Associate of Arts in Political Science

at Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Richmond Campus Canada

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Applied Geography is a unique, four-year Human Geography degree with an emphasis on the urban setting of human activity. The program is distinguished by the scope and sequencing of its skills development coursework. Required skills courses include those in qualitative methods, quantitative methods, geographic thought, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and research design.

These skills-development courses are woven into a lively and relevant topical curriculum featuring introductory lab-science courses in: physical geography; introductory and advanced human geography; economic, social, political, and urban geography; options for focused study of a variety of regions; and courses in natural hazards and environmental geography. Having established a foundation of information-handling skills early in the program, students are equipped to apply their knowledge to service and research projects incorporated into their third and fourth year courses.

Graduates who complete the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Applied Geography program are able to comprehensively understand a range of contemporary urban issues and problems, and possess the practical skills to address them. They are engaged citizens, well-positioned for employment in occupations requiring knowledgeable people capable of working with diverse types of information, or for further, graduate study in Geography and related fields.

The two-year General Business Studies Diploma is a flexible diploma option, allowing individuals to select a variety of areas of study in the School of Business once they have fulfilled the core requirements of the program.

The B.Sc. Major in Biology is a foundational degree program strongly grounded in scientific methodology and practical skills. The structure and breadth of courses offered is designed to equip graduates with a high level of competency in the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for competitive entry into the workforce in a wide range of fields. Graduates will also be well prepared for entry into a professional school or graduate studies program.

Central to this program is the provision of a lab intensive experience where students learn first-hand, the appropriate use of equipment and techniques to investigate living organisms and how they function. Upper level courses build upon the core knowledge and skills developed in 1st and 2nd Year, allowing the exploration of more advanced biological concepts and practical techniques. This culminates in a community focused research or directed studies project which requires students to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned.

Engineering First-Year at KPU is a two-semester program designed for well-prepared students to meet the requirements for direct transfer to the second-year of an engineering degree program.

KPU's Engineering First-Year program includes many of the courses and topics common to the first-year of engineering degree programs at UBC, UVic and SFU.

Transfer to UBC
The KPU program most closely resembles UBC's first-year engineering curriculum.  Successful completion of the KPU program with a sufficiently high GPA may qualify the student for UBC's second-year Engineering Transfer admissions guarantee. Please see the UBC Engineering website for specific details on engineering transfer.

Transfer to UVic
Students that successfully complete the KPU program with a sufficiently high GPA may be considered for admission to second year on an equal footing with 1st year UVic engineering students. Please see the UVic Engineering website for specific details on engineering transfer.

Transfer to SFU
Students that successfully complete the KPU program with a sufficiently high GPA may be eligible to transfer to second-year engineering at SFU. However, there will be first-year courses specific to the SFU engineering programs that students may need to complete at SFU. Please see the SFU Engineering website for specific details on engineering transfer.

The Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology is a traditional degree focusing on core areas in psychology including biopsychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social/personality psychology, and clinical/abnormal psychology. As KPU’s flagship Psychology degree program, the BA is a flexible degree that allows students to explore many different content areas of psychology as well as other areas within the social sciences and humanities. Because of the flexibility of the program, BA students have the opportunity to consult with advisors, faculty and peers to determine their own degree specialization. The emphasis is on transferrable skills, including critical thinking, writing, group work, and oral presentations. Students also have the option of completing a workplace practicum coordinated by KPU and co-supervised by faculty and employers in relevant fields of employment.

Those interested in further study and graduate school or who prefer more extensive research experience may augment their knowledge and skills by taking the research-focused Honours program in Psychology. The Honours program affords students an opportunity to develop and report on a research project under the direct supervision of a faculty member within the Psychology Department.

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Policy Studies (“POST”) is an interdisciplinary applied degree that integrates concepts from economics, environmental protection, philosophy, political science and psychology. You will learn how policy can be used to achieve sustainability goals and apply your skills to community projects with partners such as the City of Surrey.

Students are encouraged to complete a complementary minor such as economics, geography or political science in addition to the major in Policy Studies. Please meet with an Arts Degree Advisor to talk about what courses fit your interests to complete your Bachelor’s degree.

The goal of the Bachelor of Arts Major in Anthropology Program at KPU is to prepare students for life, work, and research in diverse local and global communities. At KPU we offer two streams of study: Archaeology-Biological and Social-Cultural. The Archaeology-Biological stream has a unique component in that our current anthropology field school involves direct interaction at a high level with First Nations communities and Anthropology professionals, and has been endorsed by the British Columbia Association of Professional Archaeologists, the first such endorsement in Canada. The Social-Cultural stream prepares students for a knowledge- and information-based economy in a world that is increasingly globally interconnected. Learning in this area of our field is conducted through a high degree of community service work involving brokering between divergent stakeholders. The emphasis of Anthropologists at KPU is the applied aspect of our profession. Our teaching is realized through hands-on activities, lab work, and community events whose experience has the ultimate goal of understanding any aspect of humans and their activities.

The Certificate in NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) and Nonprofit Studies at KPU is unique to this region, and is distinct from other nonprofit management programs in that it offers the following:

• 30-credit program available directly out of high school
• Program structure that bridges the Faculty of Arts, the School of Business, and the Faculty of Science and Horticulture
• Broad inclusion of local human rights, environmental, and advocacy organizations in B.C.'s Lower Mainland

Rather than developing an exclusive overseas / development focus, our program recognizes the depth of learning that can take place right here in greater Vancouver. This sector has been steadily growing for more than fifty years, at times outpacing the growth of Canada's economy as a whole. KPU identifies with the innovation characteristic of this sector, and is eager to move a new generation of learners into work in this area.

The educational experience is designed to address the NACC (Nonprofit Academic Centers Council) Curricular Guidelines for Undergraduate Study in Nonprofit Leadership, the Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy (2007), and prepares students for voluntary and entry-level work at nonprofit organizations and NGOs. Students will acquire practical and up-to-date skills, including an introduction to Imagine Canada's Standards Program, Canada Revenue Agency guidelines for the nonprofit sector, and the following skills and methods:

1. Skill sets: Marketing, minute-taking, database work, presenting, blogging, reporting, academic research and writing, literature reviews, fundraising principles
2. Methods: Participant-observation, qualitative methods, interviewing, cross-cultural understanding, face-to-face field methods, mapping, critical analysis, ethics and advocacy

There are a wide range of jobs in the nonprofit sector in Canada and the U.S., with salaries varying greatly depending on skills, experience, and region. These organizations serve a broad mandate, addressing humanitarian issues, environmental problems, human rights issues, development efforts, and the problems experienced by marginalized populations. There is an increasing move towards professionalization in this area, and KPU's targeted introduction to disciplines in the Faculty of Arts, the School of Business, and the Faculty of Science and Horticulture ensures that graduates have covered comparative perspectives on civil society, voluntary action and philanthropy, as well as key aspects of financial management and accountability.

The Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology is a provincially recognized two-year academic credential program. The aims of this program are to provide students with an entry point into a Bachelor of Arts degree program, to create greater ease in transferring credits to other post-secondary institutions, to enrich students’ intellectual lives, and prepare them with academic knowledge and skills applicable to various work contexts. Students are exposed to an overview of central topics in sociology, fundamental sociological theories and concepts, studies in Canadian society and specialized subject areas in sociology.

Students who complete the Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology and wish to continue their studies at KPU may enter the Bachelor of Arts Major or Bachelor of Arts Minor in Sociology degree program with relative ease. Additional course credits at the 2000 level are required for graduation in these programs so students should be sure to consult the program information on our BA degrees.

The Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology meets common academic standards at post-secondary institutions throughout the province. This means that students may apply for ‘block transfer’ of course credits from their first two years of study at KPU to programs at other universities in British Columbia. Completion of BA programs in sociology at other institutions will also require additional courses at the 2000 level.
Arts Degree Advisors can assist students in ensuring they meet entrance and graduation requirements for the BA in sociology degree programs at KPU.

Within its unique approach, this Bachelor's degree program provides emerging designers with a dynamic inter-disciplinary education that links innovation and creativity through the transformation of ideas into marketable products. KPU's Product Design degree provides a rigorous, hands-on education that combines a solid foundation in practical principles such as construction and economics with design, manufacturing and marketing techniques. Whether engaging in robust academic studies, intensive design studio sessions or collaborating with industry partners, graduates of this program complete their studies poised for success as professionals.

While product design covers a wide range of industries, KPU's program provides particular emphasis on the design and manufacture of recreational gear and technical goods, sportswear and accessories, protective, safety and rescue equipment to name a few. Students will also explore product design in medical, industrial and technological contexts as well as everyday consumer goods. These types of  products are consistent and growing in demand by all sectors of society, ranging from children, adults and seniors to persons with disabilities and medical needs.