Certificate in Office Administration - (Legal Administrative Assistant)

at Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus Canada

This program provides the technical training required for starting a career in most fields of forest technology. The program emphasizes the recognition and appreciation of all the major values of the forest including timber, recreation, wildlife, range, fish, water, and visual landscapes. The program is accredited by the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board. Graduates of this program meet the required standard for membership in the Association of B.C. Forest Professionals (ABCFP) as Registered Forest Technologists (RFT).

Twelve courses in the program are currently recognized by the ABCFP and may be credited toward gaining the status of Registered Professional Forester (RPF) in accordance with the Foresters Act of BC. Credit may be granted towards VIU’s Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection, Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology, and Bachelor of Science in Fisheries & Aquaculture programs, as well as forestry degree programs at UBC, UNBC, and University of Alberta.

In the summer, between the first and second year of the program, all students are expected to obtain a forestry-related job to broaden their knowledge of practical forestry. VIU assists students in obtaining forestry employment, both during the summer months and following graduation.

Students may transfer into the second year of VIU’s Forestry program either from community colleges in BC, or from a recognized forest technology school in Canada or the United States. The qualifications of each student requesting such transfer are adjudicated individually. VIU Students also have the opportunity of transferring to other institutions.

Second year students may participate in international field schools and receive VIU credit while studying at designated forestry schools abroad.
Students are required to complete two one-day First Aid courses (O.F.A. Level 1 & Transportation Endorsement) by the end of September of the first year.

Join VIU’s Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts Studies and regularly interact creatively and exchange ideas with fellow artists while immersing yourself in a unique experiential and interdisciplinary program led by instructors who are practicing artists themselves. Part of a Bachelor of Arts degree, this program gives you the opportunity to choose Visual Arts as a Major or Minor, supplementing your visual arts courses with various electives or majors of interest.

The Visual Arts Program: Vancouver Island University offers an opportunity for undergraduates to study Visual Art as a Major or Minor in a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree. Both options provide an opportunity for students to complement their degree in Visual Art with courses in other disciplines, including Business, Marketing, Theatre, Biology, History, Psychology, Anthropology, Education, Sciences, Media Studies and Creative Writing.

The BA Major offers a professional focus on all aspects of studio art, as well as academic classroom experience. Students may take this degree with a wide variety of electives or they may combine this Major with a Minor in another discipline. The latter may be appropriate to an individual student's academic and/or career goals, enhancing their preparation for a competitive job market. Both options strengthen employment or postgraduate study opportunities and equip students with technical, critical thinking, visual literacy and career adaptability skills.

This program is designed for university graduates who have earned an appropriate discipline-based undergraduate degree and who wish to become professionally certified teachers. This is a 1½-year post-degree, 62 credit professional program leading to a Bachelor of Education that can only be earned as a second degree. The Secondary option is also available to applicants without an undergraduate degree who hold Red Seal certification in acceptable teaching areas. Course work and field experience is completed over three full-time semesters with intake only occurring in the Fall of each academic year. All academic courses are delivered on campus in Nanaimo and does not run during the summer months.

Applicants can apply for the elementary and/or secondary teaching option(s). Coursework will have either an elementary or secondary focus with supporting practicums. Either option will prepare applicants for teaching at the middle school level.

The program is designed to prepare graduates to be well-qualified beginning teachers. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be recommended to the Teacher Certification Branch (TCB) at the BC Ministry of Education for ‘professional certification’. This certification is required for employment in any BC public, independent or BC Offshore school.

Certified Educational Assistants make a difference in the lives of people with special needs so they can have every opportunity to participate fully in our society, and access education and services that allow them to live to their fullest potential. VIU’s Education Assistant and Community Support program will get you ready for a rewarding career working with people of all ages who have mental, physical and emotional challenges.

This eight-month educational assistants’ certificate program prepares graduates for work in public and private schools, and in community and residential programs for people with disabilities. Students can study full- or part-time, and benefit from hands-on training with experienced instructors who care about your success.

The Community Support and Education Assistant Program
Note:- The Education Assistant and Community Support Certificate program was formerly called the School and Community Support Worker Certificate program.

This program includes both theoretical studies and practical applications for working with people who have disabilities, across the life span. The core and specialty courses provide students with the skills and knowledge to work in schools and community. The program is offered with courses rotated.

Acceptance into the program does not mean that students will be placed into a practicum. Students will be individually assessed as to their readiness for the practicums in terms of skills, knowledge and personal suitability. Placement into a practicum will be at the discretion of the program Chair.

Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Vancouver Island University certificate. This certificate may ladder into other Human Services diplomas and degrees.

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 ready to take your career in education to a new level? Vancouver Island University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership program is designed for practicing and aspiring professionals in the education field who are focused on bringing educational and instructional leadership into their schools.

VIU's graduate program is enriched with school administration, educational psychology and educational research teachings that provide students the foundational building blocks to become innovative leaders in the school system. This program prepares students with the practical, ethical, and social tools to solve problems, manage conflict and encourage growth. Graduates of the program find employment in leadership positions in the education sector, both domestically and abroad.

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership Program
This cohort-based model is designed for students wishing to study full-time on the VIU campus. All formal coursework is completed over two semesters. The Field Inquiry and Major Project components are completed during the second year over two semesters. Students may complete these components with online support and can complete up to one semester early.

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership provides a program of preparation for aspiring and practicing school leaders. Grounded in the rich educational leadership literature supplemented by extensive faculty expertise and experience, the program provides a balance of research, policy and practice. Graduates of our program will have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and attitudes of successful leaders as outlined in the Leadership Standards for BC Principals and Vice-Principals. These competencies are central to formal and informal leadership in schools.

The M.Ed. program will develop leaders who can:

• Guide the development and implementation of shared values, vision, mission and goals to support learning for all students;
• Foster quality learning opportunities to support student learning;
• Lead teams in becoming assessment literate;
• Create systems and structures for the effective supervision of learning;
• Provide strong leadership in the area of Aboriginal Education;
• Provide knowledgeable guidance regarding current curricula, instructional and assessment practices and their impact on student learning;
• Sustain a collaborative learning culture and climate linked to student learning and based on distributed leadership;
• Build positive and effective interdependencies amongst partner groups;
• Incorporate systemic thinking and strategic planning for school improvement;
• Demonstrate self-knowledge and the personal qualities that support positive relationships and build cultures of integrity;
• Build and support relational trust within the school and community;
• Address issues of diversity and social justice;
• Lead teams in reflective inquiry and action research.

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.

Do you like solving complex problems and finding innovative solutions for real-world challenges? VIU’s Integrated Engineering Technologist Diploma may be for you. The two-and-a-half-year engineering diploma prepares you for a rewarding career as an engineering technologist. BC’s tech sector is one of the fastest growing areas of the provincial economy and skilled engineering technologists are in demand.

Through hands-on learning opportunities, you’ll gain practical knowledge in computer aided design software; civil, mechanical, electrical and structural principles of design; and project management. Our small class sizes mean you’ll get lots of support and individual attention from faculty to help you succeed. You’ll also gain real-world experience through the diploma’s co-operative education program and optional field school.  

The Integrated Engineering Technologist Program
The Integrated Engineering Technologist Diploma emphasizes the design process in civil, mechanical, and structural technologies. Students develop and apply a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, computer programming, computer aided drawing, as well as project management principles to engineering designs and prototype manufacture. Graduates of this program find employment with a wide range of employers including engineering consulting firms, fabrication facilities, heavy industry, and municipal engineering departments.

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.

The Bachelor of Tourism Management program is a continuation of the knowledge developed through the hospitality, tourism, and outdoor recreation diploma programs. With community-based projects and two paid co-op semesters, students gain opportunities to forge valuable industry connections and experience.

Upon graduation students find exciting career opportunities in commercial recreation and tourism, adventure tourism, tour operations, not-for-profit agencies, and inclusive leisure. VIU’s Tourism degree gives students the leading edge in this high-demand and growing industry.

The Bachelor of Tourism Management Program
The Bachelor of Tourism Management (BTM) program builds on existing diploma programs in Recreation and Sport Management, Tourism Studies and Hospitality Management that stress career-entry skills. Students may apply to the third year of the degree program after completing a diploma in various fields including Recreation, Travel and Tourism, or Hospitality, Physical Education, and Outdoor Recreation.

The degree program will provide applied skills and concepts related to the design of tourism products and management of tourism services. The degree will focus on the development of management and entrepreneurial skills needed for people wishing to assume greater responsibilities within an organization, or for those wishing to start new enterprises.

Major in Recreation Management
The BTM Major in Recreation Management is a well-rounded program that provides students with a solid grounding in recreation governance, leisure behaviour, leisure education, and leisure service management. Students wishing to pursue a career in recreation service delivery with public and non-profit organizations are encouraged to complete the Major in Recreation Management as part of their BTM.

Co-operative Education

• Co-op Fees for co-operative education and internships are due during the second month of each work term.