REGINA - The multidisciplinary program empowers students to pursue interests and career goals without having to choose between STEM and the liberal and creative arts.
The faculties of Arts, Science, and Media, Art, and Performance (MAP) at the University of Regina have created a program that is flexible and purpose-built for a world in which the most pressing challenges — from climate change and pandemics to political extremism and artificial intelligence — require knowledge, tools, and methods from both the arts and sciences.
In a media release issued Tuesday, the university said the new bachelor’s degree in Arts and Science (BA&Sc) opens doors for multidisciplinary-minded students who are seeking flexibility in both the content and delivery of their studies, and can be completed in three years.
"The high degree of flexibility in this program offers students the best of all worlds. Graduates will be able to think critically and problem-solve across the creative, human, and natural sciences," says Dr. Douglas Farenick, Dean of Science.
Students gain a foundation in both STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) while pursing their unique path with seven courses (21 credit hours) in math and sciences and seven courses (21 credit hours) in communications, literacy, and the liberal and creative arts. An additional 16 elective courses (48 credit hours) provide students with the freedom to deepen their focus or widen their scope across a range of disciplines, states the release.
“The division between STEM and the arts was always an artificial one. At universities, the need for both STEM and arts skills and knowledge became especially clear as we responded first to COVID-19 and then to the rise of generative AI. The BA&Sc will equip employees but also citizens and neighbours to imagine and implement solutions based on the big picture,” says Dr. Shannon Dea, Dean of Arts.
Ella Gidluck, a fourth-year, Luther College student at the U of R, can see the finish line for her degree – a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), as well as a Certificate in Non-Profit Sector Leadership and Innovation. Gidluck says having a choice to study more than one area is important to her, input she provided as a member of the Faculty of Arts Academic Program Development Committee during its deliberations about the new degree.
“I really love how the U of R supports students who have multiple interests and passions. With the new degree, students can choose courses from all three faculties, gain exposure to multiple research methods, and experience different perspectives which is really powerful and needed in today’s world,” says Gidluck.
Depending on course selection, students may be able to take up to two years of classes off campus, either remotely or through a regional college. For international students, the BA&Sc also opens new and timely doors for study options.
"The Bachelor of Arts and Science will equip students with the skills to shape the future and succeed in both existing and emerging careers. As one of the few programs of its kind in Canada, it will develop graduates who can blend creativity with technical expertise," says Dr. David Dick, Dean of MAP.
Students can register for the program in the faculty of their choice, Arts, Science, or MAP, and start in the Spring/Summer 2025 term.
