Multidisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Arts

Introduction

Congratulations on being accepted into a Bachelor of Arts degree program! You are embarking on an academic journey that will offer you the best of a broad liberal education with the ability to specialize in various fields of study. 

The multidisciplinary program doesn’t require a major, offering you the maximum flexibility to follow your unique interests. A minor field (primary focus) offered by the Faculty of Arts is required to help focus your studies and provide you with a cohort of peers who have similar academic interests. Your degree is built around a core of basic competencies in literature, communication skills and cultural heritages. You will graduate with the broad mix of general political, social and cultural knowledge that many employers value.  

The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered as a B.A. requiring the completion of 120 units and normally four years of full-time study. 

Courses required in your first year

Some upper year courses may have 200-level prerequisites. You may be able to take these prerequisites to fill one of your open options.

1. This is a course taken toward your chosen Faculty of Arts minor. Check the academic calendar for information on your minor.

2. This is a course taken toward your secondary focus. The secondary focus is 18 units taken in a single subject area or, in some cases, a second minor.

Tip:
Remember to register for both fall and winter semesters at the same time.

For further information, please contact:
Arts Program Advisor
Telephone: 403.220.3580
Email: artsads@ucalgary.ca

Studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree means that you are a student in the Faculty of Arts.

The program that you choose refers to the subject area you’d like your Bachelor of Arts degree to focus on (e.g. Bachelor of Arts, major in History). This is something that you will have indicated when you applied for admission.

To see your program, log into your online Student Centre and under the Admissions menu and within the "My Applications" box, click on "status". You will then be able to see your faculty and program.

From Archaeology to Visual Studies, there are numerous majors and programs to choose from within the Faculty of Arts. If you'd like to see the different majors and programs that the Faculty of Arts has to offer, visit the faculty website.

If you are coming to the University of Calgary with Advanced Placement credit or International Baccalaureate credit, you will follow the same registration process as any first time university student. You may be eligible to use your transfer credit in your degree program depending on the program you have entered and whether or not the courses are applicable. Look for International Baccalaureate credit information here and Advanced Placement information here.

View your transfer credit in your online Student Centre. Once you know the transfer credit you have received, you may contact the academic advisor in your faculty to get advice on course selection.

Generally, students must complete 18 units at the junior (200-level) before they are allowed to register in 300-level courses. However, if you received IB or AP credit for a 200-level course, you may take the 300-level course that has your 200-level course listed as a prerequisite.

Co-op and Internship: Get a head start on your career through our co-operative education and internship opportunities. You will gain valuable work experience in your industry—all before you graduate.

Study Abroad: Experience different cultures, gain a better understanding of world issues, and travel around the globe, all while earning credit towards your degree. The University of Calgary offers exchanges and study abroad programs in 61 different countries.

Community Service-Learning: Combine your classroom learning with volunteer work that achieves community goals, and see first-hand how your academic learning relates to social issues.

Arts and Science Honours Academy: Be part of a unique program that combines collaborative study, global opportunities and academic challenge. The ASHA program brings together 25 like-minded high achieving students to learn and study in six distinct scholars courses. As an Arts and Science Honours Academy student, you will be one of a class of the best and brightest at the University of Calgary.