Certificate In Science

at Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Canada

Criminology is the multidisciplinary study of crime, criminal behaviour, and social reactions to crime and criminal behaviour.

The northern justice emphasis of criminology means that southern-based criminology courses are "northernized" and "regionalized" through integration of relevant course content and the assignment of coursework to better reflect the environment in which northerners live, work and study.

The certificate option is designed for those students who do not intend to transfer directly to a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) degree program but are interested in taking criminology courses to increase their knowledge of this field of study.

The diploma is fashioned to meet the Yukon University Northern Studies requirements as well as the first- and second-year university transfer requirements to a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) degree program at major Canadian universities.

The Culinary Arts program is designed to meet the need for qualified cooks in the hospitality industry. The program provides professional cook training in a practical, hands-on learning environment achieved through our commercial kitchen.

Students will rotate through a variety of stations in the kitchen. Each station has a different culinary focus. Students will also participate in a variety of caterings, banquets and community events, all of which broaden and enhance the student experience.

Apprenticeship Level I and Level II Cooks Exam
Culinary Arts students must write and pass the Apprenticeship Level I exam early in the second term followed by the Level II Cooks exam towards the end of the second term. (Students must pass the Level I exam to be eligible to write the Level II Cooks exam.)

Students who successfully complete the program, and pass the Level I exam may be eligible for up to 1,040 hours time credit towards a Cook Apprenticeship program. This time credit is based upon the recommendation of the employer who is signatory to the initial Apprenticeship Agreement.

Students who pass the Cook Apprenticeship Level exam(s) would be exempt from attending that level of apprenticeship in-school training.

Renewable resources include the living portions of the natural world such as plants and animals as well as non-living resources such as air and water. Managing these resources so they are sustainable for future generations is a critical mission. Achieving this task involves a balancing act so that we can meet society’s present needs without harming the resource base for the future.

Students receive a Diploma of Renewable Resources Management (RRMT) after successfully completing a total of 22 academic courses over a two-year period as well as non-credit courses in Winter Travel and Survival, Wilderness First Aid and Firearms Safety. Most of these courses are delivered in a classroom setting with an emphasis on practical techniques acquired during mandatory labs, short field trips and three separate 10-day field courses.

Team and individual projects, discussions and presentations are important aspects of program delivery. Practising managers from the community frequently assist with the teaching.

Students take a set of core courses in first year that develop competencies in areas such as:

    data collection
    oral and written communication
    computer use
    mapping
    basic biology

Two field courses between first and second year offer the chance to gain field experience, while many of the second year courses emphasize practical management aspects and give students the opportunity to choose from a series of electives.

Instruction reflects the cultural, political and employment realities in Yukon—particularly those associated with the implementation of land claim settlements—but program content is of wide application and graduates have found employment across Canada.

Our goal is to provide the knowledge, skills and perspectives to enable graduates to assist with the management of land, water, forest, fish and wildlife resources in the North; and to prepare students for transfer to degree level programs in fields related to renewable resource management.

Northern First Nations Studies is an interdisciplinary program in which students learn about the history, cultures and accomplishments, as well as the social, political and national concerns of First Nations and other Indigenous peoples of the Yukon, the Canadian North and the Circumpolar World.

Earth science literacy is critical to meet the needs of modern society. The study of the Earth is focused not only on the rocks and minerals that make up solid Earth but also on the interaction of these materials with other earth systems. An understanding of Earth’s evolution through time allows earth scientists to interpret present-day conditions on our planet and predict how they will change in the future; these changes will affect both human societies and the natural environment.

Earth scientists are stewards of the planet’s mineral, energy and water resources. They must also be problem solvers, as Earth’s natural resources are currently threatened by climate change, overconsumption and natural disasters. In the North, we live in a complex landscape where earth scientists must address the legacy of contaminated sites, support sustainable resource discovery and extraction, and grapple with a rapidly changing environment.

Students completing the two-year program will receive a diploma in Earth Sciences and be eligible for transfer into upper-level standing in many Canadian B.Sc. geoscience degree programs. A block transfer agreement between Yukon University and Vancouver Island University (VIU) allows Earth Science program graduates to easily transfer between institutions and directly apply all completed courses towards completion of a B.Sc. in geoscience from VIU's Department of Earth Science. 

Our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) aims to create business leaders who will increase prosperity where they live and work.?Many northern rural and remote areas of Canada and the world are well positioned to expand, develop and provide rich and rewarding places to live and work.?This degree is created for those interested in making a difference in these places.?Students will be exposed to values, knowledge and skills that prepare them to work well and collaboratively within the business and governance context of the North.?

This BBA is distinctive in that it has been created from a de-colonial perspective.? The curriculum is rooted in the context of our unique identity and circumstances that are common to much of the world.? Our identity is closely tied to the land and wilderness, and to First Nations’ traditions and cultures. However, many of the circumstances that define us are not unique to Yukon; low population densities, vast distances and remoteness, higher costs, and operating environments that often require people to work independently while fulfilling broad roles are common beyond urban centres.?

The programs balance the academic rigor necessary for baccalaureate-level training while fostering communal growth through experiential learning and creating a supportive learning community.? Graduates leave prepared to create and sustain prosperity in places and circumstances akin to ours, but wherever they call home. 

Many courses are accessible on a part-time day or evening basis in Whitehorse. Several courses are available in outlying communities through the community campus network or by distance delivery.

Office Administration is a full-time program that prepares graduates for positions in the office administration field.

There are two certificates: Accounting Clerk certificate (offered at Ayamdigut Campus) and Administrative Assistant certificate (offered via Distance Learning or at Ayamdigut Campus), that provide specialized training for accounting and administrative assistant positions respectively. Extensive training in communications, administrative procedures, computer applications and accounting prepares graduates for employment in today’s automated office. Hands-on learning is emphasized.

Students will work (through a field placement) in a local business or government office for one month during the program. Student learning is assisted through lectures, class discussions, group work, assignments, lab sessions and fieldwork.

In collaboration with the University of Alberta (U of A), Yukon University (YukonU) offers years three and four of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ENCS), with a major in Northern Systems. 

The ENCS curriculum offered at YukonU integrates natural and social sciences as related to issues such as:

• Wildlife conservation
• Land use
• Resource management under modern treaties
• Energy
• Global climate change
• Northern and aboriginal studies,
• Local environmental, economic and social context

The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand environmental conditions and evaluate impacts on plants, soils, water and animals. The structure and function of ecosystems are explored as students learn to develop, assess and implement conservation and restoration measures for natural and managed ecosystems.

The Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Governance aims to build northern leadership capacity by providing students with the values, knowledge and skills to work collaboratively within the unique governance landscape of the North.
The program focuses on northern issues, and western and Indigenous worldviews. Using an Indigenous lens, students will analyze the evolution of Indigenous self-determination and self-government in Canada and internationally, with a focus on current and past legislation and policy.
A capstone project will focus on the task of integrating theoretical knowledge of policy, governance and self-determination with practical methods in an applied and northern context.

Northern Studies is ideal for individuals, students or practitioners, who wish to expand and/or formalize their knowledge of the North and its social, political and physical features and issues.

The program's flexibility -- with a limited number of required courses -- allows it to be self-directed and multidisciplinary. This makes it a fabulous opportunity for anyone wishing to pursue personal or professional interests in the North and the Circumpolar world, because it enables individually tailored study plans to suit specific needs.

Previous college or university study is a step up to a Northern Studies Diploma. Those with a Yukon College Liberal Arts Certificate (or equivalent) or a previous degree can achieve a post-certificate or post-degree diploma in only one year of full-time study. The diploma includes options for independent and multidisciplinary reading, study and research in a variety of social science and humanities fields.