Applied BA - Community Research and Evaluation in Kelowna Canada | Okanagan College

Okanagan College provides a four-year Applied Bachelor of Arts program, primarily based at the Kelowna campus with select courses available at Salmon Arm, Vernon, and Penticton locations. This undergraduate degree equips students with practical research skills and demonstrates how social sciences and liberal arts play a vital role in building an inclusive, sustainable community. Tailored to British Columbia's southern interior region, the curriculum incorporates Indigenous cultural studies and trains graduates to address local and regional challenges. The program focuses on developing research capabilities within liberal arts and applied social sciences, promoting evidence-based approaches to knowledge, implementation, and problem-solving. Designed as both a career-ready qualification and a pathway to advanced studies, this degree equips students with sophisticated analytical abilities and practical research methodologies essential for current employment demands. Hands-on field experience forms a crucial part of this applied education.


Students gain proficiency in academic writing, qualitative and quantitative methods, ethical reasoning, critical analysis, research application, program assessment, interdisciplinary perspectives, and additional languages (including local Indigenous languages). The program includes mandatory fieldwork (through practicums, placements, or co-op opportunities in the final year) and a culminating project connecting academic learning to regional concerns. Academic standards require maintaining at least 55% in each degree course and an overall 60% average. Those aiming for UBC Okanagan's Master of Social Work program must achieve a 76% average in upper-level courses alongside standard degree requirements.