Educational Programs in British Columbia

Technical communications courses — on-campus and online — are offered by academic institutions in British Columbia, across Canada and the US, and around the world. We don’t endorse any particular program or school, but our members do include recent graduates of some of the programs listed here. You can meet them at chapter events and ask them about their experiences.

Here’s a select listing, along with contact information.

On-campus 

British Columbia Institute of Technology, Vancouver and Burnaby
Technical Writing (Associate Certificate)
12 courses
(604) 434-1610

This is a part-time evening program with classes taking place primarily at the Vancouver, Downtown campus. Two courses are offered online. Core focus areas include editing, document management, vector graphics, visual communication, single-sourcing, and writing for the computer industry and the web. Students also learn to write process descriptions, instructions, and online help systems. In the final course, students participate in an industry-sponsored project under faculty supervision.

Vancouver Community College, Downtown Campus, Vancouver
Business and Technical Writing (Certificate)
Nine one-day courses
Program Coordinator: Joy Dalla-Tina, VCC Leadership, (604) 443-8671
Program Assistant: Dorothy Giroux, VCC Leadership, (604) 443-8383

This is a part-time program with single-day classes starting on an ongoing basis. Courses include editing, document project management, proposal writing, online documentation, designing and writing manuals, and industry report writing. Course assignments are designed to help students build a professional portfolio. The certificate can be completed in four months.

Douglas College, New Westminster
Professional Communication (Post-Undergraduate Diploma)
10 courses (30 credits)
Program coordinator: Maureen Nicholson, nicholsonm@douglascollege.ca, (604) 527-5292

This program teaches a variety of writing, including web, public relations, research report, proposal, magazine, and trade publication. Students also develop a professional portfolio, and participate in a professional experience where they may work in a communication role for an employer or complete a communication project for a client.

Royal Roads University, Victoria
Professional Communication (Bachelor of Arts)
60 credits
(877) 778-6227

Focus areas include digital and visual communication methods, writing for business and the government, writing for the media, and a multimedia project. This is an undergraduate completion degree, years three and four, for students who have completed two years of post-secondary education at a university, or have relevant work experience. The program is delivered in two formats: a 12-month on-campus model (combines years three and four into an intensive 12 months), and a 24-month blended model (incorporates online learning with two short on-campus residencies).

University of Victoria, Victoria
Professional Writing Minor (in combination with an undergraduate major)
10.5 units
Director of Professional Writing Minor: Lee Henderson, prowriting@uvic.ca,
(250) 721-7309

Students completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria can obtain a minor in professional writing while completing their major by taking a combination of courses offered by the Department of Writing. Courses include journalism, media studies, electronic publishing, and creative nonfiction. Students may also gain paid work experience by participating in the optional Humanities, Fine Arts and Professional Writing Co-op program.

Online 

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby
Technical Communication (Certificate)
11 courses
(778) 782-8000

This part-time certificate is offered entirely online. Students develop skills in core technical writing competencies include editing, research analysis, information design, indexing, documentation project management, online documentation, and desktop publishing. For the final project, students create a portfolio-quality document.

Educational Programs Across Canada

Algonquin College, Ontario
Technical Writer (Ontario College Graduate Certificate)
13 courses
(613) 727-4723 ext. 7310

Students learn to create a variety of documents found in the workplace such as proposals, white papers, user guides, training material, and instruction sets. For their unpaid practicum, students complete a technical documentation project with a sponsoring organization. The program may be taken full-time or part-time and must be completed within four years.

Dalhousie University College of Continuing Education, Nova Scotia
Technical Writing (Certificate)
Four courses
(902) 494-6079

The courses include one core class and three electives.

Humber College, Ontario
Technical Writing (Certificate)
Six courses
(416) 675-6622 ext. 4139 or 4159

The program consists of four compulsory courses and two electives. The elective, Creating Video Demonstrations, teaches students to work with video and create product demonstrations. Students learn to make screen recordings, narration, build exercises, test retention, publish the demonstration, and get user feedback using industry standard software.

Mount Royal University, Alberta
Technical Writing (Extension Certificate)
10 required courses plus 22.5 hours of optional courses
(403) 440-6013

All required courses are offered online. Some optional courses are not available online.

University of Calgary, Alberta
Professional Writing specializing in Business and Technical Writing (Certificate)
Seven courses
(403) 220-2866

Optional courses include science writing, proposals for grants, and publishing and promoting material.