University Arts and Sciences - Certificate in Pre-Education

at Northern Lights College - Fort St. John Campus Canada

The Diploma in Interactive Technologies and Game Design prepares graduates to work in the growing information technology industry that combines management, marketing, internet, multimedia, networking, and software technologies to enhance business efficiency.

The Pre-Education Certificate comprises the first year of an Associate of Arts Degree designed for prospective teachers and is a first step toward enrolment in the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE), Northern Lights College's teacher training program.

A Pre-Education Certificate is awarded to students who complete one year of planned coursework at Northern Lights College. Credits earned may also be applied to an undergraduate degree with other post secondary institutions.

The Pre-Education Certificate is offered as part of the University Arts and Sciences program, which provides university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences

The Associate of Arts Degree – AHCOTE (AAA) is awarded to students who complete two years of planned coursework at Northern Lights College. The AAA prepares students for entry into the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE), the teacher-training program offered at NLC. Credits may also be applied toward a degree.

The AAA is offered as part of the University Arts and Sciences program, which provides university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences.

The University Arts and Sciences program serves individuals and communities by providing university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences.  A wide variety of first- and second-year courses enable learners to pursue numerous credential and career options, and to engage in personal enrichment. 

The Associate of Arts Degree enables students to focus on disciplines in the humanities and/or social sciences.  This provincially recognized credential is designed to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, and further study.

For students intending to pursue further studies, the Associate of Arts Degree comprises the first two years (60 credits) of a four-year degree program (120 credits). All 60 credits comprising the Associate Degree receive full block-transfer at universities throughout British Columbia. Accordingly, the Associate of Arts Degree enables students to complete half of a degree program while remaining in their home community.

Students transferring to universities may still be required to meet specific first- and second-year requirements for certain degree programs, so advance planning  is recommended. Where viable, Associate Degree students are encouraged to select courses that also satisfy Flexible Pre-Majors.

The program is ideally suited to international students who already hold a minimum three-year degree in information technology or computer science. Advanced study in business management will enhance employability for entry and middle management positions in various information technology professions in Canada, depending on prior educational experience.

This multi-disciplinary program includes business management, communications, and specialized information technology courses. For international students with a three-year degree in information technology or a related field, the program introduces management concepts in a Canadian context, with emphasis on internal and external communications, organizational behaviour, human resource management, and project management.

The Archaeology Diploma program at Northern Lights College provides academic knowledge and field skills specific to archaeology sampling techniques. The field of archaeology is growing along with the oil and gas industry and other developments that disturb the land. Trained graduates can find employment opportunities with numerous archaeology and environmental consulting firms as well as government agencies.

The diploma program is ideally suited for students interested in entry-level positions that largely involve field work in remote areas under physically demanding conditions. This career can involve survey and excavation, artifact processing and analysis, and report preparation.

By using this Diploma program as a stepping stone to completion of a bachelor's degree, students can obtain employment in upper-level positions. A degree in Anthropology or Archaeology in combination with field experience offers graduates the opportunity to become Field Directors or Senior Archaeologists.

A Diploma in Criminology will be awarded to students who complete the equivalent of two years of required first and second-year courses at Northern Lights College. The diploma is intended to prepare students for entry-level employment positions and for continued studies in academic and professional programs. Relevant areas of work and additional education include Corrections, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Forensic Studies, and Law Enforcement.

The Certificate in Engineering is an intense undergraduate credential that requires courses in the areas of chemistry, computer programming, communications, engineering design, math, and physics. 

This credential allows for seamless, guaranteed transfer into second-year engineering programs at the University of Alberta.  NLC students are responsible for understanding the terms and conditions of transfer to the UofA. For example, while second-year admission with a minimum GPA is guaranteed, competitive placement in specific second-year engineering disciplines applies to all students.

The Applied Business Technology program prepares students to work in offices in business, government, and industry. The demand for administrative assistants in government, municipal offices, accounting firms, oil and gas, legal, and health care is growing, and employers actively seek our graduates. Students are trained in current software packages and administrative procedures in order to be prepared for employment upon graduation.

This program teaches current office skills in word processing, keyboarding, spreadsheets, automated accounting and bookkeeping. Business communications and office procedures courses enable students to develop the soft skills necessary for success in today’s offices. Students utilize current Microsoft Office software in the program.

While most students complete the Administrative Assistant specialization, two alternative streams, Financial Assistant and Office Assistant, enable students to exit early. Each stream includes a one- or two-week practicum placement to give students the opportunity to apply their new skills in an office environment.

Study as part of a cohort or choose a less intense schedule
Students can enrol in and complete the 39-week Administrative Assistant program as part of a group that starts together in September and finishes together in June. In this cohort environment, all courses are delivered in a face-to-face format.  Cohort students may also opt to exit after 23 weeks as an Office Assistant or after 29 weeks as a Financial Assistant.

The Social Services Worker Diploma (SSWD) program provides opportunities for students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and qualifications to enable them to work in a human services worker field.  The program involves two years of full-time study, with a combination of practice, theory, and academic course requirements aimed to prepare students to become critical practitioners with an emphasis on advocacy, social justice, and social change.