Diploma in Communications, Culture and Journalism Studies

at Okanagan College - Kelowna Campus Canada

Graduates with a diploma or degree in Business Administration from Okanagan College may receive a post-diploma certificate in Business Administration by completing an additional 18 credits of BUAD courses, of which at least 15 credits must be course numbered 200 or higher. This certificate will be of interest to students who have completed one option and now wish to broaden their studies in a second option. Certificates are available in Accounting, Financial Services, General Studies, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Management, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. Please contact the department chair for approval of your study plan.

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.

The Early Childhood Education program prepares students to work with young children in a variety of inclusive early childhood environments. Students will acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to work with children, families and the community in planning enriched programs in daycares, preschools, infant/toddler centres and other early childhood initiatives that focus upon healthy early development. Successful completion of the four-semester Diploma in Early Childhood Education (and the intercession practicum) satisfies the requirements of the Early Childhood Registrar, Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), Community Care Facilities Licensing Branch (CCFB) for a Certificate to Practice as an Early Childhood Educator, a Special Needs Educator and an Infant/Toddler Educator. Graduates of a Diploma in Early Childhood Education may also receive block transfer credit for continuation of their studies toward a degree. For further information on post-diploma opportunities, please contact the Department of Early Childhood Education.

Students who successfully complete only the first three semesters of the Diploma in Early Childhood Education may be eligible to be granted a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Completion of the three semester Certificate in Early Childhood Education satisfies the training requirements for a Certificate to Practice as an Early Childhood Educator.

This unique two-year post-baccalaureate diploma (60 credit/20 course) is aimed at students with a bachelor degree in any business or science program who wish to pursue a career in Marketing and Data 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 marketing and data science area. In subsequent terms, students build on, and apply, these foundational skills to a diverse set of areas. While many of the applications have a business or marketing focus, the mathematical, statistical, and data science concepts learned are universally applicable to a wide range of disciplines.

Okanagan College offers a four-year Applied Bachelor of Arts degree, located at the Kelowna campus with limited course offerings at Salmon Arm, Vernon and Penticton campuses. This baccalaureate degree provides graduates with employable skills in applied research and an understanding of how the social sciences and liberal arts actively contribute to a culturally diverse sustainable society. Developed for the context of the southern interior of B.C., this program includes studies of regional indigenous cultures and prepares graduates for direct contributions to local and regional issues. Through contextualized learning, the goal of the degree is to provide applied research skills within a context of liberal arts studies and applied social science, emphasizing an empirical orientation to understanding, to application of knowledge, and to intervention. Characterized by the strengths of a terminal degree that produces employable skills, this degree can also prepare students for admission to selective graduate studies programs. All graduates of this applied degree program will be ready for today's job market through mastery of higher-order analytical skills and techniques for applied research. Practical related field experience is a central component of the applied degree education.

This degree enables students to develop competencies in academic and professional writing, qualitative and quantitative analysis, critical thinking skills, ethics, applied research, program evaluation, multi-disciplinary world views, and languages other than English (including regional First Nations' languages). Students will complete field experience (a practicum, field placement or co-operative education program in the fourth year) as well as a capstone project that will tie academic studies to relevant local and regional issues. The degree program develops and maintains scholastic strengths in students, requiring a minimum of 55% in each course counting toward the degree and a minimum cumulative grade average of 60% for all courses taken while in the program. For students seeking direct entry into the Master of Social Work Foundational Two-Year Track graduate studies program at UBC Okanagan, in addition to these degree requirements a minimum grade average of 76% in the upper level courses counting toward the degree is required.

Community Research and Evaluation
A community research focus of the Applied Bachelor of Arts degree provides students with pathways to applied social service work or potential for transition to graduate studies at UBC Okanagan. Students will be granted an Applied Bachelor of Arts: Community Research and Evaluation (ABA-CRE) degree upon completion of the following:

This 38-week (1,140 hours) program provides learners with little or no previous experience in the Heavy Duty Mechanic, Commercial Transport Mechanic, Diesel Engine Mechanic, or Transport Trailer Technician trades with the skills necessary to seek employment in the industry. Instruction in theoretical and practical components of all four trades are included, giving students the opportunity to choose to enter any of the four trades as an apprentice. The program includes a two-week industry work placement. Graduates of this program will receive an Okanagan College program certificate, Level 1 Technical Training credit and 450 work-based training hours towards one of the four trades from the Industry Training Authority.

This two-year diploma program is designed for students who wish to obtain employment in the automotive industry as an Automotive Collision Repair Technician, Refinishing Preparation Technician or Auto Glass Technician. The program begins by providing the student with the first year of apprenticeship training followed by second-year courses that focus on industry required skills in estimating, office skills and entrepreneurship.

This unique program provides training in four technical areas that include automotive refinishing preparation, automotive refinishing, automotive collision repair and auto glass repair and replacement. Each of these areas will be covered providing the graduate with completion of four modules of level one technical training. Upon successful completion of the technical training, students will be eligible to write the provincial Industry Training Authority standardized examinations.

The Business Studies Certificate allows students to focus on a specific discipline. This program may be of interest to those who are already employed. Some courses are also available by distance education. All Business Studies Certificates require the use of Microsoft Office software. Computer experience is recommended.

Co-operative Education: Entry into the co-operative education option is a student's choice, and subject to completion of all first-year courses and an overall grade average of 65%.

This 4 semester 2 year diploma program (76 weeks) is offered in partnership with Northern Lights College (NLC) in Dawson Creek, B.C. The first 3 semesters (55 weeks) of training take place at Okanagan College Aerospace Campus in Vernon B.C. The final semester (18 weeks) takes place at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek. The diploma is conferred by Northern Lights College. All curriculum and entrance requirements at Okanagan College align with the AMT program at Northern Lights College.

The program is designed to take a student with little or no previous experience in the aircraft maintenance trade and supply him/her with the necessary skills to seek employment in that industry as an apprentice Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. The curriculum follows Transport Canada's guidelines and upon successful completion of the program, Transport Canada will grant graduates 18 months of experience credits toward the 48-month experience requirement for an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer license. Graduates also receive a diploma for Aircraft Maintenance Technician from Northern Lights College.

Apprenticeship technical training credit for Levels One through Four will be granted upon successful completion of this program. Apprenticeship practical training credit may also be granted by the employer as a result of prior practical experience.Training provided is applicable to both rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and fixed wing aircraft, covering a wide range of subjects with emphasis on practical training. Some of the major subjects taught include aviation law, theory of flight, powerplants (turbine and piston), airframe structures and systems, hydraulics, electrical and avionics systems.

The Business Studies Certificate allows students to focus on a specific discipline. This program may be of interest to those who are already employed. Some courses are also available by distance education. All Business Studies Certificates require the use of Microsoft Office software. Computer experience is recommended.