University Arts Diploma

Work-integrated learning opportunities will depend on the area of focus you choose. Learn more about the many types of experiential learning opportunities available at Red Deer Polytechnic through the Career Education and Experience Development Centre.  

After completing the University Arts Diploma, you can continue your education to earn a bachelor’s degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies at RDP or transfer to a different post-secondary.  

Below are the University Transfer options for you to continue your studies. To learn more, contact the Student Connect Centre.    

• Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology – University Transfer  

  • Anthropology is the study of humankind and the human experience from its beginnings to the present day. RDP's special interests include Archaeology, Cultural and Biological Anthropology, Human Evolution, Latin American Ethnography, Anthropology of Technology, Ancient Civilizations, Ancient Mesoamerica and Central America. Graduates of this program are well-prepared to pursue careers in marketing, public relations, radio and television, museum curation, consulting, publishing and much more.  

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies – University Transfer  

  • Communications Studies provides an awareness of the impact of media, understanding of research and practice involving media, and research and practice in discourse. A degree in Communications Studies provides students with skills and knowledge that can be applied across a variety of professional situations, from the corporate world to the not-for-profit sector to academic institutions. 

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics – University Transfer  

  • Economics studies how households, businesses and governments make choices about how to allocate scarce resources to best satisfy individual and social wants. The tools of economics can be used to analyze issues as diverse as unemployment, inflation, globalization, discrimination, environmental issues, taxation, health care and professional sports.  

  • Graduates of this program can pursue careers as securities or commodities brokers, financial planners or managers, investment or credit analysts, bankers, auditors or researchers. Many graduates pursue further degrees in professional fields such as law or business administration or graduate degrees in Economics, which can lead to even more career pathways. 

• Bachelor of Arts in English – University Transfer  

  • RDP offers courses that range from Shakespeare to Indigenous literature, expository to creative writing and national literature to popular genres, allowing you to learn practical skills while acquiring cultural knowledge. 

  • Studying English develops the skills you require in the workplace: creative problem-solving, accurate research, persuasive writing, and confident public speaking. It may lead to jobs in any of the following areas: advertising, public relations, writing, languages and linguistics, administration, government and civil service, journalism and research. Many graduates go on to pursue professional or graduate studies. 

• Bachelor of Arts General – University Transfer  

  • The objective of all programs is to provide you with the basis of a liberal arts education which will allow you to transfer to universities offering a Bachelor of Arts degree program.   

  • In most cases, you will major in one of the subjects listed below. By declaring a major, you are simply stating your intent to pursue a comprehensive study of that subject area. Some university programs require you to declare a minor, which represents a second subject you will study in some depth as well. Majors available at RDP are Anthropology, Communications, Economics, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. 

  • Bachelor of Arts degrees are integral to support a variety of disciplines and careers. As such, graduates play a critical role in contributing to Canada’s knowledge-based economy across numerous sectors: health, human services, business, politics, industry and education. A broad range of occupations await graduates of the Bachelor of Arts program, depending on your major.   

• Bachelor of Arts in History – University Transfer  

  • History is the analysis of the human past. Courses are offered in three main areas: Canadian, European and British. RDP special interests include Western Canadian history, British Empire and Commonwealth, Modern British social history and Modern Europe. Year 1 courses include Classics, Medieval, Early Modern World, and Modern World. Graduates typically pursue careers in advertising, law enforcement and corrections, government and civil service, urban planning, recreation, in museums or as archivists. You may also decide to pursue professional or graduate studies. 

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy – University Transfer  

  • Philosophy is the study of thought and reasoning, with special application to abstract and conceptual areas of enquiry typically outside of the fields of the sciences, such as the Nature of Reality or Moral Values. Graduates of this program can pursue careers in administration, government and civil service, research, management, journalism, information technology and more.  

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – University Transfer  

  • Political Science is the study of politics and government, the location and use of power in society, and quests for human betterment. Graduates of this program can pursue careers in law, government and civil service, radio and television, journalism, research, education, consulting, industrial relations, law enforcement and corrections, urban planning, public relations and many other fields. Graduates may also go on to pursue graduate studies for a Master's or Doctorate in Political Science.  

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – University Transfer  

  • Sociology is the study of the organization of society and how individuals make sense of their lives and experiences. As an academic discipline, Sociology provides powerful insights into why and how people organize themselves and behave as they do, at work and at play, in families, groups, communities, organizations and societies. Special interests at RDP include demography, health and wellness, aging, mass media, and popular culture, gender, families, crime and justice, social stratification, poverty and inequality.