Certificate in Office Administration - (Administrative Assistant)

at Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus Canada

Computer Science is a rapidly-growing field, generating a great number of employment opportunities. Government agencies are predicting shortages of qualified computing people that will number in the tens of thousands in Canada alone. The Bachelor of Science, Major in Computer Science, is designed to meet the training and educational requirements outlined by CIPS (Canadian Information Processing Society), ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). These requirements reflect the needs of the computing industry, both nationally and internationally.

The program is composed of courses drawn from the systems, theoretical and business application domains. It is designed to train students in applied computer science and educate them in the social, ethical and legal implications of computer science.

The program has an optional co-operative education component. To be eligible, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) or better in their Computer Science courses.

The Computer Science Major will be of interest to students wishing to enter the Information Technology industry and/or graduate studies. The Minor will primarily be of interest to students wishing to combine an additional field of study with a strong computing background.

Help brighten people’s smiles every day with a career as a dental assistant. Vancouver Island University’s Dental Assistant Certificate program offers students hands-on training with knowledgeable instruction to prepare them for this fast-paced, growing industry.

After completion of the nine-month Dental Assistant program, students must write a national board exam to be eligible to become a Certified Dental Assistant.

The Dental Assistant Certificate Program
This program, recognized by the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC), and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to be a member of the dental team; providing care, support and services for individuals of all ages.

Upon successful completion of the Dental Assistant program, students will be granted a certificate. Students must then write a National Board exam which, upon successful completion and combined with the certificate, makes them eligible to apply for registration and licensure with the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA – Level II).

Hone your critical thinking, legal analysis, project management, communication, conflict mediation, research and analysis skills with VIU’s Criminology program.

Criminology is an exciting, dynamic field of study that looks at the social and psychological factors that contribute to criminally deviant behaviour and its consequences. Students interested in current events, psychology and social justice will find their stride with our degree in Criminology.

Criminology studies grads are attracted to a range of careers in the criminal justice system, with Crown corporations and in the private sector, such as bailiff, correctional officer, court reporter, criminal investigator, legal assistant, parole officer, police officer, research, victim services specialist, and many more. Check out the careers page on the Criminology program website for more options.

In fourth year, Criminology Majors have the option of either conducting an applied research project or participating in a field placement.

The Criminology (BA) Program
Criminology is an interdisciplinary science that focuses on law and its interpretation by the courts, patterns in crime, the explanation of deviant and criminal behaviour, and society’s reaction to law-breaking. The program introduces students to criminal law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and case-law decisions made by the courts. Students will examine in separate courses the three main components of the criminal justice system—police, courts, and corrections—that form an organized response to crime. The program addresses the trends and correlates of crime, including the influences of age, ethnicity, gender, and social class. The major explanations for crime try to account for these patterns by looking at historical, individual, and social causes. The criminological focus is broadened with courses from other disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities. 

The program aims to provide students with conceptual, critical, and applied skills to work in fields where a legal/justice focus is beneficial. The curriculum emphasizes the development of professional and applied skills through training in professional ethics, conflict mediation, use of information technology for researching relevant topics, writing, presenting data, and working in small groups on specific tasks. In the fourth year, Criminology Majors have the option of either conducting an applied research project or participating in a field placement.

Although the core of the curriculum is centred on justice-related issues, students will find the degree program applies equally to areas in the private sector where research competence, project management, legal analysis, and communication skills are essential.

VIU’s Science degrees build on a strong record of undergraduate education, dating back to 1969. Graduates of VIU have gone on to graduate schools and professional schools at major universities, while others have used their degree to enter successful careers.

A degree in the sciences is both valuable in itself and as a foundation for a wide variety of careers. The science degrees at VIU provide a sound preparation for both employment and further education. Students who may be interested in graduate studies may need to write a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and may need to complete courses that are considered options for their B.Sc. Students are advised to consult graduate school calendars for specific entrance requirements and to discuss their plans for graduate study with their degree advisor.

The Engineering Transfer Diploma prepares students to transfer into the University of Victoria in their second year. This program contains the first-year core courses and select second-year courses required for this institution including physics, chemistry, engineering design, computer programming mathematics, and communication skills. Upon successful completion, graduates who complete the entire Engineering Transfer Diploma program curriculum are: 

• Guaranteed admittance into 2nd year Engineering at UVic provided students achieve a minimum required overall GPA and minimum grade in each curriculum course. 
• Placed in a common pool with all students for competitive entry into their 2nd year engineering program of their choice at UVic. Average GPS for entry into a specific engineering program at UVic changes each year depending on the number of students applying and the number of seats available. 
• Students are also applicable for entry into other engineering schools in BC on an individual, non-guaranteed basis. 
• Students interested in Engineering pathways to UBC, SFU, and TRU, are encouraged to consider Vancouver Island University’s Engineering Transfer Certificate program.  

The Graduate Diploma in International Trade is an integrated, graduate level cohort-based program with a specialization in international trade management. Students will be immersed in the core theories supporting the specialization before demonstrating their knowledge in an Integrative Applied Project. Elective options will advance their understanding in an area of interest.

Are you a visual communicator and think you would enjoy a creative career? The four-year Graphic Design degree program at VIU is taught by professors who are graphic designers, artists and photographers themselves, and is a hands-on program taught in studios using industry-leading technologies.

Why a graphic design degree? Every company, organization and product needs a designer. Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design students graduate industry-ready with a killer portfolio to add to their resume. Are you ready to start creating?

The Graphic Design Program
The Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design is intended for students who wish to pursue a professional career in the creative discipline of digital and print Graphic Design. "Graphic Design is an interdisciplinary problem-solving activity that combines visual sensitivity with skill and knowledge in areas of communication, technology and business. A Graphic Designer specializes in the structuring and organizing of visual information and to aid communication and orientation. They provide clients with the following: research, costing, planning, coordination, project management, quality control, design and aesthetic judgment, advertising and art direction." (Ashworth, Hilary ed. The Business of Graphic Design, A Professional's Handbook. Toronto: Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, 2001).

Graphic designers work in new media and web design, packaging, illustration, animation, production and prepress, advertising, marketing communications design, art and creative direction, corporate identity, broadcast design, corporate communications, information design, editorial design, education, environmental and exhibit design, signage, and related occupations. Graphic designers develop skills that are in demand in today's economy and that can be applied to nearly any career, including creative problem solving and design thinking.

This degree program is hands-on and rich in applied elements and experiential learning to prepare students for the evolving requirements of the graphic design and visual communication industry in today's knowledge and information-based culture. The degree also promotes the skills associated with Bachelor of Arts programs, including analytical and critical thinking skills, solid oral and written communication skills, and general flexibility and adaptability. Students will develop awareness of social responsibility, ethics, cultural contexts and global communications considerations. The program features lectures, studio classes, computer lab instruction, critiques, project work, portfolio development and a graduation show. A rigorous work ethic and time-management skills are required for all courses. As in the profession, students juggle multiple projects and deadlines, undertake projects as teams, research, report, cooperate, communicate and present their work.

The program will build on a solid foundation of general skills at the first-year level. Second-year courses will require that students apply and expand upon foundational skills in more detailed and specific sub-fields. Upper-level courses in the degree will explore problem-solving, research, creative exploration, innovation and cultural and contextual issues at a deeper and more complex level. Students must take 21 credits of electives and may select both employment-oriented and academic electives (in consultation with the program).

Students are required to purchase industry standard laptop computers and software (as specified by the program), as well as supplies and textbooks for classes.

Are you looking to add Spanish or French proficiency training to your resumé? VIU’s post-degree French or Spanish language diploma program combines written, oral and reading comprehension instruction along with a cultural component to develop a deeper understanding of the Romance language.

Taking a post-degree in Latin Languages opens up doors to careers in government, tourism, international business, teaching and travel.

The Post-Degree Diploma in Languages and Culture (Romance Languages) Program
The Languages and Culture (Romance Languages) Post-Degree Diploma offers students who have completed a Bachelor's degree (e.g. Bachelor of Education), the opportunity to document their completion of a specialization in Language outside their Bachelor's program. It is awarded subsequent to a Bachelor's degree.

The Languages and Culture (Romance Languages) Post-Degree Diploma is not an addition to the Minor; it has the same course requirements, learning outcomes, and evaluation procedures as the B.A. Minor.

This program is designed to prepare students for careers related to the protection and management of Canada’s fisheries, wildlife, and parks resources. The program is supported by an Advisory Committee made up of management and enforcement representatives from the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Provincial Ministry of Environment, BC Parks, Parks Canada, Environment Canada, and from resource user groups. Students are required to participate in a 2-week practicum at an off-campus location in the Fall semester of the second year. Students are also encouraged to seek employment with a resource management and protection agency, or in work related to natural resource enhancement or monitoring, in the summer between first and second year.

RMOT students are assisting various natural resource law enforcement agencies in monitoring illegal activities within the central Vancouver Island area. These patrols allow students first-hand experience in actual field and communication skills required to monitor and report illegal activities. All these activities are closely monitored with appropriate levels of training and coaching from both RMOT instructors and resource officers.

The Graduate Diploma in Hospitality Management will produce graduates who are innovative hospitality management decision-makers equipped with demonstrable analytical skills, functional area knowledge, strong communication skills and abilities, combined with an applied human capital knowledge and skill set, who influence an organization’s performance through their future orientated leadership.

This is a full-time, cohort-based program that incorporates face-to-face delivery with experiential learning, both in internship work experience and laboratory modules.  Curriculum delivery will be enhanced through the use of hospitality industry specific simulations, case studies, and a robust semester-long visiting scholar or professors of practice (hospitality industry experts) interactive lecture series on meaningful issues and trends facing the hospitality executive today and in the future. Further, GDHM students will contribute and mobilize knowledge to the industry through the completion of an integrated business project completed in conjunction with their graduate internship.