Diploma in Liberal Arts

at Yukon University - Whitehorse Campus Canada

The Liberal Arts programs are designed for students wishing to transfer to a university degree or related program such as:

• Arts
• Communications
• Education
• Educational or Clinical Psychology
• Environmental Policy and Management
• Literature and Letters
• Public History and Writing
• Public Policy and Research
• Recreation
• Social Services
• Social Work
• Tourism

Both Liberal Arts programs reflect the belief that degree-bound students ought to acquire solid critical thinking, research and communication skills through introductory study in a variety of social science and humanities disciplines. They also present an ideal opportunity for continuing education or for exploring various educational and career paths.

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.

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.

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.

Geological technology programs in Canada have produced a class of highly-skilled workers whose knowledge base reflects an integral balance between classroom learning and practical skills.

The strong background in the physical sciences will enable students to succeed in an increasingly technical discipline, while the comprehensive introduction to field and laboratory techniques equips students with the practical skills needed to work efficiently in remote and industrial settings.

Program Pathways and Duration

The full Geological Technology diploma program consists of 29 courses delivered over regular academic semesters, plus 3 block field courses taught outside of the normal semester schedule. There are both two-year and three-year pathways through the diploma program to help match students’ timelines, schedules, and academic preparation.

• Standard Pathway (2-year completion; 4 semesters)
• Extended Pathway (3-year completion; 6 semesters)
• Extended Pathway with GeoTech Bridging Program (3-year completion, 6 semesters)

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. 

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 College 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 program presents an ideal continuing education opportunity and is useful for those seeking entry-level employment in justice related fields.

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.

The Northern Science diploma, ENCS stream, prepares students for transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ENCS) program, offered at Yukon University in partnership with the University of Alberta. The diploma program provides two years of university transferable courses that fulfill the requirements to enter the third year of the ENCS program with a Major in Northern Systems.

The Diploma of Northern Science, ENCS stream, is awarded for the completion of the equivalent of 60 credits. Courses are selected from Core and Elective options, as well as two additional three-credit "free electives".  These free electives can be chosen from a variety of disciplines (discuss with a Program Advisor).

Open up the world of media, design and communication. In Multimedia Communication, students will strengthen communication skills while building a strong foundation in design and software literacy.

Learn to use a variety of industry standard creative software (Adobe Creative Cloud and others) to effectively engage an audience. Whether students are just entering the field or wanting to enhance existing professional skills, this program has something for everyone.