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Associate of Arts Degree

Credential
Associate Degree

Duration
2 year(s)

Talk to a student recruitment advisor
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Faculty
Arts & Sciences

School
School of Humanities School of Social Sciences

Build your own program with a mix of arts, sciences and humanities courses in the Associate of Arts degree program at CapU.

This 60-credit credential provides a foundation in a range of academic disciplines, critical thinking, writing and research skills.

In addition to required coursework in English, Science and Arts, you'll have the freedom to select from first- and second-year courses across every faculty at CapU.

Your choices can include everything from mathematics and computing science, to business, creative and performing arts, the social sciences or humanities.

To learn more about your options or find out about starting your application, contact arts@capilanou.ca. 

CapU students in a group discussion.

Study to fit your schedule

Study at your own pace. Start your Associate of Arts degree in either the Fall (September), Spring (January) or Summer (May) terms.

A few available subjects

  • Art History
  • Criminology
  • English
  • Geography
  • History
  • Languages and Linguistics
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Sociology

Level up your education into a degree

After completing your associate's degree, you can ladder your credits into many bachelor's degree programs at CapU.

A few degree options include the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies, the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Psychology and many more.

Learn from experienced instructors

Instructors at CapU are with you every step of the way through your coursework in the associate of arts program, offering guidance, advice and mentorship.

Related links

Request more info

Find out about your program of interest and learn about upcoming events, workshops and campus tours.

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Contact us

For more information about applying to and studying in the Associate of Arts diploma program, contact us today.

Get in Touch

Information sessions

Make sure you plan ahead by bookmarking this calendar of program information sessions and open houses.

Upcoming info sessions

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Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply Now to CapU

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Intakes

Summer 2023

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time or part-time

Important dates

Applications open

Jun 7, 2022 – May 2, 2023

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Mar 6, 2023

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Apr 24, 2023

Fall 2023

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time or part-time

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 4, 2022 – Sep 5, 2023

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jul 4, 2023

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 21, 2023

Spring 2024

Location
North Vancouver

Course load
Full-time or part-time

Important dates

Applications open

Feb 7, 2023 – Jan 2, 2024

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Nov 14, 2023

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Dec 18, 2023

NOTE: Important dates may change.

How to Apply

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Review this program's admission requirements

First-time applicants submit your application on EducationPlannerBC

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay an application fee of $50, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs. 
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If you are currently in Grade 12, you must request that the Ministry of Education submit your transcript directly to Capilano University.
  • Documents must be in the original language of issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.
Apply on EPBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Submit your official transcripts

For students who have previously attended post-secondary, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credit.

Please send all official documents to:

Registrar's Office
Birch Building, Room BR230
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, BC
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official university or college transcripts

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing university or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
  • If you wish to receive transfer credits, please submit official university/college/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced Placements (AP) transcripts either electronically or by mail:

     

    Registrar's Office
    Birch Building, Room BR230
    2055 Purcell Way
    North Vancouver, BC
    V7J 3H5

Admitted Students

Review this program's admission requirements

Learn about CapU's admission requirements and submit your application

Most CapU programs need proof that you:

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of C$135, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs.
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If your original transcripts and supporting documents are not written in English, please submit a translated copy.
Apply on EPBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.
Funding for International Students

Submit your official transcripts

You've already sent digital copies of your transcripts to EducationPlannerBC as part of your CapU application, but we also need physical copies of your official high school, college or university transcripts.

If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Please send your official documents to:

Capilano University
Centre for International Experience, Room LB127
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official high school, university, or college transcripts

Students must submit official high school and university or college transcripts for admission.

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing high school, university, or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Receive letter of offer

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCapU email inbox.

  • You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer.
  • This deposit will go towards your first-semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CapU.

Receive letter of acceptance and apply for a study permit

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance in your myCapU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew, a study permit.

  • Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.
Permits & Visas

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program and have applied for your study permit, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
Info for Admitted International Students

Apply Now

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply now to CapU

Transfer Students

Find out how you can transfer your credits from another post-secondary institution to CapU.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Returning Students

If you're returning to CapU to complete your program or to apply into a new program, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Contact Registrar's Office

Switching Programs

If you want to change your program of study, you need to submit a new application to CapU.

Re-apply to CapU

Tuition and Fees

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $4,230 $1,691 $5,921
Year 2 $4,230 $1,691 $5,921
Total $8,460 $3,382 $11,842
Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $18,941 $1,691 $20,632
Year 2 $18,941 $1,691 $20,632
Total $37,882 $3,382 $41,264

Tuition & Fees Estimator

Get a detailed breakdown of the tuition and fees for your program.

Calculate my fees

Entrance Awards

All new CapU students can fund their education with entrance awards.

See if I qualify

Term Awards

Continuing your studies at CapU? You may be eligible for awards, too.

Take me to the awards

On this page

Required Courses

An Associate Degree is a formal credential that recognizes the successful completion of sixty (60) credits in Arts or Sciences. To be eligible for the Associate of Arts Degree a student must complete the following requirements.

60-semester credits of first- and second-year courses, including the following:

  1. Six credits in first-year English
  2. Nine credits in Science, including at least the following:
    1. Three credits in Mathematics, or Computing Science or Statistics (Statistics courses taught in subject areas such as Business, Economics, Psychology, etc. may also be used to meet this requirement)
    2. Three credits in a laboratory science
  3. Thirty-six credits of Arts courses, of which a minimum of 18 credits must be at the 200-level or higher
    1. Six credits in the Social Sciences
    2. Six credits in Humanities (including the Creative and Performing Arts) other than English
    3. Six credits in Social Science or Humanities (including some Creative and Performing Arts) other than English


      No more than six credits of the above may be in a single area.

    4. Eighteen additional credits in Arts courses
  4. Nine credits in Arts, Science, or other areas.

Program Notes

Courses taken within the Associate Degree framework are defined as follows:

  1. A course is defined by the subject for which it is granted transfer credit at Simon Fraser University (SFU) or the University of British Columbia (UBC: Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) or the University of Victoria (UVic).
    1. An Arts course is defined to be any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Arts degree at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.
    2. A Science course is defined to be any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate of Science degree or Baccalaureate of Applied Science degree at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.
    3. A course in an "other" area is defined to be any course in a subject area for which there is a Baccalaureate degree other than in Arts, Science, or Applied Science at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.
  2. A first-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 100-level at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.
  3. A second-year course is defined as a course that has assigned or unassigned transfer credit at the 200-level or higher level at SFU or UBC (Vancouver or Okanagan Campus) or UNBC or UVic.
  4. A laboratory science is one in which a substantial component of student instruction involves the study of natural phenomena, either in the laboratory or in the field. Each institution granting the Associate Degree will determine which of its courses satisfy this requirement.

Additional requirements for Associate Degrees

  1. No course may be used to meet more than one of the requirements.
  2. An average overall grade of "C" (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or its equivalent) calculated on all courses counting towards the associate degree must be achieved.
  3. Although the number of credits awarded for any particular course may vary from institution to institution, it is expected that a student will have completed the equivalent of approximately 20 three-credit courses to fulfil the degree requirements.
See Associate Degree Courses

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar (pdf).

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Birch Building, room BR230

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca

Related Programs

Associate of Arts Degree - English

Associate of Arts Degree - Creative Writing

Associate of Arts Degree - Psychology

Bachelor of Arts Degree - Applied Behaviour Analysis (Autism)

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Psychology

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies