Note to colleges/institutes considering affiliation: we welcome your inquiry. All types - government, independent - will be considered. For past and some present worldwide consortium members, see the varous editions of the Canadian Government National Guide to College and University Programmes | Whetham College (1893) VIPS / PtRI (1970) New Summits University College (1983) Whistler College ~ Institute | International House IHB is a residence for students and visiting scholars. | BC Montessori Teachers College affiliated schools |
These are high-quality programs, sometimes specially-structured and contracted for by an employer - the structure and content of the student's program then reflecting the employer's specific need. In addition to their locations-based studies, degree candidates register for the appropriate subject (discipline / major) and degree in our aggregate-learning degree sequence (see A98 / E98 at our website Table of Contents ). Registration in our degree context is preferably done after at least one year of postsecondary study (second language studies accepted), or 2.5 years of working experience after secondary schooling; or, conversely, after completing additional work following that done in a program described below. Thus all degree candidates - in the context of the following programs - will secure at least an associate degree (an aggregation of two academic-equivalent years).
Depending upon the cumulative in-transfer academic credit standing of the student, participants will graduate with the associate or bachelor or master degree. [And more rarely, a candidate with appropriate background may be accepted into a UK-style doctoral program based on research and a dissertation, rather than course work]. Our management (international business) students are usually at the higher end of the degree spectrum. Some in the Backcountry Recreation/Environment and ECE programs may enter with strong work experience but less academic background.
Depending - again - upon previous learning and amount of transferred-in credit, the average stay "on location" ranges from six to sixteen months. Program delivery is by a combination of two or more of mentoring (both direct and electronic), seminars, courses, tutorials and experiential learning. Appropriate workplace-based / experiential learning credit is encouraged, as reflecting the guidelines of the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendations Service to which we subscribe.
Primary fees (basic or "envelope" fees) are as listed in the aggegate-learning application form. These cover registration, program-continuous mentoring, and graduating parchment and transcript. All additional charges (secondary fees) for courses, field-expeditions etc - at the constituent, collaborating, or other relevant institutions - are remitted directly to the provider(s) of same. Depending upon the in-transferred credit standing and other circumstances of the candidate, aggregate costs (primary and others) for a FTE (full-time or full-time equivalent) academic year may vary widely. For current on-locations course costs, inquire at 604-689-0905 and to the relevant collaborating institutes.
International students are warmly accepted. (Note, however, that for Whetham College's Management studies, only contracted cohorts are recruited - not individual students). Vancouver University Worldwide has been authorized since l983 for Canada student visa purposes [Canada Immigration 5133-XY-71652]. For American citizens studying in our BC-located programs, it is only necessary at the border to show the admission letter and some evidence of finances. Conversely, by Letter of Agreement issued in 1990 by the US Consulate at Vancouver BC (G. Sutton, then Consul), following deliberations with the US INS (A.Hattery, now a Blaine WA-based consultant), we have had long-standing experience of our appropriate Canadian and international students being granted entry to the US to attend collaborating courses and field expeditions there, for up to one semester duration, on simple B2 rather than more complicated-process F visas.
LANGUAGE DEGREE PROGRAMS (NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE) - Click to another document.
MANAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS: These Vancouver BC area programs (with some visits to Washington State businesses) are conducted in full Information Technology (e-business) context by Whetham College and Vancouver Institute of Business and Technology. Constituent college Whetham does not recruit individual students into its program. Cohorts are instead contracted by a client corporation or other institution. The client stipulates the intended diploma or degree context - usually the MBA. (The Harvard Business School and Wiley Portable MBA series are basic texts in the MBA core curriculum). The client may also contract a particular focus - such as requiring extensive use of multi-media communication, or learning how sophisticated firms in medium-size and smaller-communities - like Vancouver BC and Bellingham WA - manage to succeed in international markets. [Circa 1989, the Whetham program had the largest concentration of Chinese university graduates on any campus in North America]. VIBT and other member colleges accept individual students into Management programs.
COMPUTER IT / MULTI-MEDIA: Computer-based information technology programs are conducted in Greater Vancouver BC at CDIS, VIBT, and VTI (VSB)
. These courses and programs are granted full transfer credit into our aggregate-learning ('external') degrees in General Studies, Arts, Technology, or Applied Science.MONTESSORI AND ECE EDUCATION: This is regularly conducted in or near Vancouver BC, and in the past has intermittently been conducted in nearby Whatcom County WA. Along with their Vancouver University / BC Montessori Teachers College credential attainment - associate to to master degree, as appropriate - graduates are prepared for BC ECE licencing - with broad acceptance in BC, WA and other jurisdictions. Graduates of the Montessori elementary teacher stream are widely accepted by independent schools and public schoolboards with Montessori programs. Our Montessori elementary teacher programs are supplementary to regular teaching certificates. See further information provided in document E98.[Note that for BC ECE licencing, after completing your ECE courses and practicums there is a further requirement of 500 hours of internship and a criminal record clearance]. All program courses receive credit in our appropriate-level aggregate-learning ('external') degree.
BACKCOUNTRY RECREATION, ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP (BREL) - including environment field studies, water and alpine skills (formerly abbreviated as BREFAS). In this program, pioneered by Vancouver University and lauded as runner-up in the AAUA's 1997 Khaladjan Award competition for Innovation in Higher Education (winner NY State U), transfer credit is granted towards our aggregate-learning (external) degrees for field courses and expeditions conducted by member colleges like Canadian Tourism College's Adventure Tourism Program (BC), or recommended institutes - Jasper Institute (AB), North Cascades Institute (WA), American Alpine Institute (WA), etc - and programs accredited by the AEE.
In BREL, the candidate aggregates field studies done at one institute, along with other field studies done at one or more other institutes, as well as more conventional arts and science courses. Thus, 30 semester credits accumulated in environmental field-learning, and 30 semester credits accumulated in alpine skills learning, aggregates into a Vancouver University Worldwide associate degree. Or a candidate may focus more heavily on one of the two emphases. 90 semester hours of credit accumulation secures the licentiate; 120 the bachelor; and 150 plus thesis, the master degree.
Depending upon past experience of the candidate, one or two summers in the field are usually needed, along with some field-based and other studies (on-line courses etc) in winter. Summer residence at International House [and access to Outdoor Life channel] facilitates program participation - but are not requirements. For three decades, an introductory field experience ('Point Excelsior College Knowledge' - PECK) has been conducted each Summer near Mount Baker, NW Washington. All such field courses receive credit towards our appropriate-level aggregate-learning (external) degree. For informal PECK group visit dates, contact the BREL program at Vancouver BC. .
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