Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts
(Four years—120 credits)
     
Regulations amended effective September 1, 2006

Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.

      Second Undergraduate Degree Requirements
      Double Major
      Change of Major
      Degree Conversion Provision
      Classroom Setting

     

The four-year Bachelor of Arts provides students with a broad, flexible education that allows them to develop, understand, and disseminate knowledge, to think critically, and to build on these abilities. In addition, the four-year degree fully prepares students for most graduate programs.

The Bachelor of Arts remains a general degree and is not intended either as an honors or an advanced degree. Although you may change majors, a major must be selected when you enrol in the four-year Bachelor of Arts program. You may select from the following majors: Anthropology, Canadian Studies, English, French, History, Humanities, Information Systems, Labour Studies, Political Economy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Women's Studies.

Students enrolled in the three-year Bachelor of Arts program who wish to transfer to the four-year Bachelor of Arts program must complete a new Undergraduate General Application Form. Previous education will be reassessed and students will be notified of the results.

You are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in your program. However, the Alberta Universities Writing Competence Test may be used to indicate competence in English writing skills. The English writing skills requirement is waived for students enrolling in the second undergraduate degree.

Double Majors
Students in the Bachelor of Arts program, as either a first or second undergraduate degree, generally have the option to combine two majors, if they wish. Students who undertake double majors must fulfill all requirements for both majors. Depending upon the majors chosen, this may greatly restrict course selection (particularly in the second undergraduate degree program) or require the completion of more than 120 credits. Students considering enrolling in double majors should consult with an Athabasca University advisor for assistance in selecting their programs and courses.

Change of Major
You may change majors at any time. You will be placed in the current regulations. If you wish to remain in the regulations that were in effect at the time of your original enrolment, contact Admissions and Evaluations Services. Please reference the appropriate Calendar, e.g., 2002-2003 regulations. To request a change of major, complete and submit a new Undergraduate General Application Form. No fees are required.

Degree Conversion Provision
The degree conversion provision is available to Athabasca University students who have been awarded a three-year AU degree and wish to convert to a four-year degree. Students with the three-year Bachelor of Arts degree may convert that degree into the four-year Bachelor of Arts program. For more information about this regulation, please review the Degree Conversion Provision Policy.

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). Students can complete the entire Bachelor of Arts, with a major in English, History, or Psychology, at Mount Royal College. Refer Section 9.3 for more information.

     
     
  Majors
     
Anthropology Major  
Canadian Studies Major  
English Major  
French Major  
History Major  
Humanities Major  
Information Systems Major  
Labour Studies Major  
Political Economy Major  
Political Science Major  
Psychology Major  
Sociology Major  
Women's Studies Major  
     
     
     
     
  Bachelor of Arts Degree (4 years — 120 credits)
     
  Program Structure
  Total Credits in the Program 120
  Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University.
30
  Prior Learning Assessment and
Recognition (PLAR) credits
9*
  * A maximum of 39 PLAR credits is allowed if you declare a Labour Studies major.
     
  Minimum Credits Required
  At the senior (300 or 400) level
(including 18 credits at the 400 level)
75
  Arts (Humanities and Social Science) 96
  Humanities
18
  Social Science 18
  Science 6
     
  Maximum Credits Allowed
  In any one discipline 60
  Applied Studies 18
  At the preparatory level 6
  At junior level in any one discipline 15
     
  Major (compulsory)  
 

Minimum senior level credits in major
(including a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level)

(30)
     
  The following courses can satisfy either the Social Science area of study or the Science area of study requirements, but not both. To use these courses to satisfy the Science area of study requirements, students must call Admissions and Evaluations Services, upon completion of the course, and request the change.
     
ENVS/GLST 243 Environmental Change in a Global Context (3)
PSYC 289 Psychology as a Natural Science (3)
PSYC 304 Research Methods in Psychology*
*Students who have taken PSYC 404 are not required to take 304.
(3)
PSYC 355 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 387 Learning (3)
PSYC 402 Biological Psychology (3)
     
     
 

English Writing Skills Requirement

Students must meet the following English writing skills requirement in order to graduate:

     
•  

pass the Alberta Universities Writing Competence Test. (For information about this test contact an Athabasca University learning Centre. Refer to Section 8.12 Learning Centres);

or

•  

hold credit in ENGL 255 (ENGL 255 will not satisfy the Humanities area of study. It will, however, count as part of the total number of credits required for the degree);

or

• 

have a grade of B- (70 percent) or better in an Athabasca University English course above the preparatory (100) level;

or

•  
receive transfer credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.

 

   

Bachelor of Arts Second Undergraduate Degree Requirements

 

Students who have completed a previous undergraduate degree must enter the second undergraduate Bachelor of Arts four-year degree and follow its regulations.

     
  Program Structure
  Total new credits not applied from a previous degree
60*
*  
May be higher depending on the specific
requirements of the major.
  Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. 30
  Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and
Recognition (PLAR) credits
9
     
  Minimum Credits Required
  At the senior level (including 18 credits at the
400 level)
48‡
‡ 
May be higher depending on the specific
requirements of the major.
 
  Arts (Humanities and Social Science)
48
  Humanities** 9
**  
ENGL 255 Introductory Composition cannot be
used to meet this requirement.
 
  Social Science 9
  Science
6
     
  Maximum Credits Allowed
  In any one discipline 42
  Applied Studies 12
  At the preparatory level 0
  At junior level in any one discipline 12
     
  Major (compulsory)
  Minimum senior (300 or 400) level credits in major (including 12 credits at the 400 level) 30

 

   

 

The following courses can satisfy either the Social Science area of study or the Science area of study requirements, but not both. To use these courses to satisfy the Science area of study requirements, students must call Admissions and Evaluations Services and request the change upon completion of the course.

 

   
ENVS 243 Environmental Change in a Global Context (3)
PSYC 289 Psychology as a Natural Science (3)
PSYC 355 Cognitive Psychology (3)
PSYC 387 Learning (3)
PSYC 402 Biological Psychology (3)
PSYC 304 Experimental Psychology (3)


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 • Information effective Sept. 1, 2006 to Aug. 31, 2007.
 • Links: Web Unit, Privacy & Conditions. © Athabasca University.
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