TRU is one of six B.C. universities to offer eight new degrees this fall, a bachelor of public administration that is the first of its kind in Western Canada.

The degree is offered through the university’s Open Learning division. Other degrees offered in B.C. institutions this year include a bachelor of motion picture arts at Capilano University.

While the bachelor of public administration degree is offered in co-operation with University of Victoria, using its well-respected curriculum, “it’s a TRU credential,” said Andrew McKay, who develops business programs in Open Learning.

Open Learning offered a concentration in public administration through its business programs long before it was taken over by Thompson Rivers University five years ago.

McKay said the idea came three years ago to develop a full degree by itself, using UVIC’s public administration courses and TRU’s staple of English, math and other outside courses, all online. While there are diplomas and master’s degrees in public administration, a bachelor’s degree is not offered in Western Canada, McKay said.

Students in the program are typically already working in the public sector, in municipal, provincial or federal government jobs.

The degree will be offered by TRU and students can enrol in the open learning program from Day 1. But McKay said the university is encouraging students instead to go directly to a longstanding UVIC diploma program.

If those students eventually continue on to the TRU degree they will graduate with both a UVIC diploma and TRU degree. Costs and courses are identical, McKay said.