Certificate in Therapeutic Recreation

at NorQuest College - Edmonton Campus Canada

Indigenous Studies Diploma program was approved by Advanced Education to launch in Fall 2021! NorQuest is proud to be the only post-secondary institution that offers this diploma in the Edmonton area and, in fact, in the province!

The Indigenous Studies name reflects on the subject of study that covers a wide range of Indigenous knowledge including culture, history, arts, and Indigenous ways of being and knowing. This diploma program offers learners the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the cultural, historical, social and political experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. 

Indigenous Studies is designed for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to explore Indigenous ways of knowing and learning, treaties agreement, culture, and health and wellness. Students will be trained through experiential learning, land-based learning, and theory-based courses. 

The full-time diploma program will run over 6 terms and can be completed in 2 years of full-time study.
Students will be involved in experiential learning through a Land-Based Learning course in term 3 of the program. Through land-based teaching, learners will develop and experience Indigenous ways of knowing through storytelling, language, traditional teachings and personal reflection, to show the resilience of Indigenous people. 

In addition, the diploma offers students an optional Community Service Learning course in term 6. Students who choose this optional course will have a unique opportunity to get to know their community, to work with an Elder or Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and to participate in a range of activities that develop skills in critical thinking, leadership, ethical decision-making, social consciousness, community engagement, and governance. 

Graduates of the program will have the knowledge and skills to work with Indigenous peoples, communities, and organizations or to transfer to university to continue their education. 

Many of the courses are university transfer, allowing for course-by-course as well as block transfer agreements with universities across Alberta and beyond. 

Current understandings include a block transfer agreement with the University of Alberta’s Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) and course-by-course transfer to their Bachelor of Arts, Native Studies program. Courses from this program will be available in Open Studies as well.  

Accounting technicians are involved in the day-to-day practical work of accountancy and play a key operational role in producing reliable financial information. They may also perform a wide range of finance roles, from accounts clerk to financial controller and beyond.

Graduates from this program will have the basic theory, technical knowledge, computer competencies, and skills to enter the accounting field at an entry-level position. Our program equips graduates to perform financial accounting, budgeting, costing, and tax returns. The work experience component of the program allows you to gain hands-on experience in the field.

What to Expect as an Accounting Technician

• Accounting technicians are involved in processing invoices, recording receipts and payments, payroll, bookkeeping, auditing external and internal work, and preparing and checking ledger balances and other monthly and yearly accounts. They also handle company expenses, control budgets, prepare financial transactions, and use computerized accounting systems. Accounting technicians usually work regular weekday hours in a comfortable office environment.
• Accounting technicians can work on their own, in a large accounts team, or alongside professional accountants. While they are not accountants, they can perform many of the same functions and are qualified to take accounts beyond the trial balance stage, as well as prepare full financial accounts. There is always a strong demand for these skills in industry.
• Self-employed accounting technicians provide a range of accounting services to businesses, which may include advising on budgets and taxation issues, calculating end-of-year accounts, and consultancy.

The Machine Learning Analyst diploma program provides a flexible, industry-aligned education to help you enter the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workforce.

This program will prepare you for entry-level jobs creating business solutions for companies of all sizes. The program focuses on developing fundamental skills in AI and ML, such as data analytics and computer programming, and will help provide you with fundamental business acumen so you can work in multi-disciplinary teams to develop competitive business solutions that are based on modern strategies.

This program was developed as part of the Alberta AI Pathways Partnership. Through this partnership, the program prepares you for AI-related careers through a work-integrated project course where you work on real-world ML problems with local businesses, while also developing a portfolio to prepare for employment.

The Community Support Worker program is an eight-month certificate designed to develop fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes in students to work with marginalized communities and individuals. Graduates are expected to work at the front line of human-service delivery settings.

The following are some of the agencies and organizations that provide these services:

• Street work organizations
• Group homes
• Emergency shelters
• Settlement agencies
• Cultural organizations
• Child and family service agencies
• Indigenous service agencies
• Cultural societies
• Personal and in-home supports for persons with disabilities
• Services that support older adults

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes a 200-hour practicum and a 45-hour practicum seminar.

The first of its kind in western Canada, this new two-year diploma program explores what distinguishes settlement work from other disciplines in the human services sector. You will learn models and approaches to effectively work with migrant diaspora communities, and strategies to help bridge cultural divides between newcomer communities and Canadian society. 

Transferability
The Settlement Studies program will allow graduates from the NorQuest College Community Support Worker program to transfer directly into Year 2 of the diploma program. In addition, there will be significant overlap in the content of foundational courses offered in the Settlement Studies and Disability Studies diploma programs. 

Learn how to enhance your clients’ quality of life through leisure activities. Gain knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and evaluate individual and group therapeutic recreation and social activities, and explore the concepts, theory, and practical experiences related to leadership and critical thinking.

You will learn how to enhance your clients' quality of life through leisure activities. The program will prepare you to work with a variety of client groups in different care settings.

Both a certificate and diploma are available:
The Certificate year (Year 1) Therapeutic Recreation – certificate focuses on the knowledge and skills required to plan, implement, and evaluate individual or group therapeutic recreation and social activities.
The Diploma year (Year 2) focuses on the concepts, theory, and practical experiences related to leadership and critical thinking in order to prepare graduates to work more independently.

Student Success
Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• Are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands.
• Have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their clinical practice.
• Have access to a computer and basic computer skills
• Applicants are requested to review the job requirements listed below and assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the therapeutic recreation occupation.

Working in therapeutic recreation, you must be able to:

• Work shifts and weekends
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Use your knees, back, and arms to move clients who have minimal body strength
• Be comfortable taking a leadership role in groups of all sizes
• Work with clients of all ages, cultures, and genders
• Function effectively independently, on a team, and in stressful situations
• Demonstrate adaptability and critical thinking skills

Practicum/Work Experience :- This program includes two practicums totalling 640 hours

NorQuest’s Health Care Aide program is among the largest in Canada and prepares you to be part of a health-care team in a variety of different settings, providing frontline care to clients in need of assistance.

Student Success
Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:

• Are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands
• Have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their practicum
• Have access to a computer and basic computer skills
• Applicants should review the job requirements listed below and assess your ability to fulfill the demands of the health care aide occupation.

As a health care aide, you must be able to:

• Work day, evening, and night shifts any day of the week
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Bend, squat and lift up to 40 pounds to move clients who have minimal body strength
• Function effectively in stressful situations
• Perform all skills independently

The Health Care Aide Workplace Education option is offered throughout Alberta in partnership with health-care employers. Consult your employer if you are interested in this program option.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes four practicums totalling 800 hours.

Energy Management is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for the growing workforce needs in the energy sector. You will learn to apply emerging renewable energy sources, understand energy efficiency, and navigate energy policy so that you can support and direct the energy needs of organizations and communities.

The program focuses on the professional side of the energy industry to rapidly familiarize students with innovative and emerging technology trends such as microgeneration, supply chain management, and community energy and emissions planning. The interdisciplinary approach of this program provides learners with a suite of skills to be effective in an industry that innovates frequently.

At the end of Year 2, students will have the option of completing a 16-week paid internship as a competitive elective.

Practicum/Work Experience

• This program includes an optional co-op placement of 600 hours.

The Therapeutic Recreation certificate program focuses on the knowledge and skills required to plan, implement and evaluate individual or group therapeutic recreation and social activities.
Following successful completion, graduates may continue on to the Therapeutic Recreation – diploma program.
In this program, you will learn how to enhance your clients' quality of life through leisure activities. The program will prepare you to work with a variety of client groups in different care settings.

Both a certificate and diploma are available:
The Certificate year (Year 1) focuses on the knowledge and skills required to plan, implement, and evaluate individual or group therapeutic recreation and social activities. Available through on-campus instruction, hybrid delivery, or online education.
The Diploma year (Year 2) Therapeutic Recreation – diploma focuses on the concepts, theory, and practical experiences related to leadership and critical thinking in order to prepare graduates to work more independently. Available through on-campus instruction, hybrid delivery, or online education.

Student Success
Students are more likely to be successful in this program if they:
Are physically and emotionally able to manage workplace demands.

• Have access to a vehicle to travel to complete their practicum.
• Have access to a computer and basic computer skills
• Applicants are requested to review the job requirements listed below and assess their ability to fulfill the demands of the therapeutic recreation occupation.

Working in therapeutic recreation, you must be able to:

• Work shifts and weekends
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time
• Use your knees, back, and arms to move clients who have minimal body strength
• Be comfortable taking a leadership role in groups of all sizes
• Work with clients of all ages, cultures, and genders
• Function effectively independently, on a team, and in stressful situations
• Demonstrate adaptability and critical thinking skills

The Administrative Professional program equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to become an office professional in today’s business environment. You will learn essential office skills such as basic accounting, software applications, event management, and business communication.

Today's administrative professionals are often the voice and face of the company. They must be dynamic and able to actively lead the crucial day-to-day functions of an organization. They are able to make decisions, multi-task, solve issues, understand technology, communicate effectively, and operate an efficient office, no matter what the type of industry.

Students will explore innovative trends and practices while acquiring the skills and knowledge relevant to current and future industry needs. Our focus on a high standard of applied education prepares you to be in high demand for quality employment.

This program gives you the opportunity to achieve a career in less than a year, completing the program in five to nine months.

Student Success
Each course will take approximately 10 hours per week of time commitment to complete readings and homework in order to finish each course within 16 weeks. Take this into consideration when planning your course schedule. We do not offer extensions on assignments, tests or courses.

Practicum/Work Experience
This program includes 150 hours of optional field experience.