By Reina Pino Fernandez BA ‘21, former Arts Peer Advisor
All UBC students need to fulfill specific degree and credit requirements to advance their studies year over year. In your first year as a Bachelor of Arts student, it’s important to get an overview of all requirements in order to navigate your degree efficiently.
Looking back to my first year, I found that the understanding of degree requirements played an important role in having a smooth university experience, so I am sharing some of my learnings to help you.
What are degree requirements?
In order to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, you must complete at least 120 credits and fulfill the Faculty-wide requirements, including:
- Writing and Research (6 credits)
- Language (3 options)
- Science (6 credits)
- Literature (6 credits)
- Outside the field of study (60 credits if you have a single major)
- Upper-level credits (48 credits if you enrol in a single major, a combined major or the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST) program)
- Arts credit minimum (72 credits must be taken within the Faculty of Arts , except when the completion of your program requires more than 48 credits outside of Arts)
Important degree requirements for your first year
The degree requirements for Arts may look pretty daunting to you as an incoming first-year student. But don’t worry, you’ll have four (or more) years to work through them and as you complete them, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment.
It is crucial to fulfill the Writing Component Requirement in your first year by enrolling in Arts One, the Coordinated Arts Program (CAP), or registering in ENGL 100 or WRDS 150. I decided to take WRDS 150 in my first term as I was not familiar with academic writing and the course helped me develop writing skills which have been essential to my university career. If you do not fulfill the Writing Component by the end of your second year, your registration may be restricted, so plan ahead and trust me, you will benefit from a writing course in the long-run.
I’d also encourage you to address the Language requirement in your first year because you might find a language that you love and want to continue learning throughout your degree. If you completed at least a grade 12 level in a language other than English or if you are proficient in a second language, you may already meet the requirement. As an international student from Spain, I was lucky enough to fulfill the requirement with my first language, Spanish, so I ticked it off my list quickly!
Language is not only about learning words and phrases, you can discover insights into different customs and cultures, and become a well-rounded, intercultural communicator. Arts Advisor Chavah Avraham wrote a great blog about the benefits of learning languages as well as explaining all the various ways you can fulfill the Arts Language requirement.
Other degree requirements
Both the science and literature requirements will challenge you to dive into topics you may have never considered exploring. To complete a portion of the former in my second year, I took “CONS 127 – Observing the earth from space.” Who would have thought I would learn about satellites and space stations in university? And for the latter, I took “GRSJ 224 – Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice in Literature,” which aligned perfectly with my interests in social justice issues. You don’t have to worry about the research requirement until your fourth year.
What are credit requirements?
In order to earn your degree, you must complete a minimum of 120 credits, including outside credits, upper-level credits, and the Arts credit minimum.
Outside credits give you a break from your major and allow you to explore a variety of interests through electives. Upper-level credits are courses numbered 300 and higher and the number you have to take varies depending on your major and if you are completing an honours program.
Know how many credits to take
Most students take 15 credits (5 courses) per Winter Term. This equals 30 credits over the full Winter Session (Terms 1 and 2).
Keep in mind that in order to be considered a full-time student you have to take at least 9 credits (3 courses) per term. Additionally, some awards and scholarships require a specific amount of credits each Winter Session, so pay close attention to your credit load.
Summer credits
While you may decide to take three to five courses per term in your first year, you have the option of taking summer courses. These enable you to take a lighter credit load during Winter Session, so you can engage in extracurricular activities or jobs.
Summer courses are only about a month long so you can still enjoy your summer while having a lighter load in the next Winter Session. It is a win-win situation!
Getting ready for first-year registration
It takes a lot of effort to choose courses, and address degree and credit requirements. Rely on the people who are here to help you: instructors, other students, and Arts Advisors. They provide essential support throughout your degree, so do not hesitate to reach out. I can speak from personal experience that they will make things easier and empower you to do what you came to UBC to do: Learn, grow and have fun!
If you have more questions about your degree requirements, consider attending an Arts Advising workshop and using the first-year planning guide.
Reina Pino Fernandez BA ‘21, former Arts Peer Advisor
