Alberta Universities

There are six universities in Alberta. All of them offer undergraduate degrees, but only four of them have post-graduate programs. The Ministry of Enterprise and Advanced Education that regulates the post-secondary education in the province. Alberta’s oldest university is the University of Alberta in Edmonton. In 2009, Mount Royal College in Calgary and McEwan College in Edmonton were reclassified as universities. They were both public colleges previously.

All six universities have their own specialty programs. Students who are looking for quality undergraduate programs may enroll in any of them. Most of these schools also offer options for distance learning. In addition, they can proceed to post-graduate education at the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge.

University of Alberta

At present, the University of Alberta has over 200 undergraduate programs, 170 graduate programs and 30 continuing studies programs to choose from. This public research university was established in 1906 in Edmonton. UAlberta had an estimated 36,180 students in 2011. Approximately 29,250 of them were in undergrad programs, and 6,930 were doing post-graduate studies. UAlberta is comprised of 15 divisions that include the following.

Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences
Arts
Education
Engineering
Law
Medicine and Dentistry
Native Studies
Nursing
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Physical Education and Recreation
Rehabilitation Medicine
Science
School of Business
School of Public Health

In addition, UAlberta has a continuing studies division. This includes courses and programs in the fields of contract training and research education, business, arts, languages, health and medicine, political science and open studies. Students also have options for distance education and adult education.

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary was established in 1966 in Calgary. At present, the university has over 85 research institutes and 14 faculties. There are an estimated 23,320 undergraduate student enrollees and 6,540 graduate students.

UCalgary is considered one of the top universities in the province. Its faculties include the medical school and the Schulich School of Engineering. Its veterinary school is the second in western Canada. It opened in 2008. UCalgary also has a School of Architecture that offers bachelor’s and master’s level degrees with accreditation from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board. The University of Calgary faculties include the following.

Faculty of Arts with Anthropology and Women’s Studies
Faculty of Education for Elementary and Secondary
Faculty of Continuing Education
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Haskayne School of Business with MBA, PhD, BCom and ExecEd degrees
Faculty of Kinesiology
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Nursing
Schulich School of Engineering
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Social Work
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Banff Centre

Athabasca University

Athabasca University is a public university that offers degree options that include undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. Most courses are offered in English, and some are in French. Total student enrolment in the university has reached 39,700. There are 36,240 students enrolled in undergraduate programs, and 6,390 are pursuing post-grad studies. The number of students in AU is higher than those enrolled in UAlberta. In fact, the AU is hailed as the fastest growing university in the country.

AU has three campuses. This includes the main campus and extensions in Calgary and Edmonton. The university offers a total of 77 undergraduate programs. AU is also known for its distance education and graduate studies. AU degree programs include the following.

Accounting
Anthropology
Applied Studies
Arts
Canadian Major Studies
Career Development
Commerce
Communication Major Studies
Computers and Management Information Systems
Counselling Women
Criminal Justice
E-Commerce
English Language
Finance
French Language
Global Studies
Governance, Law and Management Major
Health Administration
Heritage Resources
Nursing
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Women’s and Gender Studies

Grant MacEwan University

MacEwan University was established in 1971 as Grant MacEwan Community College. It was only in 1988 when the university was first allowed to offer transfer credits, and it finally became a full university in 2009. It has total student population of 11,721. All of them attend the university’s undergraduate programs. The school offers degrees in the field of arts, commerce, communications, child and youth care and nursing. At present, there are 68 programs to choose from. Prospective students have options to take part-time, full-time or distance and online courses.

MacEwan University has four faculties that include the Faculty of Health and Community Studies, the Faculty of Arts and Science, the School of Business and the Center for Arts and Communications. The university offers credit and non-credit programs and projects that include the following.

7 Bachelor’s degrees
3 degree-transfer programs
2 applied bachelor’s degrees
Over 50 certificate and diploma programs
English as Second Language
University and college preparation
Center for Professional Nursing Education
Alberta College Conservatory of Music
Professional and Personal Development Workshops and Courses
Corporate Training

Mount Royal University

Mount Royal University was established in 1931. It was originally called Mount Royal College and became a full university in 2009. MRU has a total student population of 10,670 in its undergraduate program. At present, it has 13 schools and faculties. It offers four-year baccalaureate degrees and applied degrees, two-year diplomas, one year certificates, university transfers, open studies, academic upgrading, continuing education and eCampus Alberta or Distance Delivery Courses. Mount Royal University faculties, institutes and schools include the following.

Faculty of Arts
Bissett School of Business
Faculty of Communication Studies
Mount Royal Conservatory
Faculty of Health and Community Studies
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty of Teaching and Learning
Aboriginal Education Program
Centre for Child Well-Being
Faculty of Continuing Education
Institute for Non-Profit Studies
Integrative Health Institute
Institute of Teaching and Learning
International Education and Language Institute

University of Lethbridge

The University of Lethbridge was founded in 1967 in Lethbridge. It offers both graduate and undergraduate programs with a total student population of 8,320. About 300 are enrolled in post-grad programs. ULeth also has campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. ULeth is home to the world class Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience. In 2004, the school expanded its Ph.D programs to five new areas. This includes earth, space and physical science, biosystems and biodiversity, bio-molecular science, theoretical and computational science and evolution and behavior. ULeth faculties and schools include the following.

Humanities
Sciences
Social Sciences
Health Sciences
Management
Fine Arts
Education
Special Programs for Applied Studies, Liberal Education, Academic Writing Program and Co-operative Education and Internships
School of Graduate Studies