Bachelor of Arts and Science (BAS)

  • Program of Study

The Faculties of Arts and Science at UNB in Fredericton are co-operating to make it possible for a student to combine Arts and Science in this four-year degree program.

This Joint Program allows students

  • to experience academic work in both Faculties before committing themselves to a specialization;
  • to gain a broader and more systematic exposure to subjects outside that specialization; and
  • to prepare for subsequent degree programs that permit or encourage a broader distribution of courses; such programs include the General Science Program and various preprofessional programs leading to study in dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, and physiotherapy.

To be admitted to the Joint Arts and Science program, students must meet the specific entrance requirements for the BAS.

To earn a BAS degree, students must complete the requirements of a Supplementary Major in an Arts subject and a Specialization in a Science subject. The requirements for a Supplementary Major are the same as those for one subject taken as part of a Double Major.

Within Science, students can specialize in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, Economics (unless already selected as an Arts program), Psychology (unless already selected as an Arts program). Within Arts, students can select a Supplementary Major in one of the following areas: Ancient World Studies, Anthropology, Comparative Cultural Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Drama, Economics, Economics Studies, English, French, Gender and Women's Studies, History, International Development Studies, Law in Society, Media Arts & Cultures, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Socio-Cultural Studies in Health, or Sociology. 

Program of Study

First Year 

  1. Two of ARTS 1013, ARTS 1014, ARTS 1023 or ARTS 1024(6 ch).
  2. SCI 1001 and six single-term lecture courses in first-year Science (MATH 1003 or MATH 1053 included), four accompanied by labs. The choice of lecture and lab courses is dictated by the particular area of Science in which the student intends to specialize, and thus decisions about which lecture and lab courses a student takes should be made in consultation with a Science Faculty advisor.
  3. 6 ch chosen from one of the Arts distribution groups (Humanities, Languages, or Social Sciences.

Second Year

  1. Two additional term lecture courses in first-year Science. Whether these need to be accompanied by labs depends upon the area of Science the student has chosen to specialize in, and as such, these courses should be chosen in consultation with a Science Faculty advisor.
  2. 12 ch chosen from the Arts distribution groups (Humanities, Languages, Social Sciences) including at least 6 ch from a different group than the one chosen in first year chosen in the first year.
  3. At least 18 ch of Science courses chosen in consultation with and pre-approved by the Science Faculty advisor.

Students will normally select a Supplementary Major in Arts and a Specialization in Science at this time, and should discuss the options with their Arts and Science advisors. 

Third and Fourth Years

The exact content of years 3 and 4 will depend upon the particular Arts and Science areas chosen. Students take advanced courses to give them a thorough understanding of their chosen subjects and prepare them for an immediate career or further work at graduate school. Students who elect to take a Single Major or Honours in Arts and/or Science may extend their program beyond the four years, depending on the subjects chosen.

  1. A minimum of 36 ch total in Science chosen in consultation with, and pre-approved by, the student's Science advisor. At least half of these courses must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
  2. 36 ch total chosen in consultation with, and pre-approved by, the student's Arts Major advisor, 18 ch of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. 

Students should note that at least half the advanced-level credits counted towards the BAS degree must be from courses taken at the University of New Brunswick. Exceptions may be considered by the Deans of Arts and Science. Students should also note that, in any given year, their course load may not be evenly balanced between Arts and Science courses. Students should plan to meet with advisors from both Faculties on an annual basis to ensure that the selected courses satisfy pre-requisites for upper-level (3000-4000 level) courses and take account of courses offered in alternating years, and other program requirements.

Students who enter the BAS program may opt to move into the BA program, the BSc program, or the concurrent BA/BSc program at any stage before a degree is awarded. With the exception of laboratory courses, and SCI 1001 and SCI 1002, all courses taken during the first two years can be counted towards either a BA or a BSc degree (or both). Approved specialized Science laboratory courses will count towards the BSc degree or the Concurrent Degree in Arts and Science (BA/BSc).

Instead of graduating with a BAS at the end of the four-year program, students may continue for a fifth year to earn both a BA and a BSc, two degrees, with a Major (or Honours) in an Arts subject and a Major (or Honours) in a Science subject - for example, BA (History) and BSc (Physics). See the regulations for the five-year concurrent degree program in Arts and Science.

A student who has already graduated with a BA or BSc and who is completing a BAS degree must consult program directors and/or advisors to determine whether courses taken in fulfilment of the BA or BSc will apply toward the BAS as a second, different bachelor’s degree.  

For further details on subjects in Arts, see the Bachelor of Arts portion of the Fredericton Programs section of this Calendar.