Bachelor of Arts (3-year) General
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts (3-year) is to strengthen your critical and creative thinking by offering a broad range of social, political, and cultural programs of study. A liberal arts education from Athabasca University is designed to broaden your perspective on local and global affairs, encourage community and social involvement, and prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity.
The Bachelor of Arts (3-year) program is a well-respected credential in Canada and the United States. While the three-year degree program is a highly marketable credential, it is not aimed at providing students with direct access to graduate level studies. Often an additional year of study is required to achieve that academic goal.
Students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts (4-year) degree and who wish to transfer to the Bachelor of Arts (3-year) degree program, may find it is not possible to transfer all their completed courses because of degree requirements.
Students may also be interested in the University Diploma in Arts, which is designed for students who wish to obtain an intermediate credential that provides a grounding in the intellectual skills required of university studies. It is also a foundation for further studies in Humanities and Social Science.
Planning your program
Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.
Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that can assist you in making informed decisions about your career options upon graduating.
Enrolment requirements
Students who hold a previous degree must enrol in a Bachelor of Arts (4-year) program and follow the second undergraduate degree requirements. This degree requires a minimum of 60 credits.
Program requirements
Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.
Program structure
| Total credits in the program | 90 |
| Minimum credits required | |
|---|---|
| At the senior (300 or 400) level | 54 |
| In the arts (humanities and social science) | 66 |
| 12 12 | |
| Science | 6 |
| Maximum credits allowed | |
| In any one discipline | 45 |
| Applied studies and/or Science | 24 |
| At the junior (200) level | 36 |
| At the preparatory (100) level | 6 |
| At the junior level in one discipline | 15 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits | 6 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
Updated July 26, 2024 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)