To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete a minimum of 120 credits of which at least 48 credits must be at the 300/400 level. Of those 48 credits, at least 30 credits must be completed at UBC. All baccalaureate courses delivered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies are deemed for this purpose to be Arts courses.
Students in the Bachelor of Arts degree program must complete the following requirements:
1. Foundational Requirement (21 credits): See below for the list of approved foundational requirement courses.
- Communication (9 credits)
- Creativity (3 credits)
- Critical Thinking (3 credits)
- Indigenous Content (3 credits)
- Scientific Literacy or Numeracy (3 credits)
Courses used to satisfy the foundational requirement may also be used to satisfy a program requirement; however, a single course may not be used to satisfy more than one foundational requirement category.
It is strongly recommended that students complete their foundational requirements in Year 1 or Year 2.
2. Program Requirement (min. 48 credits): See major program pages for the list of required courses.
- Courses required to complete a B.A major.
- In addition, a student may choose to complete a minor, double major, combined major, or honours program. See Program Requirements for details.
3. Elective Requirement (credit count varies):
- Remaining credits to complete the B.A. degree requirements are dependent on the Program Requirement.
- Students can fulfill the Elective Requirement by successfully completing any credit course at UBC that has not been used to satisfy a foundational or program requirement.
A minimum graduating grade average (GGA) of 60% is required to be eligible for graduation with the B.A. degree.
Foundational Requirement
The Foundational Requirement provides the essential skills and knowledge that every student requires to progress successfully across the curriculum. Together, the five areas within this requirement serve to build the competencies that graduates require to become lifelong learners and engaged citizens.
Communication
Writing proficiency and other communication skills are fundamental to an undergraduate education. This requirement provides students with an opportunity to acquire and develop these skills, which are not only valuable in an academic context but will also assist students in their career paths. The study of additional languages helps to develop competence in structured thought and logic, problem solving, and critical thinking as well as promote a sense of global citizenship by increasing intercultural understanding and competence.
Students must complete:
6 credits of writing proficiency/composition including:
3 credits chosen from:
| DIHU_O 1551 |
| ENGL_O 1092, 112, 114, 150, 151, 153, 154, 1551, 156 |
3 credits chosen from:
| CORH_O 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, 216, 304, 321, 331 |
| CULT_O 2201, 2301, 2501 |
| DIHU_O 2201 |
| ENGL_O 203, 212, 213, 222, 2241, 226, 231, 233, 2341, 239, 270, 294B, 291, 297 |
| GWST_O 240 |
| PSYO_O 442 |
3 credits of language acquisition or language/linguistic appreciation requirement chosen from:
| ANTH_O 170, 270, 277, 370, 377 |
| CHIN_O 100, 101 |
| ENGL_O 340 |
| FREN_O 101, 102, 103, 104, 122, 123, 215, 222, 223, 344 |
| GERM_O 100, 110, 200, 210 |
| JPST_O 100, 101, 200, 201 |
| KORN_O 100, 101 |
| LATN_O 300 |
| SPAN_O 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, 302 |
| WRLD_O 150, 151, 152, 155, 158, 159, 382 |
1 Check cross-listings.
2 Although a six-credit course, ENGL_O 109 satisfies only 3 credits of the Communication requirement. All six credits, however, count towards the completion of the B.A. degree’s 120 credits.
- Some students may satisfy the language acquisition or language/linguistic appreciation requirement by successfully completing both Nsyilxcen I and II (NSYL_O 110 and NSYL_O 111, or INLG_O 160 and INLG_O 260) (Okanagan Language), offered through the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology at the En'owkin Centre or the UBC Okanagan campus or by completing the equivalent of 6 credits of any other Indigenous language through an accredited educational institution.
- Students who are fluent in and can demonstrate competency through examination in another language may use additional English or communication courses to satisfy the language acquisition or language/linguistic appreciation requirement upon approval from the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.
- Students whose first language is not English may use additional English or communication courses to satisfy the language acquisition or language/linguistic appreciation requirement upon presentation of an official transcript indicating completion of secondary school in their first language.
- American Sign Language: all four levels of the American Sign Language Basic Certificate offered through an accredited institution will be deemed to have satisfied the language acquisition or language/linguistic appreciation requirement. UBC Vancouver ASL_V 100 and 101, or their equivalent as per the BC Transfer Guide, count as credit courses towards the B.A. degree.
- Students cannot take language acquisition courses (CHIN_O, FREN_O, GERM_O, JPST_O, KORN_O, SPAN_O) out of sequence and should consult an advisor to ensure that they are enrolling in a level-appropriate language acquisition course.
Creativity
Learning to think creatively requires many different skills, such as the ability to see objects and ideas in new ways. This requirement aims to develop the capacity to combine or synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways and to experience thinking, reacting, and working in an imaginative way, characterized by a high-degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk-taking. Creativity is not only essential for the innovation process, but it is also an observable and valuable component of the social and economic enterprise that becomes a force of great value when it is applied to causes that benefit humankind and the world at large.
Students must complete 3 credits chosen from:
| ANTH_O 200, 252 |
| COSC_O 123 |
| CRWR_O 150, 160, 205, 210, 219, 310, 472 |
| FILM_O 1031 |
| GEOG_O 460 |
| PSYO_O 317 |
| THTR_O 101, 1031, 104, 201, 212, 280 |
| VISA_O 102, 104, 106, 110, 137 |
1 Check cross-listings.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking; it is at the root of a democratic society. This requirement provides students with the skills they need to separate facts from opinions, to examine issues from all sides, and to think independently. Critical thinking is essential to make connections across disciplines and understand content on a deeper level. It therefore enhances overall academic performance.
Students must complete 3 credits chosen from:
| CULT_O 100, 101, 215 |
| ECON_O 353 |
| HIST_O 145 |
| PHIL_O 111, 120, 121, 220, 240, 345 |
| POLI_O 201, 223 |
| PSYO_O 270 |
| SOCI_O 209 |
Indigenous Content
In its commitment to think beyond the inherited thought processes replicating colonial assumptions of past practices and honour the knowledge, political, and social systems of Indigenous communities, UBC Okanagan requires that students develop a competence in understanding Indigenous ways of knowing.
Students must complete 3 credits chosen from:
| INDG_O 100 |
| ENGL_O 114 |
| CORH_O 206 |
Scientific Literacy or Numeracy
Along with the Critical Thinking requirement, the Scientific Literacy or Numeracy requirement ensures graduates develop a habit of mind that enables them to think critically and independently while providing them with the mathematical or scientific concepts needed to navigate their workplace and life in general.
Students must complete 3 credits chosen from:
| All 1st-year ASTR_O, BIOL_O, CHEM_O, PHYS_O, or MATH_O1 |
| DATA_O 101, 3012 |
| COSC_O 3012 |
| EESC_O 101, 104, 106, 111, 121 |
| ECON_O 101, 102 |
| GEOG_O 108, 109 |
| HIST_O 118 |
| PSYO_O 271 |
| SOCI_O 271, 291 |
| STAT_O 121, 124, 230 |
1 Excluding MATH_O 125, 126, and 160.
2 Check cross-listings.
Progression Requirements
| First Year | 0-23 credits |
| Second Year | 24-27 credits |
| Third Year | 48-77 credits |
| Fourth Year | 78 or more credits |