To receive a history degree from UBC-O, students must fulfill the general requirements of a Bachelor of Arts degree. Of the 120 required credits, at least 48 must be 300/400 level courses, and 30 completed on the campus, with only 12 credits allowed from "non-Arts and non-Science baccalaureate courses." Students also must have a minimum grade average of 60 percent to graduate.
Within the first two years of their degree program, students must complete six credits, which equal two courses, of first-year English, as well as six credits of first-year science. Undergraduates can meet a requirement for coursework in a language other than English by completing a grade 12 language course in high school or by taking a year of language at the university. Undergraduates must also distribute their courses among two disciplines, with 18 credits of social sciences and 18 credits of humanities courses. To qualify for a history degree, they must complete 12 credits of 100/200 level history courses.
Upon completing 49 credits, students can declare a history major and create a major plan with an adviser. In the third and fourth years, they complete their last 60 credits, including 48 in history. Out of these 48 credits, 30 should be upper-level history courses that cover a variety of topics and eras, such as pre-1800s, the 20th century, and a thematic studies class.
History students at UBC-O also have the option of pursuing an Honours degree. To qualify, they need an overall average of 72 percent, an average of 76 percent in history courses, at least 12 credits of history courses, third-year standing and an application. The program also requires an undergraduate student thesis -- a 50-page research paper -- completed under the supervision of a faculty member.