NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree (Health Studies) prepares students for entry into health-related degree programs, with an emphasis on the University of Northern British Columbia’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program. The two-year Associate Degree (Health Studies) provides broad coverage across the Arts and Sciences while introducing students to nursing as a career and meeting UNBC’s core prerequisite requirements in the social sciences, English, Indigenous studies, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, psychology, and statistics.
Students who complete NLC’s Associate of Arts Degree (Health Studies) with UNBC’s grade requirements have an optimal transfer pathway into the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program and will be included among NLC students who have first claim to a designated number of seats each year. The partnership between NLC and UNBC enables prospective Registered Nurses to complete their post-secondary education in the north, for employment in the north.
Career Prospects
Students who proceed to complete UNBC’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program will become eligible to apply for licensure as Registered Nurses. Working collaboratively on interprofessional health-care teams, Registered Nurses are typically employed in acute care, residential care, mental health, public health, and community settings.
Details
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dawson Creek* | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Fort St John** | Fall | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Winter | Full-Time, Part-Time | |
| Spring | Full-Time, Part-Time |
* All Dawson Creek students must travel to Fort St John for the lab components of BIOL 111 and BIOL 112.
** All Fort St John student must travel to Dawson Creek for the lab component of BIOL 105.
Length
62 credits (1102.5 hours), minimum.
This is a two year program taken over four semesters with minimum of 15 credits per semester. Part-time studies will take longer.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Academic
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 4,018.33 | $ 156.43 | $ 105.75 | $ 4,280.51 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 3,601.88 | $ 154.56 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,756.44 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 12,738.00 | $ 153.36 | $ 103.68 | $ 828.00 | $ 13,823.04 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 11,890.00 | $ 151.53 | $ 103.68 | $ 828.00 | $ 12,973.21 |
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
- academic-chair@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
High School Graduation Requirement
- High school graduation (grade 12) or equivalent
English Requirement
For domestic applicants who received their secondary education in English, one of the following:
- English 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- English Studies 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- English Literature 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- English First Peoples 12 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 050 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- ENGL 099 with a grade of B or higher, or equivalent
- Any university-level English course with a grade of C or higher
- NLC Writing Assessment with placement at the college level (100)
For all other applicants, one of the following:
- IELTS result with an overall score of 7.0 or higher with minimum band scores: Speaking: 7.0; Listening: 7.5; Reading: 6.5; Writing: 7.0
- Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of: Speaking: 08; Listening: 10; Reading: 08; Writing: 07
Math Requirement
One of the following:
- Foundations of Mathematics 11 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent
- Principles of Mathematics 11 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent
- Pre-calculus 11 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent
- MATH 040 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent
Biology Requirement
One of the following:
- Biology 12 with a B grade or higher, or equivalent
- Anatomy and Physiology 12 with a B grade or higher, or equivalent
- BIOL 050 with a B grade or higher, or equivalent
- BIOL 101 with a B grade or higher, or equivalent within five years of program start date
Chemistry Requirement
One of the following:
- Chemistry 11 with a B grade or higher
- CHEM 040 with a B grade or higher within five years of program start date
Chemistry 12 or CHEM 050 is strongly recommended.
Post-Admission Requirements
Within six weeks of the program start date, students must submit:
- A clearance letter from the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP), for a Schedule “B” Criminal Record Check (CRC), WORKS WITH Children and Vulnerable Adults. For information and regulations, see Criminal Records Checks
- Required immunizations (will be specified upon admission)
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit StudentAidBCto apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- Students are required to have a computer (laptop or other mobile device) with minimum computer requirements, a medical uniform or nursing scrubs, and WCB-approved safety/nursing shoes,
- Course transfer agreements allow students to receive course-by-course transfer to other colleges, universities, and institutes in BC, as indicated in the BC Transfer Guide.
- Transfer agreements allow graduates to receive:
- First claim to a designated number of seats in the University of Northern British Columbia’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program.
- Preferential treatment to students continuing to complete a baccalaureate degree and transferring with an Associate Degree in BC.
- This program has a affiliation/partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia and Northern Health.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); D grade (50%) minimum in all courses* |
| Additional Requirements | Program must be completed within four years of admission |
*Please note the following semester break down is based on a student beginning their program in the Fall semester. Students starting in other semesters should consult with the course catalogue in Borealis and with a Program Advisor when selecting courses.
Semester One
All of:
- BIOL 111 – Anatomy and Physiology I (4.0 credits) *
- ENGL 100 – Academic Writing (3.0 credits) *
- MATH 104 – Introduction to Statistics (3.0 credits) *
- PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology I (3.0 credits) *
And one of:
- PHIL 111 – Contemporary Moral Issues (3.0 credits)
- WGST 100 – Women and Gender Studies (3.0 credits)
Semester Two
All of:
- ANTH 102 – Cultural and Social Anthropology II (3.0 credits) *
- BIOL 112 – Anatomy and Physiology II (4.0 credits) *
- HSCI 100 – Introduction to Health Sciences (4.0 credits)
And one of:
- ENGL 105 – Nonfictional Prose (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 111 – Poetry and Drama (3.0 credits)
- ENGL 112 – Prose Fiction (3.0 credits)
And one of:
- PSYC 102 – Introduction to Psychology II (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 101 – Introduction to Sociology I (3.0 credits)
Semester Three
All of:
- ANTH 203 – Contemporary Canadian Native Peoples (3.0 credits) *
- ANTH 204 – Medical Anthropology (3.0 credits)
- HADM 310 – Organizational Structure of the Canadian Health Care System (3.0 credits)
- HADM 311 – Professional Nursing Seminar (1.0 credits)
- Elective transferable to UNBC at the 200-Level Minimum credits: 3.0
Semester Four
All of:
- BIOL 105 – Medical Microbiology (4.0 credits) *
- Three electives transferable to UNBC at the 200-Level Minimum credits: 9.0
And one of:
- PSYC 235 – Structure and Dynamics of the Family (3.0 credits)
- SOCI 204 – The Family in Canada (3.0 credits)
Notes
* UNBC requires a minimum grade of B- in each of the UNBC core prerequisites.
The minimum admission qualifications for UNBC’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program are higher that this program’s graduation requirements; UNBC requires a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average on all 60 transferable credits. The UNBC School of Nursing reserves the right to select applicants for admission or readmission to the Northern Baccalaureate Program on a competitive basis. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
NLC offers many electives transferable to UNBC at the 200-Level. Subject areas include Archeology, Criminology, Education, English, History, Psychology, Sociology, and Research Methods in the Social Sciences. Please see the program Chairs, UNAS Timetables, and the BC Transfer Guide.
Credential
Associate of Arts Degree (Health Studies)