Associate of Arts in Latin American Studies

at Langara College Canada

Looking for a meaningful career? Do you care about older adults in your life and community? If so, then you want to be part of the dynamic and growing field of gerontology.

This interdisciplinary program is your gateway to a career in the health and social service sector as a Social Service Worker providing a range of services in the community for older adults and their families.
Combining theory with practice, you will gain specialized knowledge and skills to work with individuals, families, and communities to promote health and resilience throughout the aging process. This program prepares you for employment in the field of gerontology within a wide range of service settings such as: health and wellness, education, recreation, community support, advocacy, residential and palliative care. The gerontology service sector has expressed resounding support for the program and hiring graduates in the future.

The program is structured for full-time studies, although exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for students to complete the program on a part-time basis or to enrol in individual courses with permission of the Program Coordinator.
Two of our students were featured in the Co-op Radio show It Takes a Village where they shared their views about the role education in Gerontology and graduates can play in better serving older adults.

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.

In today’s evolving knowledge-based economy, individuals with the practical ability to apply social sciences and humanities knowledge are sought after assets.

The diploma in Applied Social Sciences and Humanities (DASSH) combines a set of core courses with elective options that give students a critical foundation to enter today’s workforce and to transfer successfully into degree programs in social sciences and humanities. The DASSH curriculum is selected to be applied and transformative. DASSH combines theoretical, experiential, and technical learning that is a foundation for any knowledge-based career whatever degree program in social sciences or humanities a student may choose to pursue.

DASSH students acquire technical skills through courses in digital media, software use, and financial literacy, including working with an external client on an applied project in the final semester. Graduates are able to demonstrate to prospective employers the practical value of the skills and knowledge gained through their course of study. The DASSH diploma program chooses core Social Sciences and Humanities courses that are required for success in a variety of career areas including business, law, journalism, government, communications, public administration, the non-profit sector, and information technology and management.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the Applied Social Sciences and Humanities diploma program, students will be able to:

• Communicate information effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes using appropriate format and tone through structured written, oral, and visual presentations 
• Use social science, psychological, and humanities knowledge to identify and think critically about social interpersonal and technical issues, problems, and challenges 
• Accurately represent, interpret, and explain data in graphs, spreadsheets, and reports 
• Produce, read, and interpret financial statements and plan budgets using appropriate methods, tools, and technology
• Find and evaluate information sources for credibility, reliability, and logic using a variety of platforms and formats 
• Evaluate and apply basic research methods 
• Apply knowledge of ethical theory and decision-making models to identify and analyze ethical issues and problems and work toward solutions
• Effectively use digital media and software for communication, collaboration, research, data collection, organization, and analysis 
• Acquire and use governmental, economic, business, cultural, and historical knowledge to make informed decisions 
• Explore, connect, and apply concepts and methods across multiple fields to evaluate and improve systems and processes 
• Work collaboratively to identify problems, implement solutions, and achieve common goals

The Aboriginal Studies Program is an integrated university-transferable program that addresses historic and contemporary Aboriginal issues in Canada. The Aboriginal Studies Program is unique and comprehensive. The program welcomes all Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

The program strives to empower its students through education. The program encourages each student to reach their full potential through a unique, diverse and comprehensive approach to post-secondary education.

The curriculum content provides students with a thorough understanding of the historic and current circumstances of Aboriginal life in Canada and internationally and looks to the future at such issues as Aboriginal self-government and economic self-sufficiency. Equal emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills, critical thinking and communication skills, as well as laying a solid foundation for additional educational pursuits.

A unique and integral aspect of the Aboriginal Studies Program is the seminar component. Program students and faculty participate in the seminars equally. The purpose of these seminars is to expose the students to and stimulate discussion on topics that may or may not be covered in the classroom. The seminars also promote and foster a sense of community among students and faculty. This sense of community provides support for the student on many levels and provides an atmosphere for frank and open discussion.

Langara College's Aboriginal Education Policy
To increase the success rates of Aboriginal students and to increase the representation and retention of Aboriginal students, Langara College implemented the first formal Aboriginal Education Policy in British Columbia. The policy sets in motion an education and employment equity program which:

• Is committed to increasing the participation and success rate of Aboriginal Learners to the National Average (a provincial advisory committee reported (1989) that 3% of the Aboriginal Population pursues post-secondary education, compared with 15% of the general population);
• will ensure the involvement of Aboriginal representatives in any decisions affecting Aboriginal Education;
• will provide full opportunity and support for Aboriginal students to achieve their academic potential;
• recognize the need to recruit and employ Aboriginal personnel in faculty, staff and administrative positions.

The Foundation in Entertainment Arts Certificate Program is a full-time, one-year program to prepare students for advanced studies in animation, visual effects, or game design. Students who are interested in a career in entertainment arts and have basic skills will be exposed to concepts and skills in figure drawing, colour and design, improvisation, and sculpturing to produce increasingly expressive, dynamic, and consistent artistic works.

With an established and well-rounded technical base, graduates of the program will be well-positioned to pursue intermediate or advanced programs of study in line with their particular professional aims in the animation industry.

With the opportunity to explore and design your own academic program, your studies will culminate in a two-year Associate of Science Degree. You will have the opportunity to choose your specialization areas and tailor the curriculum to your needs. The emphasis is on developing a deeper insight into multiple disciplines, all while building lab skills, field techniques and the ability to analyse data. With a solid foundation in the sciences, these studies will lead seamlessly into further academic studies.

In many job opportunities, post-secondary experience is essential. The Associate of Science Degree provides students with a foundation of knowledge that will help in a broad range of fields. The two-year program leads into further academic study

The General Education Diploma is appropriate for students who prefer a diverse selection of courses and do not necessarily plan to undertake university study. Students will gain knowledge in multiple areas of study. Holistically, the program aims to develop critical thinking abilities, strengthen research skills, and introduce a variety of theories. In many job opportunities, post-secondary experience is essential. The two-year Diploma provides students with a foundation of knowledge that will help in broad range of fields.

This Post Degree Diploma in Business Administration (PDD-BA) is for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to pursue a career in business.  It is student-centred, and its primary aim is to give graduates real business skills – the skills that employers are looking for.

This PDD-BA is a two-year program consisting of three semesters of in-class studies plus a one-semester experiential work term which provides students with a career experience work placement.  This program will be offered in the daytime during weekdays.

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 Post-Degree Diploma in Accounting (PDD-A) is for students who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue a career in accounting. Applicants who do not hold a degree in business or commerce are advised that this is a very rigorous program. It meets the requirements for entry-level education of the Chartered Professional Accountants Professional Education Program (PEP).

Graduates of this program will meet the entry requirements for further education/certification with the Chartered Professional Accountants Professional Education Program (PEP). Some of the many areas with career opportunities include:

• Public Practice Accounting
• Public Sector Accounting
• Private Sector Accounting
• Banking, Financial Services and Planning