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2023-2024 Academic Calendar

General Arts and Sciences Certificate


Location(s): Chetwynd, ​Dawson Creek, ​Fort Nelson, ​Fort St. John, ​Tumbler Ridge, and Online

The University Arts and Sciences (UNAS) program at Northern Lights College (NLC) serves individuals and communities by providing university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the arts and sciences. A wide variety of first and second-year courses enable learners to pursue numerous credential and career options, and to engage in personal enrichment.

The Certificate in General Arts and Sciences is awarded to students who complete 30 credits of UNAS courses. The certificate is intended to allow students to explore the Arts and Sciences, and to potentially prepare students for continued university-level studies leading to a Bachelor’s Degree.

Career Prospects

By taking a planned combination of Northern Lights College courses, students may complete a full year of university-level courses and then transfer to a number of university degree programs.

Intakes


LocationStartingType
Chetwynd*FallFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
WinterFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
SpringFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
Dawson CreekFallFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
WinterFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
SpringFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
Fort Nelson*FallFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
WinterFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
SpringFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
Fort St JohnFallFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
WinterFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
SpringFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
Tumbler Ridge*FallFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
WinterFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
SpringFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
OnlineFallFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
WinterFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 
SpringFull-Time(opens in a new tab)Part-Time(opens in a new tab) 

* requires a mix of online and video-conference(opens in a new tab) courses

Length


30 credits (450 hours), minimum.

This is a one year program taken over two semesters with minimum of 15 credits per semester.  Part-time studies will take longer.

Estimated Program Fees


Program fee type: Academic

Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.

Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.

Domestic Fees

 TuitionStudent FeesInstruction-related
Fees (includes GST)
Total
Year 1$ 3,581.40$ 149.76$ 0.00$ 3,731.16

International Fees

 TuitionStudent FeesInstruction-related
Fees (includes GST)
International
Medical Insurance
Total
Year 1$ 11,580.00$ 149.76$ 0.00$ 828.00$ 12,557.76

Still have questions?


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Admission Requirements


While there are no specific admission requirements for Domestic Students, it is suggested that they heed the standard UNAS English Requirement:

English Requirement

For applicants from countries that practice Standard Written English, one of the following:

  • English Studies 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
  • English First Peoples 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
  • ENGL 050(opens in a new tab) with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
  • ENGL 099(opens in a new tab) with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
  • Any university-level English course with a grade of C or higher
  • NLC Writing Assessment with placement at the college level (100)

For all other applicants, one of the following:

  • IELTS result with an overall score of 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6.0*
  • TOEFL iBT of 78
  • Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) 60 overall band
  • Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) 8 in each section
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) 57
  • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 76
  • Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) 69 plus NLC’s Writing Assessment
  • A post-secondary level credential with equivalent English language requirements
  • Two years of full-time secondary school education in English in Canada and completion of English 12, English Studies 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, or equivalent with a minimum grade of B.
  • Completion of the Citation in English for Academic Purposes Level 060

The General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements  outline more details of the academic English requirements.

Students with a writing band of 6.0 or less are required to complete ENGL 099(opens in a new tab) with a B grade or higher before or during the first semester of their program.

Note

Elective courses may have specific prerequisites. Meeting entrance requirements for the program does not ensure course prerequisites have been met for all available courses.

Important Notes


  1. The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans for domestic students. Visit StudentAidBC(opens in a new tab) to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
  2. Course transfer agreements allow students to receive course-by-course transfer to other colleges, universities, and institutes in BC, as indicated in the BC Transfer Guide(opens in a new tab).

Program Requirements


Residency Requirement25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College
Minimum Grade Requirements2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); minimum D grade (50%) in all courses
Additional RequirementsA minimum of 50% of the course work applicable to subsequent credentials must be from courses that were not used to satisfy the requirements for the initial credential.

All of:

Credential


Certificate in General Arts and Sciences