Associate of Arts in Environmental Studies

at Langara College Canada

The Diploma in Arts and Science requirements allow for considerable flexibility in the choice of courses that a student may complete.  Students can design their curriculum to meet their own needs or interests or to meet the requirements for further study.  In addition to the general Arts and Science Diploma, Langara College offers Arts and Science Diplomas with the following concentrations:

•     Aboriginal Studies
•     Asian Studies
•     Biology
•     Canadian Studies
•     Classical Studies
•     Commerce
•     Environmental Studies
•     Family Studies
•     Health Sciences (Arts)
•     Health Sciences (Science)
•     Latin American Studies
•     Peace and Conflict Studies
•     Women's Studies

Langara College’s two-year (four-term) Diploma in Criminal Justice prepares students for a variety of careers with public and private agencies in the field of law enforcement. It is primarily designed for those seeking an entry-level job in the field. However, individual courses may be available from time to time to non-program students at Langara College and to those who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills from the field. It is designed to be taken full-time, but may be taken part-time with departmental permission.

Students learn about how the Canadian criminal justice system functions and the underlying theoretical concepts determining its operation. Students learn about Canada’s legal system and the rule of law. Students will examine historical and contemporary issues in policing, corrections and the expanding role of private security in Canada. Students will also learn about common research methods used in criminology and how multiculturalism and diversity impacts on the criminal justice system.

The Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer is a limited enrolment program, developed in collaboration with UBC. Graduates of this program will receive acceptance to the Land and Food Systems Faculty and be eligible to apply to the 3rd year of the dietetics degree program. The diploma provides the first two years of Arts and Sciences prerequisite courses for the Dietetics Major at UBC, and completing this diploma may improve a student’s chances for admission.

The Food, Nutrition and Health Transfer program is a second year entry program, to which students apply after completing the 10 courses listed in the Admission Criteria tab.  Applications received without these courses completed will not be processed.  If you have questions – please contact the Primary Contact listed above.

The Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer Program has rigorous admission criteria. To remain in this program students have 4 years to complete the required curriculum, and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The application criteria include a resume, showing Canadian work and/or volunteer experience that demonstrates commitment to dietetics as a career choice. This mirrors the requirements to UBC’s dietetic program, and can include:

• involvement in activities related to food and nutrition;
• experience in institutional foodservices and/or in a health care environment;
• activities involving direct exposure to and interaction with dietitians; and
• certificates related to food and nutrition.

Those students who are unable to maintain the cumulative GPA of 3.0, or are unable to complete the diploma requirements in 4 years, will not be able to continue in the Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer Program. Instead, they have the option of transferring to the Associate of Science in Food and Nutrition Program or the Diploma in Nutrition and Food Service Management Program.

Please note, admission to the Dietetics Major is competitive and admission is not guaranteed. While students who complete the Diploma in Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer receive automatic acceptance to the Land and Food Systems Faculty at UBC, and this places them in a better situation, there is still an application process for one of the limited number of seats at UBC. 

Students who plan on applying to UBC’s Dietetic program should understand that their application to Dietetics has to happen after they get accepted to the Food, Nutrition and Health Program. The Dietetics program also requires that you complete 2 courses through UBC non-degree studies - FNH 200 and LFS 250 - and that these are completed before the application to dietetics is made. It is recommended to begin the process to complete these courses early, as it can be hard to get a seat in the courses.

Accounting and Financial Management professionals are the backbone of any organization and Langara grads are ready to meet that challenge. The BBA Accounting Concentration includes the requirements needed to maximize exemptions for the CPA BC "CPA Professional Education Program (PEP)" . In addition, business and general education courses are incorporated to ensure graduates receive a well-rounded business education, with an emphasis on business decision-making and analysis, strategic management, and teamwork.

The objective of this two-year diploma program is to prepare for careers in Accounting. The curriculum includes a mix of business and academic courses that provide students with both the practical skills required in accounting and proficiency in business decision-making and analysis.

Family Studies is a two-year program for students interested in the nature of long-term relationships to further career and/or personal objectives. Students can achieve either a Diploma in Family Studies or an Associate of Arts Degree with a concentration in Family Studies. The program's interdisciplinary approach provides students with a variety of interpretations of the concept of family from the Social Sciences and Humanities. The core courses set the stage for this exploration by offering sociological, psychological, philosophical, literary and historical perspectives on families in Canada and elsewhere. Guest speakers from academia and related professions enhance the core courses by providing innovative analyses and experiential accounts. Each of the required and elective courses adds to an understanding of the complex issues surrounding the social construction of family. The Family Studies program at Langara College is unique in the B.C. College system.

The Associate of Science Degree in Food and Nutrition provides a broad education in arts and sciences with an emphasis on food, nutrition, and health subject areas. It is designed to meet the requirements of the food and nutrition programs at the different universities across Canada.

The Associate of Science, Food and Nutrition is a common entry for both of Langara's transfer programs to UBC nutrition programs. Students wishing to apply to UBC Dietetics should consider applying to the Food Nutrition and Health Transfer program at the end of first year, according to the requirements listed on that program website.

We have published authors in both academic and creative areas, but with our small classes and dedication to the needs of individual students, instruction has always been our department’s priority.

The English Department offers you reading and writing skills which will help you to:

• Enter a profession or trade career with practical communication skills
• Arrive at the university with experience and training in academic writing 
• Navigate future career opportunities which you haven't yet thought about
• Critically explore current society which will be interesting in its own right
• Help you to be a more engaged doctor, nurse, teacher or business person 
• Be an aware and critical citizen

We offer courses in the following areas:

• Literature: Most of our courses have a strong literature component because we are convinced that an appreciation for literature will not only open your mind to explore the various forms and genres of literature but also enable you to gain insights into the human condition. Whether you are confronted with the ever-changing world of technical innovation or the daily pressures of life, literature can provide models for reflection and action. 
• Creative Writing: Some of our faculty are published and acclaimed authors and editors. They will share their talents with you in creative writing classes that explore creative writing in workshop situations.
• Communications: Learn to express yourself professionally in the workplace in our communications courses. Whether you are fulfilling a degree requirement (for the BBA) or want to upgrade your communications skills, the presentation skills we teach you will contribute to your future success. Furthermore, the discussion of moral dilemmas as they occur in the workplace is a favourite feature of our communications courses.
• ESL & Academic Preparation: Whether you are a recent immigrant and non-native speaker or a native speaker who feels the need to upgrade your English skills, our ESL & Academic Preparation courses will bring your reading and writing skills up to speed in order to go on to our university transfer courses. Our academic preparation courses have especially small class sizes (20 students max) that allow the instructors to work very closely with you to improve your English skills.

The Social Service Worker program is closed for applications as the Fall 2020 intake is now full. We will re-open for applications on October 1, 2020 for the Fall 2021 intake. 

Langara College’s Social Service Worker Program prepares students for immediate entry into all social service sectors, as well as for further education in Social Work and other helping professions. Program participation and employment in the social services field require commitments of physical and emotional energies.

Students who successfully complete the nine-month program earn a Social Service Worker Certificate. They also have the option of adding 30 Arts and Sciences credits to the Certificate to earn a Coordinated Diploma.

The Certificate Program consists of two semesters of full-time studies. There are two practicum placements, including a five-week full-time block placement at the end of the second semester. 

The Social Service Worker (Gerontology) Certificate program prepares graduates for employment in the community-based seniors’ services sector. This entry-level certificate program does not require applicants to have previous post-secondary experience. The program also ladders directly into the existing Diploma in Gerontology program at Langara College for those who would like advanced certification.

The 8-month program is the only certificate program in British Columbia that equips graduates with the necessary skills and competencies needed to support older adults and their families using a ?strengths-based and social justice approach.

The applied social service aspect of the program is unique from other programs which focus on research or health care.  In this interdisciplinary program, students gain a broad and critical understanding of aging processes and social policy issues that affect older persons and their families.

The program is ideal for individuals without experience in the field who want to enhance their knowledge and engage in direct service with older adults, as well as individuals with current or prior experience wishing to complete a specialized credential. Working from a holistic perspective, and drawing on the disciplines of social work, gerontology, psychology and recreation, students develop advocacy skills and strategies to support and respond to individual and systemic issues to improve the lives of older adults. Students also gain direct experience working with older adults through completing over 200 practicum hours in a field practicum setting.

The program curricula and practica prepares students ?with no prior experience for employment in various settings, such as residential senior living settings (independent, supported, assisted, long term care residences), neighbourhood houses, At Home Programs, senior centres, adult day programs, recreation centres, and other community-based senior settings. It  also enhances the knowledge and skills of students with current or prior experience in the field with or without previous related credentials who wish to obtain an advanced or initial credential in gerontology.

The four Langara College programs in Health Sciences offer an interdisciplinary approach to the study of health, illness, and disease in human communities. Health is one of the largest employment sectors in the country, and is anticipated to grow at a faster than average rate. Employment options are diverse, and extend far beyond serving as doctors or nurses.  Upon successful completion, students of Health Sciences programs will have gained a strong basic background in this rapidly changing field.

Students may pursue programs in either an Arts or Science stream, and earn a Diploma or an Associate Degree. After completing an Associate degree program, students may continue their studies at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Health Sciences or the University of Victoria’s Health & Community Services program, transferring seamlessly into third year studies.

 Students may also transfer the Diploma or Associate Degree to university in order to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science or in a related discipline.