Diploma in Graphic Communications Technology Management

at British Columbia Institute of Technology - Burnaby Campus Canada

Rapid advances in technology have increased public expectations of their communities and the buildings constructed in them. Buildings are expected to be designed and constructed to rigorous standards of workmanship and safety while at the same time incorporating all the features that contribute to speed of erection, financial efficiency and user satisfaction. High public expectations and the dynamic nature of the industry present both a challenge and an opportunity, attractive criteria for any career.

The Program
Architectural and Building Technology (ABT) is a comprehensive, two-year diploma program with a focus on applied learning. It combines sound theoretical knowledge with practical skills and technical training to provide job-ready competencies for immediate application upon entering the workforce. Students learn from industry-based faculty, develop extensive practical skills for rewarding careers, and graduate with an industry recognized credential in the design, development, construction, and building science sectors. Many employers seek out graduates from this program to join their companies.

Students follow a fixed curriculum of common courses that includes lectures and practical applications in construction drawing, materials and methods, estimating techniques, building systems, and computer applications. Organized field trips and 'hands-on' workshops form part of the curriculum and attendance is required. Students are often able to further their education through summer jobs with architects, engineers, developers, and contractors.

In the second year of the program, in addition to the common academic core, students take an Elective course (subject to departmental approval) in one of three areas of specialization. The Elective courses are:

Architectural:
Primarily intended for those students who plan to pursue careers in architectural offices, offer design services, pursue an architectural degree, or the Architectural Technologist Registration program through the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC).

Building Science:
Primarily intended for those students who plan to pursue careers in durable building construction, building problem diagnosis, testing of construction assemblies, new materials research and development, and environmental challenges in creating the built environment.

The BCIT Business Management Advanced Placement option is a nine month full-time program designed for individuals that have completed a degree or diploma and want to quickly enter the workforce with a business specialty. Students will learn about all the functional areas of business, while developing entrepreneurial skills to successfully create and launch a product within a new market. This program will also provide students with the necessary leadership skills and motivational techniques to effectively manage an organization. Graduates of the program will be able to utilize accounting tools, analyze business problems, and discover ways to improve overall business profitability and efficiency.

BCIT Business Management students learn to:

• Apply business strategy and business direction
• Conduct a business needs analysis
• Construct effective project management plans
• Incorporate sustainability practices within organizations
• Manage change for both people and processes

Business Consulting Project
Business Management students undertake a 10 week Business Consulting Project in their final term. Students work in groups of 2-3 and spend two days a week developing a solution to a real business problem for a company. The student teams collect and analyze data to identify opportunities. Using analysis tools and methodologies, the students propose recommendations and present their findings to company management.

The program spans over nine months and is designed for individuals who have already completed a diploma or a degree and are interested in making a career in human resource management. The students learn how to create employee retention programs, deal with workplace conflicts, employee compensation packages, and plan staffing levels, hiring selection criteria and performance management policies.

The students enrolled under this program take a ten-week Business Consulting Project in their final term, where students spend two days a week in developing a solution to real human resource issues companies’ face. They collect and analyze the data, create recommendations and then showcase their results to the senior management. 

International students should be aware that this program has a mandatory integrated work experience and you are responsible for ensuring that you hold a valid co-op work permit, which is required to complete this practicum. The co-op work permit is separate from the study permit for having authorization to work up to 20 hours per week during your studies.

Forget what you think a career in insurance is like — today's insurance and risk management industry is a challenging and vibrant place that is crucial to almost every aspect of our modern world.
The two-year General Insurance and Risk management diploma program at BCIT gives you specialized training to investigate insurance claims, market and sell insurance products, manage risk in securities, banks, insurance underwriting, and more. This program has been developed by industry professionals specifically to prepare you for a successful, exciting career in your field.

Through out the program there will be many opportunities to interact with industry professionals with networking and industry events. Along with a 40 hour work placement which helps students get direct industry work experience.
In fact, our program boasts a 100% job placement rate and our students have gone on to work insuring a variety of clients such as construction, marine risks, commercial underwriting, personal lines underwriting, claims adjusting and risk management.

Program Highlights

• 100% job placement within four months of graduating
• 40 hour work placement
• Write your CIP national exams before graduating to be ready to work the day you graduate
• Many opportunities to network with industry events and networking
• First year students qualify to be level 1 licensed brokers upon passing the 2 CIP Courses
• Graduating students qualify for a level 2 brokers license and independent adjusters license

Who should apply for the General Insurance and Risk Management Diploma?
A career in insurance and risk management might be right for you if:

• You already have some work experience and/or a degree
• You enjoy problem solving
• You’re compassionate
• You’re interested in a career with multiple opportunities and challenges
• Learn more about the benefits of this program with and in-depth look at Program Details.

The demand for qualified financial planners is high, so if you’re interested in investments and working with people, this diploma program can help you move into a successful, rewarding career.
By focusing your training at BCIT in this two-year diploma program, you’ll be 100% prepared to start work in investment and financial planning upon graduation. And with our strong mentorships, networking opportunities, and focus on practical, useable skills, many students have job offers even before graduation.

Program Highlights

• Focused on practical training for financial and investment planning and advising
• Strong industry connections and networking opportunities
• After graduation, transition to the workforce or apply to complete your Bachelor of Business Administration degree at BCIT with full-time or part-time evening courses

Find more details of how you’ll be prepared for success upon graduation in the Program Details.

Who should apply for the Financial Planning Diploma?
This program might be right for you if you:

• Are service-focused
• Enjoy interacting with people
• Have high emotional intelligence
• Have an interest in investments
• Enjoy forecasting and problem solving

The Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems (CST BTech) is an applied career-enhancement degree, designed to increase the breadth and depth of knowledge and practical skills of computer professionals; assisting them in widening their career opportunities and advancing along their career paths. Graduates are awarded a credential that is highly valued by the industry.

The CST BTech full-time program is a two-year degree completion program for students who have graduated from a two-year diploma in computing, such as the BCIT Computer Systems Technology (CST) program. Students who have completed other computing diploma or degree programs at an accredited college or university, whether locally or internationally, may be admitted into the program by completing pre-entry assessment and a few bridging courses.

The Games Development Option is a multi-disciplinary program that combines creativity with advanced knowledge in a range of computer programming areas. It is designed to equip students with critical skills required to succeed in a fast-paced and rapidly growing industry. Students will learn advanced programming techniques, game design (including visuals and audio), higher level mathematics (3D graphics, calculus, analytical geometry, linear algebra), physics and artificial intelligence concepts. The program includes a variety of tools and frameworks used in industry such as Unity3D, and OpenGL. These tools and frameworks are put to practical use in the development, testing and management of game applications, ultimately culminating in a major project showcasing students’ skills.

Upon graduation, students will have developed skills that are highly marketable and transferable, giving them the flexibility to pursue careers in game development, as well as in other areas of software development such as a computer programmer or software engineer.

BCIT’s Computer Systems Technology (CST) two-year diploma program combines computer systems theory with hands-on practical experience in software development. You’ll learn software engineering and programming from industry professionals, and gain experience working on real projects, from concept to deployment. In second year, specialty options add depth and further hone your skills.

The goal of the Bachelor of Interior Design program is to develop graduates who combine research and critical thinking to generate creative solutions that support human behaviour within the interior environment. Students will work on studio projects that include healthcare environments, aging in place, multi-use designs, and public spaces. Aspects of cultural histories, socio- economics, human behaviour, sustainability and global citizenship will be explored and incorporated into their design solutions. Students will expand their knowledge of related fields through discussions with building specialists in electrical, carpentry, plumbing and HVAC trades. The program includes a field study component where students will explore a location of interest for 8 - 10 days as part of the program. In addition, students will take business and communications courses to develop skills in leadership, marketing and professional written and oral communication. Students will also choose several general education electives to complete their Bachelor Degree.

Two additional options are available to students in this program: a co-op and an opportunity to study abroad for a term. These options have a limited number of openings, and interested students will need to go through an application process.
Students must complete the Diploma in Interior Design before starting the Bachelor of Interior Design.

Co-operative education
Optional 8 month work experience Co-op option:

• 32 additional credits
• Students will graduate with a Co-op option

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been called the new electricity. AI and machine learning (ML) systems are currently being utilized to organize supply chains, manage customer relationships, transfer organizational knowledge, and optimize enterprise resources. According to estimates, up to 47% of current jobs could be automated by AI, robotics, and machine learning systems in the next two decades. Firms have identified that a lack of skilled people make deployment of machine learning capabilities an ongoing challenge. Due to these factors, numerous jobs will become available for managing these systems.

The Business Information Technology Management (BITMAN) – Artificial Intelligence Management (AIM) option will train artificial intelligence/machine learning management knowledge workers for entry-level positions managing AI/ML/business intelligence solutions. This option will focus on AI business models, AI ethics, machine learning for business (supervised learning, neural networks, and deep learning), computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP).

The Chemical and Environmental Technology diploma program offers the student a broad background in technology and skills that can be applied to many industries. Near the end of their first year in the program, students will choose one of two options: Analytical Science or Process Engineering. These options are not exclusive — all students will have enough exposure to both topic areas to qualify for a full spectrum of varied employment opportunities. Choosing an option allows students to pick an area of interest for increased emphasis while still keeping their future options open. 

Core courses
The first-year curriculum is common to both options and emphasizes environmental science, bioprocesses, materials technology, laboratory techniques and safety along with math and science basics. The student is also introduced to environmental science, materials technology, and a wide range of industrial chemical processes. The core second-year subjects for both options include several courses in environmental sampling and analysis, chemical engineering technology, instrumental analysis, physical chemistry, and statistics that will prepare students for employment in a broad range of industries and technical occupations. Students will participate in an industry-sponsored project (practicum or directed studies) in the second year of the program. This may involve work experience activities at the industry sponsor's regular place of business.

Analytical Science option
The Analytical Science option will be of interest to those students who would enjoy an increased emphasis on instrumental laboratory analysis, organic chemistry, environmental regulations, and science. The strong core courses will ensure that graduates have sufficient knowledge to compete for jobs in process areas too, if that later becomes their choice. It is anticipated that graduates who choose to continue into degree studies would be most likely to choose from BTech or BSc degrees.