Arts at UBC Okanagan

Study what it means to be human in the broadest possible sense. Anthropologists are interested in the findings of all fields pertaining to humans and the processes of social and cultural life in human societies past and present, near and far. It connects the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. Cultural Anthropology is a main area of focus at UBC's Okanagan campus.

Learn about the world and our place in it through a deeper understanding of sexuality, femininity, embodiment and social justice. This dynamic program draws from across the humanities and social sciences.

In the interdisciplinary Indigenous studies program, you'll learn about Indigenous perspectives and governance, the justice system, land claims, traditional ecological knowledge and the protection of heritage in the Okanagan, Canada, U.S., and world communities.

Economics will change the way you look at the world, increase your understanding of fundamental human behaviour, and improve your reasoning, problem solving, and decision-making abilities. You’ll take courses like “Poverty and Inequality,” “Economics of Technological Change,” and “Economics of Public Choice.”

Explore three of the most important fields in shaping our understanding of society, Canadian public policy, and the world. You'll study a wide variety of foundational and advanced courses that prepare you for careers in business or government, to undertake studies in law, business, commerce, journalism, social work, education, or public administration.

Our international relations program draws on diverse disciplines, including political science, history, sociology, economics, and anthropology, to equip you with the skills necessary to critically assess the contours and dynamics of international politics and events – from conflicts in Afghanistan and the Congo, to the rise of women as political actors.

Find out how Computer Science complements Arts disciplines, and discover how to use your artistic creativity with technology to benefit society. Learn how to use and improve computers while you explore topics such as databases and operating systems, software engineering, security, web development, and numerical methodology. You’ll also learn about specialty areas such as computational intelligence, bioinformatics, and computer graphics and animation.

Learn to reveal and explain patterns in everyday life, from electrical impulses in an animal’s nervous system, to fluctuations in stock market prices, or the fine detail in an abstract geometrical object.

Psychology explores diverse topics, from the factors involved in social interactions among individuals and groups, to the processes underlying the nervous system, to moral development in children and what gives us a sense of well-being. Round out your degree with arts courses that complement your study of human and animal behaviour.

Study literature, literary criticism, and key aspects of the writing process – from crafting a scene, to pacing a story, working with imagery, and hooking a reader’s interest. The Creative Writing program will familiarize you with the practical aspects of writing, and include courses in poetry, short fiction, editing and publishing, and more.

This program covers many regions of the world as you study linguistics and culture, and widen your understanding of world languages.

Explore a variety of global perspectives for studying art and visual culture, with courses on the arts of South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. You’ll develop critical thinking and writing skills while analyzing diverse forms of art and visual culture – including “high” art, pop culture, architecture, everyday objects, and performance – in their cultural and historical contexts.