While originally planning on enrolling in a master’s program after her first degree in Sociology, Danielle decided to pursue a different career path and attend UBC Okanagan to complete a second undergraduate degree. This is where she discovered Human Geography, eventually choosing it as her major. “I instantly fell in love with Human Geography and the way it complimented my existing Sociological knowledge through the added dimensions of space and place. ”
Read on to find out about Danielle’s favourite spots on campus, the opportunities she was able to take advantage of at UBC Okanagan, and her future plans to pursue a master’s degree in Urban Planning.
1. What made you decide to major in Geography at UBC Okanagan?
As a second-degree student, I knew I wanted to major in Geography prior to starting at UBC Okanagan. Although I knew what I wanted to major in, I think it would have been easy to choose if I hadn’t been sure. The first- and second-year requirements allow students to take a variety of classes across the disciplines offered at the school. This is how I was introduced to the field of Human Geography, which became my focus within the Geography major.
2. What has been your experience in the program so far?
A question I am often asked is whether I regret completing a second undergraduate degree, and it’s a question that my experience at UBCO has made easy to answer – no. Not only have I met some amazing people, but I have also been able to make lots of connections during my time here. Something that I really enjoyed about UBC Okanagan was the smaller class sizes. This made it easy to build relationships with professors, as well as created a more interactive learning environment. Through building relationships with professors, I was introduced to additional opportunities within my program, such as becoming a research assistant, becoming a successful applicant to the Undergraduate Research Awards program (URA), and taking two directed-studies classes on topics that were of my specific interest.
3. What was your first degree and why did you decide to pursue another?
My first degree was a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Sociology, with a specialization in Health Studies, from Trent University. Following my first degree, I was accepted into a master’s program, however, I found myself wanting to pursue a different career path. I have always been interested in the natural landscape and wanted to learn more about natural processes and the environment. My decision to move to the Okanagan solidified my decision to complete a second undergraduate degree. Although I initially applied with the hope of completing a degree focused on physical geography, I instantly fell in love with human geography and the way it complimented my existing Sociological knowledge through the added dimensions of space and place.
4. Do you have any special memories at UBC that stand out? Is there a moment that validated your decision to come to UBC?
While I have enjoyed my entire experience at UBC, this past year really stands out for me. Over the summer, I was able to conduct research through the URA program. Successful applicants to the URA program are awarded a grant to conduct research on a topic of their choosing. The program runs throughout the summer, allowing the student to work closely with a supervisor to gain valuable research experience. Research has been a passion of mine since my first degree. I appreciated how the URA allowed me to gain additional experience in the field of Geography, which was new to me. In addition to this, this past semester I took two directed studies courses. The directed studies courses were one of my fondest experiences and something that stood out to me in this degree. Directed studies courses allow students to work closely with their professors to engage with topics that are of specific interest and may not be offered in the existing course list. These courses really helped me solidify what I wanted to pursue as a master’s degree, gave me a better idea of the type of research I am interested in doing, and helped me make great connections with my professors.
5. What are your favourite spots on campus? Best study spots, places to eat, best coffee?
I spend most of my free time in the atrium located in the Art’s building. Aside from the collective silence of the atrium, I find it calming to study while surrounded by plants and natural light. I also enjoy the comfortable booths located on the second floor of the EME building. Again, I appreciate the natural light that they afford, as well as the beautiful view of the campus and mountains. My favourite spot to eat is also located in the Art’s building, Spoon. Spoon not only has the best selection of soups, but the man that works there has such radiant positive energy which makes even the toughest times of the school season a little better.
6. What surprised you about the Okanagan after moving there?
I am originally from Ontario, so there were a few surprises. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the lack of rain that the Okanagan gets. I love a good thunderstorm, however, even on the days that it does rain here, it typically doesn’t last for longer than a few hours. A second surprise was how mild the winters are. It was a major bonus that the weather typically stays around 0 celsius in the winter.
7. How will your studies in Geography at UBC Okanagan help you achieve your career goals?
I have been accepted into Queens University’s and will be completing a Master of Urban and Regional Planning.
I feel lucky that UBC Okanagan offers Urban Planning courses, as not all universities do. This allowed me to gain an understanding of what a career in this field would look like. I feel well prepared and excited to continue my education, as well as confident in pursuing a career as a professional planner and as a researcher. In addition to this, the additional opportunities I was able to take at UBC allowed me to build my resume and have strong references for future endeavours.
8. Do you have any tips for someone who’s considering an Arts degree at UBC Okanagan?
There are so many amazing things that you can do with an Arts degree and so many different types of courses you can take. For example, during my Arts degree, I took environmental science courses, physical geography courses, human geography courses, and climate change courses. The main thing is being interested in the career options or the grad school programs you can get into – which can differ from a science-based degree.
As someone who is interested in the humanities and social sciences, an Arts degree at UBC was perfect for me as it allowed me to broaden my knowledge through a variety of different classes, while gaining the necessary requirements for my career goals and graduate school.
I would also highly suggest checking out the faculty profiles on the university website. It was important for me to attend a school with professors that shared research interests with me, or that had interesting research interests that I wanted to know more about. This will allow you to connect with professors and potentially have other opportunities. It is also a great way to learn more about career options or research topics that you probably hadn’t thought about
