BC's Indigenous Public Post-Secondary Institute

Aboriginal Community & Health Development Certificate

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Current Course Offerings

Department: Career Training (Human Services)
Program Delivery Location: Community Based
Credential: Certificate
Format: Full-Time, Part-Time

Aboriginal Community & Health Development Certificate

Aboriginal Community and Health Development certificate is awarded to recognize the successful completion of the equivalent of one year of study. It requires 30 credits as prescribed below. An overall minimum GPA of 2.33 is required. For more information, please contact Chelsea Vaughan at cvaughan@nvit.bc.ca or toll free at 1-877-682-3300.

Aboriginal Community and Health Certificate

ACHD-120 - Developing Community Leadership

ACHD-122 - Basic Counselling in the Health Field

ACHD-123 - Traditional Health and Wellness Practice

ACHD-125 - Community Health and Development

ACHD-126 - Self, Health, and Wellness

ACHD-127 - Health Care Policies

ACHD-129 - Introduction to Aboriginal Family & Counseling Systems

BUSM-200 - Finite Mathematics

ENGL-110 - English Composition

PSYC-111 - Introduction to Psychology I

STSC-101 - Strategies for Success

Course Listing for this program

ACHD-120 - Credits: 3.000
Developing Community Leadership
Students will investigate challenges faced by Aboriginal communities in the areas of social, political, cultural, economics, educational and health. Community and group dynamics will be examined through an analysis of issues in the current community systems. Students will have the opportunity to undertake a community needs assessment with an emphasis on health as an interactive assignment with an Aboriginal community. Students will gain an understanding of Aboriginal community systems, their challenges and strengths, and what is needed to develop communities from a holistic perspective that will contribute to the health and wellness of families and to the community as a whole. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and residential schools, including the many forms of abuse, on their own family systems. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program admission or permission from the Dean

ACHD-122 - Credits: 3.000
Basic Counselling in the Health Field
This course provides students with an introduction to basic counselling skills, and processes and core conditions associated with effective counselling practice. Focus will be on skills that promote an understanding of the counselling relationship as it relates to health and wellness. Students will be prepared to deliver counselling services to people inside and outside a health care setting. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of communication in establishing and maintaining effective helping relationships that consists of rapport building, effective listening skills, and appropriate feedback in the helping process. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and residential schools, including the many forms of abuse, on their own family systems. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program admission or permission from the Dean

ACHD-123 - Credits: 3.000
Traditional Health and Wellness Practice
This course will provide students with a historical context of colonization and residential schools. Students will examine the historical and current impacts of colonial policies on Aboriginal families and communities. This will lead into examining traditional practices of Aboriginal people and identifying those that will continue to be incorporated into creating health and wellness. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and residential schools, including the many forms of abuse, on their own family systems. Students will also explore the impact on their community systems and then examine how traditional methods of healing can be incorporated into practice, not only personally, but also professionally, as health workers. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program admission or permission of the Dean

ACHD-125 - Credits: 3.000
Community Health and Development
This course is an introduction to the study of Aboriginal community and health development. Students will examine the process of colonialism and systemic factors that influence Aboriginal health and well-being. The interaction between the individual, family and community as it influences health and development of Aboriginal communities will be studied within a holistic framework. Students will learn positive ways of analyzing historical experiences through the use of the wellness wheel and geneograms. Students will study cultural and traditional ethics and practice for healthy communication. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and residential schools, including the many forms of abuse, on their own family systems. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program admission or permission of the Dean

ACHD-126 - Credits: 3.000
Self, Health, and Wellness
This course focuses on personal care and individual responsibility for the practice of basic stress management as it relates to service delivery. Emphasis is placed on understanding balancing of professional and personal lives. Students explore the concept of a collective learning format, which recognizes the importance of traditional Aboriginal values in the healing process. The theory and practice of the medicine wheel for health and healing and exploring mind/body/spirit connection to illness and wellness is compared with contemporary methods of self-care. Ethical issues associated with self-care and practice are explored. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in Residential Schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to explore the impacts of colonization and Residential Schools, including the many forms of abuse, on their own family systems. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program admission or permission from the Department Head

ACHD-127 - Credits: 3.000
Health Care Policies
In this course, students will be introduced to health care policies with an emphasis on BC and Canadian legislation and policies. As this field continues to change and develop rapidly, ideological influences and the importance of gender, class and race issues will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on an Aboriginal perspective and Aboriginal health policies and programs in BC and Canada. Students will learn about the historical and legislative impacts on Aboriginals and understand the current approaches being taken by Aboriginals to control their own health programs. There will be opportunity to explore social issues that impact policy, and the impact of oppression on policy. The legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools will be addressed, including intergenerational impacts with the opportunity to learn about legislation and policies affecting health care. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ACHD 122

ACHD-129 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Aboriginal Family & Counseling Systems
The purpose of this course is to introduce family and counseling systems theory and practice from an Aboriginal perspective. Students will gain an understanding of the perspectives, theory methods, and practice of western counseling with an emphasis on Aboriginal worldviews, including traditional healing and ceremonies. This course will address the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools, including the intergenerational impacts by providing students with the opportunity to learn counseling techniques both contemporary and traditional that are relevant and specific to survivors and intergenerational family members of residential schools. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: Program admission or permission from the Dean

BUSM-200 - Credits: 3.000
Finite Mathematics
This course is designed to build a mathematical base for persons planning to become involved in administration and/or business management. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the need for business professionals to be able to use mathematics in research, statistics, problem solving and decision-making. This course is designed to expose students to the areas of mathematics that they are likely to require in their future jobs or areas of study. Topics include linear equations, sets and counting, probability, matrices, linear programming and solving financial problems. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / MATH-057 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12; and MATH 057 or Foundations of Math 11; or permission of instructor

ENGL-110 - Credits: 3.000
English Composition
English 110 prepares students to write successful college essays. This course focuses on the writing process. Students will learn how to develop, organize, write, revise, document, and edit essays. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / or English 12 or English Studies 12 and/or English First Peoples 12 or permission of instructor.

PSYC-111 - Credits: 3.000
Introduction to Psychology I
Psychology 111 is a survey course which introduces students to the field of psychology in general. Students will be encouraged to use a critical and inquiring approach to information presented to them, to be open minded, creative and divergent thinkers. More Details on this course
Prerequisites: ENGL 060 / English 12 or English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 .

STSC-101 - Credits: 3.000
Strategies for Success
This course introduces students to higher learning and academic culture. Students will explore a variety of topics that will help them connect to resources that will aid in their student success, including test-taking strategies, note-taking, time management, research, student responsibilities and ethics, learning styles, and setting educational goals that will contribute to lifelong learning. In addition, students will connect with other academic supports like the Librarian and Student Success Centre and have access to Elders who will introduce learners to some Indigenous cultural traditions to help students maintain a healthy balance during their studies. More Details on this course

Current Course Offerings

01 = Merritt Campus
V1 = Burnaby Campus

For information on transferability, please see the BC Council on Admissions and Transferability

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Aboriginal Community & Health Development Certificate