The University of British Columbia

Dual Degree

The Dual Degree Program provides an opportunity for students to simultaneously pursue a BA degree and a BASc degree. Instead of having to decide whether to study in a technical field or in one of the liberal arts, humanities or social sciences, a student can study both concurrently. There are many examples in history of people who had wide-ranging interests, from Leonardo da Vinci to the Chief Engineer of the Kettle Valley Railroad, who liked Shakespeare so much that he named the stations along the Kettle Valley Railroad after Shakespearean characters.

Benefits

It has always been possible to earn two degrees by studying for them consecutively. The key benefit of the Dual Degree Program is that students may work toward both degrees concurrently. They do not need to put one interest on hold for four years while pursuing another. By studying concurrently, students will be challenged by a broader set of perspectives through the courses they choose than would be possible if only studying toward a single degree. In turn, they will bring that broader range of perspectives into all of their courses. The wider variety of courses will also provide a more stimulating challenge. On a more practical level, pursuing both degrees concurrently provides more flexibility in scheduling when courses will be taken. Also, students will be in a better position to select courses that can be used to satisfy both sets of degree requirements.

Degree Requirements

The guiding principle regarding degree requirements is that all degree requirements must be met for each degree. However, individual courses can be used to satisfy requirements for both degrees. For instance, ENGL 201 – Major Authors can be used to satisfy the Faculty of Arts’ literature requirement and the Faculty of Applied Science’s humanities requirement. The University regulations governing the granting of a second undergraduate degree are also applicable. Generally, a student should expect to have to take at least 195 credits in order to complete both degrees. A student in the Dual Degree Program will develop their final study plan in conjunction with an advisor from the Board of Studies for the Dual Degree Program.

Schedule

There are no special regulations governing when a student in the program may take certain courses beyond the normal pre-requisite issues. However, the following recommendations are given with a view to minimizing the time required to complete the program.

An incoming student should start by taking the first-year engineering program. The following summer, the student could take an additional first-year English course, a literature course, a language course if the Faculty of Arts’ language requirement had not previously been met and a lower level course in the student’s Arts’ major. The second winter should be spent in engineering again. The second summer could be used to complete any remaining general requirements of the Faculty of Arts. Subsequent terms would be spent principally taking either Arts courses or Engineering courses. The advantage of keeping individual terms focused on either Arts or Applied Science is to minimize schedule conflicts. The following table graphically presents the recommended schedule.

	First Year	Second Year	Third Year	Fourth Year	Fifth Year
Fall	ApSc	ApSc	Arts	ApSc	ApSc
Winter	ApSc	ApSc	ApSc	Arts	ApSc
Summer	Arts	Arts

This recommended schedule may need to be modified to fit an individual student’s needs. For instance, some courses span both winter terms. Therefore, it may be necessary to mix courses from Arts and Applied Science during the same term in order to complete everything as quickly as possible.

Application Process

Students interested in the Dual Degree Program must submit a letter of application addressed to the Board of Studies of the Dual Degree Program through either the Engineering Student Services Office or the Arts Advising Office depending on the Faculty in which the student is registered or accepted. The letter should state the arts major and engineering program that the student would like to pursue and the reasons behind those interests. The student may also choose to submit a portfolio or other materials that demonstrate their interests. Students must be registered in or have been accepted into either the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Applied Science and must be acceptable for registration or transfer into the other Faculty.

The BA/BASc Dual Degree Program is not open to students with a previous degree.

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Minor in Arts

A student in an engineering program may undertake a minor in Arts:

• An acceptable minor program must comprise courses in the Faculty of Arts that are for credit toward a B.A. degree and must consist of 18 upper-level credits in a single subject or field of specialization.
• Students should design a coherent and academically sound course of studies for the proposed minor.
• The program must be approved by an advisor in Engineering Student Services on the recommendation of an advisor from the appropriate department or program office within the Faculty of Arts.
• All courses must be acceptable for a B.A. major in the proposed subject area or field, although the student is not bound by other requirements of the Faculty of Arts.

A minor in Mathematics, Computer Systems, Cognitive Systems, or where there is significant overlap between the student’s engineering program and the proposed subject or field for the minor is not permitted. A dual degree and a minor in Arts cannot be combined, although a student may pursue a minor within the B.A. degree.

Upon successful completion of the minor program, the notation "Minor in Arts" will be added to the student's transcript.

Students wanting a subject-specific minor may also undertake a minor in a specific Arts discipline's minor program, which requires the completion of at least 30 credits in a single subject field of specialization, of which at least 18 credits must be numbered 300 or higher.

Download Minor in Arts Application [72 KB PDF]

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Minor in Commerce

Students desiring a stronger foundation in business are encouraged to consider the Minor in Commerce. Upon successful completion of this Minor program, the notation "Minor in Commerce" will be placed on the student's transcript.

Enrolment in this program is strictly limited. The deadline date for applications is mid-May. For an application to be considered, the student must be eligible for third year standing in the Faculty of Applied Science with a cumulative average of at least 68% in the previous two years. Meeting the stated minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the Minor. Preference will be given to students who have already completed ECON 310 and 311 or 101 and 102.

The Minor in Commerce will consist of:

• ECON 310 and 311* (6),
• COMM 457 (3),
• COMM 465 (3),
• one of COMM 329 (3), COMM 458 (3) or COMM 473 (3), and
• the engineering economics course appropriate for the department in which the student is enrolled (3).

In general, completing the Minor in Commerce will take an additional term.

* Students who have completed ECON 101 and 102 prior to entry into the program may use these courses in lieu of ECON 310 and 311. The Economics courses may be counted towards the Humanities and Social Sciences electives area of the Complementary Studies requirements.

Some programs may allow students to count a Commerce course listed above as a technical elective.

Download Minor in Commerce Application [121 KB PDF]

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED: MARCH 15 - MAY 15

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Minor in Information Technology

Students wishing to improve their computer-related skills are encouraged to consider the Minor in Information Technology. Upon successful completion of this Minor, the notation "Minor in Information Technology" will be placed on the student's record.

A student completing the Minor in Information Technology will not be able to replace a professional trained in information technology. However, that student will be able to apply information technology within their field of specialization. Specifically, they will have an understanding of information technology on three levels; hardware, software, and systems. Where their own understanding of an issue is insufficient, they will be able to work knowledgeably with information technology professionals to resolve the problems.

This Minor is not open to students in the following programs: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechatronics option of Mechanical Engineering, or the Electrical or Computer Science options of Engineering Physics. For an application to be considered, the applicant must be eligible for third year standing in the Faculty of Applied Science with a cumulative average of at least 68% over the previous two years. Due to limited enrolment, meeting the stated minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the Minor. In general, completion of the Minor in Information Technology will require an additional term.

The Minor in Information Technology will consist of:

• APSC 160 (3),
• CPSC 260 (3),
• EECE 314 (3),
• EECE 355 (3), and
• six credits from CIVL 584 (3), COMM 335 (3), COMM 437 (3), COMM 438 (3), EECE 369 (3), EECE 456 (3), EECE 478 (3), MECH 595 (2), or MINE 432 (3).

Download Minor in Information Technology Application [103 KB PDF]

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED: MARCH 15 - MAY 15

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Minor in Honours Mathematics

Students wanting a stronger foundation in mathematics are encouraged to consider the Minor in Honours Mathematics. Upon successful completion of this Minor, the notation "Minor in Honours Mathematics" will be placed on the student’s transcript.

The Minor in Honours Mathematics consists of two components: 200-level MATH courses, and 300- and 400-level MATH courses. An overall average of at least 68% must be obtained in each of the two components of the Minor.

A minimum of 9 credits of 200-level MATH courses are required in the first component.

• 200-level MATH courses from a student’s engineering program (excluding MATH 221 and 223) may be included in this total.
• Students must include at least one of MATH 217, 227, 263, or 317 (students who have successfully completed MECH 222 are exempt from this requirement).
• Additional eligible courses are MATH 220 and 257.

The 300- and 400-level MATH courses required in the second component are:

• MATH 300 (3),
• MATH 320* (3),
• Two of MATH 301, 321, 322, and 400 (6),
• Elective 300- and 400-level MATH courses** (12)

*The prerequisites for MATH 320 will be waived for students who earn an overall average of at least 80% on the best 5 or more credits of 200-level MATH courses from the first component. Other students must obtain at least 80% in MATH 220.

**Eligible elective 300- and 400-level MATH courses are: MATH 301, 257/316, 317, 318, 321, 322, 331, 345, 400-405, 412, 416-440, 443, and 449.