Policy Studies: Bachelor of Arts Major
Description
The aim of the Bachelor of Arts Policy Studies Major is to create a degree with a strong applied and interdisciplinary focus. Policy analysis identifies goals and values and determines how best to achieve those within the context of existing political and economic systems while taking into account the competing interests of the various stakeholders. The program draws primarily from Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics, and uses sustainability as a unifying theme. Sustainability at a policy level is understood as the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Meeting present and future needs requires that policy be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. As economies and consumers are forced to recognize the limits of our ecosystems and the social justice issues that arise from this, there is a pressing need for effective social policy that recognizes these issues. Therefore, students will learn to evaluate policy to ensure it meets sustainability principles.
Career Opportunities
Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies from Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be positioned for employment within the three levels of government, not for profit and private sector companies, and quasi-governmental agencies such as Crown Corporations. Equipped with strong communications, research and critical thinking skills, graduates of this interdisciplinary degree will be prepared for positions such as policy researchers or sustainability program officers, as well as for graduate studies such as policy analysis and 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 Kwantlen 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.
- 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: |
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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: |
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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: |
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POST 3100 | Economics of Sustainability Policy | 3 credits | |
POST 3110 | Applied Policy Seminar I | 3 credits | |
POST 4110 | lied Policy Seminar II | 3 credits | |
POST 4150 | Psychology and Sustainability: Attitudes and Behaviour | 3 credits | |
CMNS 3100 | Technical Report Writing | 3 credits | |
And one of: |
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PHIL 3118 | Ethics and Public Policy | 3 credits | |
PHIL 4117 | Topics in Social and Political Philosophy | 3 credits | |
And one of: |
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POLI 3160 | International Organization | 3 credits | |
POLI 4420 | Issues in Public Policy and Administration | 3 credits | |
And one of: |
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ENVI 3112 | Environment and Society | 3 credits | |
ENVI 3212 | The Urban Environment | 3 credits | |
And one methods or statistics courses: |
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(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 this program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Policy Studies.