Certificate in Office Administration - (Legal Administrative Assistant)

at Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus Canada

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.  

Do you have a passion for travelling and connecting with others? Explore a career in the world’s fastest growing industry. Vancouver Island University’s Bachelor of Hospitality Management program prepares students for every facet of the bustling world of tourism and hospitality with a flexible two-year diploma or four-year degree.

In this experiential program, students have the opportunity to develop strong industry connections and gain technical and practical skills in areas of hospitality marketing, accounting, human resources, management and more. The Management of Hospitality program prepares graduates to work in diverse fields such as hotel management, tourism programs, and sales and marketing.

The Bachelor of Hospitality Management Program
VIU offers a four-year Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree. Students have the option to exit with the Hospitality Management diploma after two years, or go on to complete the additional two years to graduate with the Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree. Hospitality diploma graduates from VIU or other Canadian institutions have the option of entering directly into the third year of the Bachelor of Hospitality Management program. Culinary Arts diploma graduates from VIU or other Canadian institutions can enter the third year of the degree program after completing a bridging semester. Admission to the third year of the program is limited.

The program will involve the learner in an internationalized curriculum as well as culturally-diverse professional and social environments. They will be engaged in activities that develop their skills to synthesize and solve problems in a global context. The program balances academic and applied skills by designing learning opportunities where learners apply theories in hospitality business simulated environments as well as in co-operative/internship placements.

Work Placement Opportunities
Students in the third year of the degree will participate in either a Co-operative Education work term or an Internship. In order to receive a Co-operative Education designation, transfer students must have successfully completed two Co-op work terms in their diploma activity. Participation in the third Co-op work term is based on availability of space and academic performance with a minimum 3.0 (“B”) grade point average.

This program is designed to prepare students for a career as a computer programmer/programmer analyst. The program emphasizes programming skills, program design techniques as well as database and systems analysis skills. The program includes electives, and recommends students take business courses that will be of use in the computing industry. The program is designed in accordance with the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) accreditation standards.
Students who complete the diploma program will be able to complete VIU’s Bachelor of Science, Major in Computer Science with an additional two years of full-time study.

Fisheries and Aquaculture has long been an area of specialization at Vancouver Island University. VIU has an international reputation in fisheries and aquaculture applied research, technology transfer, training, and education. VIU boasts an extensive array of facilities and equipment: three cool-water hatchery complexes; a warm-water hatchery; salt-water system; fish disease laboratory; lake study field station; oyster farm; sturgeon, trout, and wild and cultured salmon research programs. The proximity of VIU to fresh-water lakes and streams, as well as to the ocean and estuaries, allows fieldwork in these habitats to be a central part of students’ education.

The new Centre for Shellfish Research (CSR), located beside the Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, was created to facilitate the emergence of the B.C. shellfish aquaculture industry as a sustainable economic engine for healthy, vibrant coastal communities. CSR faculty teach upper-level courses in fisheries and aquaculture, and there are many opportunities for students to participate in CSR research projects.

Furthermore, the federal government’s Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo provides access to numerous acclaimed fisheries scientists and one of Canada’s best libraries in this field. Fisheries (sports and commercial), and aquaculture are immensely important throughout the world and are key to the economy (and employment) in British Columbia.

The B.Sc. in Fisheries & Aquaculture has been designed to offer students a great deal of flexibility, and there are several routes through this program. Students may begin in year one and complete the program at the end of year four, or they may enter at year two or three from Vancouver Island University or from other institutions. They may also complete the two-year Fisheries & Aquaculture Technology diploma program and then proceed to the B.Sc. with up to two years (60 credits) of advance credit. Some students elect this pathway after completing the Technology program and then working in industry for a few years.

Applied Technology
The Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Aquaculture is an applied technology degree program. In association with the two-year Fisheries & Aquaculture diploma program and the Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology degree program, the B.Sc. in Fisheries & Aquaculture degree provides a mix of a broad science background and applied, hands-on, technical skills. Graduates will be well schooled in scientific principles, have an understanding of the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of science, and will be trained in the practical skills required to enter employment in industry or government.

Program Format and Courses
The Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Aquaculture degree program is a four-year degree program requiring 130 credits of study. Of these 130 credits, a minimum of 42 must be upper-level. Students will take the Core program (109 credits), a minimum of six credits of Fisheries or Aquaculture electives, plus a minimum of six non-Science elective credits.

A variety of elective courses allow students to create a program suitable to their particular interests.

This degree is closely tied to the Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology. Students take core courses in Biology and are encouraged to take upper-level electives in Biology. Students may switch between the two degrees if their areas of interest change.

Undergraduate Research Project
In fourth year, students may choose to complete an Undergraduate Research Project in FISH 491. For this course, students will have a Faculty Project Advisor (in some cases faculty may be from another institution) and will carry out their research under the direction of this Advisor. Students not wishing to pursue a research career may take a Directed Study FISH 490 and one upper-level Science elective or two upper-level Science electives.

Business plays a major role in the structure and functioning of contemporary society. Rapid changes in technology, resource allocation, structural shifts in the economy, changes in consumer preferences, global competition, and shifts in the employment market all necessitate a better understanding of the role and nature of business in today’s society.

Business Administration provides a well-rounded business education with a focus on global business operations, emerging markets, and technology-enabled organizations. Students develop an in-depth understanding of one of the business majors and learn a broad range of managerial capabilities, problem solving and communication skills. Electives allow flexibility, adaptability and creativity and prepare graduates for diverse careers in global management, administration, and entrepreneurship, as well as a range of postgraduate opportunities.

Are you interested in a career where you can make a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society? With a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, you can devote your career to helping solve social justice issues and helping people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges such as addiction, mental health and domestic violence.

A degree in social work gives you the professional skills to develop interventions to solve social and personal problems. Social workers create social change by working with people as the individual, family, group, community, organization and societal levels to enhance health and overall well-being. 

Social workers can find fulfilling careers in child welfare agencies, departments of health and human services, hospitals, community mental health agencies, substance abuse and medical clinics and elder care facilities.

The Bachelor of Social Work Program:-
The purpose of the Bachelor of Social Work degree program at Vancouver Island University is to provide education in generalist anti-oppressive social work practice. 

The learning outcomes of the program include the capacity to do the following: 

demonstrate effective social work communication skills within an empowerment approach at the individual, group, and community level.
demonstrate professional ethical standards and values at the individual, team, and organizational level.
critically reflect on own ideas, behaviours, and practices. 
identify and address mechanisms of oppression, privilege, resistance, and social change. 
In addition to a generalist social work practice degree, the Bachelor of Social Work program at Vancouver Island University offers a specialization in child welfare. 

Program Delivery

The Bachelor of Social Work program at Vancouver Island University will accept students into Year 3 of the program and will be delivered through distance education. Students admitted to the program will be expected to:

Participate in an online orientation(s) prior to program commencement in September.
Have access to high speed internet and audio-video capabilities. 
Participate in courses that have both asynchronous (online access to course materials) and synchronous (online access to course materials, audio and visual discussion, e.g. Zoom) course delivery methods.

Students interested in the diploma must apply to the Bachelor of Hospitality Management. Prior to completion of their first year, students must indicate their interest in exiting with their Hospitality Management Diploma. Upon successful completion of the first two years (60 credits including co-operative work placements), students will be eligible to receive the Hospitality Management Diploma.

The two-year Hospitality Management diploma develops the learner's knowledge and skills required to build a successful hospitality career. The students acquire their hospitality knowledge through a blend of classroom learning, and experiential activities in an on-campus dining room, in teaching kitchens and participation in special events. Finally, students are required to complete two paid co-operative work placements where they apply their learning at resorts throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

This two year diploma program is designed to prepare students for a wide range of supervisory and management positions in the tourism industry. Students examine management from behavioural, functional, situational and systems perspectives. The unique applications of management to service organizations are a focal point of the program. Students are encouraged to explore and develop their individual leadership styles in the management labs offered in the program. Since the marketing concept forms the basis for developing management practices used in the tourism industry, the marketing/management relationship is studied in detail.

The primary role of the diploma is to prepare students initially for entry level positions and eventually middle management positions in the tourism industry.

Co-operative Education:-
Under the co-operative education format, the paid co-operative education experiences are integrated into the total curriculum. Students will benefit from the co-operative education experience by:

• Relating academic study more effectively to the field of practice;
• Developing a clearer career focus;
• Gaining valuable practical experience;
• Being able to finance a larger portion of their education.

Co-operative placements are typically from May to September. Access to co-operative education placements is based on student’s GPA (minimum of 2.33 (“C+”) is required) and their willingness to work as a team member with faculty and co-operative education staff to find appropriate placements. Students must complete the co-op term after first year, before continuing with the second year of the program.

Calling all domestic and international foodies! Shape your passion and creativity into a rewarding, fast-paced, hands-on career close to home or around the world with Vancouver Island University’s Culinary Arts program.

Our internationally recognized chef training programs at the Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island provides students with hands-on, real-world experiences running service programs in state-of-the-art kitchens and labs.This Culinary Arts program also has a paid co-operative education component that allows students to network and build industry contacts.

Students learn the culinary skills needed to enter careers in world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, bakeries and more. Educational grants are available to students wanting to train in this high-demand industry.

The Culinary Arts Certificate Program
The Culinary Arts Certificate consists of the 28-week Professional Cook 1 (PC1), and the 14-week Professional Cook 2 (PC2).The Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island (CIVI) at VIU provides students with the options of the Professional Cook 1 (PC1) Certificate (offered through the Nanaimo, Cowichan & Powell River campuses), the one-year Culinary Arts Certificate (PC1 & PC2 offered at the Nanaimo campus), and the two-year Culinary Management Diploma (offered at the Nanaimo campus). The Certificate and Diploma programs provide students with culinary training and management skills, giving them the leading edge to advancement in the culinary profession. Upon entering the Certificate program, culinary students are registered as Professional Cook 1 apprentices, gaining technical training while accruing apprentice hours. As a part of both the Culinary Arts Certificate and the Culinary Diploma programs, students participate in a paid co-op work placement, gaining industry work experience and additional apprentice hours.

Upon entering the program, culinary students:

• Are registered as Professional Cook apprentices. The Culinary Arts Certificate consists of 28-week Professional Cook 1 (PC1), and the 14-week Professional Cook 2 (PC2), and a paid Co-op work practicum.
• Gaining industry work experience and PC1 apprentice hours. This often becomes full time employment toward their career paths.
• At the beginning of the first year of the Nanaimo campus Certificate program, students spend three weeks in our state of the art food lab, focusing on learning basic cooking skills and good culinary habits without production pressure. Students then move to the main kitchen, rotating through five separate sections. Students will prepare breakfast, vegetables, starches, and proteins, as well as study cold kitchen, pastry, and meat cutting. Food produced by the students is served in the VIU cafeterias and Discovery Room dining room.

Co-operative Education
Under the co-operative education format, the paid co-operative education experiences are integrated into the total curriculum. Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island students are employed and supervised in a Red Seal-trained kitchen. Hours worked in their co-op are counted towards their apprenticeship. Culinary students will benefit from the co-operative education experience by:

• Relating academic study more effectively to the field of practice;
• Developing a clearer career focus;
• Gaining valuable practical experience and apprentice hours;
• Being able to finance a larger portion of their education

Co-operative placements are typically from May to October. Access to co-operative education placements is based on student's GPA and their willingness to work as a team member with faculty and co-operative education staff to find an appropriate placement. Students in co-operative placement are assessed tuition and Students' Union fees - see program fees for correct fee information.

Criminology is an interdisciplinary science that focuses on law and its interpretation by the courts, patterns in crime, explanations for 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 examine the three main components of the criminal justice system—police, courts, and corrections. Students explore the trends and correlates of crime, including the influences of age, ethnicity, gender, and social class and how. Major explanations for crime account for these patterns by looking at historical, individual and social causes. The criminological focus is broadened with courses from other disciplines within the Social Sciences and Humanities.

The program provides 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 including professional ethics, conflict mediation, use of information technology for research, writing, presenting, and working in small groups. Although the core of the curriculum is centred on justice-related issues, students will find the program applies equally to areas in the private sector where research competence, project management, legal analysis, and communication skills are essential.

Students who successfully complete the first two years of the program with a minimum program cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 may apply to receive a Diploma.

The two-year Baking Management Diploma program gives you specialty skills and management expertise, preparing you for a career in the baking and pastry arts industry.

Gain hands-on experience under the direction of our professional chefs in industry-standard baking and pastry labs. In the first year, focus on building a strong foundation of essential baking skills. In the second year, acquire a combination of advanced patisserie training and management skills for job advancement or business ownership.

Unleash your creativity while learning many advanced skills such as:

• Chocolate work
• Blown, pulled and cast sugar pieces
• Special occasion and wedding cakes
• Artisan breads
• Plated desserts

Gain knowledge and skills related to business planning, sales and cost forecasting, marketing and capital costs. Learn how to thrive in the daily operation of a professional bakery. Plan and compile a business plan that is then presented to a guest judging panel. 

Graduates from this program can take their career into many specialized areas of the industry. You may find employment as a:

• Baker
• Pastry chef
• Confectioner
• Chocolatier
• Research assistant in food manufacturing
• Bakery manager in commercial or artisan bakeries
• Restaurant and catering company employee
• Bakery/patisserie owner