Diploma in Leisure Studies

at Langara College Canada

The Aboriginal Studies Program is an integrated university-transferable program that addresses historic and contemporary Aboriginal issues in Canada. The Aboriginal Studies Program is unique and comprehensive. The program welcomes all Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

The program strives to empower its students through education. The program encourages each student to reach their full potential through a unique, diverse and comprehensive approach to post-secondary education.

The curriculum content provides students with a thorough understanding of the historic and current circumstances of Aboriginal life in Canada and internationally and looks to the future at such issues as Aboriginal self-government and economic self-sufficiency. Equal emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills, critical thinking and communication skills, as well as laying a solid foundation for additional educational pursuits.

A unique and integral aspect of the Aboriginal Studies Program is the seminar component. Program students and faculty participate in the seminars equally. The purpose of these seminars is to expose the students to and stimulate discussion on topics that may or may not be covered in the classroom. The seminars also promote and foster a sense of community among students and faculty. This sense of community provides support for the student on many levels and provides an atmosphere for frank and open discussion.

Langara College's Aboriginal Education Policy
To increase the success rates of Aboriginal students and to increase the representation and retention of Aboriginal students, Langara College implemented the first formal Aboriginal Education Policy in British Columbia. The policy sets in motion an education and employment equity program which:

• Is committed to increasing the participation and success rate of Aboriginal Learners to the National Average (a provincial advisory committee reported (1989) that 3% of the Aboriginal Population pursues post-secondary education, compared with 15% of the general population);
• will ensure the involvement of Aboriginal representatives in any decisions affecting Aboriginal Education;
• will provide full opportunity and support for Aboriginal students to achieve their academic potential;
• recognize the need to recruit and employ Aboriginal personnel in faculty, staff and administrative positions.

The Asian Studies Program is unique in Canada. Beginning in 1983, it was the first two-year program in a Canadian community college to focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Having evolved substantially, the program is currently designed for university-transfer students who seek a better understanding of the cultures of the Asia-Pacific region.

The courses and seminars that give students in-depth insight into the cultures of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. South Asia and BC Asian societies are also surveyed in some courses. Students who take Asian Studies courses are very well prepared for transfer to Asian Studies and other social science departments in university.

The program is popular with people who have worked or traveled in Asia, and who desire a deeper appreciation of the cultural patterns they have experienced. Many first generation Asian-Canadians and international students find the program insightful regarding their own backgrounds, and how western social science perceives their native culture.

The greatest economic growth in the world is occurring in the Asia-Pacific. These nations are powering the new globalized economy, a situation that will not change in the foreseeable future. Knowledge of their international situations, their lifestyles and their cultural values is the key to creating and maintaining solid relationships with our Pacific neighbours.

The Internet and Web Technology Certificate Program is designed for individuals who want to enter the information technology (IT) field. The program emphasizes Web development and computing and provides a solid foundation for the technical side of e-business. The program prepares students for meeting the challenges of Web technology by providing them life-long opportunities for academic and career advancement through one year of exclusive education. It trains students through a variety of courses including introduction to computer science, Web development and programming, multimedia and animations, operating systems, and databases.

The Fine Arts Diploma Program at Langara College is an intense study of visual arts and design that provides students with a wide set of studio skills, as well as the opportunity to specialize in one or more of the studio disciplines. Our program emphasizes studio skills, with students gaining strong foundation skills in any or all of the following disciplines: drawing, design, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, digital design, public art.

The program is committed to promoting self-awareness and personal growth in art and design. Our Faculty include practicing artists and designers who are experts in their areas as well as educators that are sincerly dedicated in seeing our students develop and grow. Many of our alumni continue their education and pursue careers in the arts and design.
 
The rigourous full-time program involves 6 classes/semester, with approximately 20-24 hours of studio classes each week, as well as course work in English and Art History. Students should expect to commit the same amount of time each week to research, project completion and course reading requirements. The program may also be completed through part-time study.

The Computing Science & Information Systems Department offers a Diploma in Computer Studies. The Diploma in Computer Studies can be completed in two years*, and offers a foundation in computer science and information systems education. The program covers topics including program design, systems analysis and design, fundamentals of microcomputers, web development, networking, and more.

The Diploma in Computer Studies also offers a co-op option, providing students with the opportunity to get further hands-on experience in a work environment.

The Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion Leadership (PDC DIIL) is a one-year post-degree program. Students gain effective leadership communication skills, an increased understanding of workplace diversity and inclusion, and an appreciation for the significance of socially constructed identities.

The PDC DIIL certificate includes further studies in English, business, Canadian studies, sociology, and a seminar series exploring the nursing profession in Canada. This certificate is designed to complement the Langara Post-Degree Certificate in Nursing Leadership and Management (PDC NRLM), creating a two-year Post-Degree Certificate in Nursing program.

Philosophy is the discipline which develops the ability to think clearly about fundamental questions, including those that frequently lie at the root of other disciplines. Philosophy asks questions about the nature of knowledge, reality, truth, consciousness, freedom, moral obligation, aesthetic value, happiness, justice, and virtue--questions asked by those who seek to understand themselves, their society, and their world. We welcome students who are interested in questions of this order.

Marketing Management is a dynamic field with variety of employment opportunities. Organizations large or small, established or newly-formed require marketing professionals to succeed. Langara graduates have a solid foundation in general marketing, sales, advertising, distribution, e-commerce, and marketing research. As well, they choose from specialized courses in special events marketing, consumer behaviour, customer relationship marketing, retail marketing and public relations. As with all our programs, the curriculum is rounded out with courses in Communications, Math, Economics and general education electives.

It combines practical hands-on course work with a good foundation in theoretical marketing and general business concepts including courses in Accounting, Marketing Communications Design, Research Methods in Business, Advertising, Selling Skills, Integrated Marketing Communications, Organizational Behaviour, Business Presentation Skills, Law, and courses such as Economics, English, Communications, and Mathematics of Business.

Graduates of this program who meet the minimum academic entrance requirements will be able to ladder into the third year of the Bachelor of Business Administration Program.

The Diploma in Marketing Management is designed so that students can choose to change their focus of studies within the first year and transfer into the Business Management Program.

Students interested in Marketing Management should apply to the BBA program through the School of Management and then select Marketing Management as their concentration.

In today’s evolving knowledge-based economy, individuals with the practical ability to apply social sciences and humanities knowledge are sought after assets.

The diploma in Applied Social Sciences and Humanities (DASSH) combines a set of core courses with elective options that give students a critical foundation to enter today’s workforce and to transfer successfully into degree programs in social sciences and humanities. The DASSH curriculum is selected to be applied and transformative. DASSH combines theoretical, experiential, and technical learning that is a foundation for any knowledge-based career whatever degree program in social sciences or humanities a student may choose to pursue.

DASSH students acquire technical skills through courses in digital media, software use, and financial literacy, including working with an external client on an applied project in the final semester. Graduates are able to demonstrate to prospective employers the practical value of the skills and knowledge gained through their course of study. The DASSH diploma program chooses core Social Sciences and Humanities courses that are required for success in a variety of career areas including business, law, journalism, government, communications, public administration, the non-profit sector, and information technology and management.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the Applied Social Sciences and Humanities diploma program, students will be able to:

• Communicate information effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes using appropriate format and tone through structured written, oral, and visual presentations 
• Use social science, psychological, and humanities knowledge to identify and think critically about social interpersonal and technical issues, problems, and challenges 
• Accurately represent, interpret, and explain data in graphs, spreadsheets, and reports 
• Produce, read, and interpret financial statements and plan budgets using appropriate methods, tools, and technology
• Find and evaluate information sources for credibility, reliability, and logic using a variety of platforms and formats 
• Evaluate and apply basic research methods 
• Apply knowledge of ethical theory and decision-making models to identify and analyze ethical issues and problems and work toward solutions
• Effectively use digital media and software for communication, collaboration, research, data collection, organization, and analysis 
• Acquire and use governmental, economic, business, cultural, and historical knowledge to make informed decisions 
• Explore, connect, and apply concepts and methods across multiple fields to evaluate and improve systems and processes 
• Work collaboratively to identify problems, implement solutions, and achieve common goals

Knowledge of our past is critical to our sense of identity as a community. The study of history makes us aware of different values and perspectives and teaches us sensitivity to other viewpoints. College level history is not simply a listing of facts and dates, rather it is an explanation of real lives lived in the past. Without an understanding of where we have been, how can we know where we are headed?

While students can choose from a wide range of history courses, they will develop a common core of essential skills. Students will learn to read with understanding so they can critically evaluate conflicting evidence. In an increasingly complex world it is imperative that students/citizens know how to evaluate data, to understand the importance of context in shaping events and attitudes, and to think and reason in a logical manner. Through regular written assignments and discussion students will refine their communication skills as they learn about other worlds.