Diploma in Therapist Assistant

at Okanagan College - Kelowna Campus Canada

Okanagan College offers first- and second-year courses in Arts and Science. Most courses have transfer credit at universities in British Columbia and will transfer to other universities within Canada. Areas of specialization include: 

• Communications
• Criminal and Social Justice
• Economics
• English
• Geography
• History
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Modern Languages
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

An associate degree consists of two years of undergraduate university-level study in a variety of disciplines. Specific courses and credits are provincially-approved to qualify students for degree completion. This credential enables students to transfer into the third year of an undergraduate university degree. Block transfer is also available at many universities in B.C.

The Business Studies Certificate allows students to focus on a specific discipline. This program may be of interest to those who are already employed. Some courses are also available by distance education. All Business Studies Certificates require the use of Microsoft Office software. Computer experience is recommended.

The mechanical engineering technologist is involved in the design, manufacture, testing, installation, operation and maintenance of a wide variety of machines and mechanical equipment. Through the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Okanagan College, students are trained in fundamental engineering principles and practice. Students will gain a working knowledge in the fundamentals of materials, structures, fluids, power, machine design, manufacturing, thermodynamics, HVAC, quality, and instrumentation and control. The use of current computer software is emphasized throughout the program. A diverse and stimulating program, Mechanical Engineering Technology incorporates labs and field trips to reinforce theoretical background, and to develop appropriate methods of approach and solution of engineering problems.

Graduates may be employed by a very broad range of industrial organizations. Opportunities include product design, specification, installation and maintenance of equipment, cost estimating, technical sales, quality management, inspection, production planning, automation, CAD/CAM, robotics, and research and development. Mechanical engineering technologists are in demand due to the tremendous diversity of the discipline.

The Culinary Arts Certificate is for students with a passion for a career in the Restaurant, Food Service and Hospitality Industry and its wide variety of options. This 50 week (1,500 hour) program provides the fundamental knowledge needed for successful employment as a cook in one of the many areas of food service. This is an experiential program with emphasis on food preparation and presentation as well as basic service techniques. Located at the Kelowna campus kitchens and Infusions Restaurant the program mirrors a realistic training environment within the expected industry time­frame.

Apprenticeship technical training credit for Professional Cook Level 1 and Level 2 and 600 work based hours for Level 1 and 240 work based hours for Level 2 will be granted by the Industry Training Authority (ITA) upon successful completion of this program. Students will receive credit for Foodsafe Level 1. Apprenticeship practical training credit will also be granted by the Industry Training Authority as a result of prior practical experience. Students must provide proof of completion of the co-op or other 400 work-based hours and successfully complete all Level 1 components prior to advancing to Level 2 components of the program. Upon successful completion of Level 1 and Level 2 requirements, students are eligible to challenge the Provincial Cook Certificate of Qualification examinations for Level 1 and Level 2. Students wishing to pursue the Professional Cook Red Seal endorsement must provide proof of a total of 5,000 work-based hours and complete Level 3 technical training.

This Program is a unique blend of traditional chemical and civil engineering technology combined with innovative water-focused environmental studies. The goals of the program are to educate, train and equip students so they are able to play a leading role in the water industry - both in Canada and internationally - to monitor, assess and protect both public health and water in the environment.

All students complete a common first year curriculum during which they receive a strong foundation of hydrology, hydraulics, water quality, water and wastewater treatment, along with water-focused biology and chemistry. During the second year students can choose between two options: Environmental Monitoring (EM) and Water and Wastewater Technology (WWT).

• The EM option focuses on natural waters with training provided in surface and groundwater hydrology, limnology, statistics and freshwater biology.
• The WWT option focuses on domestic water treatment, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, hydraulics, and industrial computer control.

Both options also provide further training in water microbiology along with environmental and analytical chemistry. All students are expected to complete a capstone technology project where emphasis will be on application of theoretical and practical experience gained in the program.

This 20-course post-baccalaureate diploma is aimed at students with a bachelor degree in any business or non-business program other than those with a marketing major or specialty who wish to pursue a career in the marketing field.

The Business Studies Certificate allows students to focus on a specific discipline. This program may be of interest to those who are already employed. Some courses are also available by distance education. All Business Studies Certificates require the use of Microsoft Office software. Computer experience is recommended.

Co-operative Education: Entry into the co-operative education option is a student's choice, and subject to completion of all first-year courses and an overall grade average of 65%.

The Bachelor of Computer Information Systems degree is a four-year program which includes a broad selection of computing, mathematics, business, and communications courses so graduates can function successfully in a variety of roles in the Information Technology field.

The courses are grouped into required courses (which all students take), courses from one or more options (an option is a collection of courses dealing with a specific area of computing), and elective courses. This structure allows students to concentrate on areas of computing (Software Design and Development, Database Systems and General Studies) which interest them, while ensuring all graduates have a broad knowledge of computing. With further independent study, graduates may earn industrial certification from companies such as Oracle, IBM, Cisco or Microsoft.

The BCIS degree is available as a co-op program. Taking co-op work terms may lengthen the program by one year or more.

Students who have completed Okanagan College's Computer Information Systems diploma or the Network and Telecommunications Engineering Technology diploma, or a similar program of studies may enter at year three. Other students enter at year one.

The Commercial Helicopter Pilot Certificate (CHPC) will complement the objectives of the Commercial Aviation program, allowing students from both airplane and helicopter courses to share common ground school courses. This will educate students with the unique challenges of operating helicopters in Canada and internationally.

This certificate follows the Transport Canada approved curriculum and shares courses with the Commercial Aviation Diploma. This includes fundamentals and advanced skills required for commercial helicopter pilots. Students will complete the program with the skills to take the Transport Canada Commercial Helicopter Pilots written and flight tests.

Okanagan College continues to incorporate business development skills with aviation course so students can advance their professionalism and work ethic within future career positions. By blending commercial helicopter pilot training skills with the Okanagan College School of Business, graduates will enter the industry with more advanced education than that of a general pilot.

This certificate will require two full semesters over one year with a total of 40 credits. Graduates that successfully complete the Transport Canada written and in flight exams and accumulate a minimum of 100 hours of flight time, will be ready for employment as commercial helicopter pilots.

The Criminal and Social Justice program, based at Okanagan College's Penticton campus, will provide students with an Arts-based criminal and social justice education. It is a two-year, four-semester program in which students will take a variety of criminal and social justice related courses in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science and Criminology, as well as elective Arts courses of personal interest. Some fields of inquiry may include indigenous studies, gender studies, race and ethnicity, globalization and poverty.

Students will graduate from this two-year program with a Diploma in Criminal and Social Justice and transfer into degree opportunities at other institutions in British Columbia and elsewhere, or they can move directly into the workforce, as there is growing labour demand in the field of criminal and social justice.Students exit the program with a solid, practical understanding of criminal and social justice issues in Canada and the world, as well as the academic skills of analytical reasoning, critical thinking, communication, and information retrieval that will be applied to their future profession and academic pursuits.