Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies

at University of the Fraser Valley - Abbotsford Campus Canada

Develop your skills as an adult educator through UFV’s Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education — a mid-career professional development program.
Tailor your studies to fit your busy schedule. All courses are online with the exception of a few classroom sessions, with video conference access if you are a distance student. The Bachelor of Arts in Adult Education program is completely flexible and allows you to:

• Study part-time or full time
• Choose online courses on a rotating schedule
• Take evening and Saturday classes
• Earn credit for prior learning, including from non-traditional settings

The Accounting certificate program is a comprehensive accounting program designed for mature students who wish to pursue a career as an accounting technician or in financial management.

The program provides a thorough grounding in management accounting, business law, income tax, auditing, financial management, statistics, and microeconomics. You may also select an elective, based on the professional program you intend to pursue.

View program outline in the UFV Academic Calendar

The program may be taken on a part-time basis over several years or on a full-time basis over three semesters. The course load of the full-time program is rigorous and requires above-normal effort and time to succeed.

The Administration certificate can also open the door to further studies to complete a Bachelor of Business Administration at UFV or earn a designation from a professional society. Check with their website for transfer information, as well as work experience and grade requirements.

Get a broad, high-quality foundation in the Arts and add a valuable credential to your résumé by earning an Associate of Arts degree at UFV.

Within the degree, you can choose from the following options:

• General option
• International and Development Studies option
• Media and Communication Studies option
• Theatre option

This program includes a breadth of intellectual and academic experience worthwhile if your educational or career goals lie in the humanities, the creative and performing arts, or the social sciences.

In addition, practicum opportunities and optional paid co-op work placements throughout your studies allow you to gain valuable work experience.

Gain the essential skills required to enter the field of information technology with a UFV Computer Information Systems (CIS) certificate. The two-semester program provides you with the knowledge and experience to work with single-user systems and meet the needs of small companies who require employees with computer experience. As part of the program's strong emphasis on practical work, you get to apply what you learn in the classroom on hands-on projects in UFV's well-equipped labs. Flexible course options allow you to graduate with a certificate focused on specific skills or a general knowledge base. Depending on your course selection, you may find yourself working in areas such as web support, user technical support, or computer support.

The Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies (GDS) is a broadly interdisciplinary program designed to equip students with the critical academic knowledge, skills and experience required to function effectively as development professionals in Canada or abroad or to continue on to graduate or other professional studies.

In addition to learning history and theory of development processes, and analyzing current global practices, international or domestic internships provide opportunities to make contacts and build skills.

The program:

• Equips you with strong advocacy, problem-solving, research, and writing skills.
• Promotes intercultural dialogue locally and abroad by drawing on topics in economics, political science, anthropology, sociology and communications.
• Presents unique internship opportunities with development organizations in Canada and internationally so you can apply what you learn in a global context.
• Develops focused disciplinary knowledge and skills by fulfilling requirements for a minor or an interdisciplinary concentration.
• Grounds you in the history and theory of global development processes and examines current debates in development practice.

UFV's Mennonite Studies certificate offers solid foundational knowledge and professional experience to students who intend to pursue work or additional studies in fields such as peace and conflict resolution, sociology, history, religious studies, or social work.

In the first semester, you first explore the rich heritage of the Mennonites and connect their origins and development to socio-cultural, historical, economic, political, and religious contexts.

The second semester prepares you to become a critically-informed and socially responsible citizen. Through in-class lectures, course readings, participation in local events, and field work, you analyze and evaluate Mennonite contributions in relation to local and international relief work, development, and peacebuilding initiatives.

In addition to five required courses, elective options allow you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career goals.

In your last semester, you gain real-life experience by completing a summer internship.

Upon graduation, you are well equipped to work in Mennonite-related fields, pursue relief work or peacebuilding initiatives. Alternatively, you may choose to apply to your credits towards a wide range of programs at UFV, including Peace and Conflict Studies.

UFV's two-year Social Services diploma prepares you to work at the para-professional level in the human services field.

You establish a strong foundation of professional practice in areas of addiction, child welfare, community services, corrections, family and home support services, immigration and refugee services, Indigenous services, mental health, residential care, schools, and social assistance.  Two 13- to 15-week practica allow you to develop job-ready skills and connect to social service agencies and community groups in your local area. 

You may pursue the Social Services diploma full- or part-time. After you graduate, you are ready to enter the workforce. You can also continue your studies and ladder into the UFV Bachelor of Social Work degree program after you have taken the required pre-requisites.

Gain a framework to understand societal structures and evaluate global social challenges including inequality, poverty, sexism, racism, violence, and climate change.

Sociology major
Study of the development, structure, and functioning of human societies.

Start your studies by delving into sociology's key ideas and concepts, while building an understanding of culture, social change, socialization, stratification, social structure, institutions, race and ethnicity, gender, and age and class. In your third and fourth year, study advanced sociological topics, while gaining practical skills in qualitative and quantitative research.

When you graduate, you have developed the rational thinking, presentation, and  writing skills that are key for academic and professional success.

A Bachelor of Arts with a Political Science major, minor or extended minor offers a range of lower and upper-level courses focusing on the fields of Canadian politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

Political Science major
UFV's Political Science major is designed to provide you with valuable skills in writing, communications, critical thinking, research, problem solving, and more.

In year one and two, you learn foundational skills in political science history and theory, statistical analysis, and research methodology. In year three and four, you round out your knowkedge by investigating relevant special topics and issues such as international relations, human rights, and public policy.

The Political Science major requires the completion of 18-19 lower-level credits and 30 upper-level credits. If you have research interests you can apply one Political Science Directed Independent Studies course towards your degree.

UFV's Horticulture Crop Production and Protection certificate provides you with a solid foundation to prepare you to enter the horticulture industry. The program emphasizes principles and practices of horticultural crop production, protection, and maintenance that are in line with sustainability, food security, and environmentally responsible agricultural production techniques.

Topics include:

• Introduction to agribusiness principles
• Horticulture skills and techniques
• Plant identification
• Greenhouse production
• Nursery production and propagation
• Integrated pest diagnosis and treatment
• Fruit and vegetable crop production
• Soil analysis and fertility
• Farm and safety equipment

As a student, you are actively involved in practical, hands-on activities in the Agriculture Technology department greenhouses and on the UFV campus.

The one-year Horticulture Crop Production and Protection certificate transfers completely to the two-year Agriculture Technology diploma, Horticulture Crop Production and Protection option. Some credits may also transfer to other two-year programs in horticulture. Qualifying students may also be eligible to receive the equivalent of Year I apprenticeship in production horticulture.