Associate of Arts Degree

Explore ideas. Expand perspectives. Shape your future.

Discover new perspectives and develop critical thinking, communication and research skills through a flexible Associate of Arts Degree. Explore diverse areas of study, build a strong academic foundation and prepare for further education or career opportunities.

Credential

Associate Degree Degrees are multi-year academic programs that prepare you for professional careers or advanced study. They build in-depth knowledge in your chosen field and can lead to graduate studies or higher-level career opportunities.

Delivery mode

On-campus All classes take place in-person at one of our campuses.

Time commitment

Full-time You take a regular course load and move through the program at the standard pace. Expect to study most weekdays. Part-time You take fewer courses at once and progress more slowly. This option offers more flexibility for work or personal commitments.

Duration

TBD

Program codes

Code: AA

Cost

$4,909 per year Domestic students: $9,818 total program cost $50,950 total program cost International students: $50,950 total program cost

Location

Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton or Salmon Arm Full program offered in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton or Salmon Arm

Available for

Domestic students
International students

Program features

TBD

Program overview

About the program

Immerse yourself in different cultures, new perspectives and timely historical insights. Communicate in new ways and dig up answers to long-standing and emerging questions facing today's world.

Develop your critical thinking and research skills with the two-year Associate of Arts Degree, choosing from more than 300 courses in 23 subject areas.

It is recommended that students use the program outlines below to investigate options for a study emphasis. Also, course planning sheets are available through Education Advising to help you register for the right classes.

There are arguably more career paths from an Associate of Arts/Bachelor of Arts Degree than any other field of study, as critical thinking and creativity applies to almost every career.

Arts students go on to meaningful careers in education, law, health, government, social services, publishing, the environment, media, etc.

Program description

In meeting the above requirements, the Associate of Arts Degree can be structured by students to reflect emphasis on a particular discipline from options outlined below. Students are advised to verify with the appropriate Department Chair that the specific course offerings will be offered within a two-year cycle if students intend to complete the Associate Degree in two years.

Tuition and fees

Domestic students

$4,909

per year

International students

$50,950

total program cost

Domestic students: $9,818 total program cost
International students: $50,950 total program cost
Fees listed are for first year (two semesters) for a typical, full-time student taking 10 courses (8 lecture-based courses and 2 course with lab components). Depending on the campus and the courses selected fees may vary.
Fees include all mandatory fees: Activity fee, Health & Dental, Student Association fee, Education Technology fee, Development fee.
Detailed International tuition fees information.
Check if this program is student loan eligible. View Financial Aid and Awards
All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.
Detailed domestic tuition and fees information

Admission and program requirements

Regular Applicants:

A regular applicant will be a secondary graduate or a secondary school student, or its equivalent, who has or who will complete the requirements for senior secondary graduation, or its equivalent, not less than one month prior to commencement of classes for the semester to which admission is sought - either fall or winter.

The following minimum entrance requirements will apply to regular applicants:

B.C. secondary graduation, or equivalent.
English 12 with minimum 60% or alternatives.

Students with a passing grade of less than 60% in English 12, English 12 First Peoples or TPC 12 will be admissible to the first year of the Associate of Arts Degree, subject to the following conditions:

Registration is restricted to courses for which the student satisfies the prerequisites. Registration in first-year English courses is, therefore, prohibited.
Successful completion of the English entrance requirements within the first year of studies. This may be done in one of the following ways:
- - Successful completion of English 12, English 12 First Peoples or TPC 12 or an equivalent course with a minimum grade of 60%. This may be done concurrently through the College's Adult Basic Education Program or by completing an equivalent course through a distance education program.

Mature Applicants:

A mature applicant will be at least 19 years of age and will not have attended secondary school on a full-time basis for a minimum period of one year.

Secondary graduation is waived for mature applicants.

The English entrance requirements, as stated above, must be satisfied prior to admission. Admission may be granted on the condition that the entrance requirements will be completed prior to the commencement of classes for the semester to which admission is sought - either fall or winter.

Transfer Students:

Students who transfer to Okanagan College may be eligible for transfer credits towards an Okanagan College Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Science degree or a General Studies diploma for work successfully completed at another recognized institution.

A minimum of 50% of the program must be completed through OC including completion of a minimum of 18 credits of 200-level courses or higher.

Schedule and campus options

Regional delivery of studies can differ according to the campus location, both years of study are available at every campus. Some courses are also available by online delivery and distance education and students can combine on campus courses with online and distance courses.

For details on what is offered visit:

For more information, book an appointment with an Education Advisor.

Start date:

Sep. 2026

Location:

Vernon

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Sep. 2026

Location:

Salmon Arm

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Sep. 2026

Location:

Penticton

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Sep. 2026

Location:

Kelowna

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Jan. 2027

Location:

Vernon

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Jan. 2027

Location:

Salmon Arm

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Jan. 2027

Location:

Penticton

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date:

Jan. 2027

Location:

Kelowna

Delivery mode:

On-campus

Application status:

Open

Start date	Location	Delivery mode	Application status
Sep. 2026	Vernon	On-campus	Open Open
Sep. 2026	Salmon Arm	On-campus	Open Open
Sep. 2026	Penticton	On-campus	Open Open
Sep. 2026	Kelowna	On-campus	Open Open
Jan. 2027	Vernon	On-campus	Open Open
Jan. 2027	Salmon Arm	On-campus	Open Open
Jan. 2027	Penticton	On-campus	Open Open
Jan. 2027	Kelowna	On-campus	Open Open

Program details

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate Arts Degree, students must complete specific Communications courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

CMNS 100 - Introduction to Communications

CMNS 110 - Introduction to Mass Communication

And twelve (12) credits of 200-level Communications

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outline above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific English courses.

Year 1

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete all of the following:

30 credits

CRWR 116 - Introduction to Creative Writing I

CRWR 126 - Introduction to Creative Writing II

ENGL 170 - Applied Publishing Skills

Earned at least 6 credits from the following:

ENGL 150 - Critical Writing and Reading: Poetry and Drama

ENGL 151 - Critical Writing and Reading: Short Fiction and the Novel

ENGL 153 - Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative

Earned at least 3 credits from the following:

FINA 110 - Introduction to Drawing and Visual Storytelling

FINA 115 - Introduction to Acting

FINA 120 - Introduction to the Creative Process

ENGL 160 - Introduction to Film Studies

12 credits of electives that satisfy graduation requirements of the Associate of Arts Degree program.

Year 2

30 credits

ENGL 220 - Studies in the Theory and Practice of Creative Writing

Earned at least 3 credits from the following:

ENGL 211 - Survey of English Literature I

ENGL 221 - Survey of English Literature II

Earned at least 6 credits from the following:

CRWR 216 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing - Poetry

CRWR 217 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing - Fiction

CRWR 218 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing - Drama

CRWR 219 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing - Creative Non-Fiction

CRWR 281 - Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing-Screenwriting

18 credits of electives that satisfy graduation requirements of the Associate of Arts Degree program.

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific Economics courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

ECON 115 - Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 125 - Principles of Macroeconomics

And twelve (12) credits of 100/200-level Economics

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific English courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

9 credits of ENGL from first year and 9 credits of ENGL from second year

Required courses include:

Complete at least 1 of the following:

ENGL 211 - Survey of English Literature I

ENGL 221 - Survey of English Literature II

ENGL 233 - Studies in American Literature

Complete at least 2 of the following:

ENGL 210 - Women in Literature

ENGL 212 - Studies in Children's Literature

ENGL 213 - Studies in British Literature

ENGL 215 - Studies in Reading Film

ENGL 222 - Studies in International Literature in English

ENGL 223 - Studies in Canadian Literature

ENGL 225 - Studies in Drama

ENGL 231 - Studies in Popular Narrative

ENGL 233 - Studies in American Literature

ENGL 236 - Studies in Indigenous Literature in Canada

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Students may only complete one of the following three courses:

ENGL 100 - University Writing

ENGL 199 - Arts Studies in English

ENGL 203 - Studies in Composition

Students may only complete one of the following two courses:

ENGL 116 - Introduction to Creative Writing I

CRWR 116 - Introduction to Creative Writing I

With the permission of the department, students may complete a different creative writing course such as: ENGL or CRWR 126, 216, 217, 218, 219 or 220.

Students who earn an English emphasis in the Associate of Arts are deemed to have completed the provincial English Flexible Pre-Major, which enables students to be admitted into the third year of an English major at universities across the province (subject to a competitive GPA).

Please note: Not all courses are available on all campuses every year. Check with the department chair to confirm the availability of courses. Students intending to pursue an English major at UBC should complete ENGL 211 and 221 to demonstrate historical coverage.

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific Geography and Earth and Environmental Science courses and a breadth of 200-level arts courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

Six (6) credits of introductory Physical Geography or Earth and Environmental Science (one of the following pairs):

GEOG 117 - Introduction to Human Geography I

GEOG 121 - Introduction to Physical Geography: Water & Landscapes

EESC 111 - Earth Science

EESC 121 - Natural History of the Earth

Six (6) credits of introductory Human Geography (one of the following pairs):

GEOG 128 - Human Geography: Space, Place and Community

GEOG 129 - Human Geography: Resources, Development and Society

GEOG 117 - Introduction to Human Geography I

GEOG 127 - Introduction to Human Geography II

Twelve (12) credits of 200-level courses chosen from the following list::

ANTH 245 - Culture and the Environment

ECON 271 - Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

ENGL 237 - Studies in Nature Writing

INDG 202 - Okanagan Concepts and Frameworks

GEOG 205 - Geographical Hydrology

GEOG 210 - Introduction to Environmental Issues

GEOG 217 - Regional Geography of British Columbia

GEOG 222 - Geomorphology

GEOG 224 - The Canadian Landscape

GEOG 250 - Introduction to Urban Geography

GEOG 272 - Introduction to Cartography, GIS and Remote Sensing

GSWS 222 - Eco-Feminism

ENGL 232 - International Language in English Literature II can also be selected as a 200-level course.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

Six (6) credits of introductory Human Geography (one of the following pairs):

GEOG 128 - Human Geography: Space, Place and Community

GEOG 129 - Human Geography: Resources, Development and Society

GEOG 117 - Introduction to Human Geography I

GEOG 127 - Introduction to Human Geography II

Any four 200 level or higher Geography courses.

History Emphasis

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree with an emphasis in History, students must complete specific History courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete:

Eighteen (18) credits of History, including a minimum of six credits of 200-level History

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific Philosophy, Political Science and Economics courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete all of the following:

Six (6) credits of 100/200-level Economics

Six (6) credits of 100/200-level Philosophy

Six (6) credits of 100/200-level Political Science

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific Psychology courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

PSYC 111 - Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes

PSYC 121 - Introduction to Psychology: Personal Functioning

And twelve (12) credits of 200-level Psychology

As a means of satisfying all of the requirements outlined above for an Associate of Arts Degree, students must complete specific Sociology courses.

Specifically, as part of the Associate of Arts Degree requirements, students must complete the following:

SOCI 111 - Introduction to Sociology I

SOCI 121 - Introduction to Sociology II

And twelve (12) credits of 200-level Sociology

The Associate of Arts Degree is granted upon completion of 60 credits of prescribed study (below). Students with an Associate of Arts Degree if admitted to BC universities are guaranteed full transfer credit (60 credits) for the work done for their Associate Degree.

In two B.C. universities (SFU and UNBC), students with an Associate of Arts Degree will be offered priority admission to the Faculty of Arts (subject to a minimum GPA determined by the university). Check the BC Council on Admissions and Transfers website for updated information on BC Associate degrees at http://www.bctransferguide.ca.

Courses used to complete the Okanagan College Associate of Arts Degree must also have transfer credit to one other BC university (Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria).

No course may be used to meet more than one of the specific requirements.

The Associate of Arts Degree is granted upon completion of the following course requirements with a minimum grade average of 60% for all courses counting towards the degree.

Students must complete at least 6 credits from the following courses:

ENGL 100 - University Writing

ENGL 150 - Critical Writing and Reading: Poetry and Drama

ENGL 151 - Critical Writing and Reading: Short Fiction and the Novel

ENGL 153 - Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative

ENGL 199 - Arts Studies in English

NOTE: Students with credit for ENGL 100 may not take ENGL 199 for further credit. (Students planning to transfer to UBC Vancouver are advised to complete ENGL 199.)

Nine (9) Science credits including three (3) credits of MATH, COSC or STAT and three (3) credits in a lab science course. Of the three (3) credits of lab science and for purposes of the Associate of Arts Degree, students select from the following non-exclusive list, and should be mindful in their program development that not all courses will be offered at every campus in every academic year.

ASTR 110 - Astronomy for the Physical Sciences I

ASTR 111 - Astronomy I

ASTR 120 - Astronomy for the Physical Sciences II

ASTR 121 - Astronomy II

BIOL 111 - Biology for Science Majors I

BIOL 112 - Evolution and Ecology

BIOL 116 - Current Biotechnology Topics for Non-Science Majors

BIOL 121 - Biology for Science Majors II

BIOL 122 - Physiology of Multicellular Organisms

BIOL 131 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I

BIOL 133 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II

CHEM 111 - Principles of Chemistry I

CHEM 112 - Introductory Chemistry I

CHEM 117 - Introduction to Forensic Science

CHEM 121 - Principles of Chemistry II

CHEM 122 - Introductory Chemistry II

CHEM 131 - Chemistry of Brewing

EESC 101 - Environmental Science

EESC 111 - Earth Science

EESC 121 - Natural History of the Earth

EESC 205 - Geographical Hydrology

EESC 212 - Weather and Climate

EESC 222 - Geomorphology

GEOG 121 - Introduction to Physical Geography: Water & Landscapes

GEOG 205 - Geographical Hydrology

GEOG 212 - Weather and Climate

GEOG 222 - Geomorphology

PHYS 111 - Calculus-Based Physics I

PHYS 112 - Introductory Physics I

PHYS 121 - Calculus-Based Physics II

PHYS 122 - Introductory Physics II

For the three (3) credits of MATH, COSC or STAT and for purposes of the Associate of Arts Degree, students must select from the following:

MATH 111 - Essential Mathematics for Arts

MATH 112 - Calculus I

MATH 120 - Pre-Calculus

MATH 122 - Calculus II

MATH 160 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

STAT 121 - Elementary Statistics

STAT 124 - Business Statistics

COSC 111 - Computer Programming I

COSC 121 - Computer Programming II

COSC 122 - Computer Fluency

COSC 180 - Multimedia Computing

SOCI 271 - Statistical Analysis in Sociology I

PSYC 270 - Statistics and Data Analysis

GEOG 270 - Geographic Data Analysis

Students should consult the BCCAT transfer guide and the calendar of their destination institution to determine whether the following two courses will be granted transfer credit and will be accepted for credit toward a Bachelor of Arts degree:

MATH 120 - Pre-Calculus

MATH 160 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers

NOTE: Students should note that GEOG 270 meets the MATH, COSC or STAT equivalency only for the Environmental Studies Emphasis or the Geography Emphasis of the Associate of Arts.

Thirty-six (36) credits in Arts including:

Six (6) credits in the Social Sciences;

Six (6) credits in the Humanities (including the Creative and Performing Arts); and

24 additional credits in Arts.

Nine (9) credits in Arts, Science or other university-transferable courses.

Humanities include English, Fine Arts (excluding FINA 201 and 202), French, German, History, Japanese, Mandarin, Philosophy, First Nations Indigenous Languages, Creative Writing, and Spanish. Social Sciences include Anthropology, Communications, Criminology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, Indigenous Studies and Geography courses that are not lab science courses. Note: Of the thirty-six (36) credits in Arts required for the Associate of Arts Degree, eighteen (18) must be from 200-level courses and from two or more subject areas.