Diploma in Legal Assistant

at Red Deer Polytechnic Canada

This program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). It prepares the graduate to become a Registered Pharmacy Technician (RPhT) following graduation and successful completion of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) certification process and the Alberta College of Pharmacists (ACP) registration process. Details regarding registering as a Pharmacy Technician in the province of Alberta can be found by accessing the Alberta College of Pharmacists website (www.pharmacists.ab.ca).

RDC has been educating Pharmacy Technicians since 1976 and graduates are highly sought after by employers. This diploma program is delivered over five academic terms.

Program outcomes are designed to enable successful transition to the role of the Pharmacy Technician, assisting students to:

• Communicate effectively and respectfully to build positive relationships through verbal, nonverbal, written and technological means with patients, co-workers and other health care providers.
• Practice in a legal, ethical and professional manner demonstrating conduct that meets expectations of members of society and the profession.
• Accurately manage and perform technical and distributive tasks expected of a pharmacy technician.
• Build collaborative relationships within the pharmacy and health care teams to optimize patient safety and meet patient health care needs and improve health outcomes.
• Perform job related tasks in a safe and effective manner that ensures quality and patient safety while using professional judgment as to which tasks can be performed independently or in collaboration with a pharmacist.
• Maintain, enhance and share knowledge, skills and attitude through self-reflective practice, use of available learning resources, networking and self-directed learning to continue to be a lifelong learner.

This two-year Career Development Diploma prepares internationally educated nurses to integrate their prior education into the Canadian health care environment and take on management or leadership roles. Explore foundational business and management concepts and learn how to apply them to challenges faced by both public and private health care organizations.

Graduates of the program will be perfectly positioned to lead their organization in achieving business and strategic goals. The importance of critical thinking and significance of cultural diversity are both emphasized in this immersive and dynamic program. Graduates will also gain valuable strategies for completing the regulatory examination process for professional certification in Canada.

Sociology is the study of the organization of society and how individuals make sense of their lives and experiences. As an academic discipline, Sociology provides powerful insights into why and how people organize themselves and behave as they do, at work and at play, in families, groups, communities, organizations, and societies. Special interests at RDC include demography, health and wellness, aging, mass media, and popular culture, gender, families, crime and justice, social stratification, poverty, and inequality.

Program Content
The below schedule is a general pattern that transfers to the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

The Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at Red Deer College is a four-year degree program.  The program emphasizes contemporary concepts in biology and practical scientific skills applicable to both field and laboratory settings.  Students registered in this program will explore topics ranging from the level of molecules and cells to that of organisms, communities, and populations.  The Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences is intended to prepare graduates for employment in biology-related fields or for continued education within graduate programs or at professional schools.

Program Outcomes
At the end of this program, graduating students will be able to:

• Demonstrate competency in analytical methods.
• Assess critically one's own strengths and weaknesses in relation to areas of study and future growth.
• Develop and conduct a scientific research project using appropriate management tools, research tools, and methods.
• Communicate scientific knowledge and results clearly and succinctly through oral, visual, and written formats to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrate collaborative, independent, and inclusive attitudes and practices integrating multidisciplinary perspectives and approaches.
• Demonstrate professional conduct in all aspects of individual and team-based work.
• Construct and implement creative solutions to problems that impact society by drawing from scientific and multidisciplinary theories, principles, and methods.
• Evaluate scientific questions using the knowledge and skills from the biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences.
• Integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into scientific study with the recognition of indigenous histories, practices, and relationships.

Psychology is the scientific study of thought, emotion, and behaviour; with a focus on the dynamic interplay of biology and environment. Red Deer College offers both Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with the option of pursuing an Honours degree in either program. Students will acquire knowledge of various areas of specialization within Psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, developmental, clinical, neuro/biological, health); embedded within the program are themes of wellness and creative problem-solving. Experiential learning such as community service and applied research provide valuable hands-on exposure to the application of psychology to solve problems and create positive social impact.  Research in and application of psychology are valued within a wide variety of contexts such as universities, schools, hospitals, clinics, legal professions, corporations, and non-profit organisations. Skills developed by psychology students (e.g., critical thinking, academic writing, research and analysis, the scientific method, interpersonal communication, and emotional intelligence) prepare them for future employment in a wide variety of contexts, as well as for graduate level education in psychology or a related field, or for entry into professional programs (e.g., law and medicine).

At the end of the end of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Red Deer College, students will be able to:

• Recognize the provisional nature, inherent complexity, and ambiguity of knowledge.
• Engage in scholarly inquiry to identify and investigate theoretical and applied questions using disciplinary methods and dissemination mechanisms.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge in one or more specializations and integrate knowledge and perspectives across disciplinary boundaries.
• Demonstrate intellectual integrity and academic accountability.
• Reflect on diverse socio-cultural forces, and the importance of inclusive attitudes and practices.
• Analyse and interpret historical and contemporary events, texts, and data within and across disciplines.
• Demonstrate collaborative, independent, and inclusive attitudes and practices.
• Approach global and local issues from a critical and theoretically informed viewpoint.
• Recognize wellness as part of the human condition.

Psychology is the scientific study of thought, emotion, and behaviour; with a focus on the dynamic interplay of biology and environment. Red Deer College offers both Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with the option of pursuing an Honours degree in either program. Students will acquire knowledge of various areas of specialization within Psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, developmental, clinical, neuro/biological, health); embedded within the program are themes of wellness and creative problem-solving. Experiential learning such as community service and applied research provide valuable hands-on exposure to the application of psychology to solve problems and create positive social impact. Research in and application of psychology are valued within a wide variety of contexts such as universities, schools, hospitals, clinics, legal professions, corporations, and non-profit organisations. Skills developed by psychology students (e.g., critical thinking, academic writing, research and analysis, the scientific method, interpersonal communication, and emotional intelligence) prepare them for future employment in a wide variety of contexts, as well as for graduate level education in psychology or a related field, or for entry into professional programs (e.g., law and medicine).

At the end of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Red Deer College, students will be able to:

• Recognize the provisional nature, inherent complexity, and ambiguity of knowledge.
• Engage in scholarly inquiry to identify and investigate theoretical and applied questions using disciplinary methods and dissemination mechanisms.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge in one or more specializations and integrate knowledge and perspectives across disciplinary boundaries.
• Demonstrate intellectual integrity and academic accountability.
• Reflect on diverse socio-cultural forces, and the importance of inclusive attitudes and practices.
• Analyse and interpret historical and contemporary events, texts, and data within and across disciplines.
• Demonstrate collaborative, independent, and inclusive attitudes and practices.
• Approach global and local issues from a critical and theoretically informed viewpoint.
• Recognize wellness as part of the human condition.

Upon successful completion of this graduate certificate program, offered over 16 months, graduates will have the knowledge and practical skills to work as Human Resources professionals in a variety of Human Resource settings. This program will also prepare graduates for the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.* The program has been specifically developed to align with the Human Resources Institute of Alberta accreditation framework. Graduates of an accredited program who achieve a minimum overall average of 70% (2.7 GPA) in the program may apply to the CPHR to waive the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) requirements towards the CPHR designation with Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Canada (CPHR) member associations**. Graduates who do not achieve a minimum overall average of 70% in the program will be better equipped to write the National Knowledge Exam in preparation to obtain the CPHR designation. The entrance requirement of an undergraduate degree in any field ensures that students in the program will receive instruction commensurate with their background.

Program Outcomes:

• Explain and demonstrate the strategic importance of human resources practices as they relate to the organizational strategy, best practices and trends in human resources.
• Identify key elements of ethical behaviour and professional code of conduct for HR professionals; provide examples to illustrate ability to balance interests, promote organizational values, and manage risk.
• Demonstrate the value of human resources initiatives and their impact on employee engagement and organizational results; explain the importance of involving key stakeholders.
• Identify and explain the components of creating and executing an effective workforce plan and employee value proposition.
• Outline the steps to implement an effective performance management system.
• Identify and explain employment legislation and labour and employee relations strategies used to manage risks and create a respectful, productive and engaging work environment.
• Describe the components of a total rewards structure and outline methods to evaluate a total rewards structure.
• Illustrate the steps involved in job evaluation and market comparison.
• Identify learning priorities and adult learning principles, as well as methods for measuring learning initiatives that support a learning environment, align with business strategy, and provide a return on investment.
• Develop health, wellness and safety policies and procedures in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and standards; promote a healthy workplace as per organizational policy.
• Use metrics and HR information systems to measure and report on effectiveness of key performance indicators, and to make informed decisions.

The two-year diploma program provides a broad background into the functional areas of business. It provides a deeper dive compared to the certificate, for those who have a bit more time to gain further expertise. The program is designed for individuals wanting to quickly progress into management positions, manage their own location, or gain the skills, insight, and confidence to run a successful business. The business diploma enhances other existing credentials.

Students in the diploma will participate in a 90-hour work practicum, research project, or service learning opportunity. Students will survey the functional areas of business, develop an entrepreneurial mindset through creative and critical thinking, and choose from a selection of project based courses in human resources, marketing, accounting, financial services, entrepreneurship and small business, and corporate finance and economics.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Collaboration: Collaborate in and with diverse teams employing interpersonal communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
• Communication: Communicate effectively utilizing oral, written, nonverbal, and media communication skills.
• Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving: Integrate creative, critical, and reflective skills and practices to analyze organizational challenges.
• Globalization: Recognize the impact of globalization across cultures and markets.
• Social and Cross-Cultural Awareness: Examine different ideas, perspectives, and worldviews in response to dynamic changing global, economic, political, social, and technological business environment.
• Information, Research, Technology, and Financial Fluency: Apply information literacy, technology, research skills, and numerical and financial fluency to solve problems and analyze business decisions.
• Ethics: Employ ethical decision making and demonstrate professionalism.
• Business Acumen - Tools: Apply qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze business decisions.
• Business Acumen - Analysis: Apply specific knowledge from the functional areas of business including terminology, business analytical tools, and techniques.
• Business Acumen - Holistic: Apply holistic and entrepreneurial approaches when working in, and managing, socially responsible organizations.
• Lifelong Learning: Recognize the value of lifelong-learning and community engagement.
• Indigenous: Contribute to the advancement of reconciliation and apply principles of Indigenous knowledge including identifying and describing Indigenous cultural protocols, worldviews, and learning approaches in both a business and societal context.

History is the analysis of the human past. Courses are offered in three main areas: Canadian, European and British. RDC special interests include Western Canadian history, British Empire and Commonwealth, Modern British social history and Modern Europe. First year courses include Classics, Medieval, Early Modern World, and Modern World.