Arts

Bachelor of Arts degree (Fall 2017)

Note: After undergoing extensive review, the decision has been made to revise the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts. Those changes taking effect as of September 2017 are included below.

Students entering the Bachelor of Arts in Fall 2017 will follow the new degree requirements. Students who are in the degree program prior to this time will have the option to continue with the existing BA requirements, or they may opt to follow the new requirements. Students should make an appointment with the Advising Centre should they have questions.

For current requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, please see the Bachelor of Arts (Winter and Summer 2017) page.

A UFV BA will equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to be reflective, articulate, and informed citizens within the Fraser Valley and beyond. To ensure their success in the fast-changing economy of the twenty first century, the College of Arts offers skills, learning, and engagement in communication, critical thinking, quantitative literacy, scientific literacy, and personal and social responsibility, as well as deep learning in a range of majors, extended minors, and minors. Through completion of an ePortfolio, students learn to reflect on, integrate, and communicate their learning, helping them to achieve their goals.

Program outcomes

Graduates of the BA will meet all of UFV’s institutional learning outcomes, as well as one outcome specific to the BA. Upon successful completion of all of the requirements for the BA, students will:

1. Demonstrate information competency
2. Analyze critically and imaginatively
3. Use knowledge and skills proficiently
4. Initiate inquiries and develop solutions to problems
5. Communicate effectively
6. Pursue self-motivated and self-reflective learning
7. Engage in collaborative leadership
8. Engage in respectful and professional practice
9. Contribute regionally and globally
10. Integrate their learning across all facets of their lives

Entrance requirements

Option 1: High school (for students with high school graduation only)

B.C. applicants

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent.
2. A minimum of a C+ in English 12 or equivalent (see Note) and a minimum of a B average in two additional Approved Grade 12 courses.

   Note: English 12 equivalent courses include English 12 First Peoples, English Literature 12, AP English, and IB English A (standard level or higher level).

Out-of-province applicants

Students will be considered on the basis of courses equivalent to Approved B.C. Grade 12 courses. See the Admissions section of the calendar for more information on equivalents to B.C. secondary school graduation.

Out-of-country applicants

Students who have B.C. secondary school graduation equivalency, meet the prerequisite for ENGL 105 or CMNS 155, and have completed an equivalent average of B (equated to the UFV grading system) in two academic Grade 12 courses will be admissible.

Alternatives to high school graduation

If you have completed the International Baccalaureate diploma program, the B.C. Graduation diploma (B.C. Adult Dogwood), or the General Educational Development (GED) certificate, you may be considered to have the equivalent of B.C. secondary school graduation for admission purposes.

Option 2: University entrance (for students who have attended some post-secondary school)

1. Prerequisite for ENGL 105 or CMNS 155.
2. One of the following:
   • Completion of a minimum of 30 credits in courses numbered at the 100 level and above, with a CGPA of 2.0 on all credits attempted.
   • Completion of a minimum of nine credits at the 100 level and above, transferable to a degree program, with a GPA of 3.0 or better on all credits attempted.
   • Completion of a post-secondary career or technical diploma (minimum of two years post-secondary credit) from a recognized Canadian or International post-secondary institution, with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 (equated to the UFV grading scheme), calculated on all courses taken.
   • Completion of a three- or four-year Bachelor's degree from a recognized Canadian or International institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (equated to the UFV grading scheme). Students who have completed a previous degree are governed by UFV's Subsequent and Concurrent Bachelor Degree policy (98).

Option 3: Combined post-secondary/high school admission

Students who have attended or are currently attending a post-secondary institution, have fewer than 30 credits applicable for BA entrance at the time they apply for admission, and have a CGPA of at least 2.0 on all post-secondary courses attempted, may be considered for admission based on high school requirements.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider Qualifying Studies and/or a meeting with a UFV academic advisor.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply.

   Additional documents required for a complete application:

   • Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) from all post-secondary institutions you have attended (other than UFV) showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details. To retain your original application date, order early so transcripts arrive within two weeks of the date your application is mailed or submitted.
   • For high school entrance, a final official transcript (if you have graduated). For students currently in Grade 12, final grades are due August 3.

2. You will be advised of an admission decision and, if accepted, will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required prior to registration (see the Fees and Other Costs section). This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes.
3. In cases where course work is in progress, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August for the September intake.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section. Books and additional supplies cost approximately $100 per course.

Program requirements

There are five sets of requirements to note:

1. Program requirements
2. Foundational skills
3. Second language competency
4. Personal and social responsibility
5. ePortfolio

Note: After undergoing extensive review, the decision has been made to revise the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts. These changes will take effect September 2017. Please see the Notice of changes for Fall 2017 section below for details.

Program requirements

1. 120 credits, of which 60 must be completed at UFV
2. One major or two extended minors/minors (minimum 24 credits each), of which 50% of the upper-level credits must be completed at UFV
3. 65 credits in Arts subjects
4. 55 credits in any subject at the university level (100-level and above)
5. At least 45 upper-level credits, of which 30 must be completed at UFV

Foundational skills (5 courses: 15-17 credits)

Note 1: Courses continue to be added to these lists; students are encouraged to check the Fall 2017 calendar (available by early May 2017) for an expanded list of options.

Note 2: Students may not use the same course to meet more than one foundational skill requirement.

Each foundational skill course aligns with specific outcomes.

Second language competency (0-3 credits)

All BA students will demonstrate competency in a language other than English equivalent to B.C. high school grade 11. Students meet competency by one of the following:

• Successfully completing any grade 11 high school second language course;
• Successfully completing any language immersion program, such as French Immersion;
• Graduating from a high school in which the language of instruction is not English;
• Graduating from a post-secondary institution in which the language of instruction is not English;
• Successfully completing any Modern Language 101 course, such as SPAN 101 or MAND 101, at UFV; or
• Successfully completing a second language course at another institution which transfers to UFV and is equivalent to a Modern Languages 101 course or higher.

Students who have gained second language competency through other means may contact Modern Languages to inquire about an assessment of their competency.

Note: Students may not use this course to meet a foundational skill requirement or intercultural engagement. Students wishing to take additional second language courses to meet those requirements may do so.

Personal and social responsibility

Students must demonstrate and apply learning in two areas of personal and social responsibility: civic engagement and intercultural engagement. Through civic engagement, students apply classroom learning to their communities and reflect on the personal and social benefits of active citizenship. Through intercultural engagement, students gain insight into respectful intercultural practices, which includes understanding ones cultural norms and biases and respecting and honouring cultural differences, and apply what they have learned.

Each aligns with specific outcomes.

Students may meet these requirements through specific courses or non-credit activities; non-credit activities must reflect the above definitions, demonstrate achievement of the defined outcomes, and require a minimum of 60 hours. Students wishing to meet the requirement through non-credit means should consult with an advisor regarding the approval process.

Note 1: Courses continue to be added to these lists; students are encouraged to check the Fall 2017 calendar (available by early May 2017) for an expanded list of options.

Note 2: Students may not use a course applied to their foundational skills requirements to meet their personal and social responsibility requirements.

ePortfolio (4 courses: 6 credits)

All students must complete an ePortfolio as part of their BA requirements. The ePortfolio is an Outcomes Portfolio. Students demonstrate their learning related to the nine Institutional Learning Outcomes and the additional BA learning outcome.

The ePortfolio is an important tool which not only showcases student learning in the BA, but also allows students an opportunity to invest in their future success. Students may use their ePortfolios to support graduate school applications, work applications, or other post-BA activities.

Students take four credited courses to guide and support the development of their ePortfolios, each with specific outcomes. Please see the official course outlines for course outcomes.

Note: Students transferring to UFV or into the BA with 45-60 credits will not be required to complete ARTS 201. All such students, however, will need to complete ARTS 101.

Declaration of majors, extended minors, minors

When to declare

• Between 30 and 60 credits
• Failure to declare by 60 credits: registration in further courses is blocked
• Students needing more time to decide should seek an exemption from an academic advisor

Declaration requirements

• Minimum 2.0 CGPA on all credits attempted
• Minimum grade of C on each of 3 required courses for the subject discipline, unless otherwise stated

What to declare (minimum)

• One major, or
• Two extended minors/minors of a minimum of 24 credits each

Available declaration options

Important notes

• The number of students wanting to enter any Arts Honours, major, extended minor, or minor program may exceed capacity. Departments reserve the right to select competitively if necessary. The basis for selection is applicant GPA on required lower-level prerequisites; students in the BA will have priority. UFV cannot guarantee available seats in required program courses on demand.

• Arts students completing a major or double extended minor/minor from the above list may also combine either of those programs with any UFV major, extended minor, or minor. This may, however, require students to complete more than 120 credits. Students may not, however, combine the following:
• A Geography major with a Physical Geography major or minor
• A Mathematics major, extended minor, or minor with a Mathematics (Statistics option) extended minor or minor
• A Mathematics major, extended minor, or minor in Arts with a Mathematics major or minor in Science
• A Sociology/Anthropology major with extended minors or minors in Sociology or Anthropology
• A Visual Arts extended minor or minor with extended minors or minors in Art History, Media and Communication Studies, and/or Theatre

Courses at other institutions

UFV students who wish to take course at another institution for credit toward the Bachelor of Arts must obtain permission in advance from an Academic Advisor. A Letter of Permission request is available at ufv.ca/admissions or can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Students must be in good standing (CGPA > 2.0) to receive a Letter of Permission. When approval has been granted, the Office of the Registrar office will issue a Letter of Permission to the student. Residency and transfer credit policies apply.

Policies relevant to the BA

Course Repeat policy (86): Students may not register for a course more than twice without the permission of the department head/director for the discipline or their designate. All attempts will be recorded on the transcript, but only the highest grade will be included in the GPA. Transfer courses are considered in the number of attempts. A “W” or “AU” course is not counted as a duplication. Multiple repeats of the same course count as a single duplication.

Undergraduate Continuance policy (92): Students must have a CGPA of at least 2.00 to remain in good academic standing. Failure to meet or maintain a 2.00 will result in restrictions on registration and may lead to academic suspension.

Subsequent and Concurrent Bachelor Degree policy (98): Students who have already completed a degree at the bachelor’s level may be granted an additional bachelor’s degree provided that the two degrees are different, and that the student has met the program requirements. No more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the credits required for the additional degree may be applied from any previous degree. At least thirty (30) upper-level (300-400) credits for the subsequent degree must be taken at UFV.

Transfer Credit policy (107) and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) policy (94): Students who successfully complete academic course work at another post-secondary institution can transfer this credit to UFV to satisfy BA degree requirements. They can also earn academic credit through an assessment of prior learning.

Residency

To meet the residency requirement of the BA, the following restrictions apply:

1. Of the 120 credits for the BA, 60 must be completed at UFV.
2. Of the 45 upper-level credits for the BA, 30 must be completed at UFV.
3. For an honours, major, extended minor, or minor program, at least 50 percent of the required upper-level credits in the specific Arts discipline must be completed at UFV.
   

Graduation

Students are responsible for ensuring they are eligible to graduate, and should regularly consult with an Academic Advisor. To be eligible to graduate, students must have:

• Completed the BA program with a minimum CGPA of 2.0.
• Completed all the requirements of their majors/extended minors/minors with a minimum CGPA of 2.0.
• Earned a minimum CGPA of 2.0 in all upper-level courses required for graduation.
• No more than five course duplications (with the exception of THEA 199 and THEA 299 when a grade of D or higher is achieved).

Students must apply for graduation by completing the Graduation Request form available at ufv.ca/admissions, or from the Office of the Registrar. This should be done in the first month of the final semester. The final deadline for students who wish to attend the June Convocation ceremony is April 1 of each year, with all program requirements completed by April 30 of each year.