Skip To Content

Athabasca University

Bachelor of Professional Arts Common Core Courses (12 credits)

Regulations effective September 1, 2018.

To Bachelor of Professional Arts program

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

Program Structure

Total credits in the program 120
Enrolment requirement 60

Minimum Credits Required beyond the College Diploma

Common Core credits 12
Major and elective and/or option credits 48
Total 60
Residency requirement: A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University 30
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. 24

Within the Degree Students are Required to Earn for Degree Completion

Senior (300/400) level 48
400 level 18
Maximum credits allowed at junior (200) level 12

Common Core (12 credits)

When choosing courses in the common core please consult Advising Services.
1. A 200-level writing course or English literature course, e.g., (3)
ADMN 233 Writing in Organizations

or
ENGL 211 Prose Forms

or
ENGL 255 Introductory Composition  
(Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their programs.)
 
2. A 200-level or higher university critical and analytical thinking course, e.g., (3)

HSRV 306 Critical Reflection for Practice
(Note: A critical and analytical thinking course taken to fulfill this requirement of the core may not also be counted towards the major in Human Services but must be replaced by another Human Services course.)

or
PHIL 231 Introduction to Philosophy: West and East

or
PHIL 252 Critical Thinking 
 
3. A senior (300/400) level professional ethics course, e.g., (3)
CMNS 455 Media Ethics

or
CRJS 490 Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement

or

EDUC 404 Law and Ethics in Education

or
PHIL 333 Professional Ethics 

or
PHIL 371 Ethics, Science, Technology, and the Environment
 
4. A research methods or statistics course (see "Note" following) , e.g., (3)
SOSC 366 Research Methods in the Social Sciences

or
CMNS 308 Understanding Statistical Evidence

or
CMNS 333 Research Methods in Communication Studies

or

HADM 499 Research Methods in Health Services

or
MATH 215 Introduction to Statistics

or
MATH 216 Computer-oriented Approach to Statistics

or
MGSC 301 Statistics for Business and Economics I*

or
PSYC 304 Research Methods in Psychology**

NOTE: A research methods course taken to fulfill this requirement of the core may not also be counted towards a major in Criminal Justice or Communication Studies. Communications Studies students are strongly advised to choose either CMNS 308 or CMNS 333 to meet the research methods requirement. If CMNS 308 or CMNS 333 is counted towards the core course requirement, it will not be counted towards the major electives requirement. Similarly, if SOSC 366 is chosen, it will count either as a core course or an elective course. As well, a statistics course taken to fulfill this requirement may not be counted towards a major in Governance, Law, and Management.

*   If MGSC 301 is taken, students cannot take MATH 215 or MATH 216.
** If PSYC 304 is taken, students cannot take SOSC 366.

 

Information effective Sept. 1, 2018 to Aug. 31, 2019.

Updated December 04 2018 by laurab

AU, CANADA'S OPEN UNIVERSITY, is an internationally recognized leader in online and distance learning.