Bachelor of Applied Science - Sustainable Agriculture

at Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Richmond Campus Canada

You have an eye for style, and a head for business. We have a two-year diploma program that combines both. Immerse yourself in photo shoots, buying plans and fashion events where you'll make industry connections that last long after you leave. Everything you learn will let you jump into careers in Buying, Merchandising, Branding, Forecasting, Styling, Public Relations, Event Planning and Sales, or continue your studies into Kwantlen's Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Program (BBA).

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting program allows graduates to earn a business degree that prepares them to obtain a professional accounting designation in Canada (CPA designation).

In Canada, a degree is required for acceptance into the accounting designation. The BBA in Accounting offers courses in financial and management accounting, tax, audit, finance, economics, and other core business functions such as marketing and operations and information management, satisfying the undergraduate requirements of the accounting designation.

Co-operative Education
The BBA in Accounting degree is offered with a Co-operative Education option. Co-operative Education gives a student the opportunity to apply the skills gained during academic study in paid, practical work experience semesters. Degree students can complete a minimum of three work terms while completing their degree. Work terms generally occur full-time in separate 4 month work semesters. Work semesters alternate with academic study.

The Associate Degree is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship and an enriched life as an educated person, and to lay a solid foundation for further study in the field of Mathematics.

Fine Arts offer a two-year Diploma Program and a one-year Certificate Program, both of which are designed to enable students to acquire a solid foundation in the basic skills of visual arts. Selected courses and groups of courses within the Diploma program may be applied to a 3rd year entry into the KPU Fine Arts BFA, Visual Arts or university transfer credit in Fine Arts and Education.

Upon completion of the two-year diploma program at KPU, graduates will have acquired both intellectual and technical skills to work effectively with a wide range of media. With these skills, students can continue to develop their creative potential individually, through the BFA, Visual Arts program, or at another post-secondary institution. Most Fine Arts credits are university transferable.
The department recommends that students consider a course of study that includes specializing in one or more areas such as ceramics, painting, drawing, photography, print media, sculpture, and digital media.

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture degree is unique to North America and is distinguished from other agriculture degree programs by providing a broad scope of study related to sustainable food production as an integral and fundamentally critical element of sustainable human existence. Through a distinctive and exceptional combination of classroom and farm-based learning, the program offers a comprehensive perspective on:

• The science of agro-ecosystem design and stewardship;
• Innovative and ecologically sound crop production methods;
• Sustainable farm business management; and,
• The economic, social, and environmental challenges facing our food system

The curriculum is designed in recognition of the need for both practical and academic training within the new powerful movement in sustainable agriculture. Students will be immersed in a setting which fosters experiential learning and exploring personal interests and inclination. During our four year Bachelor degree program, students will work to realize three major learning outcomes:

The ability to grow fruit and vegetable crops within a sustainable ecological context. A full spectrum of experiential field-based agricultural courses are offered in Year 3 which, by necessity, follows a complete crop cycle beginning in the spring and extending through summer into the fall. These applied courses function as a mechanism to bring the theoretical concepts and principles of sustainable agro-ecosystem design, function and management to practical realization.

Develop the business, sales and marketing skills necessary to manage a sustainable agricultural farming business. The development of these skills is facilitated by the inclusion of a broad base of foundational courses supplemented by a multidisciplinary business management course in Year Four.

Develop practical, problem solving and research skills as well as an understanding of government, economic and business environments and policies needed to address issues of and advance sustainable agri-food systems, as related to employment in government, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Advanced VFX (Virtual Production) is a full-time, two-year, cohort program focused on the fundamentals of Visual Effects and the integration of Virtual Production workflows and pipelines. Students will study numerous specializations in VFX, such as modeling, sculpting, texturing/surfacing, lighting, compositing, and FX. The program also integrates virtual production workflows into these departments and courses by introducing the Unreal Engine. Unreal and other virtual production software and tools are used in the preparation, modification, and filming of VFX assets, in-camera. By replicating real-world fundamentals of virtual production and its fast-paced work environment of real-time rendering, artists are trained to be equipped both artistically and technically in the realm of quick problem solving, teamwork and collaboration. The fundamentals of cinematography, data acquisition, matchmove, photography and real-world lighting are also explored before they are taken into the 3D, virtual space. In advanced studies, 3D matte painting is introduced as a hybrid of 2D and 3D images for set extensions, for use in both traditional VFX and VFX for virtual production. Basic scripting is used in various software packages, such as Unreal, Nuke, Houdini and other industry leading software to optimize artists’ workflows. The program also teaches students the fundamentals of pre- and post-production, critical analysis and review, realistic production schedules, team work and soft skills. It also teaches students how to interact with other VFX departments, both on set and in studio.

A wide range of industry standard software and tools, processes, and workflows are taught to the students for both traditional VFX and VFX for virtual production. Students will create a portfolio of VFX shots in the form of a demo reel. Demo reel shots may be solely the student’s own creations, or the result of a collaborative group project(s).

The Advanced VFX (Virtual Production) program is best suited for students that display an artistic or creative background. A foundation in technical and or software skills is also beneficial. These artistic, creative and technical skills serve as a foundation for challenging roles in the VFX and game development industries.

The one-year General Business Studies Certificate Program is designed to provide students with a broad range of fundamental business skills and an understanding of the business environment. Many classes are offered in the evening to accommodate part-time students.  The Certificate program requires completion of 10 courses and emphasizes real world business applications in key functional areas.

Students may select their elective courses according to the following guidelines for specialization in Business Management or Marketing and have the specialization documented on their transcript.

Courses in the certificate program may also be applied towards the Business Management Diploma program at KPU.

The Associate Degree in Philosophy at KPU is designed to foster the development of general critical reasoning and writing skills. Students pursuing the Associate Degree will experience a learning environment that is supportive and challenging. They will receive a solid introduction to the critical reasoning, writing, and problem-solving skills required for successful careers in any area.

The KPU Creative Writing Department offers students a community of creativity in which writers discover a purposeful craft and explore the gifts of the imagination. We offer award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and a rigorous approach to the discipline of writing. The department is known for a strong sense of community which supports writers to discover their voice and develop their craft.

Learning in the Creative Writing Department is based on foundational principles of mentorship, discovery, purposefulness, and learner autonomy. Faculty demonstrate an authentic spirit of inquiry intended as a model for learners. In turn, learners engage with a teaching environment that is collaborative, creative, and respectful. We embrace emerging and experimental teaching methods in support of a dynamic educational community that is innovative, interdisciplinary, and socially and culturally responsible.

In the Creative Writing Department, learner engagement extends beyond the classroom to encompass learning from community and industry partners and peers. Creative Writing provides an excellent foundation in communication skills as well as the development of divergent and creative thinking abilities. Graduates with these skills are highly sought in today's dynamic workplace.

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.