Bachelor of Arts and Science (BAS)

The Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science at UNB in Fredericton work together to offer a combined arts and science four-year degree program.

Students must meet the entrance requirements of both BA and BSc degrees.

BAS program requirements

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.

Arts undergraduate programs Faculty of Science undergraduate programs

Program of study

First year

ARTS 1001 and ARTS 1002.
Six term lecture courses in first-year science (MATH 1003 or 1053 included), four accompanied by labs. The choice of lecture courses and labs is dictated by the particular science degree program intended.
6 ch (in any one discipline) chosen from either humanities (classics, English, history, philosophy, media arts and cultures, and comparative cultural studies), languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish, Mi’kmaq and Maliseet) or social sciences (anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, sociology).

Second year

Two more term lecture courses in first year science. These must be accompanied by labs only if the student’s particular science program requires them, e.g. the pre-professional program.
12 ch (6 ch in each of two disciplines) chosen from arts, including at least one discipline from a group (humanities, languages, social sciences) not chosen in the first year.
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. Your advisors will discuss the options with you.

Third and fourth years

The exact content of years three and four will depend upon the particular arts and science areas chosen. Students take advanced courses to give them a thorough understanding of their specializations 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.

A minimum of 36 ch total in science chosen in consultation with, and pre-approved by, your science advisor. At least half of these courses must be of upper levels (3xxx and 4xxx).
36 ch total chosen in consultation with, and pre-approved by, your arts major(s) advisor, 18 ch of which must be of upper levels courses.

Students should note that at least half the advanced-level credits counted towards the BAS degree must be from courses taken at UNB. Exceptions may be considered by the deans of arts and science, respectively.

Students who enter the BAS program may opt to move into either arts or science at any stage. With the exception of laboratory courses, 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 a BAS, students may continue for a fifth year to earn both a BA and a BSc (two degrees) with major(s) (or honours) in arts disciplines and in a science discipline. For example, BA (history) and BSc (physics).