Undergraduate Program Calendar 2009|10

Bachelor of Arts Degree with Major (Four years—120 credits)


Regulations amended, effective September 1, 2009 Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment. Second Undergraduate Degree Requirements Double Major Change of Major Minors Degree Conversion Provision Classroom Setting

The mission of the Bachelor of Arts is to strengthen your critical and creative thinking by offering a broad range of social, political, and cultural programs of study. A liberal arts education from Athabasca University is designed to broaden your perspective on local and global affairs, encourage community and social involvement, and prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity. 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. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts with a major are expected to have gained sufficient analytical and critical thinking skills to be able to engage in independent research in their chosen major. Athabasca University does not offer an Honours BA. 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. 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. Minors Although students must declare a major when they become BA program students, they may declare a minor at any point in their studies. A BA minor comprises 30 credits distinct from the major in a related discipline in the Humanities or Social Sciences offered at Athabasca University. At least 15 of the 30 minor credits must be at the 300 or 400 level. If they choose a minor, students must still complete all requirements of the major. No course can be used to complete requirements for both the major and the minor. The minor will be recorded on the transcript. BA minors now available are Anthropology, Canadian Studies, English, French, History, Labour Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, and Women's Studies. 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. Program Plans Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements. Counselling Services offers an assessment website, "Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University." 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 several institutions. See Learning Services Collaborations for partners.

	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




	Program Structure

	Total Credits in the Program	120


	Minimum Credits Required

	At the senior (300 or 400) level (including 18 credits at the 400 level)	75

	In the major (compulsory)	45*
	* may be higher depending on the specific requirements of the major

	Minimum senior-level credits in major (including a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level)	30


	Arts (Humanities and Social Sciences)	96

	• Humanities, a minimum of	18

	• Social Science, minimum of	18

	Science	6

	Minor (optional)

	Minimum credits in the minor	30

	(including a minimum of 15 credits at the 300 and 400 level)

	Students may not apply a course to both the major and the minor.


	Maximum Credits Allowed

	In any one discipline	60

	Applied Studies	18

	At the preparatory level	6

	At junior level in any one discipline	15



	Residency requirement. At least 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University.

	Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered.	24

	Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Credits	9**
	** A maximum of 39 PLAR credits is allowed if you declare a Labour Studies major.


	Course notes:
	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 contact Admissions and Evaluations Services upon completion of the course, and request the change.


PSYC 289	Psychology as a Natural Science	(3)
PSYC 304	Research Methods in Psychology* *Students who have taken PSYC 404 may not take PSYC 304.	(3)
PSYC 355	Cognitive Psychology	(3)
PSYC 387	Learning	(3)
PSYC 402	Biological Psychology	(3)



	English Writing Skills Requirement In order to graduate, students must meet the following English writing skills requirement:

•	hold credit in ENGL 255 (Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their program.); or
•	have a grade of B- (70 percent) or better in an Athabasca University English course above the preparatory (100) level; or
•	receive credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.

	Second Undergraduate Degree Requirements
	Students are not permitted to obtain a second undergraduate degree in the same field or related field as their first undergraduate degree. Students who have completed a previous undergraduate degree must enter the second undergraduate Bachelor of Arts four-year degree and follow these regulations. The English writing skills requirement is waived for students enrolling in the second undergraduate degree.

	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

	Social Science	9

	Science	6


	Maximum Credits Allowed

	In any one discipline	45

	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


	Course notes: The following courses can satisfy the requirements in either the Social Science area of study or the Science area of study, not both. If you want the course to satisfy the Science area of study, complete the course and request Admissions and Evaluation Services to make the change.


PSYC 289	Psychology as a Natural Science	(3)
PSYC 304	Experimental Psychology * *Students who have taken PSYC 404 may not take PSYC 304.	(3)
PSYC 355	Cognitive Psychology	(3)
PSYC 387	Learning	(3)
PSYC 402	Biological Psychology	(3)


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