Diploma in Media Studies and Professional Communication

at Red Deer Polytechnic Canada

The one-year business certificate is designed for individuals looking to acquire introductory business skills to increase their employability or augment existing work experience. It also allows for budding entrepreneurs to gain a credential quickly while learning the key functional areas of business.

Students participate in our signature course, Business Topics and Skills. This course connects students to themselves, to learning, to the diverse Central Alberta community, and to career opportunities. Students are provided with networking opportunities in various courses.

Program Learning Outcome

• Collaboration: Practice collaborating in and with diverse teams.
• Communication: Communicate effectively utilizing oral, written, nonverbal, and media communication skills.
• Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving: Practice using critical and reflective skills and practices to analyze organizational challenges.
• Globalization: Recognize the impact of globalization across cultures and markets.
• Social and Cross Cultural Awareness: Recognize the value of diverse ideas, perspectives, and worldviews in a business environment.
• Information, Communication, Technology, and Financial Fluency: Apply information literacy, technology, research skills, and numerical and financial fluency to solve problems.
• Ethics: Employ ethical decision making and demonstrate professionalism.
• Business Acumen - Tools: Apply qualitative and quantitative methods to business scenarios.
• Business Acumen - Holistic: Explain holistic and entrepreneurial approaches for working in, and managing, socially responsible organizations.
• Lifelong Learning: Recognize the value of lifelong-learning and community engagement.
• Indigenous: Contribute to the advancement of reconciliation and apply principles of Indigenous knowledge including identifying and describing Indigenous cultural protocols, worldviews, and learning approaches in both a business and societal context.

The demand for Information Technology professionals is rapidly increasing in all industries. Diversify your career options and transform your skillset to obtain your dream career!

Gain the expertise necessary for entry-level employment in Computer Networking with this brand new Career Development Diploma. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are well-prepared to enter into a career as an IT Technician, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Network Support and many more! Kick-start your career in Information Technology and become a member of one of the most in-demand industries!

Upon successful completion of this graduate certificate program, offered over 16 months, graduates will have the knowledge and practical skills to work as Human Resources professionals in a variety of Human Resource settings. This program will also prepare graduates for the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.* The program has been specifically developed to align with the Human Resources Institute of Alberta accreditation framework. Graduates of an accredited program who achieve a minimum overall average of 70% (2.7 GPA) in the program may apply to the CPHR to waive the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) requirements towards the CPHR designation with Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Canada (CPHR) member associations**. Graduates who do not achieve a minimum overall average of 70% in the program will be better equipped to write the National Knowledge Exam in preparation to obtain the CPHR designation. The entrance requirement of an undergraduate degree in any field ensures that students in the program will receive instruction commensurate with their background.

Program Outcomes:

• Explain and demonstrate the strategic importance of human resources practices as they relate to the organizational strategy, best practices and trends in human resources.
• Identify key elements of ethical behaviour and professional code of conduct for HR professionals; provide examples to illustrate ability to balance interests, promote organizational values, and manage risk.
• Demonstrate the value of human resources initiatives and their impact on employee engagement and organizational results; explain the importance of involving key stakeholders.
• Identify and explain the components of creating and executing an effective workforce plan and employee value proposition.
• Outline the steps to implement an effective performance management system.
• Identify and explain employment legislation and labour and employee relations strategies used to manage risks and create a respectful, productive and engaging work environment.
• Describe the components of a total rewards structure and outline methods to evaluate a total rewards structure.
• Illustrate the steps involved in job evaluation and market comparison.
• Identify learning priorities and adult learning principles, as well as methods for measuring learning initiatives that support a learning environment, align with business strategy, and provide a return on investment.
• Develop health, wellness and safety policies and procedures in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and standards; promote a healthy workplace as per organizational policy.
• Use metrics and HR information systems to measure and report on effectiveness of key performance indicators, and to make informed decisions.

The University Sciences Diploma at Red Deer College is a two-year diploma program emphasizing contemporary concepts and practical scientific skills applicable to both field and laboratory settings. With an initial specialization in Biological Sciences, students registered in this program will explore topics ranging from the level of molecules and cells to that of organisms, communities, and populations. The University Science Diploma will prepare graduates for transition into the final two years of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences, for admission to professional schools requiring a minimum of two years of undergraduate studies, and for entry into the workforce in biology-related fields.

Program Outcomes

• Demonstrate competency in analytical methods.
• Identify one's own strengths and weaknesses in relation to areas of study and future growth.
• Develop basic scientific research projects using appropriate research methods and ethics.
• Communicate scientific knowledge clearly and succinctly through oral, visual, and written formats to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrate collaborative, independent, and inclusive attitudes and practices integrating multidisciplinary perspectives and approaches.
• Demonstrate professional conduct in all aspects of individual and team-based work.
• Describe creative solutions to problems that impact society by drawing from scientific theories.
• Explain natural principles and phenomena using knowledge from the biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences.
• Recognize the place of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in scientific study.

Students who complete the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Film, Theatre, and Live Entertainment will be well prepared for entry level work as performers, directors, producers, or technicians in mid to large sized theatres, film sets, and production companies, and they will also possess the skills and attributes to collaborate with others in the creative arts to develop independent projects that serve the film, theatre, and live event needs of local industry.

Built on a foundation of communication, storytelling, and business and entrepreneurial skills, the program offers the choice of three majors:

• Acting
• Film Production
• Live Entertainment Production

Throughout the program, students are given the opportunity to apply their learning through projects, live theatre productions, and short films. Students will also have scheduled time to work collaboratively on projects with other students in the School of Creative Arts, including those studying Visual Art and Animation and Visual Effects.

The 4th year of the program is dedicated to mentored work-related experience where students can work in a relevant industry or on independent projects.

Program Outcomes:-
Acting Major

•  Practice teamwork and professionalism throughout the performance process. 
• Employ creativity and problem solving skills in the process of performance. 
• Communicate effectively in a verbal, written and physical manner within accepted acting industry based parameters. 
• Evaluate script information and performance requirements. 
• Employ acting industry safety procedures.
• Employ acting industry standard language and terminology.
• Practice stage and set standard ethics and workplace etiquette. 
• Practice career, entrepreneurial and life management skills with growing confidence (networking, creative vision, marketing). 
• Analyze own and others’ work in order to provide and appropriately respond to feedback. 
• Recognize and discuss work of cultural and gender diversity (aboriginal/global/gender perspectives/awareness). 
• Demonstrate depth and breadth of technical skills and techniques in theatre and film. 
• Practice performance skills within existing and emerging technologies. 

Film Production Major:-

• Practice teamwork and professionalism throughout the film pre-production, production, and post-production process. 
• Employ creativity and problem solving skills in the process of filmmaking. 
• Communicate clearly in verbal, written and visual forms within accepted film industry based parameters addressing diverse audiences.  
• Evaluate film production information and requirements. 
• Employ film production industry safety procedures.
• Employ film production industry standard language and terminology. 
• Practice film production industry standard ethics and set etiquette. 
• Practice career, entrepreneurial and life management skills with growing confidence (networking, creative vision, marketing). 
• Analyze own and others’ work in order to provide and appropriately respond to feedback. 
• Recognize and discuss work of cultural and gender diversity (aboriginal/global/gender perspectives/awareness). 
• Demonstrate depth and breadth of skills in film (pre-production, production, post-production). 

Live Entertainment Production Major:-

• Practice teamwork and professionalism throughout the development and production process. 
• Employ creativity and problem solving skills throughout the process of producing a live event. 
• Communicate effectively in a verbal, written and visual manner within accepted live entertainment industry based parameters. 
• Evaluate production information and requirements for live entertainment. 
• Employ standard production safety procedures in producing live events. 
• Employ standard production language and terminology in producing live events. 
• Practice live entertainment industry etiquette standards in various workplace environments. 
• Use best practices for environmental sustainability. 
• Practice ethical behavior throughout the live production process. 
• Practice career, entrepreneurial and life management skills with growing confidence (networking, creative vision, marketing). 
• Examine your work and the work of others to disseminate and discuss process and workflow. 
• Recognize and discuss work of cultural and gender diversity (aboriginal/global/gender perspectives/awareness). 
• Demonstrate depth and breadth of technical skills for live entertainment production.

The program at RDC is one year of study toward Bachelor of Science Nutrition and Food Sciences.

Students studying Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Alberta can pursue 5 different majors upon transfer. Students starting at RDC will be best set up to transition into either the Nutrition and Food Science General program or the Dietetics Specialization program. If you are pursuing another major in Nutrition, you may experience some added time to finish your degree from the University of Alberta when you transfer. See the Bachelor of Science – Nutrition and Food Sciences Academic Planning Guide for more information

The RDC program is a pre-professional year that prepares the student for admission to the degree program. Normally, three additional years of study are required.

Transfer Features
The courses in this program can be transferred in full to BSc Agricultural/Food Business Management at the University of Alberta. Refer to the University of Alberta calendar for the complete listing of courses under the Faculty of Agricultural, Life, and Environmental Sciences.

The objective in all programs is to provide you with the basis of a liberal arts education which will allow you to transfer to universities offering a Bachelor of Arts degree program.

In most cases, you will major in one of the subjects listed below. By declaring a major, you are simply stating your intent to pursue a comprehensive study of that subject area. Some university programs require you to declare a minor, which represents a second subject you will study in some depth as well.

The Bachelor of Commerce program will provide you with background skills and knowledge in the various specialized areas of business, as well as in the humanities and social sciences. Emphasis is on developing the ability to analyze various organizational problems of a human and/or technical nature.

At RDC, students may complete Year 1 and Year 2 of the undergraduate business degree programs offered at Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, the University of Lethbridge, Athabasca University or other Canadian universities. At RDC, students may complete Year 1 of the program offered at the University of Calgary.

When the student transfers to the University of his/her choice, a specialized area of study (a major) may be selected. These specializations include:

• Accounting
• Computer Science
• Economics
• E-Commerce
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• First Nations' Governance
• Human Resource Management & Labour Relations
• Finance
• International Business
• Marketing
• Political Science
• Supply Chain Management
• Others as offered by the University you choose