Adult Basic Education and Qualifying Studies Courses
Students admitted to any KPU undergraduate, vocational, or university preparation program can access courses designed to help them prepare or upgrade for further studies. These preparation courses can be found as Adult Basic Education courses and as Qualifying Studies courses.
Adult Basic Education Courses
Adult Basic Education courses will be of interest to those students who want:
- To upgrade specific skills and knowledge in English, mathematics, and science.
- To meet program admission requirements or course prerequisites.
- To have the option to learn in an individually-paced mode with teacher and tutor support.
Course Delivery
- Class Format
- Most courses are given in a continuous-entry, individually paced format, and are available year-round. Course offerings will vary from campus to campus.
- ABE courses offer individualized help to acquire reading, writing, and math skills at all levels. They are available to all KPU students and may be taken as preparation for, or at the same time as, other university courses.
- Attendance Requirements
- Individually paced courses require an on-going commitment from students. Students absent from class more than three (3) consecutive instructional days without instructor permission, will be noted as No Credit Granted, and their seat offered to the next student on the waitlist.
- Directed Studies
- Directed studies courses in Math and English are available for students with specific upgrading needs. Course content and requirements for completion are determined by agreement between the individual student and instructor.
- Tuition and Fees
- ABE courses are tuition free for domestic (Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents). International students pay the regular rates. Students who withdraw themselves are entitled to a refund or fee reduction of tuition and associated fees for each full month paid for but not utilized. Refunds will not be granted for partial months.
Course Levels
- Fundamental Level
- Students will benefit from the fundamental level if they have difficulty with basic reading, writing, and math. Completion of this level prepares students for some trades programs and ABE courses at the Intermediate Level.
- Intermediate Level
- Completion of courses at this level prepares students for courses at the Advanced level, for direct entry into many trades and vocational programs, and for the GED.
- Advanced Level
- Completion of courses at the Advanced level prepares students for courses at the Provincial Level. Advanced-level courses may also be used as prerequisites for many other courses at KPU. Completion of Advanced English will normally allow a student to succeed in the LPI test. Advanced level math is a requirement of the Adult Graduation Diploma.
- Provincial Level (Grade 12)
- Completion of courses at this level prepares students for direct entry into many KPU programs and courses. Provincial level English is a requirement of the Adult Graduation Diploma.
English ABE Pathways
ABE English (ENGQ) will meet program requirements for the Certificates of Completion in Adult Basic Education, the BC Adult Graduation Diploma, admission requirements for most degree programs, and course prerequisites for courses like ENGL 1100. The chart below indicates, once placed, what courses must be taken in order to achieve the planned objective.
Mathematics ABE Pathways
ABE Mathematics (MATQ) will meet program requirements for the Certificates of Completion in Adult Basic Education, the BC Adult Graduation Diploma, admission requirements for most degree programs, and course prerequisites for courses like MATH 1112. The chart below indicates, once placed, what courses must be taken in order to achieve the planned objective.
Qualifying Studies Courses
Qualifying Studies courses will be of interest to those students who want:
- To strengthen preparation for undergraduate level English or mathematics.
- To have an introduction to biology, chemistry, or physics.
- To meet undergraduate program admission requirements or course prerequisites.
- To learn in a semester-based format.
Some Qualifying Studies courses may be used as prerequisites at other institutions. Please check with the ACA Educational Advisor for details.
Course Delivery
Qualifying Studies courses are delivered in a traditional semester format, meeting one to three times per week for the duration of the term.
Course Levels
Qualifying Studies courses are considered "pre-university" level courses, and therefore numbered less than 1100.
English Qualifying Pathways
Depending on their high school grades or placement test scores, students can prepare to meet admission requirements, meet prerequisites for ENGL 1100, or upgrade their English skills by taking the appropriate qualifying English courses:
- ENGQ 1079 Writing Skills - Focus on Sentences
- ENGQ 1089 Writing Skills - Focus on Paragraphs
- ENGQ 1096 University Writing Workshop *
- ENGQ 1099 Writing Skills with Readings †
Notes:
* It is strongly recommended that students registering in this course take ENGQ 1099 concurrently.
† Obtain a minimum grade of C (60%) to meet the English proficiency requirement for university-level programs. Students who are entering with a 'C' grade in English 12 are strongly recommended to take ENGQ 1096 concurrently. Choose classroom based, online or partially online courses.
Mathematics Qualifying Pathways
Qualifying level math courses may be used to prepare for programs that have specific math requirements. Students who are preparing for programs that require university level math (such as MATH 1112) should take MATQ 1093. Students who are preparing for programs that do not require higher levels of math should take MATQ 1099. Qualifying Math courses include:
- MATQ 1091 Basic Mathematics
- MATQ 1092 Introductory Algebra
- MATQ 1093 Intermediate Algebra
- MATQ 1094 Foundations of Mathematics
- MATQ 1099 Qualifying Studies Math *
* Meets math proficiency requirement for university-level programs. Choose classroom based or online courses.
Science Qualifying Pathways
Qualifying level science courses are designed to prepare students for areas of student in which they may have limited experience such as biology, chemistry, or physics. Qualifying science courses include:
- BIOQ 1098 Introduction to Biology
- BIOQ 1099 Introduction to Human Biology
- CHEQ 1094 Preparation for General Chemistry
- PHYQ 1098 Introduction to Physics
