Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major
The Bachelor of Professional Arts program is a four-year program designed for students who have completed an Athabasca University (AU) approved two- or three-year diploma or 60 credit equivalent from an accredited university, college, or institute of technology. Some students may qualify to earn additional credits through prior learning assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact Advising Services.
Human Services Major
Bachelor of Professional Arts, Human Services Major (BPA-HSRV) is offered by AU's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The program responds to the career and professional needs of practitioners in the human services sector, including: community development, counselling, education, child care services, health care services, intercultural relations, and social services. It provides students with broad-based and in-depth learning within the social sciences, emphasizing intercultural, legal, political and social factors shaping human services in Canada. The program complements the diploma programs offered at accredited colleges in Alberta and across Canada.
Planning your program
Online program plans assist students in selecting the courses needed to fulfill their program requirements.
AU has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Enrolment route
- Post-Diploma (PD) Transfer
- University Transfer
- Prior Learning
Enrolment requirements
Full enrolment into the Human Services Major requires 60 credits. The BPA Human Services Major is available to:
- graduates of an approved two- or three-year diploma (60-90 credits), two 30-credit certificate programs, or one 30-credit certificate and 30 transferable credits;
- graduates of an undergraduate university degree in a discipline other than Social Work;
- applicants with a minimum of 60 credits of university-level coursework;
- applicants with a minimum of 60 AU Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits; or,
- applicants with a combination of PLAR credits combined with university-level course credits to reach at least 60 credits.
Coursework and credentials must have been obtained from an accredited college, university, or institute of technology approved by Athabasca University. Individuals who have questions about the eligibility of their previous education for enrolment are strongly encouraged to contact Advising Services.
Pre-enrolment status
Applicants are granted pre-enrolment status if they have 6 or more credits, but less than the 60 credits required for enrolment. They can complete the remaining credits at AU for full enrolment.
Note: Those in the pre-enrolment category might consider completing an AU certificate or diploma credential that serves as a building block toward the degree, such as the 30-credit certificates or a diploma such as the 60-credit University Diploma in Arts. The courses within the 30-credit University Certificate in Public Administration (UC-PADM), for example, can be applied to both enrolment and to satisfy BPA major requirements, however, credits can only be used once. Contact Advising Services for more information about how you can earn the UC-PADM credential to fulfill major requirements, or to satisfy both entry and major requirements.
English language assessment
In addition to meeting the stated enrolment requirements, applicants must also complete AU’s English Language Assessment (ELA) prior to being enrolled in the program. Based upon the applicant’s ELA results, a recommendation will be made as to which writing skills’ course is appropriate. Those applicants whose ELA suggests they would benefit from skill building courses at the 100-level will be allowed to register in ENGL 155: Developing Writing Skills; ENGL 177: English for Academic Purposes; or PHIL 152: Basics in Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing. The 100-level skill building course can be counted as a Junior Option in the Major.
Program requirements
Students must complete the regulations that are in effect at the time they enrol in the program.
Students are strongly encouraged to register in their English courses early in their program.
Program structure
| Total credits in the program | 120 |
| Enrolment requirement | 60 |
Minimum credits required beyond the college diploma
| Common Core credits | 12 |
| Major and elective and/or option credits | 48 |
| Total | 60 |
| Residency requirement: A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
Within the degree students are required to earn for degree completion
| Minimum credits required at the senior (300/400) level | 48 |
| Minimum credits required at the 400 level | 18 |
| Maximum credits allowed at junior (200) level* | 12 |
| *see English Language Assessment section; this could include an ELA recommended 100-level writing skills course. |
Common core
(12 credits)
All BPA programs require students to take a common core of courses which can be taken at any time. Students are encouraged, however, to complete the common core courses early in their program. The common core addresses skills and knowledge that will help students succeed with the remaining degree requirements. When choosing courses in the common core please consult Advising Services.
| 1. Take one of the following writing skills courses: | |
| ENGL 255 Introductory Composition or PHIL 252 Critical Thinking | (3) |
| NOTE: Students who have taken a course deemed equivalent to one of these courses must take the other course. All students are strongly encouraged to complete their writing skills course(s) early in their programs. | |
| 2. Take one of the following Indigenous cultural competency courses: | |
| INST 203 Indigenous Studies I or INST 205 Indigenous Studies II | (3) |
| NOTE: Students who have taken a course deemed equivalent to one of these courses must take the other course. | |
| 3. A senior (300/400) level professional ethics course, such as: | |
| CMNS 455 Media Ethics or PHIL 333 Professional Ethics or PHIL 334 Professional Ethics in Heritage Resources Management or PHIL 335 Biomedical Ethics or PHIL 337 Business Ethics or PHIL 371 Ethics, Science, Technology, and the Environment | (3) |
| 4. A research methods course, such as: | |
| SOSC 366 Research Methods in the Social Sciences or ANTH 390 Community-Based Research Methods | (3) |
Human Services – specific requirements
Note that HSRV 489: Capstone: A Synthesis of Program Learning Outcomes may only be taken at the end of the program. All HSRV major required courses are prerequisites, therefore may not be taken concurrently with HSRV 489. A maximum of three, 3-credit option/elective courses may be taken concurrently with HRSV 489 (12 credits in total) as the final courses to complete the degree.
| Common Core credits | 12 |
| Major Courses credits (made up of Required Major Courses and Electives) | 33 |
| Required Major Course credits | 18 |
| Elective credits | 15 |
| Options credits | 15 |
| Minimum HSRV credits allowed, of which 9 must be at the 400 level (HSRV 489 fulfills 3 of these credits) | 18 |
| Minimum credits required at the 400 level | 18 |
| Maximum credits allowed at the 200 level (which may include 3 credits at the 100 level if recommended by the ELA. See English Language Assessment section above). | 12 |
| Maximum credits allowed in Business and Administrative Studies courses | 15 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits | *see Prior Learning above |
Major courses (33 credits)
Required major courses
(18 credits)
| HSRV 201 | Social Work and Human Services | (3) |
| HSRV 306 | Critical Reflection for Practice | (3) |
| HSRV 311 | Social Justice in Action | (3) |
| HSRV 322 | Ideology and Policy Evolution | (3) |
| INST | All INST courses | |
| HSRV 489* | Capstone: A Synthesis of Program Learning OutcomesTaken at the end of the HSRV degree studies, after all other courses in the BPA-HSRV major degree have been completed. All HSRV major required courses are prerequisites, therefore may not be taken concurrently with HSRV 489. A maximum of three other 3-credit option/elective courses may be taken concurrently with HSRV 489 as the final courses to complete the degree. *Professor approval required. | (3) |
Elective courses
Select 15 credits from the following list:
Note: Courses that are cross-listed with courses on this list will meet the elective requirements.
| ANTH | All ANTH courses | |
| CMNS | All CMNS courses | |
| CRJS | All CRJS courses | |
| EDPY | All EDPY courses | |
| EDUC | All EDUC courses | |
| GLST | All GLST courses | |
| GOVN | All GOVN courses | |
| HADM | All HADM courses | |
| HSRV | All HSRV courses | |
| INST | All INST courses | |
| IDRL* | All IDRL courses | |
| LGST | All LGST courses | |
| ORGB* | All ORGB courses | |
| POEC | All POEC courses | |
| POLI | All POLI courses | |
| PSYC | All PSYC courses | |
| SOSC | All SOSC courses | |
| SOCI | All SOCI courses | |
| WGST | All WGST courses | |
| * Courses in Industrial Relations and Organizational Behaviour may not exceed 15 credits in this degree. (See Program Structure, maximum in Business and Administrative Studies) | ||
Options
(15 credits)
15 credits from any discipline*
* Students whose ELA results recommend preparatory skill development via ENGL 155, ENGL 177, or PHIL 152, may count these 3-credit 100-level courses towards the Option requirement.Note: Please ensure your course selection meets the general degree requirements, especially the requirements of completing 18 credits at the 400 level and 18 credits in Human Services.
Students are advised to plan their program of study carefully using a program planner, and to consult with Advising Services to ensure that they meet all of the degree requirements.
Updated July 25, 2024 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)