Explore Who You Want to Be in General Studies at CapU Squamish

Pursue your interests and build a flexible degree at Capilano's new campus in Squamish.

Being fresh from high school in the Sea-to-Sky doesn't mean you'll have your undergraduate studies figured out yet. Sometimes, the best option is to try a bit of everything and see what interests you the most; General Studies - Squamish is a great way to start. Experience what disciplines interest you, and learn to think beyond, becoming a well-rounded problem solver in the arts, business, kinesiology, or environmental studies.

Explore the Arts & Sciences

Sharpen your skills in new languages, help those with Autism, or delve into the worlds of science, mathematics, and engineering in the Arts & Sciences.

Interim Arts & Sciences dean Graham Cook envisions "you will gain the skills needed to address real-world problems in your future life and career," emphasizing "our unique academic model harmonizes creativity and critical thinking, empowering you to apply your imagination limitlessly."

Now a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies alumnus, Alex Levy loved "that you have the freedom to take courses that interest you, rather than moving through a pre-set schedule," especially when "You can shape your degree into something that reflects who you are."

Start by examining environmental issues from a biological perspective, learning about consumer behaviour and business operations theory, learning how to read, write, and think like an undergraduate, or introducing yourself to the fundamentals of modern politics.

Build professional skills in business

In Business & Professional Studies, become a leader as you put your ideas into action, expand your professional skills, and network to become a change maker under instructors with years of experience.

Being "on top of learning what's happening in the world, keeping up with trends, and making sure that what we're offering students today is what students will need tomorrow," is part of Carmen Bruno's job as a Business Administration instructor.

That's part of why it was "an incredible journey" for alum Vrushant Zada, "working on WIL projects and sharing ideas with a diverse mix of classmates," where "every class, every professor and every lecture is unique."

And peer Vishal Prem Jagarapu gained "the opportunity to work for big companies market research and data analytics for them, which gets you prepared for the real-life experience outside the university."

Begin by learning about what goes into running a business, what it means to work as part of a professional team, the role law plays, and how to use the computer software you'll need.

Make an impact through kinesiology

On the other hand, studying Kinesiology can positively impact your community's health by helping you better understand how it goes hand-in-hand with physical activity, leading to real-world skills and practical experience.

Feeling he can now "help individuals from a more holistic perspective," Kinesiology alumnus Sam Doyle hopes as an occupational therapist to "help patients navigate their health issues in a way that makes life accessible and brings joy back into their lives."

Meanwhile, it fostered "the values of humility and compassion" in program alum Reyjohn Fortaleza "daily as a practicing kinesiologist working within an occupational rehabilitation program with CBI Health."

And having "gained the ability to critically assess information and apply it to real-world contexts," fellow alum Nicole Elie-Rodgers sees it as "invaluable in my current career."

Learn more about how physical activity and wellness are core to a healthy lifestyle, how to lead others in this area, the political, economic, and social issues around leisure and sport, and how human physiology works.

Advocate for a sustainable future

Finally, if advocating for a sustainable future is close to your heart, you can develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding to move from the public sphere to the private sector in Environmental Studies.

Instructor Tom Flower explains the program's "small, engaged classes" are coupled with "active learning, community engagement, teamwork and leadership to enable change-making thinking in our graduates."

Community partnerships are "a key strength" to that, notes instructor Marja de Jong-Westman, remembering how the program "has grown up from this place…informed by and is aligned with the cultural, economic and biological richness of our local region."

Begin by biologically learning about environmental issues, their multifaceted nature and forward-facing solutions, their impact on communities, and the underlying role of government and politics, statistics, geography, and weather.