Bachelor of Arts — General Studies
DESCRIPTION
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in General Studies degree program provides students with the opportunity to develop a degree program in thematic areas not addressed by other, more traditional programs in the Arts disciplines. Working with an Educational Advisor, the student may create an individual program of study in concert with his/her specific career goals, or simply develop an interdisciplinary liberal arts education. Such a program of study will normally involve a selection of courses from within and between departments that most interest students and best meet their needs for a coherent program.
The program includes:
- The development of knowledge, core competencies, and skills characteristic of traditional Bachelor of Arts programs
- The preparation of students for entry into the labour market by incorporating essential and employability skills in all courses
- The preparation of students to respond innovatively to emerging trends in society
- Clear benefits to students and to the community by providing an opportunity for them to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at Kwantlen where there is established emphasis on teaching, emerging emphasis on undergraduate research, long-standing connections to South Fraser communities, and accessibility to students in the expanding South Fraser region
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates with a BA, Major in General Studies degree will be well prepared for a range of potential occupations. The versatility of the BA, Major in General Studies degree will allow students to design programs of study that will prepare them for careers or further study in areas such as the following:
- Business
- Community Service
- Law
- Policing
- Primary and Secondary Education
- Professional Writing
- Public Administration
- Public Planning
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
For admission to the BA program students must have a grade of 'B' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of 'C' in either Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12. Students may be admitted to the BA program at any point at which admission requirements are met. Students who do not qualify upon initial application to Kwantlen may be eligible for entry to the Qualifying Year. (but possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) and a passing grade in Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12 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 unsuccessful applicants are encourage to meet and Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.)
Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed at least 60 credits of coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a grade of 'C' in all required courses including the English writing requirement, 2 Quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their declared major and/or minor program(s).
CONTENT
The program structure for each student in the BA, Major in General Studies program will vary depending upon the focus and concentration of courses developed in consultation with the BA Degree advisor and may include any of the minor programs offered by Kwantlen. Students preparing for teacher education programs upon graduation are encouraged to refer to the appropriate institutional admission requirements and work with an Educational Advisor to ensure they complete the degree program with appropriate courses.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachleor of Arts framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.
Below are two samples of four-year BA, Major in General Studies programs.
Sample 1: Elementary Teaching Preparation in B.C.
Note: Students are strongly encouraged to do research into admission requirements for teaching programs in B.C. and work with the BA Degree Advisor to ensure all requirements are being met within the degree program.
YEAR ONE
Fall Semester
- ENGL 1100 Reading, Writing, and Thinking (Writing Requirement)
- GEOG 1120 Introduction to Earth Science (Quantitative Requirement)
- HIST 1114 Canada since 1867
- POLI 1125 Introduction to Political Science
- SOCI 1125 Introduction to Society: Processes & Structures
Spring Semester
- ANTH 1100 Introduction to Anthropology
- ENGL 1204 Reading and Writing about Genre: An Introduction to Literature: (Writing Requirement)
- FINA 1100 Introduction to Drawing
- HIST 1120 Europe 1900–1939
- MATH 1190 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers (Quantitative Requirement)
YEAR TWO
Fall Semester
- FINA 1120 History of Western Art: Prehistoric to Early Renaissance
- FREN 1100 Introductory French I (Language Requirement)
- GEOG 2140 Regional Geography of Canada
- PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes
- SOCI 2250 Families in Canada
Spring Semester
- FREN 1101 Introductory French II (Language Requirement)
- PHIL 1100 Introduction to Philosophy
- POLI 1120 Canadian Government & Politics
- PSYC 1200 Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications
- SOCI 2270 Education & Society: Sociological Perspectives
YEAR THREE
Fall Semester
- ENGL 3330 Children's Literature
- HIST 1120 Europe, 1900–1939
- HIST 3313 Canadian Social History: Order & Disorder
- PSYC 2320 Developmental Psychology: Childhood
- PSYC 3920 Aging
Spring Semester
- ENGL 3350 Literature & Film
- HIST 3330 Germany in the Long Nineteenth Century
- PHIL 3040 Philosophy of Art
- PSYC 2330 Social Psychology
- SOCI 3310 Sociology of Conflict and Conflict Resolution
YEAR FOUR
Fall Semester
- CMNS 3100 Technical Report Writing
- CRWR 3130 Creative Non-Fiction I
- HIST 1145 American History 1607–1865
- PSYC 3316 Infancy
- SOCI 3300 Sociology of Work and Occupations
Spring Semester
- CRWR 3230 Creative Non-Fiction II
- HIST 3345 History of the American West
- PHIL 1150 Basic Logic (Quantitative Requirement)
- POLI 3125 Nationalism in Canadian Politics
- PSYC 4700 Culture & Psychology
Sample 2: Secondary Teaching Preparation in Mathematics and Social Studies in B.C.
Note: Students are strongly encouraged to do research into admission requirements for teaching programs in B.C. and work with the BA Degree Advisor to ensure all requirements are being met within the degree program.
YEAR ONE
Fall Semester
- CRIM 1100 Introduction to Criminology
- ENGL 1100 Writing, Reading and Thinking: An Introduction
- HIST 1113 Canada to 1867
- MATH 1120 Differential Calculus
- SPAN 1100 Basic Spanish I
Spring Semester
- ENGL 1202 Reading and Writing about Selected Topics: An Introduction to Literature
- GEOG 1110 Introduction to the Atmosphere
- MATH 1220 Integral Calculus
- POLI 1125 Introduction to Political Science
- SPAN 1101 Basic Spanish II
YEAR TWO
Fall Semester
- GEOG 2110 Geography of Cultures
- HIST 2101 Europe in the Middle Ages
- MATH 2232 Linear Algebra
- POLI 1120 Canadian Government and Politics
- SOCI 1125 Introduction to Society: Processes and Structures
Spring Semester
- HIST 1114 Canada since 1867
- HIST 2102 Europe 1450–1789
- MATH 2315 Probability and Statistics
- MATH 2321 Multivariate Calculus (Calculus III)
- POLI 1150 Introduction to International Relations
YEAR THREE
Fall Semester
- ANTH 1217 Forensic Anthropology
- HIST 1120 Europe 1900–1939
- MATH 3150 The Structure of Mathematics
- POLI 2140 Comparative Politics of Asia
- POLI 3100 American Government and Politics
Spring Semester
- HIST 1130 Twentieth Century World 1900 to 1945
- MATH 3322 Vector Calculus (Calculus IV)
- MATH 3450 History of Mathematics
- POLI 3122 Introduction to Canadian Foreign Policy
- POLI 3125 Nationalism in Canadian Politics
YEAR FOUR
Fall Semester
- GEOG 2140 Regional Geography of Canada
- HIST 3360 British India 1857 to 1947
- MATH 3250 Geometry
- MATH 4150 Number Theory
- POLI 3146 Government and Politics of India
Spring Semester
- HIST 3390 Canada and World War I
- MATH 4350 Senior Project
- POLI 4125 The Politics of Multiculturalism in Canada
- POLI 4210 Liberal Democracy: Classic and Contemporary Debates
- SOCI 3280 Sociology of Dying and Death
GRADUATION
Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, General Studies. Students may have the option of adding a Minor to their credential by completing any of the BA Minor options at Kwantlen.
