Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care

at Northern Lights College - Fort St. John Campus Canada

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. 

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 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 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.

The Pre-Education Certificate comprises the first year of an Associate of Arts Degree designed for prospective teachers and is a first step toward enrolment in the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE), Northern Lights College's teacher training program.

A Pre-Education Certificate is awarded to students who complete one year of planned coursework at Northern Lights College. Credits earned may also be applied to an undergraduate degree with other post secondary institutions.

The Pre-Education Certificate is offered as part of the University Arts and Sciences program, which provides university-level learning opportunities that reflect the intellectual and creative modes of inquiry practiced in the Arts and Sciences

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.

The Social Services Worker Diploma (SSWD) program provides opportunities for students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and qualifications to enable them to work in a human services worker field.  The program involves two years of full-time study, with a combination of practice, theory, and academic course requirements aimed to prepare students to become critical practitioners with an emphasis on advocacy, social justice, and social change. 

The Certificate in Engineering is an intense undergraduate credential that requires courses in the areas of chemistry, computer programming, communications, engineering design, math, and physics. 

This credential allows for seamless, guaranteed transfer into second-year engineering programs at the University of Alberta.  NLC students are responsible for understanding the terms and conditions of transfer to the UofA. For example, while second-year admission with a minimum GPA is guaranteed, competitive placement in specific second-year engineering disciplines applies to all students.

The Applied Business Technology program prepares students to work in offices in business, government, and industry. The demand for administrative assistants in government, municipal offices, accounting firms, oil and gas, legal, and health care is growing, and employers actively seek our graduates. Students are trained in current software packages and administrative procedures in order to be prepared for employment upon graduation.

This program teaches current office skills in word processing, keyboarding, spreadsheets, automated accounting and bookkeeping. Business communications and office procedures courses enable students to develop the soft skills necessary for success in today’s offices. Students utilize current Microsoft Office software in the program.

While most students complete the Administrative Assistant specialization, two alternative streams, Financial Assistant and Office Assistant, enable students to exit early. Each stream includes a one- or two-week practicum placement to give students the opportunity to apply their new skills in an office environment.

Study as part of a cohort or choose a less intense schedule
Students can enrol in and complete the 39-week Administrative Assistant program as part of a group that starts together in September and finishes together in June. In this cohort environment, all courses are delivered in a face-to-face format.  Cohort students may also opt to exit after 23 weeks as an Office Assistant or after 29 weeks as a Financial Assistant.

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.

The Land and Water Resources (LWR) Diploma program prepares students to effectively conserve and repair disturbed land and riparian zones, as well as monitor water quality and quantity. The main focus of the program is reclamation of sites disturbed by industrial development and activity, and the regulations of reclaiming such sites as per the BC Oil and Gas Commission and relevant government bodies.

Employment opportunities are primarily concentrated in the oil and gas sector with some opportunities in mining, forestry, independent environmental consulting firms, First Nation band offices, and municipalities.  As resource companies strive to meet government guidelines and industry best practices, this f