Diploma in Theatre

at Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus Canada

Strengthen your employment opportunities in the expanding field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications with VIU’s Advanced GIS diploma program. Almost every field of study has a spatial component and GIS specialists have a range of career opportunities in areas such as forestry, resource management, urban and rural planning, government, banking, transportation and many more.

VIU’s GIS Diploma program prepares students to capture, map and analyze geographic data using ArcGIS by ESRI GIS software.Students can choose between an 8-month in class program which also includes a work-study practicum and a 16-month online program. 

The Advanced Diploma in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Applications Program:-
The Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications provides skills training in geographic information systems (GIS) to university and college graduates who wish to strengthen their employment opportunities in GIS applications – an area that is in high demand around the world.

During this intensive program delivered over two terms, students will learn to use GIS as a spatial informational and problem-solving tool. Content is equally divided between developing hands-on competency in GIS technology and using GIS as a tool in resolving geographic problems through assignments and project work. Students in the program will be well positioned to secure employment upon graduation.

ESRI’s ArcGIS is the main software package used in the delivery of this program. Published materials and instructional courseware packages will provide support for each course. A select number of course modules, available through ESRI’s Virtual Campus, will be incorporated into the delivery of specific courses. Use of these modules enables students and instructors to keep pace with changes in the world’s most popular GIS package – ArcGIS.

All in-class students are required to complete a nine-week GIS project in the second term of the program. The project is intended to provide students with an opportunity to apply GIS knowledge and skills learned in the first term. Each student will be required to select a potential sponsor and develop a project proposal in consultation with the sponsor.

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.

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.

Are you ready for a career that satisfies your love for the environment and gets you outside in the field, conserving and enhancing aquaculture in lakes, rivers and the ocean? Vancouver Island University’s close proximity and relationship with Fisheries and Oceans Canada have developed the Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology program into one of the best of its kind.

Students receive expert instruction from leading aquaculture specialists fishery officers and marine biologists and take part in a hands-on practicum experience, spending more than a quarter of their training out in the field. There are numerous special awards specifically for Fisheries and Aquaculture students, ranging in value from $300 to $2,500.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Diploma Program
The program is designed to develop well-rounded technologists with a broad background in the practical and academic skills of fish and invertebrate culture, fisheries habitat and fish stock assessment, wild stock management, and environmental control and planning.

Both the “why” and “how” are presented through formal lectures and practical experience. The selection of program material is designed to give a broad theoretical background to provide flexibility, as well as foster a professional attitude toward a future career. Students will spend approximately 25 per cent of their time on “hands-on” fisheries and aquaculture projects on- and-off campus.

The first year provides a foundation in such basic conceptual areas as statistics, biology, English, habitats of fish and fish rearing methods. There is a weekly practicum, in which students are sent into the field for a day to work in various aquacultural or fisheries facilities (salmonid hatcheries, spawning channels, wild fish projects, oyster farms, invertebrate hatcheries and others), and students also work one half day each week on aquaculture or fisheries field projects on campus or in the field. Many courses also involve significant field experience. Over the two years this practical work experience exposes students to a wide variety of activities, and introduces them to the facilities, organizations and personnel important in their future careers.

Students will work in fisheries or aquaculture summer jobs between their first and second year. Assistance in finding jobs is provided by VIU Faculty and staff, and students will receive credit for the summer practicum courses on completion of required written reports and oral presentation.

In the second year, students are exposed to more advanced and specialized topics in fisheries and aquaculture. These include engineering courses for both fisheries (hydrology with a stream surveying component) and aquaculture (e.g., hydraulics and hatchery design), as well as special courses in aquaculture. There is a special field course on practical limnology in which students work and live, for a week, on the shores of a remote lake under flycamp conditions. Both the second-year weekly practicum and project courses may be designed by the student to emphasize areas of special interest.

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.

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.

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.

The Bachelor of Interior Design combines theory with specialized knowledge and the development of proficiencies relative to the profession of interior design. It is intended for students who wish to pursue a professional career in this creative multi-faceted discipline. Interior designers work in all areas of the built environment including residential, office, retail, hospitality, and Institutional settings to create interior spaces that are "functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants, and are aesthetically attractive"*. The program provides a balanced range of theoretical, intellectual, communication, experiential, applied and other skills, needed to deal effectively with the responsibilities of interior design professional life. The interior design curriculum features lecture, studio, critique, and computer lab instruction; independent and collaborative projects; formal and informal presentations; field trips; an internship and a final major project spanning two semesters. The foundation courses and elective study provide an excellent foundation and structure for lifelong learning and ensures that students develop quantitative reasoning and critical thinking skills.

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.