Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Specialization in Travel and Tourism

at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Canada

Learn all aspects of the upstream petroleum industry, including exploration and economic analysis, to prepare for a career in areas like gas process engineering and facilities design. 

The Bachelor of Applied Technology Petroleum Engineering program is designed for students who have completed technical degrees or diplomas and wish to receive training for a career in the petroleum industry.

Our courses provide detailed training in specialized fields such as oil and gas exploration, drilling, reservoir and production engineering, oil and gas facilities design and operation, upgrading and refining operations and economic analysis.

Get world-class, hands-on training in petroleum engineering technology. Study all areas of the industry — from exploration and drilling to field operations and economic analysis — and start a successful career in oil and gas production.

In the Petroleum Engineering Technology program, you’ll be trained in all areas of the upstream petroleum industry, including exploration, field operations, drilling, economic analysis and reserves determination.

Prepare for a career as a legal assistant working in a law firm, the court system or for a corporation by training in legal software, critical office skills and the preparation of legal documents for many areas of law, including real estate, corporate and litigation. In this practical two-year diploma, your instructors are lawyers and former legal assistants who show you how to assist your lawyer with important tasks on various files.

Using industry software on your SAIT-issued laptop, you develop accurate keyboarding and transcription skills and adapt your strong command of English spelling and grammar to effectively prepare various legal documents. You'll practice legal assistant tasks such as preparing a separation agreement, a criminal law file and a corporate minute book. In your capstone course, you simulate a real law office to integrate all your legal assistant knowledge. At the end of the program, you demonstrate your professionalism and expertise to potential employers in your one-month practicum placement.

Train to become a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologist, technician or analyst for a range of industries – from forestry and natural resource exploration to all levels of government – with the Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems degree.

Graduates possess the skills and knowledge to succeed in one of the fastest-growing sectors of information technology. GIS combines the power of relational database management systems with the flexibility of cartographic display technology and is used for problem-solving and decision making.

To succeed in the program, you’ll need to be comfortable working with computers and have a good working knowledge of file management, word processing and spreadsheet software applications. This two-year program consists of two, 15-week semesters in year one, followed by a paid practicum in year two. Finding a practicum placement is the student’s responsibility, but instructors and support staff will provide guidance and support. Students must be prepared to actively establish industry connections to secure their practicum.

Learn from faculty with real-world accounting experience as you develop practical knowledge in taxation, advanced management and financial accounting, auditing, leadership, and more.

This program consists of ten academic courses and followed by two semesters of Directed Field Studies (DFS). In DFS, you secure your own paid work placement, with approval from the Academic Chair, and apply your skills in a real-world setting.

You graduate from this program with pre-requisite courses you need to enter the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Professional Education Program.

Train for a career as a restaurant or hotel manager, special events coordinator or entrepreneur through courses in business management, food and beverage, human resources and marketing. Hospitality Management provides a unique educational experience with students learning and working in SAIT’s popular on-campus restaurant.

The Hospitality Management program at SAIT is known worldwide for its innovative curriculum and real-world education. At SAIT, we prepare our students for rewarding and in-demand careers in the global hospitality industry through expert instruction, hands-on learning anda state-of-the-art facilities. Our alumni are working in top hospitality organizations in Calgary, Canada and around the globe.

During this full-time two-year diploma program, you will obtain skills in lodging, food and beverage and a host of other hospitality sectors. Your training will cover hotel and restaurant operations, wine and beverage appreciation, special events, marketing, human resources, accounting and much more.

Our blended learning environment includes classroom instruction, laptop delivery and a live working environment - all delivered through a personalized approach. You will learn what it’s like to work as a member of a hospitality team by participating in group projects, serving in the renowned Highwood restaurant and executing special events on campus.

You will also be trained on the latest industry software including:

• Opera Property Management System
• MICROS point of sale system
• OpenTable restaurant management software.

As part of our close relationship with the hospitality sector, we are privileged to have some of the best and brightest leaders from the community serve on our advisory board. They help by providing insight into industry trends and informing the development of an up-to-date and practical curriculum.

Special events

• As a student, you will also have the opportunity to put your knowledge into action as part of a team planning and hosting special events such as:
  • HOSPO: the largest one-day tourism conference in Western Canada featuring 50 guest speakers and a career fair with over 50 industry booths
  • Scholarship lunch and industry gala in The Highwood
  • SAIT President’s gala dinner for 400 VIP delegates.

Professional paid internship and study tours

• Between your first and second year of study, you will be able to apply your skills in a professional paid internship. In addition to gaining experience in a real-world environment, internships provide valuable connections and opportunities to network with future employers.
• As a student, you can also take advantage of exciting international study tours. Previous tour locations have included Scotland, Italy, Australia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Study the business side of the energy industry and learn about contracts, leases and regulatory obligations in preparation for a career in mineral and surface land management, well asset management or operations accounting.

Want to be a mover and a shaker in the oil and gas industry? As a student in the Energy Asset Management program, you’ll study the business side of the energy industry and learn to handle contracts, leases, regulatory obligations and accounting tasks. You’ll leave SAIT with the skills you need to confidently enter the high-demand field of energy asset management.

Create solutions for global and local water issues with a career in water management. This program will prepare you for various roles such as water management specialist, water quality technician, watershed planner, flood planning technologist or junior hydrologist.

As a graduate of the Integrated Water Management diploma program, you'll recognize the role of total water management in identifying local solutions for global water issues. You'll demonstrate knowledge of the complex elements, interfaces and approaches considered in supporting practical integrated water management.

As a student, you will acquire specialized applied knowledge and market-sought skills developed through a work-integrated capstone research project in either water environmental technologies or advanced industry applications.

Students will have an understanding of following fundamentals upon completion of the program: 

• Water fundamentals: Describe fundamental concepts of integrated water management. 
• Policies and regulations: demonstrate how policies, frameworks and regulatory processes influence decision making in water management.
• Water cycle monitoring: explain water quality, quantity, availability and how they inform decision-making across sectors.
• Plan development: support the development of an integrated water management plan.
• Water management influences: identify influences on water management including economic, environmental, health, human interaction, climate change, extreme events, policy and others.
• Processes and forecasting: incorporate interdisciplinary scienace in determining and forecasting how water moves through a watershed and a water management system.
• Watershed risks: predict risks to watershed resiliency (economic, social and climate).
• Data: manage data acquisition, organization, formatting and reporting
• Infrastructure: plan, install, operate and maintain field equipment for hydrometric monitoring and related environmental variables.
• Global drivers: differentiate global climate, geopolitical and economic drivers of water management.

This two-year diploma program is Western Canada’s only management-oriented training program designed in cooperation with, and specifically for, the automotive industry.

Learn from industry-connected instructors the communications, marketing, management and automotive skills you need to start your career on the business side of the industry.
Valuable industry experience will be gained through a paid summer work practicum.

Accelerate your career with SAIT's Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management program. With a degree in hospitality and tourism, you can move towards managerial, executive or entrepreneurial opportunities in a flourishing and diverse sector.

This post-diploma degree program is designed in consultation with industry and taught by hospitality professionals. You’ll graduate with a global skill set that can take you to destinations worldwide.

We provide a personalized approach to learning with small class sizes and professional mentorship along the way. You’ll expand your breadth of knowledge across disciplines as you study key areas including leadership and project management, intercultural communications, global tourism, sales and marketing, sustainability in hospitality and tourism and much more.

At SAIT, we pride ourselves on our close connection to the industry as we deliver relevant, skills-focused education. In your capstone course, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with industry partners as you strategically solve a real-world challenge with a comprehensive business plan.