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University Studies | Associate of Arts Degree

Associate of Arts

General requirements

To obtain an Associate of Arts Degree, a student must complete a minimum of 60 credits of first or second year courses.

These must include a minimum of 18 credits in Arts at the second-year level taken in two or more subject areas.
Please note that in addition to all 200 level courses, first year courses listed below with an * can also be used as second- year credits.

Specific requirements

A.  6 credits in first-year English; and
B.  9 credits in Science which shall include at least:

  • 3 credits in Mathematics, or Computing Science or Statistics (Statistics courses taught in subject areas such as Business may also be used to meet this requirement);

  • 3 credits in a laboratory science, and

C.  36 credits in Arts which shall include:

  • 6 credits in the Social Sciences;
  • 6 credits in Humanities (including the Creative and Performing Arts) other than English;
  • 24 additional credits in Arts, and

D.  9 credits in Arts, Science, or other areas.

List of course options that can be used to fullfill the requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree

A.  6 credits in first-year English (two of the following courses):

ENGL 100Language Skills3
ENGL 101Introduction to Composition3
ENGL 102Introduction to Literature3
ENGL 141Public Speaking3
ENGL 151Technical Writing I3
ENGL 152Technical Writing II3
ENGL 190Introduction to University Writing3

B.  9 credits in Science which shall include at least:

  • 3 credits in Mathematics, or Computing Science or Statistics (one of the following courses):

MATH 101Calculus I: Differential Calculus3
MATH 102Calculus II: Integral Calculus3
MATH 103Differential Calculus With Applications3
MATH 115Precalculus3
MATH 123Everyday Mathematics3
MATH 131Introduction to Statistics3
MATH 140Finite Mathematics3
MATH 141Calculus I for Social Sciences3
MATH 145Calculus II for Social Science3
MATH 150Mathematics of Finance3
MATH 190Principles of Mathematics for Elementary Teachers4
MATH 235Linear Algebra3
MATH 251Statistics3
CPSC 111Introduction to Computer Science3
CPSC 1123
CPSC 113Computer Programming With Lego Robot3
CPSC 123Computer Programming3
CPSC 124Data Structures *3
CPSC 1313
CPSC 141Integrated Software Tools3
MATH 161Applied Math4
  • 3 credits in a laboratory science (one of the following courses plus the associated lab section):
ANTH 250Intro to Biological Anthropology3
BIOL 101Introductory Biology I - Cells, Diversity & Physiology3
BIOL 102Introductory Biology II - Genetics, Evolution & Ecology3
BIOL 131Human Anatomy & Physiology I3
BIOL 132Human Anatomy & Physiology II3
BIOL 133Applied Microbiology3
BIOL 201Invertebrate Zoology3
BIOL 202Vertebrate Zoology3
BIOL 203Non-Vascular Plants & Fungi3
BIOL 204Vascular Plants3
BIOL 205Cell Structure and Function3
BIOL 206Cell Biochemistry3
BIOL 208The Biology of Plants3
BIOL 213Microbiology 13
BIOL 235Ichthyology3
BIOL 236Ornithology: Biology of Birds3
CHEM 101Introductory Chemistry I3
CHEM 102Introductory Chemistry II3
CHEM 111Fundamentals of Chemistry I3
CHEM 121Principles of Chemistry I3
CHEM 122Principles of Chemistry II3
CHEM 230Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 231Organic Chemistry II3
FNST 110Ethnobotany: Plants & First People3
GEOG 150Physical Geog I: Biogeography, Meteorology and Climatology3
GEOG 160Physical Geography II: Geology, Geomorphology and Soils3
GEOG 201Environmental Climatology3
GEOG 202Geography of Ecosystems3
GEOG 203Geomorphology3
GEOG 204Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)3
GEOG 207Hydrology and Soils3
GEOL 157Intro to Northwest Geology3
GEOL 158Historical Geology3
PHYS 101Introduction to Physics I3
PHYS 102Introductory Physics II3
PHYS 103Physics With Applications to Earth Sciences3
PHYS 121Advanced Physics I3
PHYS 122Advanced Physics II3
SUST 120Permaculture Design3
  • 3 additional credits (one course) from any of the above Lab Science and Math courses or any of the following courses:
BIOL 191Introduction to Ecology3
BIOL 211Principles of Ecology3
BIOL 214Microbiology II: Human/Microbiology Interactions3
BIOL 215Genetics3
BIOL 220Pathophysiology3
BIOL 221Pharmacology for Nurses3
BIOL 222Human Nutrition3
BIOL 270Coastal Zone Conservation Biology3
CHEM 190Chemistry of Brewing3
GEOG 110People and the Environment3
GEOG 112Environments and Planning3
GEOG 210Environments and Society3
GEOG 215Geography of Food3
GEOG 227Ethnogeography of Northwest BC3
OCGY 208Intro Physical, Chemical and Geological Oceanography3
OCGY 209Introduction to Biological Oceanography3
OCGY 210Methods of Monitoring the Marine Environment3


C.  36 credits in Arts which shall include:

6 credits in the Social Sciences (two of the following courses);

ANTH 101Human Origins3
ANTH 102Intro Social and Cultural Anth *3
ANTH 111First Nations of Canada3
ANTH 112First Nations of B.C. *3
ANTH 201World Cultures3
ANTH 202Indigenous Cultures in Transition3
ANTH 203Northern Nations of the Northwest Coast3
ANTH 204Central and Southern Nations of the Northwest Coast3
ANTH 205Archaeology of Northern British Columbia3
ANTH 206Anthropology of Religion3
ANTH 208The Indigenous Arts of N America, Oceania and Africa3
ANTH 209The Art of N American First Nations3
ANTH 210First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast3
ANTH 211Understanding Theory in Anthropology3
ANTH 212Cultural Resource Management3
ANTH 215Archaeology of the Americas3
ANTH 220Visual Anthropology3
ANTH 240Introduction to Archaeology3
ANTH 260Medical Anthropology3
ANTH 245Archaeological Field Studies6
ASIA 101Introduction to Imperial China3
ASIA 102The History of Modern China3
CRIM 101Introduction to Criminology *3
CRIM 103Psychology of Crime & Deviance3
CRIM 104Understanding Crime, Deviance & Society3
CRIM 131Introduction to the Criminal Justice System *3
CRIM 135Introduction to Canadian Law and Legal Institutions: a Criminal Justice Perspective3
CRIM 198Community, Crime and Soc Just Practicum Certificate Practicum3
CRIM 210Law, Youth and Young Offenders3
CRIM 213Women and Crime3
CRIM 230Criminal Law in Canada3
ECON 111Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 112Principles of Macroeconomics3
ECON 2203
ECON 2223
EDUC 101Introduction to Education3
FNST 101Introductory to First Nations Studies3
FNST 110Ethnobotany: Plants & First People3
FNST 120Aboriginal Languages - Preservation and Revitalization3
FNST 200Aboriginal Community Research3
FNST 210Aboriginal Health: Community Wellness & Healing3
GEOG 111Intro to Human Geography3
GEOG 112Environments and Planning3
GEOG 210Environments and Society3
GEOG 221Social Geography (Space & Society)3
GEOG 222Economic Geography3
GEOG 224World Regional Geography3
GEOG 225Regional Geography of B C3
GEOG 226Regional Geography of Canada3
HLTH 101Introduction to Health Careers3
POLI 101Introduction to Political Science *3
POLI 102Canadian Politics and Government *3
POLI 203International Politics3
POLI 213International Political Economy3
PSYC 101Introductory Psychology I3
PSYC 102Introductory Psychology II3
PSYC 201Developmental Psychology I3
PSYC 202Development Across a Lifespan3
PSYC 203Psychology of Gender and Gender Relation3
PSYC 205Psyc of Drugs & Chem Addiction3
PSYC 206Intro to Health Psychology3
PSYC 207Intro to Mental Health Counselling3
PSYC 208Social Psychology3
PSYC 215Research Methods in Social Sciences I3
PSYC 216Research Methods in Social Sciences II3
PSYC 221Abnormal Psyc and Therapy I3
PSYC 222Abnormal Psyc & Therapy II3
PSYC 232Research Methods in Psychology3
PSYC 233Historical and Conceptual Foundations of Psychology3
PSYC 240Forensic Psychology3
SOCI 101Introductory Sociology I3
SOCI 102Introductory Sociology II3
SOCI 205Sociology of the Family3
SOCI 206The Family in Cross-Cultural Perspective3
SOCI 207Sociology of Labour3
SOCI 209Canada:Differing Persp I3
SOCI 210Canada:Differing Persp II3
SOCI 250Sociology of Deviance3
SOCI 251Crime and Society3
SOCI 261Sociology of Community3
SOCI 270Rural Sociology3
SOCI 282Environmental Sociology3
  • 6 credits in Humanities other than English (two of the following courses);
ANTH 270Traditional Knowledge in Practice3
ART 105Introduction to Painting I3
ART 106Introduction to Painting II3
ARTH 101First Nations Art Pacific NWI3
ARTH 108First Nations Art Pacific II3
ARTH 151History of World Art From Beginnings to 14003
ARTH 152History of World Art Since 14003
ARTH 201Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast3
ARTH 210Northwest Coast Art Museum and Gallery Studies3
FNST 101Introductory to First Nations Studies3
FNST 120Aboriginal Languages - Preservation and Revitalization3
GEOG 215Geography of Food3
FREN 101Introduction to French I3
FREN 102Introduction to French II3
GITK 101Intro to Gitksanimx Language Conversation I3
GITK 102Intro to Gitksanimx Language Conversation II3
HAID 101Intro to Haida Language Conversation I3
HAID 102Intro to Haida Language Conversation II3
HAIS 101Intro to Haisla Language Conversation I3
HAIS 102Intro to Haisla Lng Conversation II3
HIST 103Europe - 1820's to the 1890's3
HIST 104Europe 1917 to 19483
HIST 105Canada to the Mid-19th Century3
HIST 106Canada Since Mid-19th Century3
HIST 201Imperialism From the Mid-19th Century3
HIST 205History of Colonial Africa3
HIST 209A History of Native People of Canada3
HIST 210History of Western Canada3
HIST 213History of British Columbia3
HIST 215History of the U.S. to 18653
HIST 216History of the U.S. Since 18653
HIST 231Germany in the 20th Century3
HIST 232The History of Anti-Semitism3
HIST 241The Soviet Union, 1917-19903
HIST 250History of Latin America3
JRNL 101Introduction to Journalism3
MICH 101Intro to Michif Language Conversation 13
MICH 102Intro to Michif Language Conversation II3
PHIL 101Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 102Moral Philosophy3
PHIL 203Philosophy and Literature3
PHIL 204Philosophy and the Social Science3
PHIL 205Philosophical Struggle in Religion3
PHIL 206Philosophy of Science3
PHIL 210Environmental Ethics3
SMAL 102Intro to Sm'algyax Language Conversation I3
SMAL 103Intro to Sm'algyax Language Conversation II3
SMAL 201Intermediate Sm'algyax Language Conversation I3
SMAL 202Intermediate Sm'algyax Language Conversation II3
SUST 201Intro Sustainable Community Development3
SUST 207Equality and Sustainability3
SUST 250Capstone Project3
TAHL 101Intro to Tahltan Language Conversation I3
TAHL 102Intro to Tahltan Language Conversation II3
WITS 101Intro to Witsuwiten Lng Conversation I3
WMST 101Women in Canada3
WMST 102Intro to Women's Studies *3
WMST 203Women's Health Issues in Canada3
FILM 101Introduction to Film Studies3
FILM 102Modern American Cinema3


24 additional credits in Arts (8 courses from any of the above Arts courses)

D.  9 credits in Arts, Science, or other areas (3 courses from any of the above courses).

Courses from other program areas that are transferable to research and teaching universities in BC can be taken as part of this Degree. Please confirm transfer agreements on BC transfer guide for transferability. 

Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be granted the Associate of Arts credential.

  • Grade 12 recommended 
  • English Studies 12 or First People's English 12 or equivalent AND
  • Foundations of Math 11 OR equivalent
  • Apply directly to the University Studies - Associate of Arts Degree Program
  • Submit proof of English Studies 12 or First People's English 12 or equivalent

English proficiency is required for all students entering CMTN programs.  Please visit our English Language Alternatives page to see how this requirement can be met. 

Need help with the application process?  Contact an Educational Advisor.

Fees Domestic International
Full-time 30 Credits 30 Credits
Tuition $3,084.90 $13,111.20
Mandatory fees $235.50 $285.38

Lab fees (17.16 per credit)1

$51.48 $51.48
Student Union fees2 $93.28 $93.28
Health and Dental Insurance4,5 $275.00 $585.82
Total Tuition:

$3,740.16

$14,127.16
Books & supplies2 $2,000.00 $2,000.00
Field School fees3 $900.00 $900.00
Total: $6,640.16 $17,027.16

Tuition and fees effective August 1, 2023 for the 2023/24 Academic Year.

1Lab fees are mandatory. All associate degrees require a minimum of 3 credits in laboratory science, and students may take up to 42 lab credits.

2Costs are approximate and may vary depending on courses taken. Student union fees are term based.

3Field schools have additional costs between $100 - $900 per field school, depending on the location and the activities. Field schools are not a mandatory component of all associate degrees, however, students are strongly encouraged to attend a field school during the spring/summer semester. Associate Degrees specializing in Environmental Geoscience are encouraged to attend a minimum of two field schools. Field schools are subject to different deposit requirements and refund rules.

4The Coast Mountain Students Union (CMSU) is pleased to announce that Extended Health and Dental Insurance has been approved by student referendum held in March 2021. Additional information will be provided by CMSU July 2021, including details of the coverage and directions for the opt out process for students with equivalent coverage. For any inquiries about the plan or referendum, please contact Golnoosh Namazi, organiser@mycmsu.ca

5Basic Health insurance is mandatory for all international students. Health insurance costs will be charged every term until students provide proof of MSP.