Certificate in Administrative Assistant

at Okanagan College - Kelowna Campus Canada

The International Development Diploma is designed for learners who are interested in working with organizations involved in development projects across the globe. The program provides learners an opportunity to engage with current global issues such as poverty; environmental degradation; racial and gender discrimination; corruption and lack of economic and financial transparency; and political deficiency. Upon successful completion of this program, learners have acquired a multidisciplinary understanding of the current issues in international development and will apply appropriate techniques to analyze the issues and problems of development in the global context.

The Diploma has two options
International Development Governance. In this option, students will have a choice of further emphases in:

• Women and Development
• Environment and Development

International Development Management, a joint Diploma Program between Arts and Business
All Arts courses in this Diploma program have university studies credits, providing students with the option of further study in either international development or other related disciplines. Business courses are transferred on a course-by-course basis. Students are advised to verify with the appropriate Department Chair or Dean that the specific course offerings will be offered within a two-year cycle if students intend to complete the Diploma in two years.

The civil engineering technologist is involved in the design and construction of buildings, bridges, highways, streets, parks, subdivisions, dams, drainage and irrigation systems, water supply and sewer systems, and plants. Aspects of civil engineering and urbanization in Canada are studied throughout this program. A diverse and stimulating program, Civil Engineering Technology incorporates field trips to reinforce theoretical background, and to develop appropriate methods of approach and solution. Graduates will possess the following knowledge and skills:

• A knowledge of mathematics, applied science, surveying principles, graphical language and oral and written communication techniques;
• A grounding in applied civil engineering technology as related to highway surveying, road design and construction, municipal construction, bridge construction, municipal water and sewage works, irrigation and drainage, and heavy construction;
• Skills in drafting, detailing, computing, surveying, laboratory testing (soil mechanics, concrete and asphalt paving), construction inspection, writing technical reports and correspondence, preparation of specifications and costs, basic structural design in steel, reinforced concrete, design of water distribution and sewage collection systems, heating and air conditioning and other building services, and engineering law.

This 20-course post-baccalaureate diploma is aimed at students with a bachelor degree in any business or non-business program other than those with a marketing major or specialty who wish to pursue a career in the marketing field.

The Studio Woodworking Certificate Program is a 38-week (1140 hours) full-time study of woodworking from the craftsperson's perspective. With a primary focus on furniture, the program will offer a range of woodworking skill sets that can be adapted to any of the many disciplines within the Cabinetmaker/Joiner trade. Inasmuch as this program's focus is 'Art' as well as 'Industry', the range of knowledge covered within this program will enable the successful student to acquire meaningful employment in a range of 'studio' or 'custom' environments with confidence, whether self-employed or working for others. Those successful students who wish to continue in a traditional apprenticeship will be granted level one apprenticeship technical training credit and 450 work-based hours in the Cabinetmaker/Joiner trade by the Industry Training Authority in B.C.

The range of topics taught includes a history of the trade, design basics, an understanding of the materials, safe work practices, hand and machine skills, and joinery techniques. They also include more advanced techniques such as design and creating curved parts, veneer, inlay, marquetry and banding. Basic Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining will be explored. Wood finishing from simple hand rubbed to advanced spray booth techniques will be practiced. Students will also be introduced to portfolio and promotion concepts, including photography of product, and how to interact with clients. Students will design and build a final project from concept to promotion. A public exhibit at the conclusion of the program will spotlight the students' achievements and provide a showcase for their work.

This two-year post-baccalaureate diploma (60 credit/20 course) is aimed at students with a bachelor degree in any nursing, science, engineering, psychology business or management program who wish to pursue a career in Health Analytics. Students will receive thorough training in statistics and data science. Term one of this program sets the mathematical and statistical foundation for higher level learning in the health and data science areas. In subsequent terms, students build on, and apply, these foundational skills to a diverse set of areas. While many of the applications have a health focus, the mathematical, statistical, and data science concepts learned are universally applicable to a wide range of disciplines.

At the end of this program students will:

1. Apply mathematical, statistical and machine learning techniques to support organizational decisions as well as to identify new data driven opportunities.
2. Manage and manipulate data and create data visualizations using a variety of mathematical and statistical software.
3. Participate in the planning and execution of a data science project culminating in recommendations based on the results of the analysis.
4. Evaluate, define and explain data-analytic problems that offer the greatest opportunities for organizational benefits.
5. Understand healthcare systems in a variety of countries including how their history, geography, government and economy and privacy laws impact the healthcare system.
6. Understand the relevant laws, regulations and standards involved with health data.

This 30-week (900 hour) program has been designed to take learners with little or no previous experience in the automotive collision repair trade and supply them with the necessary skills to seek employment in this industry. Instruction in all subject matters relating to Level 1 technical training for Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Automotive Collision Repair Technician) apprenticeship is included.

Graduates of this program will receive Industry Training Authority (ITA) credit for Level 1 technical training and 625 work-based hours towards their apprenticeship for Motor Vehicle Body Repairer.

The Diploma in Communications, Culture, and Journalism Studies (CCJS) is a two-year interdisciplinary diploma that foregrounds a critical analysis of the mass media as contemporary society's most pervasive agent of political and cultural transformation. Students will explore the social, political, and economic functions of news and communications media, the history of journalism, and cultural policy & theory. Particular attention will be paid to questions of social justice, as well as of identity and constructions of gender, race, class, sexuality, and nationality.                               

Housed in the Department of Communications, CCJS offers students foundational courses in media theory, writing-intensive courses in Communications and English, and a selection of elective breadth courses from a range of departments --including Anthropology, History, Philosophy, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, and Women's Studies.

While students may proceed directly to potential entry-level careers in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising, research, writing, publishing, consulting or new media, especially in small markets and independent digital environments, completion of this program is intended primarily to provide students with the liberal arts education necessary for further study.

The Commercial Helicopter Pilot Certificate (CHPC) will complement the objectives of the Commercial Aviation program, allowing students from both airplane and helicopter courses to share common ground school courses. This will educate students with the unique challenges of operating helicopters in Canada and internationally.

This certificate follows the Transport Canada approved curriculum and shares courses with the Commercial Aviation Diploma. This includes fundamentals and advanced skills required for commercial helicopter pilots. Students will complete the program with the skills to take the Transport Canada Commercial Helicopter Pilots written and flight tests.

Okanagan College continues to incorporate business development skills with aviation course so students can advance their professionalism and work ethic within future career positions. By blending commercial helicopter pilot training skills with the Okanagan College School of Business, graduates will enter the industry with more advanced education than that of a general pilot.

This certificate will require two full semesters over one year with a total of 40 credits. Graduates that successfully complete the Transport Canada written and in flight exams and accumulate a minimum of 100 hours of flight time, will be ready for employment as commercial helicopter pilots.

This two-year diploma program focuses upon the courses needed as prerequisites to enter into the CPA Professional Education Program. The program contains the 19 courses required as prerequisites to the CPA Professional Education program and 1 elective.

This 50-week (1,600 hour) certificate program includes all the craft skills needed to work as a professional Baker/Patissier, as outlined in the National Occupation Analysis for Baker Level 1. The program also includes a Co-op, providing an opportunity to experience and learn in a dynamic industry based environment. The initial term focuses on workplace safety and organization, ingredient and finished product knowledge. This is followed by the making of breads, cakes and pastries in all their various forms from cookies to wedding cakes, pies to artisan sourdough bread, and chocolate souffle to pieces montees.

This program focuses on the wealth of farm-to-table opportunities afforded by the Okanagan region, emphasising the use of local products including premium wines, beers and spirits, both as ingredients and as beverages paired with the finished dessert or baked good. Locally-grown herbs, fruits and vegetables are featured, organically-grown grains and in-house milling are also regional features of the program. Successful graduates will be ready for employment in any of the various settings where baked goods are required, from care homes and camps, to specialty bakeries, fine dining restaurants, hotels, resorts and cruise ships. Self-employment is also a popular option.