Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology

at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Canada

Captioners and court reporters are highly skilled professionals who can capture speech at speeds of 225 words per minute (wpm) and higher. Using an electronic shorthand machine and sophisticated computer technology, reporters translate a conversation virtually simultaneously to the printed word.

Being a captioner or court reporter is a profession like no other. It is exciting to meet the challenges when no 2 days are alike and when you learn new and fascinating information every day.

NAIT offers the only captioning and court reporting program in western Canada to be approved by the National Court Reporters Association - a 35,000 member organization based in the United States. Consequently, the program is well-regarded and graduates obtain employment not only across Canada and the United States, but around the world.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the Captioning and Court Reporting program, you will learn how to write machine shorthand at 225 words per minute (or faster). This will allow you to work as a court reporter, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) provider or broadcast captioner.

You can expect to learn and develop:

• The ability to write machine shorthand verbatim at 225 words per minute with 95% accuracy
• Proficiency with computer-aided transcription software
• Comprehensive English skills
• An extensive understanding of criminal and civil law
• Interpersonal and leadership skills

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with Marketing emphasis prepares students to lead organizations in making decisions on corporate branding, public relations, sales, supply chain management and advertising in an immersive environment of critical thinking. The BBA degree with Marketing emphasis focuses on teaching consumer research, measurable strategies and strong communications skills. The goal is to develop your ability for strong analytical processes critical to the operation of business. Marketing emphasis students are led through business cases of ethics, consumer behaviour and sales management. These scenarios will help you understand the decision-making processes of business and think about the many factors that affect marketing campaigns and projects. All marketing-related courses have prerequisites, so it is important to carefully plan the order your studies. Students taking the BBA with a Marketing emphasis can expect to integrate their knowledge of marketing to support different organizational and multi-disciplinary goals in Canadian and international organizations.

The Geomatics Engineering Technology program provides training in the collection, analysis, storage, distribution and application of spatial and three-dimensional data used in land development. The economic growth of any country involves the development of natural resources, construction of large public works projects and the expansion of urban centres. This growth requires trained personnel to:

• Locate and map physical features on the land
• Determine property boundaries for property titles
• Perform surveys to locate and build transportation systems

Lay out large industrial complexes such as refineries, dam sites, power, pipelines, and surface and underground mining operations
The Geomatics Engineering Technology program emphasizes the use of new technologies for data collection, including electronic equipment for measuring, earth circling satellites for positioning and computers for processing data and generating plans for use in a wide variety of professional disciplines.

In this comprehensive diploma program, students study thermodynamics, electricity and electronics, and refrigeration and air conditioning. Students also gain skills in mechanical drafting, blueprint reading, technical mathematics and physics. Industrial development continues to result in the expansion of work responsibilities for Power Engineers. Provincial Legislation requires the certification of employees before they assume responsibilities in heating and power plants. There are five certificate levels: 5th Class, 4th Class, 3rd Class, 2nd Class and 1st Class.

NAIT's Power Engineering Technology Diploma (two year) program will be delivering curriculum to prepare the student to write the 4th Class, 3rd Class and three of the six papers for 2nd Class ABSA Administered Provincial Examinations. ABSA Regulations dictate a 100% Attendance Policy that is in place.

The Power Engineering Technology (2 Year Diploma) program prepares students for progression through the 4th Class, 3rd Class and 2nd Class - Part A ABSA levels by providing both theoretical and practical training. The intent of the program is to prepare graduates to make both safety and efficiency a priority on the job. Students must pass all courses and attend a minimum of 80% of the theory classes, 100% of the labs and 100% of the plant practicum to successfully complete the program.

The work responsibilities of Power Engineers increases in complexity according to the level of ABSA Certification. Typically, the work includes:

assisting in the operation and maintenance of boilers, pumps, compressors, fans, turbines, refrigeration units, heating systems and other related equipment
working as a shift engineer coordinating the operational and maintenance activities of assistant engineers engaged in the constant control and surveillance of power plant equipment

The Electrical Installations Technology diploma is your pathway to apprenticeship, and a unique opportunity to get the technical and career essential skills you need to succeed in the electrical industry.

The program focuses on theory and hands-on training required for the installation, repair and maintenance of electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial environments. This program also teaches career essential skills such as communication, professionalism and collaboration, which will help you pursue a career in the Electrical Installations Technology field.

The Electrical Installations Technology diploma offers a direct pathway into trades training at NAIT without having to first be a registered apprentice.

Industry-approved training
A career in the electrical industry calls for an understanding of both technical knowledge and career essential skills. Learning outcomes for this program include:

• Understanding of industry standards, legislation, policies and practices
• Ability to:
  • Identify safety hazards
  • Explain, discuss and apply electrical theory and mathematics
  • Install, analyze and maintain rotating, static and solid-state electrical equipment and controls
  • Design, interpret and convert drawings and schematic diagrams for electrical installations
  • Communicate effectively using written, verbal and graphical means
  • Navigate, interpret and apply applicable sections of the Canadian Electrical Code Part 1 for electrical installations

The program content and structure aligns with Alberta Credential Framework expectations. This 2-year diploma program provides you with immediate opportunities for employment in the field of electrical installation. After completing the program, you will be eligible to enter into an apprenticeship and complete apprenticeship hours to receive a journeyperson’s certificate.

All students in the Biological Sciences Technology program take a common first semester before entering into their specialization - Lab and Research, Renewable Resources or Environmental Sciences. The common first semester provides students with strong fundamentals in Biological Sciences while semesters two, three, and four build on these fundamentals with additional specialization-specific education and training. 

Graduates of Biological Sciences Laboratory and Research program are highly skilled, hands-on technologists with the ability to use and apply current technologies and research methods in animal physiology, molecular biology, cell culture, immunology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. Graduates are valued for their professionalism, effective communication, lab competency, and work safely and efficiently in a team environment. They are aware of the changing industry, and are committed to lifelong learning.

The Digital Media and IT (DMIT) program is multi-disciplinary in its approach. Spanning a range of career opportunities from business analyst to visual designer, this innovative program allows you the ability to meet industry demand while developing skills aligned with your individual talents and inclinations.

As an Information Technology (IT) System Administrator, you could be responsible for implementing and maintaining data infrastructure and providing IT solutions that deliver value to an organization.

This program will show you what you need to know in order to get started in this highly sought after profession.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the IT System Administrator area of emphasis, you will learn how to plan, install, upgrade and configure computer operating systems along with essential software applications and services, including:

• Vital data network services (DHCP, DNS and Active Directory Services)
• Virus and patch-management services
• Web, SharePoint, deployment and remote desktop servers

These courses will teach you how to identify requirements for data network infrastructure services based on functionality, resource utilization, capacity and growth, security, ease of use and maintenance activities. You will also learn how to specify, order, install and connect hardware based on those requirements.

You will leave this program with the skills necessary to determine and document software, roles, features, settings and parameters required to maintain a reliable and manageable IT environment.

Co-op Opportunities
As a result of DMIT's close connection with industry, various co-op opportunities exist for students in the DMIT program. Many companies offer our students paid co-op positions that provide direct experience in specific areas of study. Co-op is also seen as a staffing strategy for many organizations.

The Digital Media and IT (DMIT) program is multi-disciplinary in its approach. Spanning a range of career opportunities from business analyst to visual designer, this innovative program allows you the ability to meet industry demand while developing skills aligned with your individual talents and inclinations.

The IT Business Analyst area of emphasis will show you how to translate business requirements into a language that IT developers can use to create software and hardware solutions.

What You Will Learn
Hands-on, industry-relevant skills
In the IT Business Analysis area of emphasis, you will learn how to help organizations determine their needs, identify problems and plan and implement IT solutions to those problems. You will learn how to design effective and efficient business processes, and how to clearly communicate business strategy and IT development plans.

You will also learn how to:

• Elicit business and software requirements directly from stakeholders
• Document requirements using industry-standard tools and templates
• Map and evaluate business processes
• Manage business analysis activities

Co-op Opportunities
As a result of DMIT's close connection with industry, various co-op opportunities exist for students in the DMIT program. Many companies offer our students paid co-op positions that provide direct experience in specific areas of study. Co-op is also seen as a staffing strategy for many organizations.

Careers that leave a lasting impact
Have a passion for building? Civil Engineering Technology is a 2-year diploma program or 2-and-a-half year co-op diploma program through which you’ll learn how to design and manage construction, infrastructure and research projects.

Our curriculum has been developed with industry input to ensure we cover all of the theoretical and practical elements that are essential within the broad field of civil engineering. With the help of hands-on learning and supportive, experienced instruction, you’ll apply computer-aided design & drafting (CADD) systems to civil engineering problems in the areas of:

• Structural design
• Urban services design
• Highway design
• Pavement design
• Geotechnical design
• Project management
• Applied research

The BBA with Entrepreneurship and Innovation emphasis will help you grow your entrepreneurial mindset and develop skills that are essential to transform business. You'll be led through business ventures from the ground up, focusing on how to create financially, ethically and environmentally sustainable solutions in the marketplace. You'll have the ability to collaborate creatively, apply logic to problems, and complex inductive reasoning in an immersive setting. All entrepreneurship and innovation related courses have prerequisites, so it is important to carefully plan the order of studies.