Certificate in Office Professional

at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Canada

Get hands-on with the basics of chemistry to begin your career as a chemical, laboratory or research technologist in a number of industries, from petroleum and natural gas to environmental consulting.

In the Chemical Laboratory Technology program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of chemistry and get hands-on experience using analytical instrumentation to analyze laboratory samples. Elligible students may also participate in a 12-month paid work placement program.

Get hands-on, action-based training in information technology systems, support and management while you develop broad knowledge of IT, cloud services, information security and emerging technologies to drive business value.

Become an Information Technology professional and play a critical role in today’s tech-driven economy, helping end users work effectively with complex hardware, software and networks using various tools and applications. Taught by experienced instructors using an industry-supported curriculum and leveraging the most recent technology, you will develop the knowledge, skills and aptitude to support an organization’s IT infrastructure as well as strong business, service, and consulting skills.

Demand for a range of IT professionals will continue as the growth of the IT sector creates more opportunities. Position yourself for a rewarding career supporting critical business operations in the dynamic and ever-evolving tech-sector, and have a vital role in any organization.

Gain practical business knowledge in courses blending theory and hands-on learning in the core areas of business including economics, communication and organizational behaviour. Build a career in one of six majors - accounting, financial services, human resource management, management, marketing or supply chain management.

Engage in small classes with active, collaborative coursework, learning from faculty with real business experience. You work in teams to deliver projects, present strategies and meet business goals. You start with a common first year to build core business skills. In year two, you become proficient in your choice of major: Accounting, Financial Services, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing or Supply Chain Management.

You begin the program with a small business simulation. Then you progress to your final capstone course - a global simulation of an international enterprise where you make all decisions from manufacturing and production to hiring your workforce, determining pricing and promotional strategy and more.

Accounting
Gain intermediate-level accounting skills and a practical understanding of how to analyze a company's performance using financial information. You graduate ready to enter CPA's Advanced Certificate in Finance and Accounting program. You can apply to SAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration degree in order to pursue the CPA designation.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur at heart or you want to increase your business acumen, the Culinary Entrepreneurship post-diploma will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to turn an idea into reality. An intensive year-long certificate program, you’ll learn first-hand all about the world of entrepreneurialism as you manage an actual, real-life hospitality enterprise.

The experiential learning from a live classroom environment will provide you with the skillset required to operate a business, provide creative solutions and drive product development - skillsets that are increasingly sought after in a globalized, competitive environment.

While managing a business, your learning will be complimented with online courses and professional mentorship from industry experts. Your studies will cover everything from business operations, facilities, and business regulations to finance, human resource management, sales and marketing.

Upon completion of this post-diploma certificate, you will be able to make informed decisions about your tolerance to risk, your ability to manage and your ability to lead. Further, you will be able to determine if you are suited to entrepreneurship, whether or not you are ready to become an entrepreneur, or if you should use your entrepreneurial mindset to enhance your position within an organization.

World-Class Experiential Learning Environment
An integral part of your learning experience will be SAIT’s new state-of-the-art facility designed to foster culinary excellence, creative exchange and innovation. An incubator for entrepreneurs, this space will provide you with a flexible platform to develop and market your products, engage with paying customers in real time and fully immerse yourself in the day-to-day operations of entrepreneurialism.

Prepare to make your mark in the business world with the industry-recognized Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree.
Engage in small classes with active, collaborative coursework while learning from faculty with real business experience. Work in teams to deliver projects, present strategies and meet business goals.

You'll begin the program with a common first year to build core business skills, then in year two, choose from one of six majors:

• Accounting: understand the strategic role of accounting in measuring financial performance. Gain advanced knowledge in core accounting topics and quantitative skills. You’ll graduate with the courses you need to enter the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) program and earn your designation.
• Financial Services: study for a career in financial advising, banking, investing or insurance for personal or corporate clients. In this unique major, you’ll complete exams for key industry certification like Investment Funds in Canada (IFIC) and Canadian Securities Course (CSC).
• Human Resource (HR) Management: graduate ready to add strategic value to organizations in recruitment, compensation, employee training and development, change management and navigating diversity. In this Human Resources Institute of Alberta (HRIA)-accredited program, you are exempt from writing the national exam for your Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.
• Management: open the door to a diverse career with effective skills in managing people, processes and projects. In the BBA – Management degree, you learn about projects, operations, change and conflict through practical classes. Specialize your electives and learn the language of the industry with a minor in energy or construction.
• Marketing: learn to create and innovate to grow a business, launch new products and build brands – sometimes for actual clients. Master the marketing mix, embrace the latest trends and blend theory with real-world scenarios. Graduate with a professional portfolio and prepared for an exciting career.
• Supply Chain Management: learn to effectively manage supply chains using examples from real companies. You’ll delve deeply into procurement, logistics, transportation, inventory and warehouse management, supplied relations, contracts and performance analytics. You’ll graduate with unique skills provided by the only Supply Chain Management degree in southern Alberta.

The BBA also offers two optional minors:

• Construction Project Management: get the inside track for a business role in the robust Canadian construction industry. You’ll learn the process of managing large capital construction projects including risk and conflict on construction sites, design considerations and more.
• Energy, Oil and Gas: prepare to work in Alberta’s dynamic energy industry with courses form the state-of-the are MacPhail School of energy. You’ll learn the language of the industry with insights into technical, regulatory and economic factors.

Your final course is an Integrated Work Experience.  You’ll have the opportunity to apply learned knowledge and skills to real-world business situations, while further developing critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication capabilities.

The BBA ensures you develop the business acumen, technical knowledge and soft skills employers are looking for — leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving and communication. Finally, our close industry partnerships ensure that your learning is directly linked to the business community and real-world experiences.

Learn the fundamentals of journalism and start a career working for publications or in communications or public relations. Specialize in photojournalism to perfect your photographic style or focus on your writing with courses in editing, layout and design.

Journalism in the 21st Century is an exciting world that offers many opportunities for those seeking to build a career. News Writing, and photojournalism are the main skills taught in the Journalism program; other specialties including advertising and public relations, publication design, and online journalism are also covered in the first year of study.

Print & Online Journalism

• Students study professional techniques of writing, editing, designing, and laying out newspapers and magazines using desktop publishing techniques. They also practice special photo techniques.

Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program will give you practical hands-on education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to achieve success in the workforce.

During this program, you will develop a strong understanding of the hospitality and tourism industries. You will gain knowledge in guest experiences delivery, sales and marketing, service and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation. You will expand your knowledge by choosing a specialization in travel and tourism, entrepreneurship and innovation, hotel and accommodation management, restaurant and service operations, event management, beverage management and more.

Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality and tourism jobs such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires you to be adaptable, enthusiastic and resilient. If you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals, then this career is perfect for you.

The program allows you to choose an area of specialization in:

• Hotel and Accommodations
• Restaurant and Service Operations
• Beverage Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Event Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Beverage Management
Obtain in-depth beverage product knowledge in non-alcoholic beverages as well as wine, beer and spirits. Training will cover beverage sales and retail operations, inventory control and basic culinary understanding to build your skills in creating sustainable beverage programs. 

Balance creativity and science in this comprehensive program covering all aspects of baking and pastry arts — from the fundamentals of bread and cakes to advanced skills in sugar artistry. 

Take exceptional instructors with backgrounds in traditional and contemporary baking and pastry arts from around the world, add state-of-the-art training facilities and a progressive curriculum, and you get the top Baking and Pastry Arts program in Canada.

If you've baked all of your life, have an artistic flair and are interested in creating magic with elegant dessert showpieces, we can help take your passion to the next level. A career in baking and pastry arts will have you balancing exact measurements and chemistry on one hand while using your imagination and creativity to develop exciting new recipes on the other.

In an industry experiencing high demand, graduates from SAIT’s Baking and Pastry Arts program are well prepared for a diverse range of career options after graduation. In this technical discipline, the craft of pastry is teamed with the art of baking, sugar artistry and fine artisanal chocolate production.

During this full-time two-year diploma program, you will be trained in baking fundamentals and advanced baking practices. The program covers yeast goods, artisan bread, pastries, sugar artistry, chocolate, special occasion and wedding cakes, flans, tortes and much more. You will also learn important management skills on food regulations, customer service, costing, pricing, merchandising and starting your own business.

Hands-on, production environment

• Our main goal is to prepare you for the real world in a hands-on, production-style environment.
• Over your two-year education, you will receive about 1,400 practical training hours in the bakery labs. You’ll learn step-by-step tactics and come away knowing best practices, as well as practical strategies to implement in the real world.
• You will also have the chance to feature your talents by baking bread and pastry products to sell in our gourmet retail food outlets including the renowned Highwood restaurant, the Market Place and the downtown Culinary Campus.

Learn from top instructors from around the world

• In addition to learning the science of baking, our instructors will also inspire your creativity.
• The highly distinguished instructors in the Baking and Pastry Arts program are truly second to none. Their diverse backgrounds and specialties range from executive pastry chefs from top hotels in New York, Hawaii and Bermuda, to local, entrepreneurial bakers.

Professional paid internship and study tours

• Between your first and second year of study, you will get to apply your skills in a professional paid internship. In addition to gaining experience in a real-world environment, internships provide valuable connections and opportunities to network with future employers.
• As a student, you can also take advantage of exciting international study tours. Previous tour locations have included France, Australia, Thailand, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

Learn to set the bar in office software, productivity, organizing information and solving problems to help businesses run smoothly.

Become the backbone of a business with the Administrative Information Management (AIM) diploma. This two-year program has unique benefits and is becoming a preferred credential for employers hiring administrative professionals.

Working in teams, you will hone your professionalism, critical thinking and effective communication skills. You learn to create and manage solutions to business information needs through technology, meetings, office procedures and more. Become an expert in project administration and planning events. You integrate business technology with real office procedures.

You can graduate with several Microsoft Office certifications, demonstrating your advanced skills in word processing, database, spreadsheet and presentation software. Working for a simulated company, you integrate all your skills to manage information and creatively solve office challenges. Your final course is a four-week practicum placement. Apply everything you learned in a real workplace and demonstrate your career readiness.

Be at the forefront of eye care practice, working as part of a multi-disciplinary vision care team. Students will study ocular pathology, refracting and pharmacology, as well as business and retail aspects of the profession.

The Optician program is two years in length and trains students to be at the forefront of eye care practice, working as part of a multi-disciplinary vision care team. Students will study ocular pathology, refracting and pharmacology, as well as business and retail aspects of the profession. Application of the theory will be demonstrated through clinical competencies focusing on refraction, filling eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions, ensuring a proper fit, and determining clients’ eyewear needs.