Bachelor of Social Work

at Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus Canada

Do you want to make a difference and pursue a career that values diversity, empathy, collaboration and inclusiveness? Social Services professionals dedicate themselves to helping people live better lives and build stronger communities.

The Social Services diploma program at VIU gives you a strong foundation in developmental psychology, adolescent and child development, trauma resiliency and conflict resolution. With a social services diploma you become an advocate for human rights and social justice, helping to protect vulnerable people.

A diploma of social work can lead to a satisfying career as a human service assistant, probation officer, rehabilitation counsellor, school counselor, or marriage and family therapist to name just a few of the occupations in this growing field of work.

The Social Services Program
The program provides advanced-level training for working in the social services field and is available on a full-time or a part-time basis. The program includes the following components:

• Courses in addictions and addiction treatment, conflict resolution, leadership and supervision, community development, interpersonal skills, and special topics;
• Elective courses drawn from a wide-ranging selection of elective options in many different disciplines relevant to the human services field.

The program uses workplace-based projects and assignments to help students integrate and apply classroom learning in practice.

Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Vancouver Island University diploma. Completion of the program also earns credit towards VIU's Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care degrees.

Students may also complete courses towards the diploma at the Cowichan campus.

Are you passionate about the outdoors, and see yourself in a future career protecting Canada’s rich natural environment and wildlife? The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection at VIU is for environmental stewards who are ready to turn their passion for nature conservation, nature protection and natural resource management into a career.
The program is the only one of its kind in British Columbia, and offers small classes and expert instruction. Students benefit from experiential learning in a four-month practicum in the industry.
Graduates find jobs in a wide range of career paths such as wildlife biology and management, wildlife conservationist, range management, conservation officers, teaching, forestry, interpretation and guiding.

The Natural Resource Management Program
The degree program builds on the existing two-year Resource Management Officer Technology (RMOT) diploma program. The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection will enable RMOT diploma graduates to receive an undergraduate degree after an additional two years of course work. This degree has been designed to provide an advanced credential for other career opportunities in the natural resource conservation and protection field.
VIU is the only academic institution in BC to offer this specialized degree, and only one of two to offer a comparable degree in Western Canada. In addition to advanced courses in natural resource management and law enforcement, there is a four month field practicum in the fall of fourth year. In this practicum, students are able to choose an off-campus field placement with either an enforcement or a resource management agency.

The GDPM is an integrated, cohort based program with a specialization in project management. Students will be immersed in the core theories supporting the specialization before demonstrating their knowledge in an integrative Applied Project. Elective courses will advance their understanding in an area of interest.

VIU’s Science degrees build on a strong record of undergraduate education, dating back to 1969. Graduates of VIU have gone on to graduate schools and professional schools at major universities, while others have used their degree to enter successful careers.

A degree in the sciences is both valuable in itself and as a foundation for a wide variety of careers. The science degrees at VIU provide a sound preparation for both employment and further education. Students who may be interested in graduate studies may need to write a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and may need to complete courses that are considered options for their B.Sc. Students are advised to consult graduate school calendars for specific entrance requirements and to discuss their plans for graduate study with their degree advisor.

Certified Educational Assistants make a difference in the lives of people with special needs so they can have every opportunity to participate fully in our society, and access education and services that allow them to live to their fullest potential. VIU’s Education Assistant and Community Support program will get you ready for a rewarding career working with people of all ages who have mental, physical and emotional challenges.

This eight-month educational assistants’ certificate program prepares graduates for work in public and private schools, and in community and residential programs for people with disabilities. Students can study full- or part-time, and benefit from hands-on training with experienced instructors who care about your success.

The Community Support and Education Assistant Program
Note:- The Education Assistant and Community Support Certificate program was formerly called the School and Community Support Worker Certificate program.

This program includes both theoretical studies and practical applications for working with people who have disabilities, across the life span. The core and specialty courses provide students with the skills and knowledge to work in schools and community. The program is offered with courses rotated.

Acceptance into the program does not mean that students will be placed into a practicum. Students will be individually assessed as to their readiness for the practicums in terms of skills, knowledge and personal suitability. Placement into a practicum will be at the discretion of the program Chair.

Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Vancouver Island University certificate. This certificate may ladder into other Human Services diplomas and degrees.

This program is designed to prepare students for a career as a computer programmer/programmer analyst. The program emphasizes programming skills, program design techniques as well as database and systems analysis skills. The program includes electives, and recommends students take business courses that will be of use in the computing industry. The program is designed in accordance with the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) accreditation standards.
Students who complete the diploma program will be able to complete VIU’s Bachelor of Science, Major in Computer Science with an additional two years of full-time study.

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.

Hone your critical thinking, legal analysis, project management, communication, conflict mediation, research and analysis skills with VIU’s Criminology program.

Criminology is an exciting, dynamic field of study that looks at the social and psychological factors that contribute to criminally deviant behaviour and its consequences. Students interested in current events, psychology and social justice will find their stride with our degree in Criminology.

Criminology studies grads are attracted to a range of careers in the criminal justice system, with Crown corporations and in the private sector, such as bailiff, correctional officer, court reporter, criminal investigator, legal assistant, parole officer, police officer, research, victim services specialist, and many more. Check out the careers page on the Criminology program website for more options.

In fourth year, Criminology Majors have the option of either conducting an applied research project or participating in a field placement.

The Criminology (BA) Program
Criminology is an interdisciplinary science that focuses on law and its interpretation by the courts, patterns in crime, the explanation of deviant and criminal behaviour, and society’s reaction to law-breaking. The program introduces students to criminal law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and case-law decisions made by the courts. Students will examine in separate courses the three main components of the criminal justice system—police, courts, and corrections—that form an organized response to crime. The program addresses the trends and correlates of crime, including the influences of age, ethnicity, gender, and social class. The major explanations for crime try to account for these patterns by looking at historical, individual, and social causes. The criminological focus is broadened with courses from other disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities. 

The program aims to provide students with conceptual, critical, and applied skills to work in fields where a legal/justice focus is beneficial. The curriculum emphasizes the development of professional and applied skills through training in professional ethics, conflict mediation, use of information technology for researching relevant topics, writing, presenting data, and working in small groups on specific tasks. In the fourth year, Criminology Majors have the option of either conducting an applied research project or participating in a field placement.

Although the core of the curriculum is centred on justice-related issues, students will find the degree program applies equally to areas in the private sector where research competence, project management, legal analysis, and communication skills are essential.

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.

Do you want to design and shape the world around you? Consider the Master of Community Planning degree at Vancouver Island University. Community planners play a huge role in the development of neighbourhoods, towns, cities and regions. An urban planner can also help shape a community’s response to a range of emerging issues such as climate change; and economic issues such as tourism by creating a sustainable city also known as ecocity.

The MCP program at VIU combines research, applied learning through a variety of in-community, real-world projects, and interactions with the professional planning community to give you a wide range of skills and knowledge. This community planning program is fully accredited through the Canadian Institute of Planners, alongside Canada’s historic planning schools.

The Master of Community Planning (MCP) Program:-
The Master of Community Planning (MCP) is an applied program that is fully accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). Graduates are eligible to apply for student membership with CIP while at VIU and can apply for full membership post-graduation.

The program focuses on:-

• Small city and town planning;
• Community and urban design, including a strong GIS component;
• Rural/urban interface planning;
• First Nations planning (with attention to the issues relevant to the First Nations of Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia);
• Sustainable economic issues, including tourism; and
• Emerging issues such as climate change and planning for post-fossil fuel communities.

This is an intensive program with many opportunities to apply the skills and techniques learned in the program to "real life" planning questions and problems. Students will be engaged in self-directed learning and group studies, seminars and discussions, and will have many opportunities to meet and learn from professional planners. There is also a strong focus on urban design and visual representations of community planning, including GIS.
By program completion, our graduates will have a broad interdisciplinary knowledge of how planners can influence the futures of neighbourhoods, small communities, and rural areas both locally and world-wide. Our graduates will have new skills that will enable them to serve citizens and communities as they respond the social, economic, environmental, and sustainability issues that shape our world.]