Diploma in Hospitality Management

at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Canada

Students in NAIT's renowned Culinary Arts program are introduced to the fundamental skills of cooking with an emphasis on safe food handling, sanitation and nutrition. These skills are enhanced by hands-on participation in advanced cooking practices including contemporary hot and cold presentation, pastry art and international cuisine.

The NAIT Culinary Arts program provides students with relevant, high-quality culinary training. Our grads are in demand for a variety of career opportunities in leading hotels, restaurants and catering facilities. Our students get real-world experience through

• Hands-on training in the state-of-the-art Hokanson Centre for Culinary Arts
• Preparing the dishes served in Ernest's, NAIT's acclaimed fine dining restaurant
• Participating in work experience placements

Culinary Arts students also have the opportunity to join Culinary Team NAIT, which competes in regional, national and international culinary competitions.

Chef in Residence Program
The Department of Culinary Arts and Professional Food Studies' unique Chef in Residence program provides students with the rare opportunity to learn first-hand from some of the best chefs in the world. This ongoing program will bring culinary authorities from around the world to NAIT to share their insights and expertise with students and faculty. The goal of the Chef in Residence program is to expose students to innovative cooking techniques and diverse culinary trends and styles.

Learn more about the Chef in Residence program

Businesses and organizations are finding ways to become smarter, more efficient and make better decisions. Data has become a key aspect in finding a competitive advantage and predicting the future.

Data analytics is a field that combines data, technology, processes and analysis to enhance business decisions and drive success. The Data Analytics post-diploma certificate program provides you with the skills needed to inform real-world business decision-making and planning through data insights, analysis, visualizations and predictions.

Play a key role in an organization by mastering the art of converting data into information and turning information into action

What You Will 
Data-driven, industry-relevant skills
This post-diploma certificate builds on foundational knowledge and skills acquired in related diploma programs and prepares graduates for employment in the field of data analytics.

This 10-course program, which may be completed full- or part-time, will prepare you for Data Analyst roles in a wide variety of industries. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be able to:

• Design and assemble data sets for further manipulation and analysis
• Interpret data sets and communicate findings to make data-driven decisions and support organizational goals
• Use data analytics to provide business insights and organizational opportunities.
• Apply security, privacy, ethics, regulations and information and data management principles throughout the data lifecycle
• Use industry leading artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics tools to analyze, interpret and present data

An animal health technologist (Veterinary technologist) is a valuable member of the animal health-care team who performs a large range of tasks, such as nursing care, diagnostic procedures and client interactions, to assist veterinarians in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in animals. The program focuses on practical skills used in both small and large animal practices, including lab work, radiographs and medical and surgical nursing.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant training

You can expect to spend, on average:

•     30 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester
•     8 to 10 hours per week studying and completing class assignments

You’ll train in NAIT’s Animal Health Clinic, which provides basic veterinary services for dogs and cats owned by NAIT staff and students. It’s here where you’ll receive hands-on experience in procedures that include spays and neuters, vaccinations and teeth cleaning.

As an Animal Health Technology student, you must handle ill or injured animals of all shapes and sizes. You’ll travel to farms and animal hospitals and treat more than just dogs and cats. To be successful in this program – and career – having a genuine interest in the treatment of all animals is a must!

Petroleum Engineering Technology is a two-year diploma program that prepares the graduate for employment in the upstream petroleum industry. The expanding oil sands development sector also provides tremendous opportunities for Petroleum Engineering Technology graduates.

The Petroleum Engineering Technology program was profiled in Project President, where NAIT President Dr. Glenn Feltham was shown how to start up and operate the pilot plant, which resembles a real-life natural gas sweetening plan, typical activities that students will do.

NAIT's Construction Engineering Technology program will provide you with a broad knowledge of the management, estimating and technical aspects of construction, with a primary focus on commercial and residential buildings and related support industries.

You'll develop your drawing interpretation, detail sketching and site surveying skills. You'll also be shown the ins and outs of project planning, contract administration and sub-trade coordination so you can advance your career into site leadership and project management.

The Construction Engineering Technology program works with a program advisory committee made up of industry experts who ensure the program provides students with the knowledge and skills currently required by employers. The program is also accredited by the Canadian Construction Association Gold Seal Certification program and by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).

Cybersecurity is essential to protecting organizations, networks, applications and users from a world of online threats. You will gain advanced operational skills and security strategies to defend against attacks and manage risk. You will also learn about the technical, legal and political issues regarding cybersecurity.

What You Will Learn
Advanced cybersecurity skills
The Cybersecurity post-diploma certificate will establish you as a leader with essential skills in a high-demand field.

Through the course of this 10-course program, you can expect to learn how to:

• Operate cybersecurity services and defend against existing and emerging threats targeting organizations and their assets
• Adapt and align information security strategies to an organization’s goals
• Manage cybersecurity governance programs that meet organizational, regulatory and industry standards
• Demonstrate leadership through critical thinking, communication, ethics and ongoing professional development that supports an organization’s cybersecurity
• Interpret and apply cyber risk management at operational and strategic levels
• Apply forensic principles to investigate security incidents
• Use penetration testing techniques to simulate a cyber threat and identify vulnerabilities

NAIT's Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Refrigeration (HVACR) Technician certificate offers training for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industries. Students will learn how to commission, design, install, maintain, service and trouble shoot HVACR systems.

The goals of the certificate are to provide familiarity with the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry and understanding of the operating principles of industry-specific equipment, systems and procedures. Students will work with hand tools and power tools, as well as computer programs and computer simulators. Instructional class time consists of 50% theory classes and 50% practical classes (computer lab/shop).

Graduates with this certificate will receive recognition for periods 1 and 2 of technical training towards the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (RACM) apprenticeship program. Graduates will receive full credit towards the 1st and 2nd periods of RACM once they successfully challenge 1st and 2nd period technical exams and obtain their on the job training hours.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant training
The Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Refrigeration Technician certificate provides an intensive technical introduction to the applied sector of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industries. The concentrated one-year training package prepares students for entry-level employment in this very diverse job market.

Classroom & Study Hours
Students can expect to spend, on average

• 33 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester
• 15 to 30 hours per week studying and completing class assignments

Is This Program For You?
This program will appeal to those with a general mechanical background looking for focused, job-ready training, or to individuals with a related trades certification, such as sheet metal, electrical, plumbing or instrumentation, who desire fast re-training

Do you have a love for the outdoors and a desire to help keep Canada’s natural spaces healthy and prosperous? Does the idea of searching for clues and investigating cause/effect interest you?

The Biological Sciences Technology – Conservation Biology 2-year diploma program will help you develop the skills needed to ensure that our natural resources are used in an optimal way that is sustained for future generations. Your knowledge and technical expertise will also allow you to engage in resource management activities without compromising the integrity or sustainability of the ecosystems in which they work.

Hands-on, industry-relevant Skills
In this program, you’ll acquire skills used in field sampling, environmental education and resource management by studying chemistry, botany and the biology and ecology of birds, fish, mammals, insects, plants, rivers, lakes and soils.

You’ll also explore genetics, wildlife surveys, plant and animal diversity, soil and range management, water quality issues, parks management and environmental education projects.

With the help of support instructors with years of industry experience, you’ll learn in a combination of classroom, lab and field settings. Our facilities will provide you with practical, job-ready experience using a variety of modern laboratory and field instruments, and simulation and computer applications. You may also learn through work experience, field trips, applied research and other opportunities. 

With help from the Applied Financial Services certificate program, you could fast track your way into the financial services industry. In less than a year, you’ll be prepared for a career in financial services firms through a combination of technical and interpersonal skills development that builds your confidence and provides you with the skills you need to succeed.

Our courses focus on in-class business simulations that combine financial service with foundational business knowledge. As you progress in the program, you will learn to integrate the complexity of managing business processes with excellent service skills.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
The Applied Financial Services program will show you how to advise clients on their day-to-day financial needs. In addition to communication, financial and information technology training, our program will show you the ins and outs of general business administration.
You will discover and master:

• Financial advising
• Commercial banking services
• Business software and technology
• Introductory accounting principles
• Professionalism and business ethics
• Marketing basics

Over 10,000 employees are injured at work in Alberta every year. Some are seriously injured, even killed.

As a result, organizations across the province continue to invest more time and resources to better train and equip their personnel, identify potential dangers and develop strategies and policies that keep employees safe.

The NAIT Occupational Health & Safety (OHSD) diploma program will prepare you to fill essential health and safety roles in industry to meet the growing demands of government regulations.

Our 2-year program focuses on real-world issues and practical skills and is the only program in the province that offers full-time OHS training. We are recognized by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals, and our graduates meet the educational requirements for Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) certification, the most recognizable designation for safety professionals in Canada.

Over 5 terms, you’ll be provided with classroom and lab instruction, as well as applied learning opportunities in a variety of workplace settings.

Co-Op Work Term
Your co-op work term will give you the opportunity to apply your professional skills and theoretical understanding in a workplace setting. You’ll be given various occupational health and safety responsibilities and projects in a business, industry, government, education or non-profit organization. 

In addition to providing new learning experiences, the work term will give you valuable on-the-job skills and industry contacts that will set you up for success after graduation.