Diploma in Public Relations

at MacEwan University Canada

The Arts and Cultural Management major prepares students for a management career in the creative sector and encompasses all things arts and culture: working in music, theatre, dance, galleries and museums, archives and heritage conservation, and the literary arts. Students will learn the practical skills and specialized knowledge they need to enhance an organization’s creative capacity—or to take their own career as an artist to the next level. The core of this major is leadership and project management, supported by community-engaged learning, including eight weeks of practical, hands-on work in the field.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
In this major, students will:
• Critically reflect on the role that artists and cultural organizations play socially, culturally, and politically.
• Advocate strategically for the importance of arts and culture in society.
• Identify and secure a diversity of revenues and resources to support strategic initiatives.
• Exhibit the financial literacy necessary to manage the long-term sustainability of cultural organizations.
• Plan and implement strategies that increase community engagement, public interest, and patron participation.
• Analyze the production and consumption of culture nationally and internationally.
• Plan and promote programs, spaces, projects, and social events related to the arts and cultural sector.
• Anticipate, identify, and respond to trends that impact the cultural sector.
• Prepare, present, and implement strategic operational plans of the arts and culture organization.
• Manage and support human resources in the cultural sector within a variety of governance structures.
• Lead and support others in an accountable, sustainable, and ethical manner.

The Physical Therapist Assistant & Occupational Therapist Assistant (PTA & OTA) major prepares students to work in the fields of physical therapy and occupational therapy, providing patient treatment interventions related to movement and function. PTAs & OTAs assist people to gain or maintain strength, flexibility and functional status. In addition to working with people with physical health problems, they also work with people with emotional/mental health problems.

The legal major of the Office Assistant program provides the skills you need to work as a legal assistant in today’s competitive market.

You train on a variety of software packages to prepare for a challenging career in the legal field. As a graduate of the program, you become adept with technology, understand procedures in a law office, have a basic knowledge of law, and are able to work in time-sensitive situations.

The program of study for the legal major consists solely of core courses; you do not take electives or options. The core courses must be completed in the order presented in the program of study; that is, term one courses are taken only in the first term, and so on.

The legal major provides core office skills and legal-specific courses for entry-level legal assistants that include legal transcription, basic legal theory and legal office procedures. The legal assistant in today’s competitive market must be adept with technology, understand procedures in a law office, have a basic knowledge of law and be able to work within time limits.

MacEwan's Travel program takes you places. This two-year diploma program is condensed into an accelerated 13-month format so you can fast track your studies to get right to work. In this program you'll study the ins and outs of the travel industry: from sales and tickets to managing suppliers and agents. You'll also receive hands-on experience with the actual computerized reservation systems used by the travel industry.

Get an in-depth look at the world's most important tourist destinations, and learn what motivates travelers to frequent them. Learn how to deal with everything from international border crossings to environmental and social concerns. Develop an understanding of the evolving travel market and the technology used to document and sell North American and international travel.

The Business Management diploma is a comprehensive general business program that prepares students to take on any business challenge. Using more than traditional books and theory, this program teaches through lectures, individual and group case-studies and real-world examples.

To help develop and demonstrate the potential of our students to become managers, administrators, entrepreneurs and leaders, we emphasize the integration of soft skills such as professionalism, interpersonal relations, teamwork and communications with quantitative and strategic decision-making abilities.

To respond to society’s increasing concern for security, the demand for educated personnel in both the public and private sectors of protective services continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. To meet the emerging challenges and responsibilities of this growing profession, the two-year diploma emphasizes the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct investigations and develop and implement comprehensive security programs.

Evidence of the growth in this profession is often visible. However, there also exists a less visible side of private investigations and security that includes a diverse group of specialists who engage in investigative work for banks, retail outlets, corporations and government. As the roles continue to expand and become increasingly complex, individuals must be well-grounded in the law and investigative techniques and develop a broad understanding of the field.

The diploma consists of 61 credits and can be completed through full-time day or part-time evening studies. The full-time day program is completed over a two-year period, with one intake in the Fall term. Part-time evening studies can be completed over a three-year period or longer, with one intake in the Fall term.

Admission to the program is competitive and is subject to a quota. The competitive admission average may be considerably higher than the posted minimum.

The Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) major provides the theoretical knowledge, skill development and practical experience required to work as an SLPA. SLPAs primarily work with children and support the implementation of treatment for communication disorders.

The Correctional Services diploma prepares graduates to work in a variety of positions in corrections and criminal justice fields including community agencies, correctional institutions, residential settings, restorative justice and related human service careers. Graduates work with adults and youth in conflict with the law, or who are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. The program provides theoretical knowledge, skill development and practical experience for the entry-level corrections and criminal justice professional.

The Correctional Services program stresses the dual yet inseparable function of the criminal justice system: protection of the public and providing assistance to offenders to become law abiding citizens. Students acquire essential skills and knowledge about the criminal justice system as well as professional practice information and expertise.

The first year provides a number of foundation courses concentrating on self-awareness, criminological theory and knowledge of the criminal justice system. Introduction to field placement provides an opportunity for students to acquire practice competencies including professionalism, crisis intervention, security procedures and suicide prevention.

The second year concentrates on skill development such as counselling strategies, case management, risk/needs assessment, documentation and working with special offender populations. Field placement provides students with the practical, first-hand experience in the field of corrections and criminal justice with the expectation that students apply the knowledge and skills discussed in the classroom.

The major in Journalism provides students with a strong set of writing, research, reporting, and digital media production skills. Option courses let students specialize based on their interests: online digital storytelling, television production, arts and culture reporting, feature writing, current affairs reporting, or investigative reporting.

Bachelor of Communication Studies
In our fast-paced world of evolving and conventional media, communication is key to interpersonal, organizational, and career success. The Bachelor of Communication Studies program provides students with a solid foundation in the fundamental skills of critical thinking, writing, editing, and research. Common coursework for professional communication and journalism majors builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law and research methods, supported by a liberal arts framework. The courses in the majors offer depth, specialization, and choice. The minors provide additional scope and depth to your studies. The program offers many opportunities to integrate what you have learned in the classroom with real-life projects that engage the community and provide students with an enhanced learning experience. The field is forward-looking, and so is this program of studies.

Years 1 and 2 include common coursework for both professional communication and journalism majors that builds a foundation in language, composition, visual communication, communication theory, communication law, and research methods. Years 3 and 4 provide specialization in editing, strategic communication, technical communication or film studies (in the professional communication major), or in news gathering, digital media production, or film studies (in the journalism major).

MacEwan University’s innovative and dynamic two-year 60-credit diploma in Arts and Cultural Management will prepare you for a career in arts management. Whether you are a practicing artist looking for the skill set to manage your own career or someone who loves supporting the creation and development of arts and culture in your community, this diploma will prepare you to take on administrative and management roles in the creative and cultural sectors. Building on the success of almost 40 years of arts management training at MacEwan University, you will leave the program with the skills you need to begin an exciting career in arts and cultural management.

Through the program, you develop close ties to the arts and cultural community, and emerge from your studies ready to assist organizations in the areas of fund/resource and audience development, publicity and media relations, human resource management, special event planning, project management, and much more.

After completing the academic portion of the program, you will practice what you have learned in an exciting two-month field placement with an organization of your choice. This practical experience comprises six credits in the credential and is a key factor for your successful transition into paid employment in the sector.

A variety of international educational opportunities are available to students throughout their course of study, including cultural study tours and international exchange opportunities.

If you have other post-secondary education and want to start working sooner, you may choose to exit the program with a certificate after one year of study.