An Associate Degree is equivalent to the first two years of a four-year university degree. Universities in British Columbia will guarantee 60 transfer credits to holders of an Associate Degree.
Students must meet the grade point average (GPA) established by each university for admission. Upon completion, students qualify to apply for a post-graduate work permit in Canada.
Program Overview
- The General Associate of Arts Degree provides students with a strong foundation in the general arts. It also prepares students to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in General Arts or a related field.
- Students will be offered a wide range of Arts courses that is not limited to one area of study.
- Graduates will acquire knowledge from various Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines including anthropology, communication, criminology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology
Skills Gained
- Critical thinking skills to analyze and interpret various perspectives in the academic context.
- Understanding theoretical approaches to Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines.
- Networking and communication skills through group projects with peers.
- Knowledge from a multidisciplinary education that can be transferred to the working world.
Accelerated Associate Degree: Tri-mester system
- Students benefit from the tri-mester system with intakes in January, May, and September. This means students can take more courses over a 12-month period and can complete an Associate Degree in 16 months or two years.
- Students take a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 courses per semester.
- Students who do not wish to accelerate can complete an Associate Degree in 2 years.
Program Curriculum Framework
Must include: All requirements of an Associate of Arts Degree
20 courses (minimum 60 credits) of 1st & 2nd year courses, to include at least 6 courses (minimum 18 credits) in Arts at the 2nd year level, taken in two or more subject areas.
1st Year Courses
| Two 1st year ENG |
| Three courses in MATH / SCIENCE including one course in Math, Computer Science, or Statistics and at least one Laboratory Science course |
| Six courses in 1st year Arts, including two courses in Social Sciences and two courses in Humanities. |
| Six courses in 2nd year Arts. |
| Three additional elective courses in Arts, Sciences, or other areas. |
Career Possibilities
The median employment income two years after graduation in Canada:
College Level Degree: $39,100
Undergraduate Degree: $43,600
(Labour market outcomes, class of 2010 to 2014.)
Approximately 325,100 job openings in British Columbia within the next 10 years will require at least a Bachelor’s degree.
(British Columbia Labour Market Outlook: 2018 Edition, p. 15)
Who Should Apply?
Students Who:
- Wish to gain experience across a spectrum of Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines.
- Have an interest in developing critical thinking skills and abilities.
- Are looking for a multidisciplinary education.