Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care

at Northern Lights College - Dawson Creek Campus Canada

The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Program at Northern Lights College (NLC) provides opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work with young children and their families in early learning settings in British Columbia. A variety of delivery methods enables students to remain in their home communities and to integrate theoretical and practical experiences through full- or part-time studies. The program prepares students to apply for various BC ECE Registry certificates to practice.

NLC's Associate of Arts Degree (Health Studies) prepares students for entry into health-related degree programs, with an emphasis on the University of Northern British Columbia's Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program. The two-year Associate Degree (Health Studies) provides broad coverage across the Arts and Sciences while introducing students to nursing as a career and meeting UNBC's core prerequisite requirements in the social sciences, English, Indigenous studies, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, psychology, and statistics.

The Post-Degree Diploma in Business Management with a specialization in Health Administration (PDD in HADM) is ideally suited to international students who already hold a minimum three-year degree in nursing or other closely related Health Care profession.  The addition of advanced studies in business and health care administration in a Canadian context will enhance employability for administrative assistant positions and movement into entry level management positions in various health professions in Canada.

The fields of study comprising this multi-disciplinary program include business administration, psychology, and specialized health administration courses. The program introduces management and health administration concepts in a Canadian context, with emphasis on interpersonal and interprofessional communications, organizational behaviour, human resource management, ethics, and change management. 

The University Arts and Sciences program serves individuals and communities by providing university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences.  A wide variety of first- and second-year courses enable learners to pursue numerous credential and career options, and to engage in personal enrichment. 

The Associate of Arts Degree enables students to focus on disciplines in the humanities and/or social sciences.  This provincially recognized credential is designed to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, and further study.

For students intending to pursue further studies, the Associate of Arts Degree comprises the first two years (60 credits) of a four-year degree program (120 credits). All 60 credits comprising the Associate Degree receive full block-transfer at universities throughout British Columbia. Accordingly, the Associate of Arts Degree enables students to complete half of a degree program while remaining in their home community.

Students transferring to universities may still be required to meet specific first- and second-year requirements for certain degree programs, so advance planning  is recommended. Where viable, Associate Degree students are encouraged to select courses that also satisfy Flexible Pre-Majors.

The Business Management program promotes conceptual and technical skill development in business through a one-year Certificate program, a two-year Diploma program, and a Post-Degree Diploma program.

The Post-Degree Diploma program is available to both international and domestic students. For international students who already hold a three-year degree in commerce or business administration, the Post-Degree Diploma is an effective bridge to further North American business studies or to pursue employment in North America.

International and domestic candidates with three- or four-year degrees in fields beyond commerce and business management (such as computing, engineering, health, etc.) would also benefit from the program. For such students, the Post-Degree Diploma is a capstone program that augments existing technical skills and education in other fields.

The Post-Degree Diploma alone does not meet the typical educa­tion requirements for a Master’s Degree program (or MBA) in Canada. Students planning to study at a Master’s level in Canada should ensure that their prior education (a three or four-year degree) meets the educational requirements for their intended program.

The University Arts and Sciences Program at Northern Lights College serves individuals and communities by providing university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences. A variety of first- and second-year courses enable learners to pursue numerous credential and career options, and to engage in personal enrichment.

The Associate of Science Degree enables students to select a variety of courses in the field of science. This provincially recognized credential is designed to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students for work, citizenship, and further study.

For students intending to pursue further studies, the Associate of Science Degree comprises the first two years (60 credits) of a four year degree program (120 credits). All 60 credits comprising the Associate Degree receive full block-transfer at universities throughout British Columbia. Accordingly, the Associate of Science Degree enables Northern Lights College students to complete half of a degree program while remaining in their home community.

Cosmetologists provide personal care services that include caring for people’s hair, skin and nails. Professionals employed in the cosmetology industry include hairstylists, barbers and estheticians. This diploma program takes students through the Esthetics group of skin and nail treatments, and Hairstylist training. The Hairstylist and Esthetics programs are each approximately 32 weeks in length and are combined with a professional portfolio at the end which to make up the 2-year diploma in Cosmetology. 

Hairstylist and Esthetics both begin every September. Once a student completes one of the programs, they can proceed to the next in the second year (the order is not important). 
Both programs have large practical components where students will spend time working in the NLC salons. Students will have theory, salon operations training and hands-on salon client days where they practice the skills they are learning in class. 

Esthetics includes training in facials, body massage, body treatments, aromatherapy, makeup artistry, waxing and tinting.
Hairstylist training covers the Industry Training Authority (ITA) certified apprenticeship programming including haircuts, styling, shampoo and scalp treatments, as well as chemically treating hair using colour and permanent wave solutions. 

Throughout both these two programs, students will be working on their professional portfolio and at end they will produce a capstone project which will combine the two disciplines into a final project.

The Archaeology Diploma program at Northern Lights College provides academic knowledge and field skills specific to archaeology sampling techniques. The field of archaeology is growing along with the oil and gas industry and other developments that disturb the land. Trained graduates can find employment opportunities with numerous archaeology and environmental consulting firms as well as government agencies.

The diploma program is ideally suited for students interested in entry-level positions that largely involve field work in remote areas under physically demanding conditions. This career can involve survey and excavation, artifact processing and analysis, and report preparation.

By using this Diploma program as a stepping stone to completion of a bachelor's degree, students can obtain employment in upper-level positions. A degree in Anthropology or Archaeology in combination with field experience offers graduates the opportunity to become Field Directors or Senior Archaeologists.

A Diploma in Criminology will be awarded to students who complete the equivalent of two years of required first and second-year courses at Northern Lights College. The diploma is intended to prepare students for entry-level employment positions and for continued studies in academic and professional programs. Relevant areas of work and additional education include Corrections, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Forensic Studies, and Law Enforcement.

The field of business provides many exciting careers and opportunities in such areas as finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, information technology, general management, marketing, and logistics. Northern Lights College's Business Management Program prepares students for positions of responsibility in the business community and for further educational opportunities by promoting conceptual and technical skill development in business.

The Business Management Program at Northern Lights College offers a wide variety of first and second-year courses for students interested in working towards a Business Diploma, or transferring to university or professional designation programs elsewhere.

The Business Management diploma is a two year program with two streams, allowing students to earn a general business management credential or to specialize in accounting.