Being an Arts student at UBC means you have an incredible opportunity to design your degree and study what matters most to you. With so many options to explore, you may be wondering: where to begin?
Luckily, many students have walked these halls before you and are here to share their best tips for success. Read on to discover wisdom from your fellow students and staff advisors on how to build out your degree with purpose.
Jump ahead:
- Learn about terminology at UBC
- Explore all of your program options
- Discover your first-year study options
- How to choose your major
- How to declare a major
- How to combine multiple programs
- How many credits to take
- Degree requirements
- How to change your program
- Advising resources
Learn about terminology at UBC
“At UBC, a session refers to the Winter or Summer period when classes are offered, and each session is composed of two terms. A 3-credit class is a course that takes place over a single term, while 6-credit courses span the duration of the session.
When browsing through UBC courses, you’ll notice that courses are listed in a format that looks like: PSYC 101 001. The first part of this listing is the subject code; PSYC is the abbreviation for the Psychology department. The second part is the course number; 101 refers to a first-year level course, in this case “Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology.” The final three digits refer to the course section, which indicates the particular time, location and professor offering the class.”
– Gabi Fisher, Arts Peer Advisor
Explore all of your program options
“The Faculty of Arts offers many different programs to help you create a personalized educational experience. From choosing your major to adding programs such as Arts Co-op, Master of Management or Science Po, your BA can be anything you need it to be! You can do an Honours Major and really focus in on an area of study or add a minor to diversify your studies. Think about your passions and goals and then spend time combining different program options to see what best supports your future plans.”
– Alana Shaw, Arts Peer Advisor
Discover your first-year study options
“I chose the Coordinated Arts Program (CAP) option in my first year because I thought it would ease my transition from smaller high school classes to larger lecture style classes. Having the same cohort of peers throughout the year helped me to build a sense of community. I had access to the Irving K. Barber Study Space which had a quiet study area with plants and lots of sunlight. CAP streams include three subjects per term, taught with an interdisciplinary approach, which helped me make connections across courses that I found to be engaging.”
– Muthaira Abid, Arts Peer Advisor
“I chose Arts One as it provided me with a positive and encouraging transition into university. The smaller seminars and tutorials really helped alleviate those feelings of isolation and helped me get to know my fellow first-year Arts students. I was introduced to a diverse set of classic and contemporary works from which I continued to draw connections throughout my undergraduate degree and graduate school. I also appreciated the exclusive access to a dedicated study space for students in first-year programs, support from program advisors, and the opportunity to publish in the student journal: ONE.”
– Kelly Chan, Arts One alumna
How to choose your major
“Choosing your major might seem like a huge decision, and that’s totally valid! It will definitely take up a significant portion of your credit requirements, meaning you’ll be taking a lot of courses in that subject. I suggest trying to balance practicality with interest. Because you’re going to be spending so much time in this discipline, make sure you’re choosing something you really enjoy and that you see a future for yourself in. I majored in English Literature because I knew I would enjoy it and knew I would likely do well in it. I was able to maintain a high GPA and gained an abundance of reading and writing skills that helped me get into law school.”
– Farzeen Ather, Arts Peer Advisor
How to declare a major
“You will need to declare a major at the end of your second year (after completing at least 54 credits) and before registration for third year. However, there are many majors that allow you to declare once you have a second year standing (27 credits).
Some programs allow you to self-declare, while others are competitive and require an application. For any programs you are interested in, determine if you are required to apply to the program or declare it and note any prerequisites that may be needed before declaring. You may declare your major during your allocated registration period or submit a program change form if you wish to declare outside of registration season.
For competitive majors that require an application, refer to the department’s website to find out when the application period is.”
– Odin Schubert-Rasmussen, Arts Peer Advisor
How to combine multiple programs
“Deciding which programs to combine can be tricky. For me, it was a combination of my interests in high school and my experiences taking a variety of courses in first year. My double-major in Psychology and French allowed me to explore both my passions—social psychology and languages—which offered me a more holistic lens to consider how language interacts with marginalized social identities. If you’re interested in combining programs, explore a variety of courses and pick something you truly enjoy. Adding more specializations allows you to personalize your degree and create interdisciplinary connections. “
– Rachel Chen, Arts Peer Advisor
How many credits to take
“I was able to earn 24 transfer credits in high school before I started at UBC. This allowed me to take a lighter course load in my first year so I could gain work experience through part-time jobs and take care of my mental health. I made sure to take 18 credits each winter session in order to be eligible to live in student housing and be eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit. I completed my degree in 4.5 years and was able to go at my own pace. Choosing how many credits to take depends on a variety of factors and should be based upon what suits your needs best!”
– Muthaira Abid, Arts Peer Advisor
Take note of degree requirements
“Degree requirements can be overwhelming when you’re new to university and might not know what you want to do yet. On the Academic Calendar, you can find degree requirements, credit regulations, pages for every program option, and any other academic information you might need. Look through the Faculty requirements pages and your major’s requirements pages to get a holistic understanding of how to prepare for your degree.
Arts Academic Advisors are also able to help you plan out your degree. They can help with course planning and are a great resource to talk to if you need someone to guide you through all the options.”
– Alana Shaw, Arts Peer Advisor
How to change your program
“At some point, you may decide to pursue a different degree program. That’s totally okay! Internal transfer to another UBC degree program can be done through the Change of Degree Program process. There are requirements and procedures for most undergraduate degree programs, and some programs, like the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Commerce, have specific admission requirements, so check the websites of each faculty and department for more information and plan ahead!”
– Jinjoo Lee, Associate Academic Advisor
Advising resources for you
“Academic Advisors can assist you in your degree planning, interpret policies and procedures, and provide advice about degree, promotion, continuation, and graduation requirements. Advisors are committed to connecting you with the appropriate support resources for all aspects of your academic and university life. If you are not sure where to start, come chat with us at Arts Advising!
When it comes to questions about your specialized area of study (honours, major, and minor programs), Department Advisors are your guides. They can help with your inquiries related to the program specific requirements, courses, and internal functions such as waiting lists.”
– Sophie Lee, Associate Academic Advisor
Being a student in the Faculty of Arts is exciting and we’re so glad you have chosen UBC. Enjoy your studies and remember: your Arts advisors are here to help you every step of the way.
