Associate of Arts

at College of The Rockies - Cranbrook Campus Canada

As with all of our Business Management programs, the General Management diploma infuses sustainable business practice knowledge throughout your courses. Sustainability is a priority for many in today’s global business environment. Upon completion of the General Management diploma, students are eligible to take advantage of block transfer agreements the College has with many other Canadian colleges and universities. Transfer is available to most Canadian post-secondary institutions on a case-by-case basis. Students can also enter directly into Year 3 of the Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices degree program at College of the Rockies.

This major was developed for students who wish a high degree of flexibility in their course selection. As well as the required Business Management courses, students may select other specialized areas.

Note: Upon successful completion of all Year 1 courses, you can graduate with a Business Management Certificate.

Why Consider a Career in Business Management?

• Explore your entrepreneurial spirit by developing well-rounded business management skills and knowledge.
• Open up a wide range of career options. Find employment in accounting, marketing, financial services, hospitality, local governance and other management training positions in corporations, small businesses, or non-profits.
• As a leader, you are able to largely shape your own work environment.

Starting your Economics or Commerce education at the College can help you save thousands of dollars in tuition over what you’d pay at university and, with our small class sizes, you’ll receive personalized attention that can help you succeed.  In fact, students who started their education at College of the Rockies completed university with an overall higher grade-point-average (GPA) than did their counterparts at most other BC colleges and universities. This foundation helps develop a deep understanding of people in society and of the cultural, political, economic, and institutional impact of their decisions. Students who complete all the requirements of this pathway will earn a College of the Rockies Associate of Arts degree.

Have plans to go to university? Our Dual Admission agreements with University of Lethbridge and University of Victoria get you started on the right foot at the College before you transfer into your guaranteed seat at either ULeth or UVIC.

The Adventure Tourism and Business Operations (ATBO) program is ideal if you are passionate about adventure, sustainability, the environment and the outdoors and interested in working in the Adventure Tourism industry.

The name says it all. Get out of the classroom for some real, hands-on experience in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  This program is big on adventure but also focuses on those business skills you need to work in the tourism industry or to start your own tourism business, including entrepreneurship, marketing, sustainability and business training.

Your ATBO instructors are highly skilled guides in avalanche safety, rock climbing, mountaineering, whitewater kayaking, backcountry skiing, backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking.

If you have already completed a business or tourism degree but you’re wanting to be better prepared for the sustainability focus of today’s world. What do you do? Our Sustainable Business Practices certificate and diploma options can provide the knowledge you need to prepare for sustainability initiatives in modern businesses and tourism enterprises companies.

For those who have a degree in something other than business or tourism, the Post-Degree Diploma in Sustainable Business Practices provides everything you require including courses in business and sustainability.

Why Consider a Sustainable Business Practices Post-Degree Credential?

• Enhance your existing education with the knowledge you need to get a job at a sustainability-focused business
• Learn to apply sustainable business practices at your current job.
• You can learn to be more kind to the environment – something that benefits us all.

Are you a caring and compassionate individual who is interested in being a key member of a health-care team? If you have good observation, communication and problem-solving skills and a strong desire to provide quality patient care, you may want to consider a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

The two-year Practical Nursing diploma program taken face-to-face at the Cranbrook campus prepares you to give professional care to individuals and families in a variety of health care delivery settings.

Why Consider a Practical Nursing Career?

• Our aging and growing population will require more health services, ensuring a need for LPNs
• The annual provincial (BC) median salary for Licensed Practical Nurses is $54,226.00
• According to Work BC, there is expected to be over 4000 job openings for LPNs in the next 10 years, with just over half being the result of retirements.

The Social Work Pre-Major consists of courses primarily focused on social sciences and humanities. Completion of the two-year Associate Degree prepares you for competitive admission into Year 3 in a Social Work degree program at many BC and Alberta institutions. This pre-major provides the first two full years of study toward your four-year degree. Your social work courses will be taken in the final two years of study.

Why Consider a Social Work Career?

• You can make a positive difference in the lives of people in need.
• The annual provincial (BC) median salary is $63,611.00
• The social work industry is changing, creating new job opportunities.

With the 9-month Mountain Adventure Skills Training program, 60% of your learning time will be outdoors experiencing the regions amazing adventure lifestyle opportunities while also learning the skills employers want you to know. With 13 certification courses, you’ll be introduced to the knowledge you need to be successful in your dream job.

The Mountain Adventure Skills Training Program (MAST) is designed for full-time students interested in pursuing a one year certificate and meets the requirements of the B.C. Provincial common core curriculum.

Learn to be an Adventure Tourism professional from our highly skilled instructors who work in the industry, get a season’s pass at Fernie Alpine Resort as part of your tuition, and gain university credits toward a degree in Adventure Tourism. This program has it all.

Why Choose Our Program?

• The most comprehensive skills course list – all included in one tuition
• Our nine-month program prepares you to work or play in the backcountry or sidecountry
• Learn to be a professional from our highly skilled professional instructors
• Earn industry certifications
• Gain university credits towards a degree in Adventure Tourism
• Season pass at Fernie Alpine Resort included in tuition
• Enjoy the Canadian Rocky Mountain lifestyle in Fernie BC
• No fees for electives – 14 skills courses included in tuition
• No fees for textbooks

Our Tourism Management Certificate program prepares you for a career in resorts, hotels, and other tourism operations. The program includes courses in tourism, business management, and related specialty courses.

You can choose to take the certificate completely online and work while going to school – or you can take the program in person at our Cranbrook campus. The Rockies are right outside the door, giving you the opportunity to blend lifestyle and learning in one of the most spectacular places on Earth – and one of BC’s hottest tourism destinations!

You will also have the opportunity to participate in a work placement to gain hands-on experience in a tourism related business.

You can choose to take the one-year certificate program completely online and work while going to school – or you can take the program in person at our Cranbrook campus.
Industry-recognized certifications in the program include Foodsafe, Worldhost, CPR-C, Occupational First Aid Level 1, and Serving it Right.
This program covers a broad range of courses directly related to the tourism industry, as well as management-oriented courses such as accounting, communications, business management, programming, and marketing.
You will have the opportunity to participate in a work placement to gain hands-on experience in a tourism related business.

Hospitality and Tourism are two really successful industries that have been growing incessantly over the years and hence a degree in the same can be really lucrative and beneficial for the students. College of the Rockies - Cranbrook Campus offers a two year undergraduate program in the field of Tourism Management. Students are provided with practical skills development, knowledge of hospitality and tourism sector, entrepreneurial skills and so on. The major themes underlying the diploma are sustainability, service management, entrepreneurship and cross cultural diversity including an Indigenous world-view.

 Tourism is a very lucrative and fun industry which is growing rapidly. The program helps students gain practical skills and helps them get a view of the professional world they will be stepping into. This course prepares the students gain success in tourism and hospitality sectors. Along with the industry specific work experience gained by the students they are also imparted academic knowledge and class counseling. Students can also use the knowledge and skills acquired in this program to transfer into a bachelor degree in tourism management at other post-secondary institutions as well as the College of the Rockies. 

This program provides you with the skills you need to respond to rapidly transforming resource and manufacturing industry needs. The program aims to respond to the need for technicians skilled at installing and supporting wireless sensor and controller networks and other electronics systems. Graduates may find employment in a variety of industry settings, including users of telecommunications and radio frequency systems, manufacturing, and natural resources.

In year one, students learn the foundational skills required for more complex practical applications introduced later in the program. This includes a focus on electrical and electronics systems (AC, DC, circuits, and digital fundamentals). Students then proceed to microcontroller principles, several levels of data networks (LANs, WANs, routers, switches), and allowing networks to scale.

In year two, the program includes radio frequency concepts and practical applications for wireless environments as well as microwave communications. Radio frequency navigation and location tools, and structured cabling systems are covered. Students then have the opportunity to apply the learned principles by configuring and testing real world systems, finding faults and practicing advanced troubleshooting skills.

Why Consider a Wireless Systems Technician Career?

• The resource sector is in a state of rapid change, creating new careers and skill sets.
• As autonomous systems are more widely implemented, you’ll be well-positioned for a career in a wide-variety of resource and non-resource sectors, as many companies and organizations are using digital radio frequency communications.