Are you a deep thinker who likes to ponder questions about people and culture?
If so, you will enjoy Selkirk’s University Arts offerings in Humanities and Social Science. Here you will find disciplines which have stood the test of time and lead to careers with lasting power? Careers like law, research, archiving, counselling, politics and other careers which require being able to think about people and human interactions in creative yet rigorous ways. Our highly qualified faculty and small classes allow you to interact with your instructors and fellow students and hone your written and spoken skills of discussion and argumentation.
If you are someone who has wondered what it means to be human and why humans behave the way they do, then anthropology is for you. Anthropology is such a broad discipline, that it also has a broad appeal. All human activities are covered by anthropology. If you find humans curious, if you enjoy travelling or hope to travel, and most importantly, if you have ever wondered "why", anthropology is for you.
Every organization today needs and wants creative and competent writers and thinkers. Our creative writing program enables students to focus on strengths and cultivate strategies for learning both the art and craft of writing in all four genres, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. In this two year program, students write and produce imaginative work on multiple platforms including travel writing, digital stories and radio plays. Students also gain publishing and editorial experience with our literary magazine, and participate in building a supportive community with monthly open-mic public readings.
Economics will be of interest to students who intend to transfer to a full economics program at another university, business students and those looking for a well-rounded education.
With two years of courses from your associate degree, you’ll be well on your way to completing your bachelor with most or all of the admission requirements for entry into third year at BC universities. After you graduate with your bachelor degree, you can come back to the West Kootenay and complete your bachelor of education in the West Kootenay Teacher Education Program (WKTEP) delivered by the University of British Columbia.
Do you love words and stories? Literature invites you to participate in experiences and ideas beyond your own and grants you access to some of history's and today's most imaginative minds. Studying English is a great place to start if you are interested in exploring philosophy, history, psychology, religion, anthropology, sociology or politics. You can also continue towards an associate of arts degree in English at Selkirk (two years) and then a bachelor of arts degree in English (two more years at a university).
Giving you a full two years of study, the general associate of arts degree fulfills most, if not all, course requirements for third-year entry into BC approved bachelor of arts university degree programs. Mix and match your courses to suit your needs and interests. If you are not quite sure what you want to major in yet, but know you want to get your bachelor’s degree eventually, the associate of arts general degree is right for you. It gives you a well-rounded blend of arts courses designed to let you see some of the options you will have later, once you decide on a specialty to focus on.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a highly valued workplace asset with industries increasingly needing GIS experts. With our Advanced Certificate and Advanced Diploma, that can continue into Bachelor's Degree, we provide you with top quality GIS training and education to prepare you with essential skills to succeed in today's ever-changing Geomatics industry.
A Geography degree will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to begin a variety of rewarding careers. Geographers work as urban planners, GIS technicians and analysts, disaster preparedness planners, teachers, environmental scientists, remote sensing analysts, transportation planners, demographers, hydrologists and in a variety of other areas.
Take this program for the simple love of history—or to get started on years one and two of your bachelor’s degree in history. You’ll get two years of university level, fully transferable courses that fulfill most, if not all, of the requirements for third-year entry into a history major or honours program. Apply your knowledge to your future career through being able to identify and address historical problems in any given situation. History is more relevant than you may think—let us show you why.
Learning to understand and speak more than one language is considered an important part of a broad liberal arts and sciences education. We offer beginner and intermediate French and Spanish courses.
The Law and Justice studies program will provide you with all of the courses you need in order to be prepared for entrance into law school or an advanced legal program of your choice including paralegal, criminology and justice studies.
Pursue a number of passions and develop a strong academic foundation in the Liberal Arts program. A Liberal Arts education allows you to learn across a diverse field of subjects in the humanities, social sciences and hard sciences. You will develop the broad base of knowledge and skills that employers are looking for, including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem solving, effective communication and ethical judgment. Your courses are also all fully transferable into three- and four-year university degree programs within BC, Canada and abroad.
Take this program if you have a strong desire to not only understand human conflict, but to help put an end to the world’s needless suffering through viable peace-based methods and practices. Emphasizing peace in a cultural and international context, this program combines courses in humanities, social sciences and applied sciences, and gives you opportunities to engage in various service learning experiences or in directed peace studies related academic research.
Philosophy prepares you for a broad range of professional careers where success relies on the ability to read carefully, think critically and write persuasively.
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior and psychologists seek to understand all aspects of human thought, experience and action. For example, psychologists interested in decision making might investigate the roles of reason or superstition in the choices people make. Other psychologists might focus on factors that influence emotions ranging from uncontrollable rage, paralyzing fear and suicidal depression to passionate desire and ecstatic joy. Psychologists are interested in the circumstances that might motivate an individual to risk their own life to save others at one moment and commit acts of great cruelty at another.
Sociology is a broad discipline that expands awareness and is an analysis of human social relationships, cultures and institutions that profoundly shape both our lives and human history.
Take this program if you’re interested in alternative medicine and holistic treatment methods and have always had a desire to heal those in need. You’re fascinated by Chinese healing practices like acupuncture and want to develop a balanced approach to your clients’ health and well being. You’re inspired by nature and see the interconnectedness of the Earth’s systems. You want to know yourself better, and through that knowing, help others in the process.
The School of University Arts and Sciences offers over 100 university arts and science courses.
Women's studies explores culture, politics, society, health and history from a women's perspective. It will give you a unique perspective of the world.