The three-year Bachelor of Arts program, as a general degree or with a concentration, is a well-respected credential in Canada and the United States. While the three-year degree program is a highly marketable credential, it is not aimed at providing students with direct access to graduate level studies. Often a “make-up” or additional year is required to achieve that academic goal.

Students who are currently enrolled in the four-year Bachelor of Arts degree and who wish to transfer to the three-year degree program, may find it is not possible to transfer all their completed courses because of degree requirements. If, after completing any three- or four-year degree, you wish to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree, you will be required to enrol in the BA second undergraduate (four-year) degree program. This degree requires a minimum of 60 credits. Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.

You are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in your program. The Alberta Universities Writing Competence Test may be used to indicate competence in English writing skills (see below).

Classroom Setting

In addition to completing this degree through online and distance learning, students have the option to take Bachelor of Arts courses in a classroom setting at Grande Prairie Regional College (Grande Prairie, AB) or Mount Royal College (Calgary, AB). Refer to Section 9.3 for more information.

Enrolment Restriction

Students who hold a previous degree must enrol in the Bachelor of Arts four-year degree program.

Program Plans

Athabasca University advisors have developed a program plan to assist you. Counselling Services offers an assessment Web site, "Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University."

Degree Conversion Provision

Effective Sept 1, 2005, students who have been awarded a three-year Athabasca University (AU) degree may convert from the three-year into the four-year program in the same concentration.

You must complete the program regulations in effect at the time of your enrolment into the four-year program degree. If you follow the conversion regulations and obtain your four-year degree, it will replace your three-year degree. You will be considered to have one four-year degree only.

Students who have completed a three-year degree that is now closed, may enrol in the four-year program. In these circumstances, considerably more than one year of study may be required. The degree conversion provision is available to three-year AU program graduate students only. Graduates of other institutions must follow the second undergraduate degree regulations. If you choose to convert your three-year degree, please complete and submit a General Application Form.   The appropriate courses that you completed in the three-year degree will be applied to the four-year degree. Admissions and Evaluations Services will notify you of the remaining courses required to complete your new degree.