Program

Academic Foundations (Certificate)

Domestic applications

Summer 2025: Applications are closed

Fall 2025: Apply Now!

Winter 2026:  Apply Now!

Summer 2026:   Applications open June 2, 2025 at 9:00 am

International applications

Please visit the International Application Deadline page to find out when applications may be available.

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Interdisciplinary HSS
Credits
30.00
Length of program
Two semesters
Credential type
Certificate
Campus
Coquitlam
New Westminster
Learning format
Full-time
Part-time
Admission type
Open Enrolment - General Admission Requirements
Offered
Fall
Winter
Summer

Overview

Not sure what you want to study? Explore your options while accumulating credits - and without wasting time or money - with the Certificate in Academic Foundations. With this flexible, one-year credential, you can (with our help) build your own program while exploring your interests in the arts and sciences. This certificate is designed for maximum transferability to degree programs at Douglas College or other institutions. To ensure your courses transfer, see the BC Transfer Guide.  

You'll take part in classroom discussions and give presentations, experiment in the lab and write papers to develop and enhance your critical-thinking, writing, research and presentation skills, competencies that are crucial to success in your future career or further education. 

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:

Note: Prerequisites for some courses are:

  • Foundations of Math 11 with a C (or equivalent), or Pre-calculus 11 with a C (or equivalent) are prerequisites for many Math and Statistics courses
  • Some lab courses have high school prerequisites such as Biology 12, Chemistry 11 or 12 and Physics 11 or 12

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you check each individual course prerequisite and ensure that you have completed requirements prior to registration.

Cost

Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more. 

For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts. 

Program Requirements

Curriculum framework

Graduation Requirements For Students Completing By Summer 2023:

  • Successful completion of 30 credits
  • A minimum of 50% (15 credits) of the required program courses must be taken at Douglas College.
  • Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: four (4) years

Graduation Requirements For Students Completing After Summer 2023:

  • Successful completion of 30 credits
  • A minimum of 50% (15 credits) of the required program courses must be taken at Douglas College.
  • Graduate in Good Academic Standing (Cumulative GPA of 1.50 – See Academic Performance Policy)
  • Time limit to complete program graduation requirements: four (4) years

Course Requirements:

Course Number Course Title Credits

ENGL

Select any university transferable** ENGL course (CMNS or CRWR can be used if the course transfers as an English course to one of UBC/UBCO, SFU, UNBC, or UVic.)

3

M/S/CS

Select any university transferable** Mathematics, Statistics (MATH 1160, PSYC 2300, BUSN 2429, etc.), or Computing Science (CMPT/CSIS/CISY) course

3

Lab Science

Select any university transferable** lab science course. (BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, GEOG, GEOL, SCIE)

3

Arts and Sciences Electives

Select a minimum of 12 university transferable** credits in the Arts and/or Sciences.

12-21

Electives

Select any university transferable** course.

0-9

Total Credits

 

30

** A university transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the 5 Research Universities - SFU, UBC, UBCO, UNBC or UVIC – according to the BC Transfer Guide.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Career Pathways

This program will prepare you for further education and enhance your current skill set. Develop your academic experience, discover what interests you and apply your new knowledge to your future career.