Programs

Program Details

This Program is offered at the following campus locations:

Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John

Description:

The University Arts and Sciences program at Northern Lights College serves individuals and communities by providing university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practised in the arts and sciences. A wide variety of first- and second-year courses enable learners to pursue numerous credential and career options, and to engage in personal enrichment. Coursework within the Academic program also supports other college programs, such as the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE), the Business Management Diploma program, the Land and Resource Management Diploma program, and the Social Services Worker Diploma program.

The Degree in Associate of Arts (AA Degree) enables students to focus on disciplines within the humanities and/or social sciences. The AA degree is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, an enriched life as an educated person, and to lay a solid foundation for further study.

The Degree in Associate of Arts curriculum comprises two years of university-level study in a variety of academic areas. Students are required to complete a broad range of course offerings balanced with in-depth study in specific disciplines. Since many students will continue their studies, the requirements are sufficiently flexible to enable students to plan their educational program carefully and to complete the required prerequisites for upper-level coursework in their intended major.

Certification: Degree in Associate of Arts

Program Contact: Lisa Verbisky

Dean: Steve Roe

Admission Requirements:

To apply to the University Arts and Sciences program or to register for individual courses within the program:

• Prospective learners need to complete a College “Application for Admission” form. Admission forms can be obtained in person from NLC Student Services or downloaded in PDF format (see link above). A one-time application fee is required.
• Where available, secondary school and/or post-secondary transcripts should be provided to indicate that prerequisites for specific courses have been met.
• Applicants who do not have at least a “B” in English 12 (or equivalent) or at least a “C” in a university-level English course must complete the NLC Writing Assessment before registering in English courses. Feedback on the Writing Assessment is provided to help students make informed decisions about course selection.

• Applicants who do not have secondary school and/or post-secondary transcripts that provide documentation of prerequisites should speak with an NLC Recruiter. In these situations, entry-level skills will be evaluated as required through the Writing Assessment, the Calculus Readiness Assessment, or other assessments.

• Please note that where students are registering in University Arts and Sciences courses to satisfy requirements in another program, additional registration criteria may apply.

Program Length (Weeks): 60

Program Length (Hours): 900

Program Intake Start: September, January, and May

Program Intake Finish:  December, April, and June

Available Seats: N/A

Application Deadline:  One week prior to the start of courses

Career Prospects:

The AA Degree provides introductory, university-level training for many different careers.

Affiliations:

• The transferability of individual academic courses taken at Northern Lights College is determined by the institution to which the student transfers. The BC Transfer Guide is available at Student Services offices, campus libraries, and on the internet (see link above).
• Within British Columbia, completion of an Associate of Arts Degree offers several distinct transfer advantages:

*Block transfer: All universities and university-colleges in BC guarantee 60 transfer credits to holders of an Associate Degree, even if all of the courses taken towards the degree do not transfer individually to that institution.

*Priority Admission: Additionally, at some institutions, graduates with an Associate Degree may be offered priority admission over other students in the college transfer admission category, subject to GPA criteria developed by the receiving institution.
Note that transferring students must still meet all 100- and 200-level course requirements for specific degree programs. Accordingly, students are encouraged to check the specific degree requirements of the individual receiving institution. For more information on the advantages of an Associate Degree, see the BC Transfer Guide.

Students anticipating transfer to Alberta or another province should check with a recruiter regarding out-of-province regulations, quotas, etc.

Additional Requirements and Supplies:  Lab fees may apply to science courses

Eligibility for Canada Student Loans:  Yes

Visit StudentAid BC to apply for financial assistance online.

Required Minimum Grade:  A cumulative grade point average of 2.00

Residency Requirements: 25% - At least 15 credits (five courses) must be taken at NLC

Additional Information:

Required Courses
General Requirement: 60 credits of first-and second-year courses. (normally 20 courses).

Specific Requirements:

1. 36 credits (12 courses) in Arts 100 level:
   
   • 6 credits 100 level English
   • 6 credits 100 level Humanities, including the Creative/Performing Arts
   • 6 credits Social Sciences
   • 18 credits 200 level in two or more subject areas
2. 9 credits in Science 100 or 200 level, including:
   
   • 3 credits in Mathematics, Computer Science, or Statistics
   • 3 credits 100 or 200 level in lab science
3. 15 elective credits 100 or 200 level. 9 of these elective credits may be in an area other than Arts and Science (i.e. business, etc.)

Note: An individual course may not be used to fulfill more than one specific requirement.

Concentrations:
*Associate of Arts Degrees are available with concentrations in a specific discipline. Currently, concentrations are available in disciplines such as Criminology, English, Geography, History, Psychology, and Sociology. A concentration requires a minimum of 15 credits within a single discipline; normally, 6 of these credits must be at the second-year level.

Courses:
(No course outlines available at this time. Please check again soon.)