Associate of Arts (International Relations) Degree
The Associate of Arts degree is a two-year undergraduate program offered by many institutions in the province of British Columbia and beyond. The Associate Degree program is designed to provide broad-based knowledge and experiences which lay a foundation for further undergraduate study.
For full program description, requirements, and policies, see the Academic Calendar.
Program Description
What you will learn
Students of the Associate of Arts (International Relations) Degree program will gain multi-disciplinary knowledge in the faculties of arts, humanities, and social science, and develop their critical thinking and research skills.
The program also includes a customizable concentration in international relations, which allows students to explore contemporary and historic globalization, including trends and interactions between states and other organizations in the fields of politics, culture, and economics. Students develop a foundational understanding of interconnected, pressing issues that transcend regional and national importance.
Program Structure
The Associate of Arts (International Relations) Degree is a foundational degree consisting of 60 credits in total, typically completed over a two-year period. Program requirements include a range of breadth requirements, as well as required studies in economics, sociology, political science, international studies, history, and Asian studies.
What you can do after graduation
Transfer to 2nd/3rd Year at a University
An Associate of Arts (International Relations) Degree may be transferrable to the third year of a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a university.
Some BC universities also admit Associate Degree graduates at a reduced GPA requirement. For more information on the option of transferring to a university upon completion of an Associate of Arts (International Relations) Degree, please consult the BC Transfer Guide or see an Academic Advisor.
Program Requirements
The Associate of Arts (International Relations) degree program consists of the following course requirements, which must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater.
- 6 credits in first-year English
- 9 credits in science which shall include at least:
- 3 credits in mathematics, computer science or statistics (statistics courses taught in subject areas of commerce and psychology may also be used)
- 3 credits in a laboratory science
- 36 credits in arts, 18 of which must be taken at the second-year level in two or more subject areas, including:
- 9 credits in economics
- 3 credits in international studies
- 6 credits in political science
- At least 3 credits in sociology
- At least 3 credits in history
- At least 3 credits in Asian Studies
- 9 credits in Arts, Science, or other areas
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