Diploma in Paralegal Studies

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.

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.

The Bachelor of Social Work program provides 3rd and 4th year undergraduate degree studies and will be of interest to Alberta Social Work diploma graduates and other students who have completed 60 university level Arts and Science credits. The School of Social Work offers transformative, collaborative and supportive education to prepare students for leadership roles in meeting the social justice mandate of the profession of social work. As professionals in a country that upholds respect for diversity, and in keeping with democratic rights and freedoms, social workers respect the distinct systems of beliefs and lifestyles of individuals, families, groups, communities and nations without prejudice (United Nations Centre for Human Rights, 1992). Specifically, social workers do not tolerate discrimination based on age, abilities, ethnic background, gender, language, marital status, national ancestry, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic status (CASW Code of Ethics, 2005).

Unique to this degree is the focus on sustainability — how social, environmental and economic issues interrelate, and how we fit into the larger community. Students have the opportunity to focus their studies around a number of themes, including working with children and families, working with Indigenous people, health and mental health, and community social work practice. Students learn from faculty who are engaged in research, blended learning and all areas of social work practice.

The Arts and Cultural Management major prepares students for a management career in the creative sector and encompasses all things arts and culture: working in music, theatre, dance, galleries and museums, archives and heritage conservation, and the literary arts. Students will learn the practical skills and specialized knowledge they need to enhance an organization’s creative capacity—or to take their own career as an artist to the next level. The core of this major is leadership and project management, supported by community-engaged learning, including eight weeks of practical, hands-on work in the field.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
In this major, students will:
• Critically reflect on the role that artists and cultural organizations play socially, culturally, and politically.
• Advocate strategically for the importance of arts and culture in society.
• Identify and secure a diversity of revenues and resources to support strategic initiatives.
• Exhibit the financial literacy necessary to manage the long-term sustainability of cultural organizations.
• Plan and implement strategies that increase community engagement, public interest, and patron participation.
• Analyze the production and consumption of culture nationally and internationally.
• Plan and promote programs, spaces, projects, and social events related to the arts and cultural sector.
• Anticipate, identify, and respond to trends that impact the cultural sector.
• Prepare, present, and implement strategic operational plans of the arts and culture organization.
• Manage and support human resources in the cultural sector within a variety of governance structures.
• Lead and support others in an accountable, sustainable, and ethical manner.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Transfer program offers first-year courses that may be used toward obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Engineering at the University of Alberta. Credit for courses taken at MacEwan University may be transferred to other post-secondary institutions within or outside Alberta. For a complete listing of transferable courses within Alberta, refer to the Alberta Transfer Guide website at www.transferalberta.ca.

MacEwan University provides a student-centred focus in the delivery of the program by offering small class sizes, extra tutorial sessions and an annual boot camp to prepare students for the challenging course material.

Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Transfer program is competitive and is subject to a quota. The competitive admission average may be considerably higher than the posted minimum. Within the overall quota, limitations are also placed on the number of international (visa) and mature students, and on the number of students who have been previously enrolled in other post-secondary institutions.

Succeeding in the insurance industry means meeting clients’ diverse needs and running an efficient operation. Whether you’re an entrepreneur who wants to own your own brokerage, or someone looking for a large corporate environment, you’ll be sure to draw on your skills in business, management, finance, communication and problem solving.

This program is an accelerated program, with students studying continuously for a 13-month period to earn a full diploma. The Insurance and Risk Management program integrates business studies with industry-specific courses.  Business topics include: management, finance, communications and accounting -- along with specialized courses in insurance principles, underwriting and claims.

Career prospects are exceptional in the insurance and risk management field, with a graduate employment rate at almost 100% - and you can block transfer your credit to MacEwan's Bachelor of Commerce degree, graduating with a specialized diploma and a degree.

The Bachelor of Commerce focuses on the development of basic business and managerial competencies combined with an understanding of globalization and its implications. The program is structured to provide comprehensive preparation for management positions with both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations as well as the public sector.

The degree provides students with knowledge and critical understanding of commerce and management, and the ability to gather, review, evaluate and interpret information relevant to business and management. Key professional skills are taught: ethical business practices and sustainability, business communication skills, teamwork, business analytics and technology, global and local mindsets, critical thinking and research, including the opportunity to engage in independent research and practice. These skills are integrated across all courses in the program.

The program consists of three types of courses: core, major/minor and elective. Core courses develop fundamental skills and abilities in business and management. Upon completion of core courses, the student will choose one of seven majors: Accounting, Human Resources Management, International Business, Legal Studies in Business, Management, Marketing or Supply Chain Management. The courses in the majors deepen knowledge of business within a focal area and the elective courses broaden education beyond business and tailor the degree to the student’s interests. Cooperative Education streams are also available. Students have the option of completing a second major, or one or two minors. The program will prepare students for graduate studies in related fields.

The Correctional Services diploma prepares graduates to work in a variety of positions in corrections and criminal justice fields including community agencies, correctional institutions, residential settings, restorative justice and related human service careers. Graduates work with adults and youth in conflict with the law, or who are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. The program provides theoretical knowledge, skill development and practical experience for the entry-level corrections and criminal justice professional.

The Correctional Services program stresses the dual yet inseparable function of the criminal justice system: protection of the public and providing assistance to offenders to become law abiding citizens. Students acquire essential skills and knowledge about the criminal justice system as well as professional practice information and expertise.

The first year provides a number of foundation courses concentrating on self-awareness, criminological theory and knowledge of the criminal justice system. Introduction to field placement provides an opportunity for students to acquire practice competencies including professionalism, crisis intervention, security procedures and suicide prevention.

The second year concentrates on skill development such as counselling strategies, case management, risk/needs assessment, documentation and working with special offender populations. Field placement provides students with the practical, first-hand experience in the field of corrections and criminal justice with the expectation that students apply the knowledge and skills discussed in the classroom.

The Bachelor of Music focuses on the study of jazz and contemporary popular music, responds to the current demands of the industry and combines a high degree of professionalism along with the academic rigour required for further education at the graduate level. The opportunity to study with internationally renowned professionals while following a challenging academic curriculum will give you the skills, insights, competency and credentials to pursue a career as a performer, creator and leader in the evolving music industry.

All Bachelor of Music students share a common curriculum in the first year that focuses on individual study (voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, winds, brass or violin), performance ensemble, theory (jazz and traditional), aural skills, and musicology. After successful completion of the first year, students pursue a major route (specialized program of study).

In the Performance major, students will specialize in their principal instrument and develop repertoire, techniques and styles through independent practice, weekly private lessons, master classes, ensemble rehearsals and public performances. Areas of specialization within the Performance major are: bass (upright/electric); drum set/percussion; guitar (electric); piano/keyboards; voice; winds/brass and violin/fiddle. The program of study also includes core Bachelor of Music courses in theory, aural skills, cultural studies of music, music technology and the business of music.

Criminals are getting more sophisticated, the world is changing rapidly and technology is constantly evolving. All of this creates a strong demand for educated professionals in investigations and public/private security.

This two-year diploma program equips you with the knowledge and skills to investigate, analyze and act using a combination of intuition, expertise and communication skills. Field placements provide insight into professional security and investigative environments, and a crime lab allows you to practice the investigative techniques as you learn them.