public Policy in a Global Era (3)
GOVN 405 Innovative Public Management (3)
GOVN 410 Global Cities: The Cultures of Law and Government (3)
GOVN 450 Public Budgeting and Financial Management (in development) (3)General Management Studies (Select 6 credits from the following)
PSYC 405 Creating a Working Alliance (3)
CMIS 351 Management Information Systems (3)
CMNS 380 Corporate Communications (3)
COMM 377 Communications and Problem Solving in Groups (3)
HRMT/ORGB 386 Introduction to Human Resource Management (3)
HRMT/ORGB 387 Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 317 Reengineering the Organization (3)
MGSC 369 Service Operations Management (3)
MGSC 405 Quantitative Approaches to Decision Making (3)
ORGB 319 Motivation and Productivity (3)
ORGB 364 Organizational Behaviour (3)
ORGB 390 Managing Change (3)
ORGB 400 Organizational Culture (3)
PSYC 340 Introduction to Applied Social Psychology or
PSYC 435 Abnormal Psychology (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society: Making Sense of Modern Organizational Life (3)Focus Area 3. Law and Governance
Select 33 credits from the following outline.
Public Law and Governance (Select 12 credits from the following)
CRJS/INST 426 Aboriginal Government and Law (3)
CRJS 427 Civil Liberties and Individual Rights (3)
GOVN 410 Global Cities: The Culture of Law and Government (3)
GOVN 440 Governance and Law (3)
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3)
LGST 430 The Canadian Legal System (3)
LGST 479 Local Government Law in Alberta (3)
Labour Law and Management (Select 6 credits from the following)
HIST 336 History of Canadian Labour (6)
IDRL 201 Labour Unions (3)
IDRL 304 Rights at Work: Grievance Arbitration (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 315 Woman Organizing (3)
IDRL 320 Labour Relations and the Law (3)
LBST 200 Introduction to Labour Studies (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)Law and Justice Studies (Select 6 credits from the following)
CMNS/LGST 311 Mass Media and the Law (3)
CRJS 489 Alternate Dispute Resolution (3)
LGST 369 Commercial Law (3)
WMST 422 Women, Violence, and Social Change (3)General Management Studies (Select 9 credits from the following)
PSYC 405 Creating a Working Alliance (3)
CMIS 351 Management Information Systems (3)
COMM 377 Communication and Problem Solving in Groups (3)
GOVN 390 Public Policy and Administrative Governance (3)
GOVN 403 Public Policy in a Global Era (3)
HRMT/ORGB 386 Introduction to Human Resource Management (3)
HRMT/ORGB 387 Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 317 Reengineering the Organization (3)
MGSC 369 Service Operations Management (3)
MGSC 405 Quantitative Approaches to Decision Making (3)
ORGB 319 Motivation and Productivity (3)
ORGB 390 Managing Change (3)
ORGB 400 Organizational Change (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society (3)Focus Area 4. Non-Profit Voluntary Sector Management
Select 33 credits from the following outline (includes a minimum of 15 credits offered at Ryerson Polytechnic University (RPU). RPU courses are offered online.).
Governance and the Third Sector (Select 15 credits from the following courses offered through RPU)
CINP 900 Understanding the Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector (3)
CINP 901 Developing Effective Nonprofit Sector Organizations (3)
CINP 911 Advocacy: Public Governmental Organizations or
WMST 321 Advocacy from the Margins (AU)* (3)
CINP 913 Leading Nonprofit Organizations through Change (3)
CINP 914 Issues of Diversity: Team Building and Collaborative Relations (3)
* WMST 321 is an equivalent course. Students may select WMST 321 in lieu of taking CINP 911.
AND
Public Law and Governance (Select 6 credits from the following)
CRJS/INST 426 Aboriginal Government and Law (3)
CRJS 427 Civil Liberites and Civil Rights (3)
CRJS 489 Alternate Dispute Resolution (3)
GOVN 440 Governance and Law (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 320 Labour Relations and the Law (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3)
LGST 430 Canadian Legal System (3)
AND
Labour Law and Management (Select 6 credits from the following)
HIST 336 History of Canadian Labour (6)
IDRL 201 Labour Unions (3)
IDRL 304 Rights at Work: Grievance Arbitration (3)
IDRL 307 Public Sector Labour Relations (3)
IDRL 315 Women Organizing (3)
IDRL 320 Labour Relations and the Law (3)
LBST 200 Introduction to Labour Studies (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)AND
Select 6 credits from one of the following two categories.
Category 1. General Management and Non-Profit Management Studies
PSYC 405 Creating a Working Alliance (3)
CMIS 351 Management Information Systems (3)
COMM 243 Interpersonal Communications in Management (3)
COMM 377 Communications and Problem Solving in Groups (3)
HRMT/ORGB 386 Introduction to Human Resource Management (3)
IDRL 317 Reengineering the Organizations (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)
MGSC 369 Service Operations Management (3)
MGSC 405 Quantitative Approaches to Decision Making (3)
ORGB 319 Motivation and Productivity (3)
ORGB 390 Managing Change (3)
ORGB 400 Organizational Culture (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society (3)OR
Category 2. Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector Management (the following courses are offered online at Ryerson University)
CINP 902 Program Development and Evaluation in Nonprofit Sector (3)
CINP 910 Strategic Planning and Communications for Nonprofit Organizations (3)
CINP 912 Marketing and Fundraising in the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3)
CINP 915 Financial Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3)
CINP 916 Challenge, Crisis and Change: Public Policy and the Third Sector (3)
CINP 920 Critical Issues in the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3)
4.15.5. Bachelor of Professional Arts Human Services Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts Human Services major responds to career and professional needs of career practitioners in the human services fields of early childhood education, child and youth care, rehabilitation services, and other closely related fields such as teacher assistants and counsellors. The program complements the diploma programs offered at community colleges in Alberta and across Canada.
Students are strongly encouraged to plan an individualized program of study to
- consolidate and formalize their previous learning
- build on their existing knowledge
- broaden their knowledge base
- explore areas of interest, and
- prepare themselves for future education and career choices.
Students are advised to plan their program of study carefully to ensure that they meet all of the degree requirements. A maximum of 12 credits may be completed at the 200 level including any 200-level courses in the required common core. Students must also complete a minimum of 18 credits at the 400 level. If you need assistance in planning your program contact the program advisor.
Students must complete the following:
- the common core courses (12 credits)
- major courses (36 credits), and
- elective courses (12 credits).
- maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits (30 credits)
Required Major Courses (36 credits)
Students must complete six required courses and six additional courses, two chosen from each of the following three themes: Leadership, Public Policy Contexts, and A Changing Environment.
Required Courses (6 credits)
HSRV 311 Practice and Policy in the Human Services (3)
HSRV 322 Policies in the Human Services (3)Elective Major Courses (Select 12 credits from the following)
PSYC 405 Creating a Working Alliance (3)
HADM 315 Health and Community Development (3)
HADM 369 Health Policy (3)
HSRV 433 Directed Reading I: Topics in the Human Services (3)
HSRV 455 Project Design I (3)
HSRV 477 Project Implementation I (3)
INST 200 Introduction to Native Studies (3)
LBST 200 Introduction to Labour Studies (3)
ORGB 327 Leadership in Organizations (3)
PSYC 388 Introduction to Counselling (3)
PSYC 389 An Introduction to Learning Disabilities (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society: Making Sense of Modern Organizational Life (3)
WMST 266 Thinking From Women's Lives: An Introduction to Women's Studies (3)
WMST 321 Advocacy from the Margins (3)Additional 18 Credits. Select two courses from each theme.
The six theme-related courses create a strong multidisciplinary knowledge base in the areas of leadership, policy contexts and the rapidly changing world in which high-quality human service delivery occurs. The major courses offer a mix of traditional management and public administration along with innovative approaches that provide other possibilities for responding to rapid social change. Students may choose their courses to broaden and deepen their understanding or specialize, for example, by selecting aboriginal content or women's studies courses. With permission of the program coordinator other courses may be substituted under the theme headings to complement students' individualized program of study.
Eighteen credits must be compeleted at the 400 level. Students are advised to plan their program of study carefully to ensure that they meet all of the degree requirements.
Theme One: Leadership (select two)
These courses emphasize communications, management, finance, and social change.
ACCT 250 Accounting for Managers or any 200-level accounting course (3)
ECON 321 Economics of Health Care (3)
CMIS 245 Microcomputer Applications in Business (Windows) (3)
CMNS 321 Computers and Human Experience (3)
CMNS 385 Media Construction of Social Movements and Issues (3)
COMM 243 Interpersonal Communications in Management (3)
COMM 377 Communication and Problem Solving in Groups (3)
GOVN 450 Public Budgeting and Financial Management (in development) (3)
HLST 320 Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals (3)
HRMT/ORGB 386 Introduction to Human Resource Management (3)
INST 357 Contemporary Aboriginal Issues in Canada (3)
LBST 332 Women and Unions (3)
ORGB 326 Organization Theory (3)
ORGB 364 Organizational Behaviour (3)
ORGB 390 Managing Change (3)
PSYC 470 Consultation and Collaboration for Students with Special Needs (3)
PSYC 471 Managing Behaviour Problems in the Classroom (3)
SOCI 300 Organizations and Society: Making Sense of Modern Organizational Life (3)
WMST 302 Communication Skills: Feminist Practice (3)
WMST 422 Women, Violence, and Social Change (3)Theme Two: Public Policy Contexts (Select two courses from the following)
These courses emphasise government, law, society, and healthy communities.
CRJS/INST 426 Aboriginal Government and Law (3)
GOVN 390 Public Policy and Administrative Gonernance (3)
HADM 315 Health and Community Development (3)
HADM 326 Health Issues: Health and Healing. (3)
HADM 336 Community Health Planning (3)
HADM 369 Health Policy in Canada (3)
INST 201 Introduction to Native Studies II (3)
LBST 413 What do Unions Do? (3)
LGST 310 The Impact of the Canadian Charter on Labour Relations (3)
LGST 331 Administrative Law (3)
LGST 430 Canadian Legal System (3)
POLI 309 Canadian Government and Politics (3)
POLI 311 Aboriginal Politics and Governments (3)
POLI 330 International and Global Politics (3)
POLI 350 Women in Canadian Politics (3)
POLI 383 Introduction to Canadian Political Economy (3)
SOCI 329 Aging and You (I): An Introduction to Gerontology (3)
WMST 400 Feminism in the Western Tradition (3)
WMST 401 Contemporary Feminist Theory (3)Theme Three: A Changing Environment (select two)
These courses emphasise holistic approaches to communities, roots and sources, and methodology and research.
CRJS 352 Victims of Crime (3)
CMNS 420 Children and Media (3)
EDUC 301 Educational Issues and Social Change I— Historical Social Perspectives (3)
HADM 369 Health Policy in Canada (3)
INST 342 Issues in Native Education (3)
INST 358 Aboriginal Women in Canadian Contemporary Society (3)
INST 369 History of Canada's First Nations from 1830 (3)
INST 370 The Métis (3)
LBST 331 Women, Workers, and Farmers: Histories of North American Popular Resistance (3)
POEC 393 Canada and the Global Economy (3)
PSYC 343 Issues and Strategies in Counselling Women (6)
PSYC 389 An Introduction to Learning Disabilities (3)
PSYC 400 Teaching and Managing the Child with Learning Difficulties (6)
SOCI 435 Theories of Social Change (3)
SOCI 380 Canadian Ethnic Studies (3)
SOCI 450 Social Theory and the Environment (3)
SOSC 366 Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3)
WMST 303 Issues in Women's Health (3)
WMST 311 Special Issues in Counselling Women (3)
WMST 444 Feminist Research Methodology (3)Options (12 credits)
Select 12 additional credits in any discipline at the senior (300 or 400) level. Students should select electives with a view to fulfilling the general degree requirement, especially the requirement of completing six, three-credit courses at the 400 level. Students may select additional courses from those recommended for the Human Services major.
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