This three-year program, in partnership with Athabasca, focuses on two major areas of study: Humanities and Social Sciences. Students split their studies between on-site classes with Portage and distance classes with Athabasca University
To enroll, students must first apply to our university transfer program.
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 the Bachelor of Arts are able to continue into a master’s or PHD program to further their studies.
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 International Student Admission: Based on transcripts, students may need to complete and Grade 12 English proficiency exam and subject area proficiency exams based on the degree stream selection 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
Online Learning
In-person Learning
Hybrid Learning
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
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 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%
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 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%
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 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%
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%
ENGL108, Introduction to the Novel and Short Story, introduces students to novels and short stories from a range of cultural, historical, and linguistic traditions. Students will read and analyze fiction using literary, rhetorical, and contextual approaches, while building skills in academic writing, critical reading, and research. Texts include works from multiple periods and perspectives, with attention to diverse voices including Indigenous, global, and marginalized authors. Students will complete analytical and research-based writing assignments that strengthen their ability to interpret fiction and communicate effectively. Prerequisite: ENGL106 or other 3 credit junior English
French 101 is the first semester of an introductory French program. This course will help you to learn how to use the French language to communicate about various topics that are relevant to your daily activities, as well as to the realities of the world in which you live. Both classroom activities and major exams will target all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You will acquire basic grammatical and lexical knowledge that will allow you to carry out a wide-range of communicative tasks. The language learning process will occur within a cultural framework in which you will be introduced to various French-speaking peoples from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
HIST101, The Early Modern World, introduces students to major global developments from approximately 1400 to 1800 and to the skills required for university-level historical study. The course examines political, economic, cultural, and intellectual transformations across multiple world regions, including East and South Asia, the Islamic world, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Emphasis is placed on global interconnectedness through trade, migration, diplomacy, conflict, and the exchange of ideas, technologies, and belief systems. Students learn to analyze primary and secondary sources, evaluate historical arguments, and recognize how power, colonialism, and differing worldviews shaped the early modern period. By the end of the course, students will be able to construct historical interpretations that reflect diverse perspectives, including those of Indigenous peoples and non-European societies, and apply core historical thinking skills. 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 is the second half of the Introductory Psychology course sequence. It will cover such topics as human intellect, human development from birth to old age, motivation, emotion, personality, social psychological processes, stress and health, as well as mental disorders and their treatments. This course is an overview of these diverse topics, most of which can be studied in one or more complete courses. Prerequisite: PSYC104
This course explores the development of the person through the stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and death. Each stage of human development will be studied from a physical, cognitive, and psychosocial perspective. The course will include developmental influences related to family systems and culture. Prerequisite: PSYC104
Social Psychology is the scientific study of the way people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people. This course examines the predominant theories and research on individuals in a social context. Specific topics that are discussed include: understanding ourselves in relation to our social world, the self-concept, impression formation and management, attitudes and attitude change, interpersonal attraction, altruism, aggression, conformity, group dynamics, prejudice, and social psychology’s role in health, the environment, and the law. Prerequisite: PSYC104
This course provides an overview of a variety of abnormal behaviours that are psychologically oriented. The characteristics and observable symptoms of psychological disorders are studied including various theoretical orientations, treatment methods, cultural, age and gender differences, and various factors related to the incidence of mental disorders. The learning in this course adds to the knowledge students acquired in Introductory Psychology and, for CSW students, Developmental Psychology. Prerequisite: PSYC104 and PSYC105
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%
SOCI224, Sociology of Deviance and Conformity, introduces major sociological perspectives on deviance, conformity, and social control. Students explore how societies define “normality” and “deviance,” how these definitions change over time, and how they are shaped by structures of power, inequality, and culture. Using both historical and contemporary examples, the course examines criminalized behaviour, non-criminal deviance, moral regulation, stigma, identity, and institutional responses. Students evaluate how deviance labels are applied, how social control operates, and how communities pursue harm reduction and restorative models. Prerequisite: SOCI101
Term Two
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
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%
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%
ENGL108, Introduction to the Novel and Short Story, introduces students to novels and short stories from a range of cultural, historical, and linguistic traditions. Students will read and analyze fiction using literary, rhetorical, and contextual approaches, while building skills in academic writing, critical reading, and research. Texts include works from multiple periods and perspectives, with attention to diverse voices including Indigenous, global, and marginalized authors. Students will complete analytical and research-based writing assignments that strengthen their ability to interpret fiction and communicate effectively. Prerequisite: ENGL106 or other 3 credit junior English
French 102 is the second semester of an introductory French program which focuses on the French language and Francophone cultures throughout the world. This course is designed to facilitate the further development of your communication skills in French and to give you a balance of all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. By the end of the semester, you will be able to initiate and sustain interactions in French, understand the main ideas of what you hear, see, and read in French, and express yourself clearly in written French. In addition to acquiring intermediate-level grammatical and linguistic knowledge, you will also gain a deeper understanding of diverse aspects of French-speaking cultures. Prerequisite: FREN101
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%
History 368, History of Indigenous Peoples of Canada to 1867, is an exploration of the histories, cultures, and sovereignties of Indigenous Peoples across the territories that are now called Canada, from time immemorial to 1867 with a focus on inter-cultural contact. Using oral histories, archaeological knowledge, community narratives, and written records, students explore the diversity of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit societies prior to widespread colonial disruption. The course also analyzes early colonial encounters, the fur trade, missionary activity, shifting alliances, and policies that shaped the foundations of later colonial systems. Emphasis, is placed on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives, nationhood, continuity and resistance, as well as on the limitations of colonial archival sources. Students will engage critically with historiography and methods used in the study of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories. Prerequisite: 100-level HIST or ANTH course
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 is the second half of the Introductory Psychology course sequence. It will cover such topics as human intellect, human development from birth to old age, motivation, emotion, personality, social psychological processes, stress and health, as well as mental disorders and their treatments. This course is an overview of these diverse topics, most of which can be studied in one or more complete courses. Prerequisite: PSYC104
This course explores the development of the person through the stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and death. Each stage of human development will be studied from a physical, cognitive, and psychosocial perspective. The course will include developmental influences related to family systems and culture. Prerequisite: PSYC104
Social Psychology is the scientific study of the way people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people. This course examines the predominant theories and research on individuals in a social context. Specific topics that are discussed include: understanding ourselves in relation to our social world, the self-concept, impression formation and management, attitudes and attitude change, interpersonal attraction, altruism, aggression, conformity, group dynamics, prejudice, and social psychology’s role in health, the environment, and the law. Prerequisite: PSYC104
This course provides an overview of a variety of abnormal behaviours that are psychologically oriented. The characteristics and observable symptoms of psychological disorders are studied including various theoretical orientations, treatment methods, cultural, age and gender differences, and various factors related to the incidence of mental disorders. The learning in this course adds to the knowledge students acquired in Introductory Psychology and, for CSW students, Developmental Psychology. Prerequisite: PSYC104 and PSYC105
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%
SOCI224, Sociology of Deviance and Conformity, introduces major sociological perspectives on deviance, conformity, and social control. Students explore how societies define “normality” and “deviance,” how these definitions change over time, and how they are shaped by structures of power, inequality, and culture. Using both historical and contemporary examples, the course examines criminalized behaviour, non-criminal deviance, moral regulation, stigma, identity, and institutional responses. Students evaluate how deviance labels are applied, how social control operates, and how communities pursue harm reduction and restorative models. Prerequisite: SOCI101
This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to the study of women and issues important to women. This course is a prerequisite for other women’s studies classes and will provide you with the theoretical foundations necessary for understanding women’s issues. The concept of gender will be explored as a critical category in relation to race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and culture. Social institutions such as education, family, work, health, sexuality, religion, and politics will be explored through the course readings, presentations and in-class discussions. Prerequisite: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%