Certificate in Early Learning and Child Care

at Medicine Hat College Canada

The Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) certificate program is a multi-disciplinary program focusing on the core disciplines of the built environment:

• Mechanical engineering technology,
• Civil engineering technology and
• Building design technology.

In your introduction to the concepts of drafting, you will learn the basics of AutoCAD, mathematics, topography, architecture, physical sciences, and other related topics. This program concentrates on the foundational theories and concepts in while learning and applying current technology, including developing technical and artistic skills to become a drafting technician or technologist with strong knowledge of industry standard software.

This program will be challenging yet flexible by offering you the opportunity to focus on the areas that interest you most. Having a strong background in computers, mathematics, and physics is an asset to anyone entering the program. Time management skills are also necessary as the program has an especially heavy course load.

Your future success in business rests on the foundation of knowledge and skills you’ll build in the Business Administration Diploma program. This program offers you the opportunity to focus on your strength and career goals, with majors in Accounting, Financial Services, Hospitality & Tourism, Marketing, Management, and Administrative Office Professional. All students are admitted into a common first year before concentrating on a specific area through declaring a major in your second year.

Many of the courses completed in the Business Administration program may be used for credit towards a variety of professional designations and university programs. Students interested in these possibilities, please consult with the Business Administration Academic Advisor.

Hospitality and Tourism Management Program prepares students for entry-level designation management positions with opportunities to work in areas related to: Food and Beverage Management; Marketing; Front Office Procedures: Transportation; Tours and Ticketing.

Improving client health, movement and quality of life is the reward for a career as an Occupational Therapist Assistant/Physical Therapist Assistant (OTA/PTA). As an OTA/PTA, you will work under the direction of occupational therapists (OT) to help clients of all ages and health conditions successfully perform daily activities related to self-care, leisure, and work, school or play. You will also work under the direction of physiotherapists (PT) to provide treatment that helps patients recover from illness or injury to increase mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or lessen physical limitations.

This two-year diploma program offers extensive classroom training and valuable practicum experiences with potential employers in hospitals, private clinics, home care settings, schools, and community programs. Through the use of games or crafts, group activities, exercises, assistive devices, and various electrotherapy and physical modalities, you’ll have opportunities to bring your compassion and creativity to a health care and rehabilitation team.  

The Sport and Event Marketing and Management diploma program is designed to prepare students for careers in a wide range of sport and event-related enterprises and activities. This program examines the industry from behind the scenes, looking at business and consumer relationships, leadership and promotions, as well as the organization and advancement of sporting and entertainment events. This is a 2-year program with five semesters, including a workplace integrated learning residency in the spring, designed for students to gain valuable professional experience through an internship as part of the educational experience. The program is designed for students who enjoy facing challenges, taking risks and initiative, dealing with the public, and being part of a sport-oriented team and organization. 

This innovative program has a practical and applied approach to learning through the use of simulations, case studies, and provides industry experience as well. Students will learn the application of marketing and management skills in the entertainment industry and will develop the skills to lead and manage sport and event careers and businesses, and gain insights into how successfully managed organizations should be designed and run. They will learn how marketing and management principles can develop the operations of sport and event organizations and how it is used by sponsors to enhance their brand and grow their organization. This program trains the next generation of leaders that will acquire the just-in-time knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to succeed in the sport and event industry and can lead to a career that is rewarding, exciting, and challenging

When lives are on the line, the skills and knowledge of a paramedic can make the difference between life and death. The Bachelor of Applied Health Science – Paramedic degree program prepares learners to be an integral part of the health care team, primarily within the pre-hospital environment.

MHC’s Bachelor of Applied Health Science (Paramedic) Degree has been created to meet the emerging needs of patients, practitioners and employers. It enables you to move seamlessly through the various levels of preparation for careers in Emergency Medical Services, ultimately allowing you to attain the Advanced Care Paramedic Diploma or to continue on to the Bachelor of Applied Health Science Paramedic Degree.

Prospective students must be mature and highly motivated to deal with the stress of emergency care, critical care and shift work. Paramedics must think independently, exercise good judgment, communicate effectively with others and work well in multidisciplinary environments. The training provided not only addresses the necessary skills of a paramedic but also the skills required to perform with confidence in a variety of situations, effectively interact with others and maintain professional decorum whether in simple or complex situations.

There is a high demand for paramedics who are employed by public and private ambulance services provincially, nationally and internationally. Paramedics also work in a variety of industrial and community-based emergency health settings.

Managing information has never been more important and information technology professionals are in demand,

• Installing applications,
• Designing complex computer networks,
• Developing information databases, and
• Managing systems.

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills are a must, as troubleshooting and helping others are vital aspects of the job. Additionally, since there is constant interaction with other computer personnel, customers, and employees on the job, IT specialists must be able to communicate effectively on paper, through email, and in person.

Complete the certificate in one year, or pursue the diploma, which has two majors:

• Software and Internet Development (two years)
• Technology Support (two years)

Our program is designed to be flexible. Students will select a major when they apply; however the first semester of the program is common to all so students have the opportunity to change their major at a later date.

A Co-op Program option enables highly motivated students to integrate their academic program with paid, relevant work experience in their chosen field. MHC’s IT programs incorporate all or part of the curriculum requirements for a number of industry certifications including

• A+,
• i-Net+,
• Network+, and
• various Microsoft Certifications.

The examinations for the respective certifications must still be written independently.

If you have an affinity towards science and would like to pursue a degree in one of its many areas, you can begin your university studies at Medicine Hat College. We offer a wide variety of courses that you can take here that count as credit at other institutions throughout Canada.
Our program is designed to prepare you to transfer to another institution after you have completed two years with us. Years three and four of your Bachelor of Science may be in a range of disciplines such as physics, cell biology, physiology or zoology. Alternatively, you may pursue a professional program such as medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry or pharmacy. The possibilities are endless when you follow your scientific inspiration.
Our faculty has proven to be our best asset. They are well-educated, approachable, available and supportive. Feedback from our students has indicated that they value the direct and guided contact with our instructors. First and second year science courses at many universities accommodate 250-400 students. Our first year class sizes are typically less than 80 and second year class sizes are less than 25!
Since we strive to make the transition to university as smooth as possible, this is very important. You will receive ample one-on-one time with your instructors, and you will be prepared for your third and fourth years at university. Completing the first two years of your science education at MHC will also help you better develop skills through direct lab and field experiences, including real-world applications. You can also take advantage of lower tuition costs for your first two years by starting at MHC. You may even be able to save money by either delaying a move away from home, or benefitting from the lower cost of living in Medicine Hat versus larger cities.

Few people in our society are entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing laws and maintaining order. Professionals in this field must be equipped with technical knowledge and skills, and offer the strong character and personal discipline required to succeed in a demanding environment. The Criminal Justice program will help you prepare to take on this challenge.

Throughout the program, you will gain an understanding of the criminal justice system through studies in:

• Human relations,
• Psychology,
• Sociology,
• Investigations,
• Policing,
• Security,
• Criminology, and
• Law.

Exposure to an array of investigative techniques and practices including forensics, crime scene investigations, and threat and risk assessments will further prepare you for employment in the field of your choice.

Police services, industry trainers and educators have identified the key competencies required in the criminal justice community including leadership skills, ethics, analytical thinking, self-confidence, communication skills, flexibility, diligence, patience, self-control, problem solving, and physical skills. During the program, you are encouraged to attain the necessary skills and fitness level to pass the testing requirements demanded by law enforcement organizations, as well as volunteer for various groups and agencies to demonstrate community involvement.

MHC's new agroecology program provides you with the competencies required for producing food, forage, fiber, and fuel using sustainable methods. Courses within the program will prepare you with a range of knowledge in the three E’s:

• Environment,
• Economics, and
• Energy using systems theory.

Cultivating food for future generations, this program provides you the scientific knowledge to optimize interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment to grow food with minimal impact to our world.

Whether you are a small-scale farmer, urban grower or entrepreneur, the agroecology diploma gives you exposure to a variety of topics preparing you to diversify your current operations or start a venture. Expand your knowledge in areas, such as:

• Holistic (Grazing) Management: A value-based decision-making framework that integrates all aspects of planning for social, economic, and environmental considerations.
• Mycoculture: Mushroom cultivation for food production, medicine, or other ecological applications.
• Permaculture: Principals which allow us to create a culture that can sustain and prosper for generations to come. It considers care for the planet, care for people and fair share.
• Rangelands: Ecosystems comprised of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts that are typically grazed by domestic livestock or wild animals.
• Vermiculture: The process of using worms to decompose organic food waste, turning the waste into a nutrient-rich material.
• Eco-system: A geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.
• Systems thinking: A process of understanding how elements like air, water, energy, plants and animals influence one another to thrive.

This program meets the knowledge, technical skills, and performance competencies required for certification with the Alberta Institute of Agrologists as a registered Technologist in Agrology (RTAg). This program also maximizes transfer opportunities to universities offering sustainable agriculture programs.

The path to recovery for those with compulsive behaviours such as substance abuse, gambling, sex addictions, and eating disorders requires trained professionals with theoretical knowledge and practical skills. This program prepares you for a variety of challenging and rewarding careers dealing with individuals with a variety of compulsive behaviours. If you are compassionate with a high level of self-awareness, Addictions Counselling may be a good fit for you.
This rigorous and unique diploma program is the only one of its kind in Canada, and prepares you with knowledge of a range of dependencies, while teaching multi-level intervention skills. 
Due to the nature and demands of the addictions counselling profession, the program invites both emotional involvement and an ongoing commitment to self-awareness as an integral component of becoming educated as a professional addictions counsellor.
Medicine Hat College Addictions Counselling graduates are eligible for certification with The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF) and The Addiction Professionals Association of Alberta (APAA).