Policy Studies: Bachelor of Arts Major
Description
Sustainability has become the leading concept in defining the way we live. All aspects of society are changing to reflect the growing need for sustainability policy. New initiatives that have gained popularity and importance include:
- Urban Farms
- Bike Lanes
- Skytrains
- Affordable Housing
- Alternative Energy
- Zero-Waste Buildings
- Green Business
Policy makes these innovations a reality. You can be a part of these changes with a degree in Policy Studies.
This new degree is both applied and interdisciplinary. You will work with sustainability policy practitioners in developing real policy on current community projects. At the same time, you will learn about policy from the perspective of economics, philosophy, political science, environmental studies and psychology.
Career Opportunities
We expect the graduates from our program to work at all levels of government. Private companies are also actively developing sustainability departments, to say nothing of consultants and NGOs. Opportunities can include careers such as:
- Sustainability coordinator
- Sustainability consultant
- Sustainability design manager
- Sustainability communications director
- Sustainability policy director
- Sustainability training director
- Sustainability auditor
- Sustainable resource manager
- Sustainable development specialist
- Social responsibility manager
- Social impact assessor
- Green policy coordinator
- Green operations director
- Green communications
- Green purchasing and operations
- Environmental efficiency analyst
- Environmental educator
- Sustainability entrepreneur
- Sustainability activist
Examples of how you can continue your professional development after graduation include a Masters of Public Policy or law.
Program Admission Requirements
In addition to Kwantlen's General university admission requirements, including the undergraduate-level English Proficiency Requirement, the following program admission requirements apply:
Year One Admission:
- English 12 with a 'B' (or equivalent)
- Mathematics:
- Minimum grade of 'C' in Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or Applications of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in Foundations of Mathematics 11 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C-' in Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent)
Year Three Admission:
- 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (including all 1100- and 2000-level major/minor program requirements).
- Grade of 'C' in all required 1000-and 2000-level courses, including the English writing requirement (ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204, or equivalent).
- Two Quantitative courses (total of six or more credits).
- 12 credits of breadth courses
- Mathematics:
- Minimum grade of 'C' in Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or Applications of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in Foundations of Mathematics 11 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C-' in Pre-Calculus 12 or Foundations of Mathematics 12 (or equivalent); or
- Minimum grade of 'C+' in the above Two Quantitative courses (three credits of which must be from the Faculty of Science & Horticulture)
- Second language at the Grade 11 level or 6 credits of post-secondary language courses in the same language. Note: Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Qualifying Year
Students who do not qualify upon initial application to KPU may be eligible for entry to the Qualifying Year. Students who possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a passing grade in either Pre-Calculus 11, Principles of Math 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Applications of Math 12 (or equivalents) will be able to apply for entry to the BA Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the BA program in the second year provided they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Other applicants who do not qualify are encouraged to consult an Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.
Program Continuance Requirements
Current BA students must meet the following requirements to continue into their 3rd year of study. Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed the following:
- 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 (including all 1100- and 2000-level major/minor program requirements).
- Grade of 'C' in all required 1000-and 2000-level courses, including the English writing requirement (ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204, or equivalent).
- Two Quantitative courses (total of six or more credits).
- 12 credits of breadth courses
- Second language at the Grade 11 level or 6 credits of post-secondary language courses in the same language. Note: Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Program Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts Framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.
Policy Studies Major
The degree is designed around several integrative or “umbrella” courses and applied seminars. Each of the required "umbrella" courses will present the elements of policy analysis from the perspective of one of the main disciplines. The applied seminars provide real life situations to which students can apply what they have learned in the umbrella courses. The applied seminars are also designed to foster mentorship of students by professional practitioners who will be responsible for teaching those courses. Students will be given the opportunity to work with local governments and community groups to effect positive change. In addition, library modules have been incorporated into each of these six courses where students will be able to work closely with librarians to learn the research and information literacy skills essential to effective policy studies.
1000 Level
All of the following are required: |
|||
| POST 1100 | Sustainability: Analysis and Ethics | 3 credits | |
| POLI 1110 | Ideology and Politics | 3 credits | |
| POLI 1120 | Canadian Government and Politics | 3 credits | |
| ECON 1150 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 credits | |
| ECON 1250 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 credits | |
| ENVI 1121 | Environmental Issues | 3 credits | |
| PHIL 1112 | Environmental Ethics | 3 credits | |
| PHIL 1155 | Introduction to Scientific Reasoning | 3 credits | |
| COOP 1101 | Job Search Techniques | 3 credits | |
2000 Level
And all of: |
|||
| POST 2100 | Sustainability and Government | 3 credits | |
| PHIL 2117 | Social and Political Philosophy | 3 credits | |
| ECON 2260 | Environmental Economics | 3 credits | |
3000 and 4000 Level
And all of: |
|||
| POST 3100 | Economics of Sustainability Policy | 3 credits | |
| POST 3110 | Applied Policy Seminar I | 3 credits | |
| POST 4110 | Advanced Applied Policy Seminar | 3 credits | |
| POST 4150 | Psychology and Sustainability: Attitudes and Behaviour | 3 credits | |
| CMNS 3100 | Technical Report Writing | 3 credits | |
And one of: |
|||
| PHIL 3118 | Ethics and Public Policy | 3 credits | |
| PHIL 4117 | Topics in Social and Political Philosophy | 3 credits | |
And one of: |
|||
| POLI 3160 | International Organization | 3 credits | |
| POLI 4420 | Issues in Public Policy and Administration | 3 credits | |
And one of: |
|||
| ENVI 3112 | Environment and Society | 3 credits | |
| ENVI 3212 | The Urban Environment | 3 credits | |
And one methods or statistics courses: |
|||
| (Below is a suggested list. Other significantly equivalent courses may qualify) | |||
| ACCT 1230 | Business Statistics | 3 credits | |
| CRIM 2103 | Quantitative Data Analysis I | 3 credits | |
| CRIM 3103 | Quantitative Data Analysis II | 3 credits | |
| MATH 1115 | Statistics I | 3 credits | |
| MATH 2315 | Probability and Statistics | 3 credits | |
| MATH 2335 | Statistics for Life Sciences | 3 credits | |
| MATH 2341 | Introduction to Statistics for Business | 3 credits | |
| PSYC 2300 | Applied Statistics | 3 credits | |
| PSYC 2400 | Experimental Psychology: Research Methods | 3 credits | |
| PSYC 3300 | Applied Statistics II | 3 credits | |
Credential Awarded
Upon successful completion of the major program students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in Policy Studies.
