Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

What Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies does

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LAPS) is one of 11 faculties within York University, a public Canadian university and Crown corporation of the Province of Ontario founded in 1959 and headquartered at 4700 Keele Street in Toronto. The faculty was formerly known as the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies and underwent program rationalization in 2002-2003, including Senate-approved closures of the Conservation and Environmental Studies programs and the Creative Arts Studies and Fine Arts programs. LAPS delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies programs across humanities, social sciences, and professional disciplines through York University's three Greater Toronto Area campuses (Keele, Glendon, and Markham). Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and academic fees across degree pathways, supplemented by ancillary operations including the campus bookstore. The faculty enrolls a student body that includes 10,000+ international students and serves over 168,000 alumni globally, with a reported 95% graduate employment rate within two years and co-op options available across undergraduate programs.

LAPS operates within a broader York University ecosystem that includes research and partnership infrastructure such as the Lassonde School of Engineering's Climate Data-Driven Design (CD3) facility — a full-scale industrial 3D concrete printing research site partnered with construction startup Aretek to advance regulatory approval for 3D-printed buildings. The Glendon Campus has deployed the GoodMaps LiDAR-based indoor navigation application, providing accessibility features for visually, hearing, and mobility-impaired users in over 20 languages with funding support from the INCA Foundation. Distribution of educational services occurs through direct online admissions, regional recruitment, the Markham Campus in York Region, and a physical and online bookstore selling textbooks, apparel, and supplies. Marketing channels include social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, X), the YFile news platform, campus tours and events, and student ambassador programs.

Name

Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Legal name

York University

Website

https://yorku.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies is one of 11 faculties at York University, delivering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies programs in liberal arts and professional disciplines across three Greater Toronto Area campuses (Keele, Glendon, Markham) to domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interdisciplinary/Experimental Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAN), Selective/Highly Selective Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Liberal arts degrees
• Professional studies
• Undergraduate education
• Graduate research degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from domestic and international student tuition across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies programs
2. Bookstore Operations: Sales of textbooks, course materials, apparel, gifts, and supplies through physical and online campus bookstore

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in humanities, social sciences, and professional disciplines through York University. It combines traditional classroom instruction with experiential learning options such as co-op and supports students via libraries, accessibility services, career development, and online tools including the eClass LMS and Passport York authentication.

Product overview

York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LAPS) offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across humanities, social sciences, and professional studies disciplines. The faculty provides educational programs through multiple delivery modes including traditional classroom instruction and online learning via the eClass learning management system. Students access academic services through Passport York authentication, including enrollment, grades, and transcript services. The faculty operates across York University's Keele, Glendon, and Markham campuses, with student support services including accessibility services, career development, counselling, and library resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs delivered across humanities, social sciences, and professional disciplines, with co-op availability in undergraduate programs; serves prospective students seeking academic credentials and career preparation at Keele, Glendon, or Markham campuses.
• Graduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of York graduates employed within 2 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aretek (formerly Printerra)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026York University's Lassonde School of Engineering partnered with Aretek (formerly Printerra), a Markham-based construction startup, to help secure regulatory approval for 3D-printed concrete. Researchers at York's CD3 (Climate Data-Driven Design) facility have been working with Aretek to test materials, monitor performance, and generate technical evidence for the construction method. The collaboration involves developing lower-carbon concrete mixes, full-scale structural testing, performance monitoring, and durability testing to bring 3D-printed construction closer to real-world use. The partnership enabled Aretek to obtain approval for a three-storey student housing project at the University of Windsor, expected to be the largest 3D-printed concrete building in North America by volume.
• GoodMapscoreTechnology or Integration · 6 May 2026York University's Glendon Campus partnered with GoodMaps to launch an innovative indoor navigation application using LiDAR technology. The free mobile application provides detailed digital mapping of Glendon's interconnected buildings, improving campus accessibility for users with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. The technology includes guidance systems for people with visual impairments and barrier-free routes for those with reduced mobility. Available in over 20 languages, the app serves the multilingual Glendon community and was made possible with funding from the INCA Foundation.
• INCA FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 May 2026The INCA Foundation provided financial support enabling the GoodMaps indoor navigation partnership at Glendon Campus, demonstrating commitment to accessibility and inclusive technology solutions for the university community.
• MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLSE provides internship opportunities for York University students, particularly those at the Schulich School of Business, allowing students to gain professional experience in sports and entertainment management.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Ottawa: Canada's largest bilingual university, sharing with Glendon Campus a bilingual educational mandate. Comparable on international student mix, comprehensive program portfolio, and Ontario public-institution funding structure.
• Simon Fraser University: British Columbia-based comprehensive research university with comparable emphasis on co-op education and interdisciplinary programming. Peer on serving commuter and international student populations in a major metro region.
• McGill University: Québec-based research university with strong international student base and bilingual context. Comparable on academic reputation, research funding, and tuition dependency on international enrollees.
• Queen's University: Ontario public research university with similar undergraduate-focused mission and research profile. Comparable on tuition model, alumni network strength, and competitive positioning for top Ontario applicants.
• Western University: Ontario-based public research university with comparable enrollment scale and comprehensive program offerings. Direct peer in the Ontario university system competing for similar undergraduate applicant pools.
• University of British Columbia: Major Canadian public research university with similar scale, comprehensive program mix, and large international student population. Comparable on research output, multi-campus operations, and rankings positioning.
• University of Waterloo: Ontario public university renowned for co-op education and STEM programs. Direct peer on experiential learning, large international cohort, and employer partnership models that align with York's co-op positioning.
• University of Toronto: Canada's largest university and a direct peer in the GTA. Both are public research universities located in Toronto serving similar undergraduate and graduate populations, with comparable international student mixes and research mandates.
• McMaster University: Ontario-based public research university and fellow Maclean's-described comprehensive/research institution. Comparable in size, research intensity, and undergraduate program breadth, with similar reliance on international tuition.
• Toronto Metropolitan University: Urban comprehensive university in downtown Toronto formerly known as Ryerson. Closest direct peer given shared GTA location, career-focused mandate, large international student body, and emphasis on experiential and co-op education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YorkUniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@YorkUniversityOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/yorkuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/167012
• Instagraminstagram.com/yorkuniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@yorkuniversity

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies