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Associate of Arts Degree: Social Sciences

Kwantlen offers Associate of Arts degrees in the following concentrations with the School of Social Science:

TRANSFER

Students can apply to the third year of Kwantlen's Bachelor of Arts degree programs with a completed Associate of Arts degree. SFU, UBC and UNBC also accept all 60 credits of each of Kwantlen’s Associate of Arts Degrees. This means that students transferring to any one of these universities are accepted with 60 credits. Standing in a particular department is dependent on meeting any prerequisites or other conditions established by the specific university.

Students with an Associate of Arts degree are admitted to UNBC with priority over other transfer students. SFU will admit students with an associate degree at a reduced CGPA compared to non-associate degree holders.

Students must check transfer status at other receiving institutions, or on-line at BC Council on Admission and Transfer at www.bccat.bc.ca

DESCRIPTION

The Associate Degree is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship and an enriched life as an educated person, and to lay a solid foundation for further study.

The associate degree curriculum comprises two years of post-secondary level study in a variety of academic areas. Students are required to complete a broad range of course offerings balanced with in-depth study in specific disciplines. Since many students will continue their studies, the requirements are sufficiently flexible to enable students to plan their educational program carefully and to complete the required prerequisites for third year course work at Kwantlen University College or another BC university. Students will be exposed to concepts, theories and modes of inquiry in the humanities, the social sciences and the sciences to develop:

  • an interest in, and curiosity about the world around them

  • an understanding of the global context in which they live and work

  • an appreciation of intellectual thought and human creativity

  • an openness to a variety of viewpoints

  • a capacity for and interest in self directed life-long learning

  • acceptance of the social responsibilities that come with the benefits of advanced learning

In addition, the program of study should develop and improve those skills and abilities essential for academic success at an advanced intellectual level. These may be taught in some courses, embedded in the curriculum of others, or achieved through class participation and the learning process. These include but are not limited to:

  • advanced reading comprehension

  • effective written and oral communications

  • mathematical and scientific reasoning

  • computer and technological literacy

  • research and evaluative skills

  • analysis, synthesis and integration of knowledge

  • critical thinking and problem solving

  • application of theoretical understanding to practice

  • working collaboratively

FRAMEWORK OF THE ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE

60 semester credit hours of first and second year courses. These must include a minimum of 21 credits in Arts at the second-year level taken in two or more subject areas.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

  1. Six credits in first-year English

  2. Nine credits in Science which shall include at least:

    1. One course chosen from the following:

      • CPSC 1100 or higher

      • GEOG 2390

      • MATH 1112 or higher

      • PSYC 2300

      • SOCI 2365

    2. One course chosen from the following lab sciences:

      • ANTH 1125* or 1212*

      • ASTR 1100

      • BIOL 1110, 1112, 1160, 1210, 1260 or higher

      • CHEM 1101

      • ENVI 1112 *

      • GEOG 1110, 1120, 2310, 2320, 2330

      • GEOL 1210

      • PHYS 1100 or higher

    3. One additional course chosen from either A. or B.

      Note

      * Does not fulfill the science requirement at Kwantlen or elsewhere for Science majors.

  3. Thirty-six credits in Arts, which shall include:

    1. Six credits in the Social Sciences

      (Anthropology, Criminology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology)

    2. Six credits in Humanities

      (Creative Writing, Fine Arts, French, German, History, Humanities, Japanese, Linguistics, Mandarin, Music, Philosophy, Punjabi or Spanish)

    3. Twenty-four additional credits in Arts

  4. Nine credits in Arts, Science, or other areas

    Regarding course numbering, please note: With the exception of all Adult Basic Education (ABE), Post-Secondary Program Readiness (PSP) courses, and ENGL 1099, MATH 1092, MATH 1093, CHEM 1094, courses numbered 1000-1999 are primarily first year courses. Courses numbered 2000-2999 are primarily second year. Students may follow this as a guideline when choosing their courses for the Associate of Arts degree. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Below is a list of 1000 level courses that may be used for second year credit.

    • ANTH 1211, 1215, 1216, 1220, 1240, 1260, 1290, 1291

    • MUSI 1153, 1253

    • PHIL 1210, 1211, 1250

    • POLI 1155, 2100, 2420, 2145, 2147, 3240

    • SOCI any 1200 level course or higher

GRADUATION

Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded an Associate of Arts degree in their chosen subject area.