In the Faculty of Arts at UBC, you can choose between three first-year study options: Arts One, the Coordinated Arts Program (CAP), or a custom timetable.
Arts One and CAP are designed to ease you into the university experience by offering small class sizes, tight-knit communities, and a variety of pre-designed timetables that will satisfy several Arts degree requirements in your first year.
In any of our first-year study options, you have the ability to create a customized degree experience that meets your unique academic and career goals. Below, meet three UBC students and learn about their experiences in each first-year study option.
Arts One
Bianca Chui says the best part about Arts One is the community.
Arts One is one of Canada’s top first-year programs. Students develop strong reading and writing skills and benefit from small class sizes and extensive support from instructors and peers.
Coordinated Arts Program (CAP)
Small class sizes and a supportive learning environment made CAP the right choice for Aida Sanjush.
In CAP, students select one of five streams that feature interlinked courses from a range of Arts disciplines and have access to exclusive academic and social support.
Custom Timetable
Ethan Donnelly wanted flexibility in his schedule and the freedom to choose a range of different topics and professors.
With Custom Timetable, students choose a personalized set of courses to meet degree requirements. Students may include a wide range of study topics or delve into a specific area of interest.
Arts One | CAP | Custom Timetable | |
---|---|---|---|
Credits | 18 credits 12 elective credits | 18 credits 12 elective credits | 30 credits (build your own timetable) |
Courses | A year-long program comprised of weekly lectures, seminars and tutorials | A year-long program comprised of 4-6 courses (5 streams) | Mix of courses |
Length | Two terms (Sept-Apr) | Two terms (Sept-Apr) | Two terms (Sept-Apr) |
Teaching Approach | Each theme is taught by five faculty members from various Arts departments | Each course is taught by a different faculty member from various Arts departments | Varies |
Format | 100-student lecture once per week 20-student seminar twice per week Four-student tutorial once per week | 100-125 student lecture once per week 25-student CAP seminar once per week (previously ASTU) | Varies |
Workload | One set of readings A series of essays One final capstone assignment and a final exam | Each course has readings, assignments, and an exam *Assignments are coordinated across CAP courses | Varies *Assignments are not coordinated across courses |
Degree Requirements | Writing component | Writing component | You must select courses that will meet your first-year degree requirements |
About the Bachelor of Arts program
90+ undergraduate program options
Students from over 120 countries worldwide
$1M+ in annual prizes, scholarships & awards
All figures from the 2017/18 academic term.