Welcome
Welcome to Vancouver Island University and upper-level BA Degree Advising.
BA Degree Advising is located on the third floor of Building 355 and provides academic advising services to all Faculty of Social Science and all Faculty of Arts and Humanities degree students. If you are a new, continuing or returning BA degree student, we are happy to meet with you to:
- declare or change your major or minors
- help you learn how to use the Goal Planning System (GPS) to monitor your degree progress
- help you to plan your course choices
- discuss how your transfer credits apply in your degree
- help you learn about how credits earned in an International exchange can apply to your degree
- provide detailed program information
- provide graduation information
- refer you to other resources on campus
Availability
Student drop-in appointments:
During the academic year, from August to June, student drop-in appointments are held Monday through Thursday 9 to11 am and 1:30 to 3:30 pm in Building 355, Rooms 305 or 307.
Summer 2026 (June to August) The last day for a drop-in appointment is June 11, 2026. Drop-in appointments will resume on August 31, 2026.
During Summer 2026, Lynda Patterson and Andrea Martin will periodically check their email accounts.
Attention new BA students
- Official transcripts must be submitted to VIU Admissions. For questions you can email Transfer.Credit@viu.ca; also view information on ordering transcripts for more information.
- Once transcripts are assessed, credits will be added to your VIU Student Record. You need to allow time for this process. You can also check your own lower level (100 and 200 level courses through the BC Transfer Guide.
- There may be a need for instructional faculty or a department Chair to assess the course syllabus for possible exemptions or other considerations (during summer months, you may have to wait for after-summer return of faculty and/or Chair.
- Review course and program requirements online. You can select VIU GPS (program planning system) from the menu options on your Student Record homepage to create unofficial program audits:
- Launch GPS, then select "Add Goal",
- Select the current calendar year,
- Select "Bachelor of Arts",
- Select the major or minors you are considering,
- When finished selecting, save your goal (top of page) then open the new audit by selecting it from those listed on your GPS homepage. These are unofficial and you can create as many goal options as you like.
- If you need more information about Registration, please call 250.740.6400 or visit our Web Registration Tutorial.
- In May you should register for Fall, Spring and the following Summer. If one of the courses you desire is full, you can add yourself to the waitlist. Sometimes reserved seats are not fully claimed, and you will not know the true seat availability until the course reserved seats are opened to all students. View wait list procedures. New students are advised to read through the Registration Guide.
- View course descriptions
- Some courses carry prerequisites so check course descriptions. You will attain "Third-year Standing" after completion of 54 credits.
- All course descriptions can be viewed in the VIU Program and Course Calendar.
Students may be interested in viewing the VIU Learning Services.
Your BA Degree Advisors
Lynda Patterson
Email: Lynda.Patterson@viu.ca
Location: Building 355, Room 307
Andrea Martin
Email: Andrea.Martin@viu.ca
Location: Building 355, Room 305
Use the BA Degree Advising Booking platform to make an appointment to meet in-person or over MS Team to discuss your academic plan.
Voicemails for BA Advisors can be left at 250.740.6109; however, email is the most efficient method of communication.
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