Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (Major)

at Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Surrey Campus Canada

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.

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 craft of writing.

Teaching in the Creative Writing Department is based on foundational principles of mentorship, humility, 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, innovative, creative, and respectful. We embrace emerging and experimental teaching methods and research-driven pedagogy 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 community and industry partners and peers.

This credential is awarded in recognition of a substantial course profile in science taken at KPU. There is no recognition of a Diploma of Science with respect to transferring to a receiving institution other than transfer credit on a course-by-course basis.

The B.Sc. in Health Science program is designed to prepare students for public and private sector careers in health research, health practice, health product production and distribution, and health management. It also prepares students for entry into schools of health or graduate studies.

The objectives of the degree are as follows:

• To provide students with a strong foundation in the basic sciences together with writing and critical thinking skills.
• To provide students with a broad knowledge of the various health professions involved in the Canadian health system.
• To equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for employment in health service delivery, health research, production and distribution of health products, and other health-related fields.
• To provide students with the educational prerequisites necessary for entry into a) post graduate degrees in the sciences, and b) qualified health professional programs (e.g. medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, medical technical programs, pharmacy).
• To provide students with the opportunity to integrate an understanding of complementary medicine (e.g., naturopathy, traditional Asian medicine) with the basic sciences.

The B.Sc. in Health Science is designed around a core of required basic science and health science courses, complemented by health science and open electives that provide graduates with a solid science foundation but also with critical health research, communication, and management skills for future success.

The Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology (BTech in IT) program allows students to earn a bachelor degree that prepares them for employment in the IT industry in Canada or for graduate school. Courses are offered so that students can focus on network administration and security or mobile and web application development based on their interests and career goals.

Co-operative Education

The Bachelor of Technology – Information Technology 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 two-year Business Management Diploma will prepare program graduates for entry-level management positions. The program's foundation courses provide an understanding of the basic skills and techniques required to be effective in today's business environment. Graduates will take specialized courses in management essentials, human resources management, business law, negotiations, operations management, enterprise development, business planning and international business. The program emphasizes real world business applications of key management concepts.

Classes are exciting, practical and participatory. They may include a combination of lectures, exercises, case studies, in-class assignments, projects, student presentations, group work, role-play, structured simulations, field trips and guest speakers. Many classes are offered during evenings to accommodate part-time studies.

All courses may be applied for credit toward any of the following KPU Business Degrees:

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Entrepreneurial Leadership
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resources Management
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing Management

Many of the courses included in this program are articulated with other universities and colleges for ease of course transferability to and from KPU.  Please refer to the BC Transfer Guide at www.bctransferguide.ca regarding the transferability of courses to and from specific institutions in British Columbia.

The Associate of Science in General Science is tailored for students who are uncertain of the major they wish to complete and offers a broad range of science courses balanced with in-depth study in specific disciplines.

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.

Mathematics is a diverse discipline that reveals hidden patterns and allows us to deepen our understanding of the world around us. The discipline of mathematics is constantly evolving, creating exciting new theories, addressing challenging problems, and finding solutions to problems in engineering, business, the sciences, and the social sciences.  Mathematics deals with data, measurement, observation, inference, deduction, and proof.
Mathematicians make it possible to send secure emails. Mathematicians create abstract models for real problems in order to find solutions to those problems.  Mathematicians analyse data to make predictions about natural phenomena, human behaviour and social systems.

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in General Studies degree program provides students with the opportunity to develop a degree program in thematic areas across disciplines. Working with an Arts Degree Advisor, the student creates a personal program of study in concert with specific career and personal goals, or simply develops a broad interdisciplinary liberal arts education. Such a program of study will normally involve a selection of courses from a number of departments that form around a coherent theme.

The program includes:-

• The development of knowledge, core competencies, and skills characteristic of traditional Bachelor of Arts programs
• The preparation of students for entry into the labour market by incorporating essential and employability skills in all courses
• The preparation of students to respond innovatively to emerging trends in society
• Clear benefits to students and to the community by providing an opportunity for them to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at KPU where there is established emphasis on teaching, emerging emphasis on undergraduate research, long-standing connections to South Fraser communities, and accessibility to students in the expanding South Fraser region.

The general objective of a B.A. Major in Anthropology is to prepare students for life, the workforce, and advanced study in this or other fields. Anthropology students find employment in such areas as: governmental and non-governmental organizations; archaeology; law enforcement and forensic work; social work; counselling; public administration; education; urban planning; public relations; broadcasting and journalism. In a globalizing and increasingly multi-cultural world, an employee capable of working alongside persons from diverse cultural backgrounds is vital. Anthropology provides students with both the practical experience and the necessary tools to apply cross-cultural and cross-historical understanding to problem-solving strategies within the workplace.