Augustana is committed to providing a unique undergraduate education through a project-based core and a variety of multidisciplinary majors and professional programs which contribute to an experience that stands out! This page will help you understand what you will be taking at Augustana and why. Prepare yourself with a foundation of knowledge to confidently navigate your Augustana degree and plan ahead.
⭐If you are registered or are planning to register with Augustana’s Accessibility Resources, this may influence your course registration.
The Augustana Calendar
The traditional university academic year typically consists of two terms (or semesters): a Fall term and a Winter term. Within a term at the Augustana faculty there is a 3-week block followed by an 11-week session. Students enrolling in a full course load will take 1 course (★3) during the 3-week block and four (★3) courses during the subsequent 11-week session, for a total of five courses per term. With how the term is organized, you will still complete the same amount of course and credit work per term as you would at other post-secondary institutions. Your academic record will not be affected should you decide to transfer or apply to professional programs, and your degree will still take 4 years to complete.
Most of Augustana's bachelor's degree programs consist of 120 credits (★) over 4 years. A typical Augustana course is weighted as 3 credits (★3). There are a few classes that have different credit values (i.e. music lessons, choir, and physical activity classes (PAC)), so check the University Academic Calendar and/or Bear Tracks for the credit (★) value of each of your classes.
To complete your degree in 4 years, you should take ★30 per year (★15 per term). Students who take fewer than ★30 per year should expect to take longer than 4 years to graduate.
Note: The Bachelor of Music (BMus) program consists of ★122; the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education (BSc/BEd) combined program is ★150 over 5 years.
⭐Not everyone's path through university looks like this. If you have questions about yours, book an appointment with an advisor or email augsas@ualberta.ca.
Augustana is the University of Alberta's liberal arts and sciences campus. As such, our degree programs are broad-based and require that students take courses in a variety of different areas. All programs are made up of the following components:
The Augustana Core
Augustana's commitment to the liberal arts and sciences orients our programs toward a broad education realized through foundation, knowledge, and skills. Augustana's common liberal arts and sciences requirements consist of a total of ★36-39, to be taken throughout your degree, that make up the Augustana Core.
The Augustana Core is designed to give you a competitive advantage after you graduate and enter the workforce.
These requirements are meant to be chipped away at over the course of your degree. You are not expected to complete this all in your first year.
The Foundation Requirement
Also known as the Project-based core, the Foundation requirement is designed to help you gain the skills needed to be successful in your future career(s). It consists of ★18, starting with the First Year Seminar (FYS) course (AUIDS 101) and ends with taking AUIDS 401, an Advanced Integration project, in your final year.
The initial course of the Foundation requirement is the First Year Seminar (FYS). All students new to the Augustana Campus are required to take FYS during their first 3-week block at Augustana. FYS is a small, intensive, and discussion-based course with the goal of introducing students to skills that will help them succeed throughout university.
The Knowledge Requirement
At Augustana, we embrace a liberal arts and sciences education that embodies many different ways of knowing. This requirement is designed to help you achieve a breadth of knowledge that will help you use a range of approaches to solve problems. Students achieve this breadth of knowledge by taking 21 total credits (★) in the following areas: Fine Arts and Humanities (★9 - you must complete at least ★3 in each area), Social Sciences (★6), and Science (★6).
⭐Certain majors like Creativity and Culture, Ethics and Global Studies, and Physical Education have that built into their major requirements, consult your ARR for more information on your specific requirements.
The Engagement Requirement
This requirement is only a requirement for certain students who started their studies prior to Fall 2020. If you are to complete the Engagement requirement it will be listed in your Academic Requirement Report.
Major Course Requirements
A major is the primary subject of study. Majors consist of ★42 to ★69 of your overall degree. When building your schedule, prioritize enrolling in courses that will address your major requirements.
Minor Course Requirements (optional)
A minor is a secondary area of study and is optional for most programs. Minors require at least ★18 with a minimum of ★12 at the senior-level (200, 300, or 400-level) in a subject area that is different from your major.
Certain major and minor combinations may take longer than 4 years to complete.
Note: BSc/BEd Combined Degree students are required to complete a minor.
⭐As of Fall 2022, Music and Management will be the only available as minors in certain degree programs. Students currently enrolled in a minor will be allowed to continue and complete. Email augsas@ualberta.ca if you have questions.
Option (Elective) courses
An option course is one that does not count towards the above sections of your degree requirements. This course will be counted to your overall credit total. You are encouraged to take something of interest or to try something new!
Embedded Certificates (optional)
Students may enrol in an embedded certificate to demonstrate their expertise in an area of learning. Completed certificates appear on your degree parchment and official transcript. The courses required for the certificate will also count towards your other program requirements, so there is no need to take additional courses. There is no cost to enrol in a certificate.- Returning students should contact augsas@ualberta.ca for instructions on how to apply for an embedded certificate.
- Incoming students need to wait until they have started classes before they are able to enrol in a certificate.
- The Psychology and Mental Health majors must complete at least one co-curricular certification in Community Engagement and Service-Learning, Mental Health First Aid, and/or Brain Story (required for Brain and Behaviour Stream). Email augsas@ualberta.ca for more information.
What’s Next?
Now that you have learned (or reacquainted yourself with) the components of your Augustana degree, why not explore what other tools you have at your disposal? You can also check out what courses you should take this year so you can build the best schedule to meet your future goals!