The Social Sciences Certificate is the equivalent of one year of planned coursework. By taking a planned combination of courses, students may complete a full year of university-level courses and then transfer to a number of degree programs in Social Sciences offered at universities or other receiving institutions.
The information on this program page is a summary of the official Program Information and Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council, effective September 2025.PDFnew window (Download a PDF of the current Program Completion GuidePDFnew window)
Career Prospects
The Certificate prepares students for continued Bachelor level studies at universities or other receiving institutions, continued studies in specific programs at NLC, continued studies in professional programs, or entry-level employment opportunities.
Transfer arrangements exist with universities, colleges and institutes throughout British Columbia. See the BC Transfer Guidenew window. Course transfer beyond British Columbia is determined on a case-by-case basis. NLC students are responsible for confirming admission requirements, application procedures, transfer credit, and graduation requirements at all receiving institutions.
Details
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chetwynd* | Fall | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window |
| Winter | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Spring | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Dawson Creek | Fall | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window |
| Winter | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Spring | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Fort Nelson* | Fall | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window |
| Winter | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Spring | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Fort St John | Fall | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window |
| Winter | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Spring | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Online | Fall | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window |
| Winter | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window | |
| Spring | Full-Timenew window, Part-Timenew window |
* requires a mix of online and video-conferencenew window courses, not all courses are available at each campus
Length
30 credits (450 hours), minimum.
This is a one year program taken over two 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 | $ 3,653.03 | $ 152.76 | $ 0.00 | $ 3,805.79 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 11,580.00 | $ 149.76 | $ 0.00 | $ 828.00 | $ 12,557.76 |
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.caemail if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.caemail if you are outside of Canada
- academic-chair@nlc.bc.caemail if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
A. Domestic students and students from countries that practice Standard Written English (see Appendix APDFnew window) must have official transcripts demonstrating that they have met the English Requirements: One of the following with a “C” grade or higher: English 12 or English Literature 12 or English First Peoples 12, ENGL 050, or ENGL 099. Alternatively, any university-level English course with a “C” grade or higher. Students who do not meet one of the above English requirements must complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement.
B. International students who do not meet the requirement A. above, and domestic students who received their secondary education in French or another language, must show that they have met the NLC English requirement: see Appendix A (General Academic English Language Proficiency Requirements)PDFnew window
Note that some course options have specific prerequisites. Meeting the program entrance requirements does not ensure course prerequisites have been met for all available courses
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans for domestic students. Visit StudentAidBCnew window to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- 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 Guidenew window.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of all coursework must be completed at Northern Lights College; note that a minimum 60% or ‘C’ grade (60%) is required for courses to be considered for transfer into this program. The age of the course will also be considered in course transfer. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | 2.00 program Grade Point Average (GPA); minimum D grade (50%) in all courses |
*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.
English Courses
All of:
- ENGL 100 – Academic Writing (3.0 credits)
- One baccalaureate level English course Minimum credits: 3.0
Social Science Courses
All of:
- Six Social Sciencesnew window courses (Minimum 18.0 credits)
Open Electives
All of:
- Two baccalaureate level open electives from the Humanitiesnew window, Social Sciencesnew window, Laboratory Sciencesnew window, or Other Sciencesnew window (Minimum 6.0 credits)
Credential
Certificate in Social Sciences