VIU’s BBA Degree students studying outside

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Honours, Majors, and Minors

Bachelor Degree


  • Program Length 
    4 Years
  • Credential 
    Bachelor Degree
  • Location Offered 
    Cowichan, Nanaimo, tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

Dear future thought-leaders, poets, historians, social-changers, justice fighters, social entrepreneurs and CEOs: your Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree awaits. If you have a passion for writing, debating, questioning and above all – learning – join VIU’s most customizable program and tailor your experience to hone in on the subjects that matter most to you as a Honours Bachelor of Arts, Major or Minor student.

The skills gained from a BA are vast and apply to many different fields. VIU's BA degree graduates go on to successful careers in many different areas, or continue into post-graduate studies equipped with critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills with a social and cultural perspective that is arguably unparalleled by any other program.

The Bachelor of Arts Programs

Students select at least one Honours, one Major, or two Minors from the above disciplines.

General Description

VIU’s Bachelor of Arts degree, with selected Honours, Majors, and Minors, builds on VIU’s strong record of arts undergraduate education, dating back to 1969. Graduates of VIU have gone on to graduate schools and professional schools at major universities, while others have used their degree to enter successful careers.

At the lower-level, Vancouver Island University offers courses in some 50 disciplines and interdisciplinary studies. At the upper-level, the B.A. program offers selected Honours, Majors, and Minors, and new ones are being planned.

A liberal arts education is both valuable in itself and as a foundation for a wide variety of careers. Given its range and flexibility, the B.A. degree provides a sound preparation for both employment and further education. Students who may be interested in graduate studies should arrange to write a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) after their third year for some graduate school programs. Students are advised to consult graduate school calendars for specific entrance requirements.

Degree Planning

By the end of their first year, students should consult with one of the B.A. Degree Advisors to discuss their plan to satisfy the degree requirements, including the options (Honours/Majors/Minors) they intend to pursue.

Institutional B.A. Degree Requirements

To be granted a VIU B.A. degree, students must meet the following requirements.

Total Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits chosen from courses that (a) are numbered 100 or higher; and (b) do not have a “T” or a “G” after the course number.

Note 1: Courses consisting primarily of field work, co-op placement, or preceptorship/internship are not normally eligible for selection within this category.

Note 2: As a complement to all institutional B.A. Degree Requirements, students are encouraged to take six credits or more of Mathematics/Science courses.

Note 3: Students who completed “T” courses should consult with the B.A. Degree Advisor regarding applicability of these courses.

Undergraduate Degree English Requirements

All students in undergraduate degree programs at VIU are required to complete 6 credits of first-year English composition and literature courses.

* In the following Bachelor of Arts, Majors and Minors, students with a minimum "B+" in ENGL 115 are granted an exemption and are not required to complete any further credit towards the English requirement.

Upper-level Requirement

A minimum of 42 VIU credits in courses numbered 300 or higher, with a minimum 2.0 (“C”) Grade Point Average calculated on all upper-level courses attempted or completed. If such a course has been repeated, the highest grade obtained will be included in the calculation.

Residency Requirement

A minimum of 60 credits must be taken at VIU and, of these, 21 credits must be at the upper-level. With the approval of the relevant Dean and under exceptional circumstances (e.g., for partnership programs), the minimum of 60 credits may be reduced by up to 18 credits. With the approval of the relevant Dean, courses taken as part of an official VIU exchange program may be considered “resident.”

Requirements for Honours, Majors and Minors

In addition to general degree requirements described above, students complete at least one Honours with a minimum of 42 upper-level VIU credits or one Major with a minimum of 30 upper-level VIU credits specifically aligned to the area of academic inquiry, or two Minors with a minimum of 18 upper-level VIU credits from each area of academic inquiry. Departments may require additional upper-level credits for some Honours or Majors. Students must satisfy all of the requirements for their Honours, Major or Minors as listed in the description for each discipline.

Note: When selecting electives to meet departmental requirements for Honours, Majors and Minors, please see descriptions for each department.

Honours programs

Honours programs have all the requirements for a Major, plus an additional 12 credits (minimum) in the discipline which are normally taken in lieu of electives.  These additional credits are typically made up of a methods/theory course at the upper-level, and include a graduating essay or major project (where such courses and projects are not already required for the Major). Individual departments shall specify the courses that meet this additional requirement for students within their Honours program.

Senior Project

A senior project is “optional” for certain Majors; students are encouraged to plan their senior project during third year and to schedule its completion during fourth year. Each senior project will have a designated project supervisor, who will assist the student to identify the resources required to complete the project successfully.

Updated 
Monday, February 22, 2021

Notes on Admission

  • Students may enter VIU at any point prior to the beginning of their third year.
  • No more than 60 credits may be transferred from elsewhere towards a VIU B.A.
  • In their first two years, students should choose courses with their intended Major and/or Minors in mind.

Domestic Fees | International Fees

Domestic Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year*

Amount

Tuition (30 credits x $159.94 per credit)

4,798.20

Student Activity fee (4% of tuition)

191.93

Student Services fee (30 credits x $7.07 per credit)

212.10

VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $24.88 per month)

199.04

Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year)

265.00

Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year

1,500.00

Total

7,166.27

Notes

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

International Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year*

Amount

Tuition (2 semesters x $9613.50 per semester)

19,227.00

Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $426.07 per semester)

852.14

VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $24.88 per month)

199.04

Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year)

265.00

Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year

1,500.00

Total

22,043.18

Notes

Tuition in the above table is based on a maximum of 15 credits at $739.50 per credit, up to a maximum of $9,613.50 per semester for 12-15 credits; $739.50 per credit beyond 15 credits. Ancillary Fees in the above table are based on a maximum of 15 credits at $32.77 per credit, up to a maximum of $426.07 per semester for 12-15 credits; $32.77 per credit beyond 15 credits.

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

Updated
Monday, August 1, 2022

Domestic (Canadian)

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Location
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Jan 5, 2023
Accepting International Applications
No
Application Fee
$43.40
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erin Johnson
Phone: 604.485.8033
Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca

Comments

Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604-485-2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements.

Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.

Application Fee
$43.40
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erica Ellenchuk
Phone: 250.746.3512
Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca

Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.

Application Fee
$43.40
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erica Ellenchuk
Phone: 250.746.3512
Email: Erica.Ellenchuk@viu.ca

Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 5, 2023
Accepting International Applications
No
Application Fee
$43.40
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
Admissions Assistant

Name: Erin Johnson
Phone: 604.485.8033
Email: Erin.Johnson@viu.ca

Comments

Please consult Student Services/Advising at 604-485-2878 or email PR.StudentAffairs@viu.ca for more information on program or admission requirements.

International

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Location
Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Sep 5, 2023
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.

Accepting International Applications
Yes
Application Fee
$150.00
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
International Admissions Officer Contact

Name: Elham Akhoundi
Email: Study@viu.ca

Comments

For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to World VIU at WorldVIU@viu.ca.

Anticipated intake for someone applying today
Jan 8, 2024
Next Intake(s)

The Bachelor of Arts program has one intake each Fall and one intake each Spring.

Accepting International Applications
Yes
Application Fee
$150.00
Accepting Late Applications
Yes
Waitlist
No
Testing Required
No
International Admissions Officer Contact

Name: Elham Akhoundi
Email: Study@viu.ca

Comments

For prospective international applicants, please send your inquiries to World VIU at WorldVIU@viu.ca.

Further information on this program can be found on the Department website.


Previous versions of this program can be found in the Program Archive.

Serene Kerpan

“My BA was my ticket in the door to a life and career I love now. At VIU I got the one-on-one attention I needed to really find my passion."


 


-- Serene graduated with a BA in Phys. Ed and History and went on to pursue her PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. She is currently Assistant Professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Read more.