Associate of Science in General Science

at Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Surrey Campus Canada

The KPU Creative Writing Department offers award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and a rigorous approach to the discipline of writing. The department is known for a strong sense of community which supports writers to discover their voice and develop their craft. Creative Writing provides learners with an excellent foundation in written communication skills as well as the development of divergent and creative thinking abilities. Graduates with these skills are highly sought in today's dynamic workplace.
Students who wish to major in Creative Writing are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate of Arts degree with a concentration in Creative Writing.

The Associate of Arts Degree is an exit credential designed to provide a more rigorous and broad educational experience than the Diploma with much of the same flexibility. The credential prepares students for employment, global citizenship and critical thinking, and can be used as a solid foundation for future studies. The Associate of Arts in General Studies option is for students who have not selected a major area of study.

The Certificate in Criminology is a 30-credit program offering students an introduction to criminology and other disciplines as well as post-secondary training for careers in criminal justice agencies. On completion of the Certificate, students have the option of entering the Diploma in Criminology, Associate of Arts in Criminology, Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal Justice, or Bachelor of Arts, Major or Minor in Criminology. Students who want to ensure that they do not have to make up additional coursework should choose their optional criminology courses carefully in consultation with an Academic Advisor and the University Calendar requirements for the applicable Criminology program.

Advanced VFX (Virtual Production) is a full-time, two-year, cohort program focused on the fundamentals of Visual Effects and the integration of Virtual Production workflows and pipelines. Students will study numerous specializations in VFX, such as modeling, sculpting, texturing/surfacing, lighting, compositing, and FX. The program also integrates virtual production workflows into these departments and courses by introducing the Unreal Engine. Unreal and other virtual production software and tools are used in the preparation, modification, and filming of VFX assets, in-camera. By replicating real-world fundamentals of virtual production and its fast-paced work environment of real-time rendering, artists are trained to be equipped both artistically and technically in the realm of quick problem solving, teamwork and collaboration. The fundamentals of cinematography, data acquisition, matchmove, photography and real-world lighting are also explored before they are taken into the 3D, virtual space. In advanced studies, 3D matte painting is introduced as a hybrid of 2D and 3D images for set extensions, for use in both traditional VFX and VFX for virtual production. Basic scripting is used in various software packages, such as Unreal, Nuke, Houdini and other industry leading software to optimize artists’ workflows. The program also teaches students the fundamentals of pre- and post-production, critical analysis and review, realistic production schedules, team work and soft skills. It also teaches students how to interact with other VFX departments, both on set and in studio.

A wide range of industry standard software and tools, processes, and workflows are taught to the students for both traditional VFX and VFX for virtual production. Students will create a portfolio of VFX shots in the form of a demo reel. Demo reel shots may be solely the student’s own creations, or the result of a collaborative group project(s).

The Advanced VFX (Virtual Production) program is best suited for students that display an artistic or creative background. A foundation in technical and or software skills is also beneficial. These artistic, creative and technical skills serve as a foundation for challenging roles in the VFX and game development industries.

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in History, will provide you with the opportunity to study the many peoples and cultures whose contributions have created the world in which we live today.
Our BA degree allows you to develop the knowledge and core competencies characteristic of a traditional BA program, while preparing you to respond creatively and innovatively to a range of challenges in our community and our world. You will gain the literacy and analytical competencies demanded by twenty-first century employers. Equally importantly, you will become a better-informed citizen of our increasingly interconnected world.
As a History student you will benefit from our faculty's commitment to teaching excellence and from the small class sizes at KPU.

The Mechatronics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology program prepares graduates for careers in the manufacturing industry. With growing reliance on automated technology in the manufacturing sector, technicians are being challenged to perform higher-level tasks that involve diagnostics, analytics, trouble-shooting and hands-on maintenance and repair. Students will acquire critical theoretical and technical knowledge, and hands-on practical experience in applied trades areas such as machining, welding, metal fabrication and electrical. In addition to these skills, students in this program will acquire the knowledge to enable them to prepare technical reports pertaining to the operation and management of an automated manufacturing facility.

The program supports applied research, product development and commercialization solutions.The program also includes the most current technology in computer numerical control (CNC) programming, renewable energy, and computer controlled autonomous systems; hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic and robotic.

Semesters 1 and 2 are aligned to the internationally recognized Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification (SMSC) program and provide certificate graduates with the opportunity to obtain Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Levels 1 and 2. Certificate graduates from the Mechatronics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology program will be equipped with the knowledge, expertise and skills to operate, maintain, and conduct diagnostics on mechatronic systems at a technician level.

Semesters 3 and 4 incorporate advanced manufacturing principles; sustainability practices, engineering resource planning, lean manufacturing practices, communications and business operations. These principles are augmented by experiential skill development in machining, metal fabrication, welding and electrical which will prepare graduates to meet the demands of the emerging trend known as “Industry 4.0”. Graduates from the Mechatronics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology program will be well prepared to work in numerous occupations in the engineering technician/technologist fields.

The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting is designed for a student that has completed a bachelor's degree and has decided to further their education by pursuing the CPA accounting designation. The program will allow students to obtain the required accounting courses to then be accepted into the accounting professional program. The program aims to provide the skill sets identified by CPA Canada as critical to achieve competency as a CPA. The program consists of fourteen courses (48 credits) that will allow students to develop strong technical skills in financial reporting, management accounting, strategy and governance, audit and assurance, finance and taxation. It will also ensure the development of the required enabling competencies of the profession: professionalism, ethical behaviour, written and oral communication, leadership, and problem solving. Note: This is a two-year program, though students can choose to complete the program in an accelerated form.

The Associate Degree is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, and an enriched life as an educated person, and to lay a solid foundation for further study in the field of Sociology. 

If you have an Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology and you are interested in continuing your degree studies at KPU, you can apply for the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Sociology degree or a Minor in Sociology when combined with another BA program. Admission to this program requires specific courses and GPA. For more information, please see the BA Major or Minor in Sociology program description.

The Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology is a provincially recognized two-year academic credential program. The aims of this program are to provide students with an entry point into a Bachelor of Arts degree program, to create greater ease in transferring credits to other post-secondary institutions, to enrich students’ intellectual lives, and prepare them with academic knowledge and skills applicable to various work contexts. Students are exposed to an overview of central topics in sociology, fundamental sociological theories and concepts, studies in Canadian society and specialized subject areas in sociology.

Marketing emphasizes competitive advantages of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and examines the inter-relationships that exist among their customers or members, the competition, and internal resources. A key part of marketing consists of gaining insights into customer needs and then developing effective marketing strategies to serve those needs.

The Marketing Management Diploma is a comprehensive program designed to provide a solid, general foundation in this exciting field. Study begins with emphasis on basic business knowledge and skills, and then intensively explores the discipline of Marketing, with emphasis on the job skills and experience that business demands. Projects with local businesses and organizations are also included in order to provide real world experience.

Graduates of this program may also be eligible to continue their business study by pursuing one of KPU's Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Human Resources Management, and Marketing Managements many of the courses required for the Marketing Management Diploma are also requirements for these BBA programs, it is important that students wishing to progress to one of the School of Business BBA degrees  see a School of Business advisor once they have completed between 36-45 credits of their diploma study.

Explore different disciplines of an Arts Degree in one of our Arts Courses. Through courses that explore a different topic each semester from a multidiscipline perspective (ARTS 1100), or an intensive interdisciplinary field school in the Amazon rain forest (ARTS 3000) students gain knowledge that spans multiple areas of study. For more information about how these exciting courses fit within your degree

ARTS 1100: Experiencing the Arts
Students will explore a broad and compelling theme through the lens of different Arts disciplines. The theme will change each semester. The course will be run by an instructor who is passionate about the theme, with class sessions taught by visiting instructors from areas such as History, Psychology, Geography, Fine Arts, Political Science, and other fields. This will help students realize how different fields within Arts are connected, as well as suggest directions for further study. They will learn to view their world through multiple, and sometimes contrasting, perspectives and develop intellectual skills which are essential for learning in various disciplines and for continued learning in life beyond the University.

ARTS 3000: Interdisciplinary Amazon Field School
Learners will engage in an intensive interdisciplinary field school in the Amazon rain forest. They will take part in cultural and creative immersion activities, participate in community engagement projects, and contextualize their field learning by classroom-based analysis and critical reflection before and after their field experiences. They will develop interdisciplinary skills in creativity, academic inquiry, ecology and conservation, cultural awareness, environmental design, design thinking, and community development. Learners will become familiar with various expressive modalities of the Amazon region (e.g. design, writing, music, movement, expressive arts, materiality, storytelling, etc.) and will explore the application of those modalities in an integrative learning environment. Note: Students will spend two weeks at the Field School site in addition to class sessions on campus before and after travel. Students must be nineteen years or older at the start of the course

ARTS 3200: Inside-Out Prison Exchange
The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program works with equal numbers of learners from KPU and from inside the prison in a transformative, collaborative learning community. Students will address issues of violence, alternatives to violence and transformation through an experiential learning process.

This course takes place within a provincial corrections institution in Surrey, BC (Surrey Pretrial Services Centre located at 14323 57 Ave, Surrey, BC.) There will be an equal number of inside (incarcerated) students and outside (KPU) students enrolled in this course. Classes will be held on Wednesdays from 9:30 - 3:20 pm. The topic for this iteration of Arts 3200 will be Violence, Alternatives to Violence & Transformation. The first half of the course will explore the roots of both interpersonal and structural violence and its impacts on people, relationships and society. The second half of the course will introduce students to alternatives to violence including conflict resolution and peacemaking practices such as restorative justice. We will conclude with reflections on what it will take to transform ourselves and society in order to lower levels of violence.

ARTS 4800: Arts Practicum
The ARTS practicum course introduces students to the workplace and degree-relevant entry-level work through placement in an employment setting. During the term, students complete 48 to 64 workplace hours (approximately 4-6 hours per week). The course is for senior students with a declared Major or Minor in Geography, History, Philosophy, Policy Studies, or Political Science. For more information visit the Arts Practicum website.