Bachelor of Social Work

at MacEwan University Canada

The legal major of the Office Assistant program provides the skills you need to work as a legal assistant in today’s competitive market.

You train on a variety of software packages to prepare for a challenging career in the legal field. As a graduate of the program, you become adept with technology, understand procedures in a law office, have a basic knowledge of law, and are able to work in time-sensitive situations.

The program of study for the legal major consists solely of core courses; you do not take electives or options. The core courses must be completed in the order presented in the program of study; that is, term one courses are taken only in the first term, and so on.

The legal major provides core office skills and legal-specific courses for entry-level legal assistants that include legal transcription, basic legal theory and legal office procedures. The legal assistant in today’s competitive market must be adept with technology, understand procedures in a law office, have a basic knowledge of law and be able to work within time limits.

Police professionals are quick thinkers, effective decision makers and can keep a level head in stressful situations. The police studies program teaches you to use these strengths to serve your community.

In this two-year diploma program, you learn about current theories of criminology, investigative techniques, law, psychology, evidence collection and forensics. You gain the knowledge, practical skills and field experience you need to prepare for a career in policing.    

The Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) major provides the theoretical knowledge, skill development and practical experience required to work as an SLPA. SLPAs primarily work with children and support the implementation of treatment for communication disorders.

In the increasingly complex field of emergency telecommunications, there is a need for personnel who have the ability to assess situations quickly and respond in an appropriate manner. Emergency communicators are the critical link between the public and those who provide police, fire and emergency medical assistance. As the field evolves, the need for highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals is critical. The field demands professionals who are able to multi-task, use high-tech equipment, think critically and quickly in a stressful setting, and respond to the challenges of the field.

The Emergency Communications and Response program develops the broad knowledge and skills required of call evaluators or dispatchers and the unique knowledge and skills in police, fire and emergency medical environments. The program is a full-time, eight-month certificate. Full-time program entry occurs each fall. The full-time program may be offered as a combination of day and evening courses. The students participate in a short field placement with a communication centre in the final month of the program.

In addition to the common core courses outlined in the Program of Study, the major in Professional Communication offers the opportunity for specialization in strategic communication, editing and publishing, or technical communication.

Bachelor of Communication Studies
In our fast-paced world of evolving and conventional media, communication is key to interpersonal, organizational and career success. The Bachelor of Communication Studies program provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamental skills of critical thinking, writing, editing, and research. Common coursework for professional communication and journalism majors builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law and research methods, supported by a liberal arts framework. The courses in the majors offer depth, specialization, and choice. The minors provide additional scope and depth to your studies. The program offers many opportunities to integrate what you have learned in the classroom with real-life projects that engage the community and provide students with an enhanced learning experience. The field is forward-looking, and so is this program of studies.

Years 1 and 2 include common coursework for both professional communication and journalism majors that builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law, and research methods. Years 3 and 4 provide specialization in editing, strategic communication, technical communication or film studies (in the professional communication major), or in news gathering, digital media production, or film studies (in the journalism major).

Many children, youth and their families experience trauma, often through abuse, neglect, or a significant loss. They may also have stressors such as mental health, education, poverty, communication or family conflict. Child and youth care practitioners work relationally with individuals and families to help them gain new insights, supports and strategies to navigate the complexities of their lives and an ever-changing world.

The child and youth care program provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to work effectively with children, youth and families in a wide range of practice settings. Specialized child and youth care courses and courses in disciplines such as the humanities and social sciences prepare students to become well-rounded child and youth care professionals.

In years one and two, foundational courses with a personal-growth focus prepare students to form helping relationships with youth and families through effective communication and an understanding of adolescent and lifespan development, family dynamics and activity programming. Child and youth care methods, communication and counselling, and family support and intervention courses prepare students for entry-level positions in the field. Field placements provide the opportunity to apply coursework to practice settings. Students may choose the diploma exit option at the end of year two.

Years three and four prepare students for advanced practice in intensive programs with children, youth and families with multiple, complex challenges through courses on abuse and neglect, substance abuse, law and social services, and advanced methodology in individual, group and family practice. Research, statistics, advanced field placement and arts and science courses complete degree level education and prepare students for more complex positions and graduate programs in child and youth care.

The Special Needs Educational Assistant program prepares graduates to assist teachers in developing and implementing appropriate instructional programs and methods within educational settings. The implementation of inclusive educational policies for students with special needs has created a strong demand for trained educational assistants. The certificate provides a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge combined with practical strategies to support classroom instructional, behavioural, and social learning of students with exceptionalities.

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Success in today’s business world depends on sound decisions based on timely, accurate and well-directed financial information. Successful accounting students have good analytical skills, are able to work in a team environment and are self-motivated. In addition, they need effective oral and written communication skills for success.

The Accounting and Strategic Measurement diploma provides a comprehensive overview of accounting procedures and principles. Students in the program learn about management, cost and financial accounting, finance, taxation, computer applications and management skills, providing them with intermediate level accounting knowledge.

Since the Library and Information Technology program started more than 40 years ago, the proliferation of information has led to a dramatic increase in the use of technology to organize, control and provide access to information resources.

Information personnel require excellent interpersonal and communication skills coupled with the ability to deal accurately with detail. They are versatile and can quickly adapt to a rapidly changing work environment.

Students in the Library and Information Technology program develop the expertise needed to organize, retrieve and manage information. Graduates are equipped with the skills necessary to work in any setting that handles information management, not just traditional libraries.

This program exposes students to practical aspects of the profession, including cataloguing, reference, circulation, research techniques, information systems design, records management, and services to various types of library patrons. Using a wide array of electronic and print resources, students become familiar with the broad scope of information organization and retrieval. Students will also develop strong professional skills and competencies to work effectively within an organizational structure and in a customer service role. They will examine the central purpose of libraries in society, and consider ways that social responsibility, ethical behaviour, and social justice are important philosophical foundations for the library profession.

In combination with Arts & Science courses taken, students potentially may receive 60 credits towards a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Project-based course work, creative research, visiting artists, off-campus activities and arts and culture venues—as a Studio Arts major at MacEwan University, you receive a truly hands-on education. Let your artistic expression soar, while learning to manage the many paths your career will take you.

Our dedicated faculty maintain a range of professional art and research practices, sharing their skills in performance and sound art, painting, drawing, video, sculpture, fibres and more. In this interdisciplinary environment, you are challenged to think critically and creatively about contemporary art.

What to expect
After building a rigorous and comprehensive foundation in the first two years of the program, you can choose from three pathways in the Studio Arts major:

• Two-dimensional art
• Three-dimensional art
• Intermedia/extended media art

The technical and theoretical foundations supporting each pathway prepare you for both traditional and emerging media and concepts.

Starting in the fourth term, you choose to focus in one area or to combine paths for greater breadth. As you progress academically and develop the flexibility and fluidity prevalent in contemporary art practice, you also take courses from the other arts and communications disciplines.

In your final term, you undertake a project that prepares you for a contemporary, multi-dimensional career or for future studies at the graduate level.