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Bachelor of Arts (3-year) General

Regulations effective September 1, 2023.

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.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, Mapping Your Future.

Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that can assist you in making informed decisions about you 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.

Students must meet the following English writing skills requirement:

  • hold credit in ENGL 255 (Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their program.);
    or
  • have a grade of B- (70 per cent) or better in an Athabasca University English course above the preparatory (100) level;
    or
  • receive credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.

The degree conversion provision is available to Athabasca University students who have been awarded a three-year AU degree and wish to convert to a four-year degree. For more information about this regulation, please review the Undergraduate Degree Conversion From Three- to Four-Year Program Policy

Program structure

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
  • Humanities
  • Social science
 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
Information effective Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024.

Updated June 22, 2023 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)

https://www.athabascau.ca/calendar/ e4d4dbde0a2a55fc5964e4ff6e0973fc