The Faculty of Arts has five undergraduate programs and hundreds of courses with Zero Textbook Costs
Interested in becoming a teacher? At KPU, we successfully prepare you to enter elementary or secondary education programs across B.C.
Get hands-on experience through experiential learning opportunities, like co-op and field schools
Prepare for the unknown
Other degrees prepare you for the known; an arts degree prepares you for the unknown.
Whether you want to indulge in the scholarly pursuits of language and literature, study the human experience in the humanities or have a penchant for experimentation in the social sciences, a well-rounded liberal arts education gives you a solid foundation in creative and critical thinking for life.
As a KPU Arts student, you'll explore contemporary and interconnected social and cultural issues. Through the humanities, social sciences and fine arts, you'll gain hands-on, real-world experience from experiential learning opportunities, like research projects, practicums, field schools and co-ops.
KPU is where thought meets action, and there are endless possibilities to transform your passion into a career you'll love.
What's Happening
Indigenous Artist-in Residence and Writer-in-Residence
The Faculty of Arts is honoured to welcome the newest Indigenous Artist-in-Residence, Napatsi Folger to the Faculty. Napatsi is available for in-class visits, events, as well as student, faculty, and staff engagement. We are excited for the upcoming events, including drop-in consultations and workshops.
Details and Events: Indigenous Artist and Writer-in-Residence.
Hear from students like you
Calvin Crinklaw
“Psychology is where I ultimately want to end up. Returning to my education after 10 years and committing to that decision is something I am very proud of,” says Calvin Crinklaw.
Currently a full…
Carina Corinth
“I was doing a year of work and travel first, and I loved Canada so I decided I wanted to stay here longer… [I chose KPU after] an agency recommended that KPU would be a great fit because they’re so…
Fernando Cilento
Fernando first came to KPU in 2017 while studying Music on an exchange from Brazil. His experience at the university inspired him to stay and complete his second degree in Political Science. The…
Jennifer O'Brien
Jennifer O’Brien first heard of Kwantlen Polytechnic University at a young age as she is the daughter of a (now retired) KPU Instructor. While Jennifer was growing up, she met many of the faculty and…
Did you know
The Faculty of Arts is the largest faculty at Kwantlen Polytechnic University?
We offer a wide range of program options, including:
- 18 baccalaureate degrees with honours options available on some degrees
- 17 minors
- 12 associate of arts degrees
- 8 diplomas
- 6 certificates
- 1 graduate certificate
The Faculty of Arts is the perfect place to start your post-secondary education. Your Arts academic journey can prepare you for a variety of career opportunities, whether you know what you want to do or you are still exploring. With 24 disciplines including applied, visual, performing and entertainment arts, you'll find something you're passionate about.
Our Programs
No matter what arts degree, minor, diploma or certificate you decide on, an arts education prepares you for the future you want.
Upcoming Info Sessions
Interested in a program, but still not sure? Learn more about programs, courses, fees and how to apply by attending an information session.
Where Arts Meets Action
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Experiential Learning Opportunities
You’ll learn by doing, honing in-demand skills and gaining practical knowledge through engaging experiential and work-integrated learning opportunities. Our experiential learning opportunities will give you the option to engage in co-operative education, field schools, and real-world projects such as Surrey CityLab. Learn more about experiential learning opportunities in the Faculty of Arts.
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ARTS Practicum
Apply the academic knowledge and analytical skills you learned in the classroom to a workplace environment through the ARTS 4800 practicum course. A practicum enables you to explore potential career paths, make useful contacts, add real-world experience to your resume and build confidence beyond your coursework.
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Research
Applied research is integral to KPU’s polytechnic culture. It's key to productive community engagement and social innovation. It allows you to apply practical knowledge and skills in real-world contexts and establish mutually beneficial collaborative partnerships with local communities, industry, and government. Visit Our Research to learn more about the types of research you can be apart of as an arts student.
Educational Opportunities
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ARTS Courses
Through studying specialized ARTS courses, you'll gain knowledge that spans multiple areas of study: ARTS 1100 lets you explore a different topic each semester from a multidiscipline perspective, while ARTS 3000 is an intensive interdisciplinary field school in the Amazon rainforest. To find out how these exciting courses fit within your degree, make an appointment to see an Arts Degree Advisor on Advisor Connect or visit ARTS Courses for more information.
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Faculty of Arts Business Streams
Studying the arts allows you to define your own education. Take business streams for example, a multidisciplinary group of courses centred around a theme, like pop culture, diversity or sustainability. Originally created for Bachelor of Business Administration students, arts students have the opportunity to take these streams for recognition from the Faculty of Arts to go alongside your credential. Visit Business Streams for more information or make an appointment to see an Arts Degree Advisor.
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Interested in becoming a teacher?
While KPU doesn't have its own teacher education programs, we do help our students successfully prepare to enter elementary or secondary education programs at Simon Fraser University (SFU), the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Victoria (UVIC), Vancouver Island University (VIU), the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), or other lower mainland institutions.
Visit Becoming a Teacher to learn about what you need to do to become an elementary, middle or high school teacher in B.C. or make an appointment to speak with an Arts Degree Advisor.
Advising and Declaration
Arts Degree Advising
Arts degree advising is for declared arts student. Arts degree advisors specialize in guiding you through all your options in the Faculty of Arts. We are available to answer questions on the following topics:
- Course planning and selection
- Major and minor choices
- Program Declarations
- Course prerequisites
- Program & graduation requirements
- Academic regulations and policies
- Educational planning for career goals
If you are completing an Associate of Arts degree, or an Arts diploma, come to us with your questions about continuing on to Years 3 and 4. Also, transfer student intending to complete a bachelor's degree within the Faculty of Arts, should visit with an arts degree advisor to make sure you have everything you need to graduate.
Visit Advisor Connect to book an appointment or contact us with your question.
Please note: undeclared students with fewer than 45 credits seeking academic advising should book an appointment with Central Advising. Students wanting to enroll in an arts program but need to upgrade, please visit our Pathway to Undergraduate Studies guide or contact the Future Students' Office.
Declaring Your Major
Don't wait to officially declare in your undergraduate degree? Declaring your major provides you with earlier registration so you're more likely to get the courses you want.
You can declare if you are in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher), have at least 18 credits completed and those credits include 3 credits of English and 6 credits in your intended major.
Student Support and Resources
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Student Affairs
Student Affairs offers many resources to help support your health and wellness, so you can thrive at KPU.
We are here to help you succeed at KPU. Now more than ever, we want you to be able to access the resources you need. Check out the support services linked below for important information about everything from financial assistance and helping you transition to post-secondary to counselling and ways to stay healthy.
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Zero Textbook Cost
KPU offers Canada's first Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) programs, meaning you can earn one of the credentials below without spending money on expensive textbooks:
- The Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Studies, a four-year university degree based on the completion of 120 credits of coursework (approximately 40 courses)
- The Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies, a credential based on the completion of 60 credits of coursework (approximately 20 courses)
- The Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology, a credential that allows students to enter the Bachelor of Arts Major or Bachelor of Arts Minor in Sociology degree program with relative ease
- The Diploma in General Studies, an exit credential designed as a more flexible alternative to the Associate or Bachelor degrees
- The Certificate in Arts, a flexible yet foundational program based on the completion of 30 credits of coursework (approximately 10 courses)
These programs use open educational resources and/or library materials, eliminating the need for costly textbooks.
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Career Services
As a KPU student, you're eligible for employment both on and off campus. Visit Career Services for job postings and more:
- Monthly resume/cover letter and interview workshops
- One-on-one appointments to review resumes and cover letters
- Individual work search assistance upon request
- Information on international internships and job opportunities
- Mock interviews to help you prepare for the competitive job market
- Events such as a career day, a speaker series and other various career education activities
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Including All Citizens
We strive to support all students that learn in different ways. Through the Including All Citizens project, our faculty and students have researched and tried different teaching strategies and techniques to support a wide range of learners and making our courses more accessible to all students. Learn more about the first students to graduate from this fully inclusive program.
Welcome to the Faculty of Arts
When you join the Faculty of Arts, you will have opportunities to run with the ideas that inspire you!
As the largest Faculty at KPU, we offer an exciting range of programs spanning over 21 departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Whether you are planning to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major and minor, a certificate, a diploma, an honours degree, or a graduate certificate, the Faculty of Arts provides exceptional learning experiences.
Dr. Shelley Boyd
Dean, Faculty of Arts
News and Events
KPU offers a host of activities and opportunities for you to explore to make the most out of your university experience. The Faculty of Arts hosts the Arts Speakers Series where you can learn about the interesting research our faculty are doing. Check out News and Events or the Faculty of Arts Newsletter for more stories about the what's going on in the Faculty of Arts.