Bachelor of Science

at Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus Canada

This program is designed for university graduates who have earned an appropriate discipline-based undergraduate degree and who wish to become professionally certified teachers. This is a 1½-year post-degree, 62 credit professional program leading to a Bachelor of Education that can only be earned as a second degree. The Secondary option is also available to applicants without an undergraduate degree who hold Red Seal certification in acceptable teaching areas. Course work and field experience is completed over three full-time semesters with intake only occurring in the Fall of each academic year. All academic courses are delivered on campus in Nanaimo and does not run during the summer months.

Applicants can apply for the elementary and/or secondary teaching option(s). Coursework will have either an elementary or secondary focus with supporting practicums. Either option will prepare applicants for teaching at the middle school level.

The program is designed to prepare graduates to be well-qualified beginning teachers. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be recommended to the Teacher Certification Branch (TCB) at the BC Ministry of Education for ‘professional certification’. This certification is required for employment in any BC public, independent or BC Offshore school.

Do you have a passion for travelling and connecting with others? Explore a career in the world’s fastest growing industry. Vancouver Island University’s Bachelor of Hospitality Management program prepares students for every facet of the bustling world of tourism and hospitality with a flexible two-year diploma or four-year degree.

In this experiential program, students have the opportunity to develop strong industry connections and gain technical and practical skills in areas of hospitality marketing, accounting, human resources, management and more. The Management of Hospitality program prepares graduates to work in diverse fields such as hotel management, tourism programs, and sales and marketing.

The Bachelor of Hospitality Management Program:-
VIU offers a four-year Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree. Students have the option to exit with the Hospitality Management diploma after two years, or go on to complete the additional two years to graduate with the Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree. Hospitality diploma graduates from VIU or other Canadian institutions have the option of entering directly into the third year of the Bachelor of Hospitality Management program. Culinary Arts diploma graduates from VIU or other Canadian institutions can enter the third year of the degree program after completing a bridging semester. Admission to the third year of the program is limited.

The program will involve the learner in an internationalized curriculum as well as culturally-diverse professional and social environments. They will be engaged in activities that develop their skills to synthesize and solve problems in a global context. The program balances academic and applied skills by designing learning opportunities where learners apply theories in hospitality business simulated environments as well as in co-operative/internship placements

Join VIU’s Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts Studies and regularly interact creatively and exchange ideas with fellow artists while immersing yourself in a unique experiential and interdisciplinary program led by instructors who are practicing artists themselves. Part of a Bachelor of Arts degree, this program gives you the opportunity to choose Visual Arts as a Major or Minor, supplementing your visual arts courses with various electives or majors of interest.

The Visual Arts Program: Vancouver Island University offers an opportunity for undergraduates to study Visual Art as a Major or Minor in a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree. Both options provide an opportunity for students to complement their degree in Visual Art with courses in other disciplines, including Business, Marketing, Theatre, Biology, History, Psychology, Anthropology, Education, Sciences, Media Studies and Creative Writing.

The BA Major offers a professional focus on all aspects of studio art, as well as academic classroom experience. Students may take this degree with a wide variety of electives or they may combine this Major with a Minor in another discipline. The latter may be appropriate to an individual student's academic and/or career goals, enhancing their preparation for a competitive job market. Both options strengthen employment or postgraduate study opportunities and equip students with technical, critical thinking, visual literacy and career adaptability skills.

Do you dream of a creative career in the theatre arts? Join VIU’s Theatre transfer program to prepare for a future that could take you on stage, onscreen, behind-the-scenes, and into the spotlight.

Led by expert, passionate and deeply experienced faculty, Vancouver Island University’s Theatre diploma program prepares you for a wide range of career opportunities in the performing arts. Academic study covers the theory and history behind theatre, while you also develop strong artistic, critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills in a highly innovative, collaborative and welcoming environment.

Join your classmates on stage at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre for public performances designed to develop and showcase your talents and skills. Theatre programs are for those who love the idea of working in highly creative careers, where imagination, individuality and diversity are celebrated.

The Theatre Diploma Program
The Theatre department offers a two-year Theatre Diploma and a two-year Technical Theatre Diploma. To obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre, students will have to attend a university offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. The University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, and almost all Canadian universities will accept VIU’s two-year programs as university transfer. Theatre Diploma students share a common first year. After completing the first year, students continue in either the Theatre Diploma or the Technical Theatre Diploma.

The Theatre diploma program will expose students to a range of practical elements associated with theatre production, as well as the academic study of theory and theatre history. Students will learn how to translate plays from the written script to the stage; the basics of acting techniques including voice, movement, and characterization; and the elements of set design, stagecraft, sound design, lighting design, and costume design. Students will study dramatic works from early modern European origins to more recent Canadian productions. Students will also learn safe practices around the stage. This program is open to full-time students only. Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will be awarded a Theatre Diploma.

The Technical Theatre diploma program emphasizes the technical aspects of theatre to help fill the growing need across Canada for trained theatre technicians. Hands-on experience is fundamental to the program, and students will be learning the skills of technical theatre by working behind the scenes on a wide variety of shows. Students will be able to take theoretical and practical courses that explore topics such as props, costumes, sound, stage management, carpentry, running crew, front-of-house management, production management, technical direction, publicity, theatrical make-up, scene painting, special effects, and lighting. This program is open to full-time students only. Upon successful completion of program requirements, students will be awarded a Technical Theatre Diploma.

During each academic year, the Theatre department presents a season of plays and concerts and hosts professional touring theatre and dance companies, allowing students to work alongside theatre professionals.

The Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Graduate Certificate program is geared toward professional therapists (or equivalent) and clinicians who aim to train in and support psychedelic-assisted therapies.

The program model centres on coming to know the opportunities and challenges inherent in this advanced practice area, followed by the practice of collectively navigating complexities within a community of practice environment.  The small group interdisciplinary learning environment is designed to augment one’s therapeutic capacity to provide safe and inclusive care.

Professionals who apply for the certificate program will join a cohort that begins in September and moves through the courses in sequence. The first three theory courses in the program are online theory courses. PAT 504 (6 credit) is a hybrid (online and in person) practicum course for professionals to engage in supervised practice in a program that delivers psychedelic-assisted therapies. The full program can be completed from a distance if an approved practicum site is available near the trainee's place of residence.

Kinesiology is the art and science of human movement, and at VIU, the Kinesiology program is your foundation for careers in education, research, rehabilitation sciences (occupational therapy, physical therapy, and massage therapy), coaching, personal training, sports management, and administration and many others. 

The Kinesiology program provides students with the knowledge and experience to pursue careers in education, fitness/wellness management, movement science, outdoor leadership, rehabilitation sciences, coaching, athlete development, and sports administration. Students will explore the nature of human movement and learn essential skills to improve quality of life through activity and exercise. The program provides a broad foundation in many aspects of kinesiology and exposes students to diverse learning environments and applied experiences including lectures, labs, activity classes, online learning, and applied research and scholarship. 

Are you ready to take your career in education to a new level? Vancouver Island University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership program is designed for practicing and aspiring professionals in the education field who are focused on bringing educational and instructional leadership into their schools.

VIU's graduate program is enriched with school administration, educational psychology and educational research teachings that provide students the foundational building blocks to become innovative leaders in the school system. This program prepares students with the practical, ethical, and social tools to solve problems, manage conflict and encourage growth. Graduates of the program find employment in leadership positions in the education sector, both domestically and abroad.

The Master of Education in Educational Leadership Program
This cohort-based model is designed for students wishing to study full-time on the VIU campus. All formal coursework is completed over two semesters. The Field Inquiry and Major Project components are completed during the second year over two semesters. Students may complete these components with online support and can complete up to one semester early.

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership provides a program of preparation for aspiring and practicing school leaders. Grounded in the rich educational leadership literature supplemented by extensive faculty expertise and experience, the program provides a balance of research, policy and practice. Graduates of our program will have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and attitudes of successful leaders as outlined in the Leadership Standards for BC Principals and Vice-Principals. These competencies are central to formal and informal leadership in schools.

The M.Ed. program will develop leaders who can:

• Guide the development and implementation of shared values, vision, mission and goals to support learning for all students;
• Foster quality learning opportunities to support student learning;
• Lead teams in becoming assessment literate;
• Create systems and structures for the effective supervision of learning;
• Provide strong leadership in the area of Aboriginal Education;
• Provide knowledgeable guidance regarding current curricula, instructional and assessment practices and their impact on student learning;
• Sustain a collaborative learning culture and climate linked to student learning and based on distributed leadership;
• Build positive and effective interdependencies amongst partner groups;
• Incorporate systemic thinking and strategic planning for school improvement;
• Demonstrate self-knowledge and the personal qualities that support positive relationships and build cultures of integrity;
• Build and support relational trust within the school and community;
• Address issues of diversity and social justice;
• Lead teams in reflective inquiry and action research.

The Engineering Transfer Diploma prepares students to transfer into the University of Victoria in their second year. This program contains the first-year core courses and select second-year courses required for this institution including physics, chemistry, engineering design, computer programming mathematics, and communication skills. Upon successful completion, graduates who complete the entire Engineering Transfer Diploma program curriculum are: 

• Guaranteed admittance into 2nd year Engineering at UVic provided students achieve a minimum required overall GPA and minimum grade in each curriculum course. 
• Placed in a common pool with all students for competitive entry into their 2nd year engineering program of their choice at UVic. Average GPS for entry into a specific engineering program at UVic changes each year depending on the number of students applying and the number of seats available. 
• Students are also applicable for entry into other engineering schools in BC on an individual, non-guaranteed basis. 
• Students interested in Engineering pathways to UBC, SFU, and TRU, are encouraged to consider Vancouver Island University’s Engineering Transfer Certificate program.  

This program is designed to prepare students for careers related to the protection and management of Canada’s fisheries, wildlife, and parks resources. The program is supported by an Advisory Committee made up of management and enforcement representatives from the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Provincial Ministry of Environment, BC Parks, Parks Canada, Environment Canada, and from resource user groups. Students are required to participate in a 2-week practicum at an off-campus location in the Fall semester of the second year. Students are also encouraged to seek employment with a resource management and protection agency, or in work related to natural resource enhancement or monitoring, in the summer between first and second year.

RMOT students are assisting various natural resource law enforcement agencies in monitoring illegal activities within the central Vancouver Island area. These patrols allow students first-hand experience in actual field and communication skills required to monitor and report illegal activities. All these activities are closely monitored with appropriate levels of training and coaching from both RMOT instructors and resource officers.

The Certificate in Business Management (CBM) is offered full–time or part–time, with some courses offered by video conference. This Certificate program is designed to provide a firm foundation of business principles. Should you be entrepreneurial or curious about a career in business this could be your opportunity. By the end of this program the student will have a sound introduction to the key functional areas of business practice. Courses in the CBM are fully transferable to VIU's Bachelor of Business Administration undergraduate degree.