Associate of Arts

at College of The Rockies - Cranbrook Campus Canada

Financial Services is a two-year diploma program which opens the door to career opportunities in the financial services field, or prepares you to continue on to a Bachelor of Business Administration program. This program is also ideal for mid-career professionals looking to diversify their skillset.

Why choose a career in Financial Services?

• Skilled financial service graduates are in demand in the Kootenay region, and throughout B.C. The Business, Finance, and Administration field is anticipated to be one of the top three occupational groups in terms of total job openings over the next ten years.
• Skills acquired in the financial services diploma prepare you for a wide variety of entry-level career options.
• The skills you gain will be applicable to careers in financial services in any sector.

Note: Upon successful completion of all Year 1 courses, you can graduate with a Business Management Certificate.

Our Tourism Management Certificate program prepares you for a career in resorts, hotels, and other tourism operations. The program includes courses in tourism, business management, and related specialty courses.

You can choose to take the certificate completely online and work while going to school – or you can take the program in person at our Cranbrook campus. The Rockies are right outside the door, giving you the opportunity to blend lifestyle and learning in one of the most spectacular places on Earth – and one of BC’s hottest tourism destinations!

You will also have the opportunity to participate in a work placement to gain hands-on experience in a tourism related business.

You can choose to take the one-year certificate program completely online and work while going to school – or you can take the program in person at our Cranbrook campus.
Industry-recognized certifications in the program include Foodsafe, Worldhost, CPR-C, Occupational First Aid Level 1, and Serving it Right.
This program covers a broad range of courses directly related to the tourism industry, as well as management-oriented courses such as accounting, communications, business management, programming, and marketing.
You will have the opportunity to participate in a work placement to gain hands-on experience in a tourism related business.

Are you a caring and compassionate individual who is interested in being a key member of a health-care team? If you have good observation, communication and problem-solving skills and a strong desire to provide quality patient care, you may want to consider a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

The two-year Practical Nursing diploma program taken face-to-face at the Cranbrook campus prepares you to give professional care to individuals and families in a variety of health care delivery settings.

Why Consider a Practical Nursing Career?

• Our aging and growing population will require more health services, ensuring a need for LPNs
• The annual provincial (BC) median salary for Licensed Practical Nurses is $54,226.00
• According to Work BC, there is expected to be over 4000 job openings for LPNs in the next 10 years, with just over half being the result of retirements.

This certificate program is delivered in a combination of face-to-face and online courses and is is awarded to students who successfully complete the one year certificate curriculum, a total of 30 credits.

The program is designed to prepare you for a potential career in the field of criminal or social justice or to further post-secondary education such as a bachelor degree.

In the criminal and social justice diploma program, you will:

• Study theories of human and social behavior, criminal justice system and cultural and institutional roots of crime and deviance
• Learn about oppression and marginalization and will further their understanding of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledge
• Develop effective skills in cross-cultural relations, communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention.
• Be provided opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills to further your post-secondary education or to prepare for a potential career within the field of criminal and social justice.

This is not your average business program! We recognize that protecting the needs of our future is important in our everyday lives and in our business environment. Our Business Management program focuses on sustainable business practices – those that have minimal negative impact on the global or local environment, community or economy - while also preparing you for the fast-paced, competitive business worl

This certificate program is designed to be flexible and accessible. You can choose to study full-time or part-time, in traditional classrooms or online. Either option easily transfers into the College’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices or into many other Business programs throughout the country.

Why Choose a Business Management Career?

• Countless opportunities: start your own business, be a valued contributor at an existing organization, pursue a professional designation, and more.
• With a foundation in sustainable business practices, you will bring a valuable skill set to any role you fill.
• In our globalized world, you can take apply your knowledge and skills to work environments anywhere.

Engineering could be ideal for you. Our one-year certificate prepares you for competitive entry into year two of four-year Engineering degrees at either University of Victoria or University of British Columbia and may be transferable to other engineering programs as well.

Engineering is a great career for those interested in the physical structures and systems in our modern world. The work of an engineer involves analysis, design, planning, construction, and maintenance of structures and systems to ensure the reliable and safe use.

Our Block Transfer agreement with University of Victoria means that once you’ve successfully completed your certificate at the College, you will receive full credit for engineering at UVIC and will be on equal footing with UVIC student when it comes to competitive entry into second year.

Why Consider an Engineering Career?

• Variety! Choose from civil (structures), mechanical (machines), electrical and computer (circuits and software), chemical and biological engineering (chemical and biochemical processes) or engineering physics (applied physics in the design of new devices).
• BC median wage ranges from $56,000.00 for electrical & electronics engineers to $72,000.00 for civil engineers.
• With a large number of current engineers approaching retirement age, qualified engineers will be in demand.

The College of the Rockies Engineering Certificate is designed to satisfy the Year 1 requirements of undergraduate engineering programs at UVIC and UBC; it may also help you transfer into the engineering programs at other institutions.

This Engineering Certificate prepares you to apply for competitive admission to Year 2 programs; it does not guarantee a seat in those programs. You should always check with the receiving institution for details on course requirements and course transfer.

If you’re looking for a secure career with good income potential and opportunity for growth that is also personally fulfilling, look no further. Dentists, hygienists and patients all rely on professionally trained Dental Assistants. In only 10 months, our Dental Assistant program can prepare you to write the National Dental Assisting Examining Board exam prior to registering with the College of Dental Surgeons of BC.

Our spring Preventative Clinic sees over 300 patients each year, providing you with plenty of hands-on experience. You will also take part in two three-week practical experiences in a dental clinic which will further prepare you for your rewarding career.

Individuals in this occupation should:

• Be approachable, relaxed and trustworthy
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Have well-developed fine motor skills
• Enjoy working with people and as part of a team

Opt for the one-year certificate or add on another 10 months to earn the diploma. Both options provide credits toward a tourism degree and include classroom sturdy, lab work, field trip experiences and a six-week practicum.  No matter what option you choose, be ready for some serious fun.

Why Choose Adventure Tourism Business Operations as a Career?

• The Kootenay region, a mountain playground which includes the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Purcells, Selkirks and the Monashees, is surrounded by pristine lakes, whitewater rivers, world-class skiing, an abundance of mountain bike and hiking trails, and endless backcountry access, providing the ideal place to work in, or start your own, adventure tourism business.
• Enjoy the lifestyle you love while working in your dream career.
• The tourism industry is thriving, now is an ideal time to enter into this in-demand field.

The Adventure Tourism and Business Operations (ATBO) program is ideal if you are passionate about adventure, sustainability, the environment and the outdoors and interested in working in the Adventure Tourism industry.

The name says it all. Get out of the classroom for some real, hands-on experience in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  This program is big on adventure but also focuses on those business skills you need to work in the tourism industry or to start your own tourism business, including entrepreneurship, marketing, sustainability and business training.

Your ATBO instructors are highly skilled guides in avalanche safety, rock climbing, mountaineering, whitewater kayaking, backcountry skiing, backpacking, canoeing, and sea kayaking.

Our Biology and Medicine Pre-Major Associate degree helps lay out the courses you may need for the first two years of study toward a degree in Biology. This Associate degree also provides the course prerequisites for admission into the UBC School of Medicine while providing two of the first three required years of study before applying to medical school. Education Advisors are available to assist in course selection to ensure all requirements for your particular path are met. Have plans to go to university? Our Dual Admission agreements with University of Lethbridge and University of Victoria get you started on the right foot at the College before you transfer into your guaranteed seat at either ULeth or UVIC.

Why Consider a Biology and Medicine Pre-Major?

• Provides a great starting point for your further education and opens up endless education and career opportunities.
• Explore a wide-range of courses to discover your specific areas of interest.
• Numerous transfer and dual admission agreements make it easy to start your education at the College before moving on to complete a credential elsewhere.