Study with us
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5000+
Undergraduate students
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450+
Graduate students
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41
Majors and minors to choose from
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1921
The year UM launched its Arts programs
Program details
The Faculty of Arts offers two four-year undergraduate degree programs and one three-year degree program.
BA degrees at a glance
BA General: 90 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all courses in the chosen major. This program is particularly suited to students who wish to seek employment or enter a professional academic program following graduation from Arts.
BA Advanced: 120 credit hours of study with a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all faculty-required courses. Students select a major and minor program of study or a double major in lieu of a minor.
BA Honours: 120 credit hours of study with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all courses. Students do not complete a major and a minor, but rather an honours subject, or two subjects for the double honours program. This is the preferred program for students looking to pursue graduate studies.
Bachelor of Arts (General)
Expected duration: 3 years
The general program offers general exposure to the humanities and social sciences and an opportunity to concentrate studies in at least two subject areas. This program is particularly suited to students who wish to seek employment or enter a professional academic program following graduation from Arts.
A student must complete 90 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in all courses that comprise the major.
You can complete the BA General degree on a part-time basis.
Bachelor of Arts (Advanced)
Expected duration: 4 years
The advanced program offers a general education along with a reasonable degree of specialization in one area of study through the major.
Graduates of the advanced major program who demonstrate high academic performance may be eligible for entrance to graduate studies. The advanced degree is also well suited to students seeking to build an academic term or year of studies abroad into their undergraduate degree.
To earn a BA Advanced degree, a student must successfully complete 120 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all faculty-required courses. The program requires at least 48 credit hours in a major subject area, as well as a minor field of study that includes a minimum of 18 credit hours in a subject area. In lieu of a minor, students may complete a double advanced major program.
Students should apply to enter the advanced program only after successfully completing a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework.
You can complete this degree on a part-time basis.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Expected duration: 4 years
The honours program offers a rigorous examination of a particular subject area for those who desire a more specialized undergraduate preparation. This is the preferred program for students who wish to continue their education at the graduate level.
Students normally enter the program after first year, although you may be eligible to enter the program later in your undergraduate studies.
To earn a BA Honours degree, a student must successfully complete 120 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in all courses.
Students in the honours program do not complete a major and a minor, but rather an honours subject, or two subjects in the case of a double honours program. The program differs from the advanced program by requiring more courses in the honours field and by providing a greater intensity and depth of study.
Students should apply to enter the honours program only after successfully completing a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework.
You can complete the honours program on a part-time basis.
Earning a minor in Arts
A minor is comprised of 18 credit hours which are in a subject field that is different from a declared major. To earn a minor in a subject field as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree, a student must successfully complete 18 credit hours in a subject field approved by the Faculty of Arts as a minor.
Minors offered by the Faculty of Arts are listed under each area of study’s section of the Academic Calendar. Arts students may complete minor programs offered by other Faculties/Schools providing the minor program consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours and all other degree requirements are satisfied.
Degree requirements for all BA degrees
Students in the BA General, BA Advanced and BA Honours degree must complete the following requirements as part of their degree:
- 6 credit hours of humanities
- 6 credit hours of social sciences
- 6 credit hours of sciences
- 3 credit hours of written English (W)
- 3 credit hours of mathematics (M)
- 3 credit hours of Indigenous course content (students entering as of fall 2021)
- 6 credit hours in each of 5 different subject fields
The 3 credit hours of written English and 3 credit hours of mathematics are to satisfy the written English and mathematics requirement.
For full details on these requirements, refer to the Academic Calendar.
Arts Co-operative Education Program
The Faculty of Arts Co-operative Education Program is an excellent way for students to enhance their classroom learning with on-the-job experience. Students in anthropology, central and East European studies, economics, German, history, labour studies, linguistics, political studies and psychology can alternate regular academic terms with paid, full-time employment.
Learn more about the Arts Co-op Program
Admission requirements
The following are minimum requirements for entry into a Bachelor of Arts program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Students first must be accepted to the Bachelor of Arts program before declaring a major area of study.
When you first enter the Faculty of Arts, you are placed in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) General (3-year) degree with an undeclared major and minor, unless you have applied for the Bachelor of Arts Integrated Studies degree.
You are required to eventually declare your program of study with a major and minor, and with that you can elect to enter the BA Advanced (4-year) degree or the BA Honours (4-year) degree, after you meet the qualifying requirements.
Direct entry
Direct Entry is open to students who have not attended a post-secondary institution or have completed fewer than 24 credit hours at a recognized university or college.
Advanced entry
Advanced entry is open to students who have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours of university level study and have attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
How to apply
Domestic student application fee: $100
International student application fee: $130
Applications to the University of Manitoba are completed online.
The online application includes several parts, and you may be required to submit transcripts, proof of English Language proficiency, and other documents.
Learn more
Major and minor areas of study in Arts
The Faculty of Arts offers the following major and minor subject areas for Bachelor of Arts degrees. Students planning on entering a specific major or minor or honours subject field should include an appropriate course in that subject area within their first year.
Not all major, minor, and honours programs are available in each subject area.
Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Mailing address
Undergraduate Admissions
424 UMSU University Centre
University of Manitoba
65 Chancellors Circle
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
Office location
Room 424 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Submit a question
Phone: 204-474-8808
Toll-free: 1-800-224-7713 ext 8808
Program inquiries
Faculty of Arts Student Services Office
Room 134 Fletcher Argue Building
15 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
arts_inquiry@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9100
Toll free: 1-800-432-1960 ext. 9100