This Three-Year Bachelor of General Studies in partnership with Athabasca University is an ideal pathway for students who have taken a variety of courses or completed partial programs of study. The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) is flexible as it allows you to study a variety of courses to make up the degree.
Students wishing to take this program will need to apply to Portage College University Transfer program first.
To learn more about this incredible opportunity, please get in touch with one of our Student Advisors.
Call our Cold Lake Campus at 780-639-7109 or Lac La Biche Campus at 780-623-5577 or book an appointment here.
Career Potential
Graduates of this program can continue their studies in other degree programs, such as a Bachelor of Arts, Business, Education, or Science, or work in a related field.
High School Matriculation: A minimum average of 60% and no mark lower than 50% in the following courses: 1). English Language Arts 30-1 2). Four other 30 Level courses (5 credits each) from the following list:
- Humanities: Social Studies 30-1, a 30-Level language other than English, Aboriginal Studies 30 (5 credits minimum)
- Fine Arts: Art 30, Art 31, Dance 35, Drama 30, Music 30 (10 credits maximum)
- Sciences: Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Science 30, Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 30-2*, Mathematics 31 (courses may be pre-requisites for particular junior level science or mathematics university courses) *dependent on the program this course may not be accepted by other institutions as entrance requirements or pre-requisites
- Electives: Physical Education 30, World Geography 30, Advanced CTS subjects (5 credits maximum)
Mature Student: 19 years of age or older, out of high school for at least one full year, and a minimum average of 60% with at least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1 and one other five credit Grade 12 course. Open Studies Admission: Successful completion of nine credits. Documents: Complete high school transcripts and post-secondary transcripts, if any work completed at a post-secondary institution Use this chart to check Provincial high school equivalencies accepted at Portage College. Note: This is just a guide. Other: May be required to do an interview with the instructor or coordinator Transferability: Transfer agreements are in place with many different post-secondary institutions across the province and country including the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and MacEwan University. Students are encouraged to check out our partnership bachelor programs. Certification: Diploma
Program Start/End Dates
Spring Intake: May 4, 2026 to June 26, 2026
Fall Intake: August 31, 2026 to December 18, 2026
Application Deadlines: (Domestic)
Spring Intake: April 15, 2026
Fall Intake: August 15, 2026
Locations
Cold Lake Campus
Lac La Biche Campus
St. Paul Campus
Delivery
Multi-Access Learning
Domestic Student Fees Application Fee $53.50 Tuition Deposit – $100 (non-refundable for oversubscribed programs) Fall Term Fee payment deadline: August 15, 2025
| Tuition | $2,594.46 |
| Student Association | $116.70 |
| Dental Insurance Fee | $163.25 |
| Health Insurance Fee | $163.25 |
| Technology Fee | $82.71 |
| Recreation Fee | $54.57 |
| Total | $3,174.94 |
Part-time Fees Tuition is calculated using “cost-per-credit” one credit is $170. Calculate the cost by multiplying the number of credits per course by $170. Visit Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies Winter Term Fee payment deadline: December 15, 2025
| Tuition | $2,594.46 |
| Student Association | $116.70 |
| Technology Fee | $82.71 |
| Recreation Fee | $54.57 |
| Total | $2,848.44 |
Part-time Fees Tuition is calculated using “cost-per-credit” one credit is $170. Calculate the cost by multiplying the number of credits per course by $170. Visit Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies Spring Term Fee payment deadline: April 21, 2024 Spring tuition is calculated using “cost-per-credit” one credit is $170. Calculate the cost by multiplying the number of credits per course by $170. Other mandatory fees per semester
| Student Association | $68.95 |
| Technology Fee | $82.71 |
| Recreation Fee | $23.54 |
| Total | $175.20 |
Visit Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies Need help funding your education? Check out our funding options.
Fee Explanations
Students’ Association Fees These fees are authorized by student referendum and the Board of Governors. They are collected by the College on behalf of the Students’ Association in accordance with the Post Secondary Learning Act. Health & Dental Fees You may opt-out of the Dental and Health Insurance plan if you provide proof of comparable coverage for an extended health and/or dental care benefits plan. Any questions regarding SA Fees including the Health and Dental Insurance fees should be directed to the SA Office 780-623-5609. Athletics & Recreation Fees These fees are collected to provide recreation and leisure opportunities that promote students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being, whether online or through in person facilities. Check out your +region in the link, to see what is offered at your campus or online. Technology Fee This is a mandatory fee assessed to students enrolling in any credit course (except for apprenticeship programs) at Portage College. The fee supports the on-going maintenance and upgrades to administrative systems that support the entire College infrastructure. As such, it is considered a “mandatory non-instructional fee” and, therefore, is subject to Alberta Advanced Education Public Post-Secondary Institutions’ Tuition Fees Regulations. Visa students are charged the same rate as Canadian residents for this fee.
Term One
This course is an introduction to the history of visual arts and design from the earliest evidence to the fourteenth century. The concentration will be on the history of art in the Near East and Europe: Western Art. Since there has been contact between these areas, the Indian sub-continent and the Far East, and these areas have influenced the later history of Western Art, the art of Asian cultures during this period will also be briefly considered. Prerequisites: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
Introduction to Earth Sciences: Geology & Geomorphology introduces students to core concepts in physical sciences. Students begin by examining minerals as the building blocks of Earth materials, then study igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and the processes that form and transform them. The course explores Earth’s internal structure, plate tectonics, crustal deformation, and related hazards such as earthquakes and volcanism. Surface processes, including weathering, mass movement, rivers, groundwater, glaciers, wind, and coastal systems, are examined with examples relevant to Alberta and western Canada. The course concludes with an introduction to remote sensing and GIS as tools for investigating Earth systems, natural resources, and environmental change. Where appropriate, students consider how Indigenous land-based knowledge and observational traditions can complement scientific approaches to understanding Earth processes. Prerequisites: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, Chemistry 30 or Biology 30 at 60%.
This course provides an in-depth study of the structures of the human body and their interrelationships using a systems approach. The correlations between structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) are noted. Major topics include body organization, the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive, endocrine, urinary and reproductive systems, the general and special senses, and human development. This course is designed to prepare students in medical fields of study for advanced courses in their respective fields, as well as other university transfer students. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, Biology 30 at 60%
This course will introduce you to the physical, social, mental, occupational, emotional, environmental and spiritual dimensions of personal health and wellness. These dimensions are described within the context of the Canadian Health Care System and your own individual community. Topics include primary health care, nutrition, exercise, stress management, weight management, eating disorders, common health issues and their prevention. You will be expected to integrate knowledge of the seven dimensions of health and apply this knowledge to a self-analysis of your own health and physical fitness. Finally, you will incorporate change management theory to develop, implement and evaluate a personal wellness plan. The intent of this course is to promote a healthy lifestyle. By examining determinants of health, the current health care system, the seven dimensions of health and applying these concepts to your own lifestyle, you will be better equipped to function as role models and act as change agents for health promotion in your community. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
Math 160 is required for elementary teachers (education majors), critical thinking and problem solving is stressed throughout the course. Conceptual understanding of elementary number theory, set theory, numeration systems and their operations algorithms is the subject of the study; as well as the preparation and presentation of Math Fair. Prerequisites: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60% and Math 30
This course presents legal topics relevant to business, including ways to manage common legal risks. An introduction to the Canadian legal system presents sources of law, the court system, the litigation process, and alternatives to litigation. Tort law includes a study of intentional torts, business torts, negligence, and professional liability. Insurance law covers basic concepts of the insurance industry and how to manage risks in business. Forms of business organizations are delineated, focusing on the rights and responsibilities of individuals involved in sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.Contract law details how contracts are created, the elements of a binding contract, common contractual issues and defects, how contracts are discharged and contractual remedies. An overview of the Sale of Goods Act will complete the study of contracts. Employment law describes the employer/employee relationship, the rights and duties of the parties involved, and common issues that may arise in the employment relationship. Intellectual property law discusses how businesses can generate value from ideas and the laws that seek to balance competing business interests. Secured transactions look at risk assessment and legal obligations of creditors when securing debt and practices developed in the marketplace to manage that risk through security interests and guarantees. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-2 or COMM121
This course is designed for both Biology majors and non-majors, and explores the principal lineages of organisms on earth: bacteria and archaea, fungi, protists, plants and animals. The relationships of these organisms to their environment and their influence in shaping that environment are examined. Evolutionary pathways and their influence on the diversity of extinct and extant organisms and the classification schemes that we use to distinguish them are discussed. The role that organisms (including humans) have played in the development and maintenance of major ecosystem processes are also studied. This course includes a lab component. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, and Biology 30 at 60%
The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the area of biological psychology. Its focus is on the scientific study of the biological bases of human and animal behaviour with a biological approach to the study of psychology. Topics that will be covered in this course include: evolution, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology – the study of the structure and functions and activities of the nervous system, neuropharmacology – the study of the effects of drugs on neural activity, the physiological mechanisms involved in sensation, perception, movement, motivation, emotion, learning, and communication.
HIST102, The Modern World, surveys major global developments from approximately 1800 to the contemporary era, examining how political, economic, social, and cultural forces have shaped the modern- and post-modern eras. Using primary and secondary sources from multiple regions and perspectives, students explore industrialization, imperialism, revolution, world wars, decolonization, global migration, social movements, and changing international relations. Emphasis is placed on understanding diverse experiences, including those of colonized peoples, workers, women, and marginalized communities. Students develop skills in historical analysis, research, and critical reading as they investigate how past events inform current global issues. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
This introductory statistics course provides students in a variety of disciplines with basic knowledge regarding the theory and application of statistics. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30 at 60%, and Math 30 at 60%
An introduction to the process of acting and dramatic form through the process of improvisation. This workshop-based course will explore speech and movement improvisation with an emphasis on imaginative development and introduction to the process of acting and to dramatic form. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
This course introduces prospective teachers to the complexity of their future professional roles in today’s schools. Students will be encouraged to consider teaching from “the other side of the desk”, and will leave familiar with the intricate framework in which teachers work, and the expectations of various stakeholders. They will gain a knowledge base on which future Education courses will build, and will be introduced to theories of learning and teaching. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
HIST210, Introduction to Canadian History 1500-1867, provides an introductory survey of Canadian history from approximately 1500 to Confederation in 1867. Students examine the diverse societies, economies, and political systems that shaped these territories long before the arrival of Europeans, with attention to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis histories. Key themes include Indigenous–European relations, the fur trade, imperial rivalries, the transformation of New France, British colonial expansion, treaty making, resistance movements, and the emergence of political institutions. Learners will develop foundational historical thinking skills by analyzing primary and secondary sources, questioning how narratives are constructed, and identifying the perspectives and power structures embedded in historical documents. The course emphasizes inclusive and multi-vocal histories, connecting early developments to broader debates about belonging, sovereignty, governance, and nationhood. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
This course is designed to introduce students to the discipline of Sociology and current sociological trends and issues. The course provides an overview of sociological concepts, perspectives, processes and institutions in a Canadian context with particular emphasis on various issues impacting Canadian society. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
Introduces students to the histories, cultural landscapes, governance systems, and contemporary experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across North America. Using Indigenous-led scholarship and critical anthropological approaches, the course examines diverse Nations and language families, relationships to land, kinship systems, spiritual traditions, economies, and political structures. Students analyze the impacts of colonialism, including dispossession, policy, and representation, as well as the resilience, resurgence, and nation-building efforts of Indigenous Peoples today. The course emphasizes respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems, critiques of anthropology’s historical role, and the diversity of Indigenous identities and experiences across time and place. Prerequisite: 100 level ANTH
This course examines the psychology of learning and instruction. The theoretical basis of human development, learning, and teaching will each be explored, providing a comprehensive background to the art of education and effective teaching. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
This course explores the study of developmentally appropriate movement activities for children. Students participate in and work with children in a variety of physical activities in recreational, educational and sport environments. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
Introductory Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of behaviour, thought, and mental processes. Students examine the foundations of psychological science, including major historical developments, research methods, brain and nervous system structures, sensation and perception, learning, memory, consciousness, language, and thinking. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of psychological claims, interpretation of empirical evidence, and the application of psychological concepts to real-world situations. Sociocultural, developmental, and ethical perspectives are integrated throughout, including considerations of diversity, cross-cultural research, and the implications of psychological science in everyday life. This course prepares students for further study in psychology and related fields. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%.
CREE101, nēhiyawēwin I (Plains Cree), introduces students to beginner level nēhiyawēwin (Plains Cree) with primary emphasis on speaking and listening. Students develop basic conversational skills through online instruction, group practice, and contextualized language use connected to home, school, and community settings. The course uses Standard Roman Orthography to support accurate pronunciation and vocabulary growth. Cultural protocols and community-based contexts are integrated to support respectful language use and ongoing language revitalization. Students are introduced to the specific dialect focus of the course and to the broader diversity of Cree dialects across regions.
Term Two
COMP 106 is designed to introduce you to programming in the C++ computer programming language. The course progresses from first principles to advanced topics in object-oriented programming using C++. Prerequisite: COMP105
Introduction to Earth Sciences: Geology & Geomorphology introduces students to core concepts in physical sciences. Students begin by examining minerals as the building blocks of Earth materials, then study igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and the processes that form and transform them. The course explores Earth’s internal structure, plate tectonics, crustal deformation, and related hazards such as earthquakes and volcanism. Surface processes, including weathering, mass movement, rivers, groundwater, glaciers, wind, and coastal systems, are examined with examples relevant to Alberta and western Canada. The course concludes with an introduction to remote sensing and GIS as tools for investigating Earth systems, natural resources, and environmental change. Where appropriate, students consider how Indigenous land-based knowledge and observational traditions can complement scientific approaches to understanding Earth processes. Prerequisites: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, Chemistry 30 or Biology 30 at 60%.
ENGL106, Introduction to Drama and Poetry, introduces students to drama and poetry from a range of historical periods and cultural contexts. Through close reading, discussion, and writing practice, students develop skills in analyzing dramatic structure, poetic form, language, voice, and performance. Attention is given to both historical traditions and contemporary works, including voices that challenge or expand the traditional literary canon. The course emphasizes foundational academic writing, research skills, and critical reading strategies needed for studying literature at the university level. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
This is an introductory course in game design and development. This course covers many of the concepts involved in game design, beginning with the history of gaming and an examination of the software engineering aspects of game design. Other topics include the programming environment, game hardware, mathematical concepts, physical concepts, and graphics. This course will prepare students for advanced courses in game design. Prerequisite: COMP105
Surveys the development of art, architecture, and visual culture from the fourteenth century to the present, with attention to major movements, styles, materials, and artists in Europe and beyond. Students learn methods of visual and contextual analysis and explore how artistic traditions develop through cultural exchange, globalization, colonialism, and social change. The course also introduces selected global and Indigenous perspectives, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art, to broaden understanding of visual expression in historical and contemporary contexts. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
This course is designed for both Biology majors and non-majors, and explores the principal lineages of organisms on earth: bacteria and archaea, fungi, protists, plants and animals. The relationships of these organisms to their environment and their influence in shaping that environment are examined. Evolutionary pathways and their influence on the diversity of extinct and extant organisms and the classification schemes that we use to distinguish them are discussed. The role that organisms (including humans) have played in the development and maintenance of major ecosystem processes are also studied. This course includes a lab component. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, and Biology 30 at 60%
This introductory statistics course provides students in a variety of disciplines with basic knowledge regarding the theory and application of statistics. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30 at 60%, and Math 30 at 60%
An introduction to the process of acting and dramatic form through the process of improvisation. This workshop-based course will explore speech and movement improvisation with an emphasis on imaginative development and introduction to the process of acting and to dramatic form. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
COMP107 is a beginners’ course in programming using JavaScript, together with some HTML and CSS. It follows a problem-based approach that requires the student to design and create a website of ever-increasing sophistication as the course progresses, while creating design documentation and reflecting on the process. The output of the student’s work is presented as a website. Prerequisite: Students are expected to be proficient users of the Internet and to be able to use word processors, text editors and file manipulation tools (including zip compression) effectively. If you do not have these skills you will not succeed and we highly recommend that you should take COMP105 or equivalent before starting this one.
CHEM 101 is an Introductory Chemistry course. It may be referred to as Introductory University Chemistry. This course is designed for both Chemistry majors and non-majors. Key concepts include atomic and molecular structures, states of matter and chemistry of the elements. This course includes a laboratory component designed to provide experience in experimental techniques and accurate measurement. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, and Chemistry 30 at 60%
This course is designed to introduce students to the discipline of Sociology and current sociological trends and issues. The course provides an overview of sociological concepts, perspectives, processes and institutions in a Canadian context with particular emphasis on various issues impacting Canadian society. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
Introduces students to the histories, cultural landscapes, governance systems, and contemporary experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across North America. Using Indigenous-led scholarship and critical anthropological approaches, the course examines diverse Nations and language families, relationships to land, kinship systems, spiritual traditions, economies, and political structures. Students analyze the impacts of colonialism, including dispossession, policy, and representation, as well as the resilience, resurgence, and nation-building efforts of Indigenous Peoples today. The course emphasizes respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems, critiques of anthropology’s historical role, and the diversity of Indigenous identities and experiences across time and place. Prerequisite: 100 level ANTH
Introductory Genetics. How genes function at chromosomal, molecular, and evolutionary levels. How they are repaired, regulated, and transmitted. How they regulate development in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Development of genetics from Mendelian transmission through gene mapping, molecular methods, isolation of individual genes, sequencing, genome projects, and beyond. Prerequisite: BIOL101
This course explores the study of developmentally appropriate movement activities for children. Students participate in and work with children in a variety of physical activities in recreational, educational and sport environments. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%
Introductory Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of behaviour, thought, and mental processes. Students examine the foundations of psychological science, including major historical developments, research methods, brain and nervous system structures, sensation and perception, learning, memory, consciousness, language, and thinking. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of psychological claims, interpretation of empirical evidence, and the application of psychological concepts to real-world situations. Sociocultural, developmental, and ethical perspectives are integrated throughout, including considerations of diversity, cross-cultural research, and the implications of psychological science in everyday life. This course prepares students for further study in psychology and related fields. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%.
This course helps students to develop the academic writing skills they use throughout their university studies. Students learn to identify good writing, and develop needed research, analytical, and organizational skills. Starting with building good sentences and paragraphs, the research essay is the most important genre in this course. By analyzing, summarizing, synthesizing, and critiquing a variety of texts, students learn how to develop their own analyses and arguments with appropriate and correctly documented primary and secondary sources. Readings by or about indigenous and minority peoples form no less than 50% of the readings in this course. A review of grammar and sentence structure is a key component of this course. Students are advised to choose a research topic in line with their career goals. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%