Diploma in Information Technology Services

at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Canada

Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program will give you practical hands-on education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to achieve success in the workforce.

During this program, you will develop a strong understanding of the hospitality and tourism industries. You will gain knowledge in guest experiences delivery, sales and marketing, service and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation. You will expand your knowledge by choosing a specialization in travel and tourism, entrepreneurship and innovation, hotel and accommodation management, restaurant and service operations, event management, beverage management and more.

Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality and tourism jobs such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires you to be adaptable, enthusiastic and resilient. If you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals, then this career is perfect for you.

The program allows you to choose an area of specialization in:

• Hotel and Accommodations
• Restaurant and Service Operations
• Beverage Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Event Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
• Multi-Disciplinary

Multi-Disciplinary
Choose a multi-disciplinary approach and select electives from various specializations to build a customized hospitality and tourism path. You will apply that learning through practical, hands-on operations in the specialization of choice and executing special events on and off campus with leading industry partners. 

Train to be an on-air radio personality, video content producer or journalist through this program that spans multiple media platforms. Learn through courses in writing and reporting, video and audio production, scriptwriting and more.

The Radio, Television and Broadcast News (RTBN) program is divided into three options: Radio, Television or Broadcast News. Students choose the option that best fits their individual skills and interests, in preparation for a challenging, creative and exciting career in the media.

The RTBN program involves two years of full-time study. Each of the program’s two years is divided into two semesters. There is a single intake each year, with classes commencing in September and finishing in late April. A four-week industry practicum is available in the fourth semester.

Radio Major
Radio students gain valuable industry experience by operating SAIT’s campus radio station (accessible worldwide at radio.sait.ca). Students progress from mastering audio basics to advanced digital multi-track production, perform duties in the sales and promotions departments, and rotate through station positions including on-air personality, creative director, and production manager. Students also receive training in music directing, traffic management, and news and sports delivery, to round out this exciting and worthwhile career path.

Television Major
Television students learn the fundamentals of writing, directing, producing, and editing through live production and assembling pre-recorded video and audio elements. A strong emphasis is placed on hands-on learning and innovation in both single and multi-camera environments. Students work in teams to produce information and news programs, live event programming (such as sports), variety programs, documentaries, commercials, and public service announcements. Students also become familiar with the technical aspects of television media by working with broadcast-quality equipment such as High Definition cameras, switchers, digital audio consoles, graphics work stations, servers and computer-based editing systems.

Broadcast News Major
Broadcast News (BN) students learn how to research and objectively present a story. They receive extensive, hands-on training. The program provides realistic experiences behind and in front of the camera and microphone. Students are trained to work effectively in both the radio and television environment. BN students learn the importance of meeting deadlines while maintaining respect for journalistic integrity. Students take on many roles in our newsroom, including reporter, producer, line-up editor, news and sports anchor, and weather reporter.

Develop strong techinical, analytical and problem solving essential for a career in mechanical engineering. Find your fit by choosing from one of three majors - design and development, design and automation or design and analysis.

The Mechanical Engineering Technology program is a practical, hands-on, full-time, two-year diploma program. During the common first year, you will be exposed to a variety of topics including foundational math and physics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and additional specialized courses to prepare you to enter into one of three specialized majors.

Upon successful completion of the common first year, the selection of your major will occur. Although SAIT will attempt to help students complete the program major of their choice, grade point for specific courses will be used in the selection criteria for each major, in case of a seat shortage for specific majors.

The specific areas of study for the three majors will be:

• Design and Analysis 
  • Mechanical system design
  • Vibration Analysis
  • Thermodynamics
  • Fluid Mechanics
• Design and Development 
  • Model Making
  • Prototyping
  • Ergonomics
• Design and Automation
  • Automation Systems Design
  • Control Systems (PLC)
  • Industrial robotics

For all three available majors, a focus will be placed on professionalism, creativity, teamwork, effective communication and collaboration. Each student will also participate in a major capstone project that will address a real-world industry challenge.

Prepare to make your mark in the business world with the industry-recognized Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree.
Engage in small classes with active, collaborative coursework while learning from faculty with real business experience. Work in teams to deliver projects, present strategies and meet business goals.

You'll begin the program with a common first year to build core business skills, then in year two, choose from one of six majors:

• Accounting
• Financial Services
• Human Resource (HR) Management
• Management
• Marketing
• Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management: learn to effectively manage supply chains using examples from real companies. You’ll delve deeply into procurement, logistics, transportation, inventory and warehouse management, supplied relations, contracts and performance analytics. You’ll graduate with unique skills provided by the only Supply Chain Management degree in southern Alberta.

As public demand for healthier foods and accurate nutrition information increases, the need for trained consultants in nutrition is critical. Proper nutrition is central to a positive and healthy lifestyle.

The Nutrition for Healthy Lifestyles program is ideal for professionals currently working in health and wellness-related areas such as health coaching, education, health promotion, culinary and fitness. In this eight-month certificate program, students spend approximately 16-hours per week on campus attending theory-based courses. Nutrition, as it relates to human development and disease, current trends and the principles of critically evaluating information about nutrition are the focus of the first semester.

More advanced topics on nutrition such as sports nutrition, health promotion, adult behaviour change process and education are taught in the second semester. Students will be provided with hands-on experience modifying and evaluating recipes for specific population needs and will complete a special project related to their areas of interest in healthy living.

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.

Be at the forefront of eye care practice, working as part of a multi-disciplinary vision care team. Students will study ocular pathology, refracting and pharmacology, as well as business and retail aspects of the profession.

The Optician program is two years in length and trains students to be at the forefront of eye care practice, working as part of a multi-disciplinary vision care team. Students will study ocular pathology, refracting and pharmacology, as well as business and retail aspects of the profession. Application of the theory will be demonstrated through clinical competencies focusing on refraction, filling eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions, ensuring a proper fit, and determining clients’ eyewear needs.

Create a career as an architectural technologist, construction coordinator or graphic designer for an architectural firm, residential home builder or construction company with this comprehensive program that includes hands-on training in drafting, design and building systems in our one-of-a-kind indoor house-building lab.

The Architectural Technologies program is designed to enable graduates to be able to perform and manage the fundamental duties of a junior architectural technologist. This diploma program is two years in length, consisting of four 15-week semesters. In the fourth semester, you refine your skills in a comprehensive capstone project.

The Architectural Technology program is learner-centred. We believe that students learn best when they construct knowledge and meaning from a collaboration between their learning experiences and their ideas. This type of applied experiential education means the development of the hand and mind through innovation, relevant content, engaged instructors and students who want to create meaningful careers.

The program employs a Project-Based Learning (PBL) model. This means that the “single subject inputs and assignments all relate to, and support the project work.” In this model, the repeated practice of going through a problem enables you to build up a repertoire of significant experiences. A critical feature of the program the focus on blending the science and practice of architectural technology.

You will learn by undertaking projects that simulate and simplify work practices in an educational setting modelled in a real-world environment. It is a setting where you get to practice.

Semesters are typically organized around a manageable core or central project. These projects will involve both individual and group-based work. In both instances, collaborative learning and teaching are practised. In all cases, there is an emphasis on learning by doing.

This program will develop critical thinking skills through the practice of confronting uncertainty. It allows one to see unfamiliar situations as familiar and this, in turn, allows one to have a feel or approach to problems that do not conform to rules.

Explore the world of culinary arts — from fundamental cooking techniques to patisserie — through hands-on instruction and action-based learning inside SAIT’s on-campus restaurants. Prepare for a career as a chef, kitchen manager or food stylist.

Considered the best in Canada, the Professional Cooking program at SAIT is delivered by world-renowned chefs who provide expert, hands-on training. In just two short years you will have the opportunity to train and interact with 20 leading culinary professionals - an amazing experience for anyone passionate about the culinary arts.

During this full-time two year program, you will be trained in all aspects of the culinary trade including foundational cooking techniques, Garde manger, culinary perspectives and patisserie. In an industry experiencing high demand, graduates from SAIT’s Professional Cooking program gain valuable, real-life experience and are well prepared for a diverse range of options in the dynamic culinary world.

At SAIT, we are focused on our students’ success and deliver on this promise through small class sizes, a personalized approach and state-of-the-art facilities. Our classrooms and labs have recently received $7 million in upgrades including the new Michelle O’Reilly Charcuterie Lab, SAIT’s gourmet Market Place, the downtown Culinary Campus and our own culinary garden - Jackson’s Garden. Operating in live classroom environments such as the renowned Highwood restaurant and 4 Nines Dining Centre provides real-world experience that readies you for success in the culinary industry.

As a student, you will learn essential cooking skills and current trends through repetitive production style cooking for the public under the watchful eyes of our professional chefs - just like you would in a real kitchen. The capstone of the program is cooking for the public in the award-winning Highwood restaurant and the bustling downtown Culinary Campus where you will prepare world-class cuisine in a live classroom environment.

Professional paid internship and study tours

• Between your first and second year of study, you will get to apply your skills in the industry through a professional paid internship. In addition to learning 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 Australia, France, Spain, Italy, Chile and Thailand.

Global recognition through chef competitions

• SAIT’s Professional Cooking program will give you the skills for a global career path and opportunities to work in the world’s finest dining establishments. You also have the option to compete in skills and culinary competitions - both locally and internationally.
• Our students have won gold and silver in Provincial and National Skills in addition to the Canadian Chef Association competitions. Our students have also competed in Hong Kong and Singapore over the last several years placing in the top three.

Developed with input from industry experts, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program will give you practical hands-on education, ensuring you have the real-world knowledge and skills to achieve success in the workforce.

During this program, you will develop a strong understanding of the hospitality and tourism industries. You will gain knowledge in guest experiences delivery, sales and marketing, service and applied leadership, all complemented by a strong financial management foundation. You will expand your knowledge by choosing a specialization in travel and tourism, entrepreneurship and innovation, hotel and accommodation management, restaurant and service operations, event management, beverage management and more.

Develop qualities that are in high demand for all hospitality and tourism jobs such as communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. The industry is fast-paced and requires you to be adaptable, enthusiastic and resilient. If you enjoy keeping busy and working within a team to achieve common goals, then this career is perfect for you.

The program allows you to choose an area of specialization in:

• Hotel and Accommodations
• Restaurant and Service Operations
• Beverage Management
• Travel and Tourism
• Event Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Whether your passion is starting your own hospitality business or to create innovative products within a larger company, this specialization introduces you to the entrepreneurial mindset, design thinking and new venture planning. You will have the opportunity to study current industry trends and identify gaps to help provide creative solutions and drive new product development.  This specialization offers elective opportunities from any other specialization.