Diploma in Agroecology Technician

at Medicine Hat College Canada

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.

This two-year program provides learners with the ability to pursue flexible degree options and develop a variety of transferrable skills to support diverse career paths, while empowering them to think creatively and with an inquisitive mind.

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.

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.

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 (Paramedic) program 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.

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.

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 (pending government approval), 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.

Management students are prepared for entry-level positions in profit and non-profit organizations. Graduates may also choose to work for a small or family-owned business or to become an entrepreneur.

Power engineering is a challenging field of study that supports the supervision, operation and maintenance of machinery and systems.

From boilers and turbines to generators and pressure vessels, power engineers are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the equipment and related controls that provide power, heat, refrigeration and other utility services to industrial and commercial facilities.  

If you enjoy controlling and operating manual and automated systems, analyzing information and solving problems, and having clear rules and organized methods for your work, power engineering may be a good fit for you. People drawn to this field tend to have a mechanical and electrical aptitude, good eye-hand co-ordination and an ability to work well with others in a team environment.

With MHC’s modern, state-of-the-art lab with an actual plant environment and small class sizes, you’ll gain ample operating time and relevant industry experience.  

The Child and Youth Care Counsellor program provides you with the skills and competencies to improve the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of vulnerable children, youth, and families who may have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, failure, family breakdown, and may have behavioural and/or learning difficulties.

Preparation for a career in Child and Youth Care Counselling demands a commitment to learning the essential components of developing healthy, caring relationships, as well as a look inward to learn to understand yourself and your ability to help others. The dynamics of abuse and neglect and the treatment of those issues are explored through courses in professionalism, children and the law, psychology, treatment methods, counselling skills and caring for at-risk youth. Education in group process, family dynamics, and ethics is also offered to enhance personal development and growth.

As a student, you’ll be trained in professional practice, communication, self-awareness, theory, and assessment and intervention. You will also be out in the community applying your skills and knowledge in three of the four semesters of course work. Throughout, you will be involved in numerous group projects, role plays and counselling sessions. After graduation, you have the option to use your diploma as credit towards a degree at a number of partner institutions.

An education in Humanities and Social Sciences (Arts) is often misunderstood and underrated. Some may take a look at the classes and claim that subjects like philosophy and history have little relevance in daily life. But when you consider the challenges we face as a society—war based on religious idealism, globalization, medical problems like HIV, and more—you will soon realize how relevant these topics are. If we fail to understand other cultures for example, how can we do business successfully overseas? How can our society address any complex problem without looking inward?
The courses you take in UT Arts will help you develop critical thinking skills to consider and interact with the vast amount of information available. The result can be creative approaches and problem-solving skills that you will need to make decisions and succeed in a complex world.
At MHC, you’ll have the advantage of building strong rapport with faculty who possess qualifications on par with university professors. The result is a high quality, yet personal learning experience. The range of courses available is broad, allowing you to build an individualized program that meets your interests and the degree you have in mind. The college helps you develop a suitable class schedule, as there is a very high degree of flexibility.
Medicine Hat College has transfer agreements with the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, as well as an agreement with Athabasca University that allows you to complete a Bachelor of General Studies (Arts and Science) at Medicine Hat College.