Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vancouver Island University?
In what order should I take the courses?
How much does the program cost?
What
manuals or course materials do I need to buy?
What software do I need to buy?
What is the workload like?
What is the online classroom like?
How do I get into the online classroom?
What additional fees will I have to
pay?
What
if I need to withdraw from the course?
How was this program developed?
How
does our program compare to other similar Technical
Communication programs?
How can I get credit for previous education and experience?
How do I get my certificate upon program completion?
What is Vancouver Island University?
Vancouver Island University is a publicly-funded and accredited Canadian University with its main campus in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island (formerly Malaspina University-College) has been in existence since 1969 and offers both vocational and credit degree programs in a wide variety of disciplines.
In what order should I take the courses?
A good course to start with (or to take near the beginning of the program) is the Technical Writing Tools course, since it provides students with basic software and computer knowledge that will help them work more efficiently in the rest of the courses in the program.
We also recommend taking the Technical Writing & Editing
course towards the
beginning of the program, since it teaches basic Technical
Writing skills and
provides students with a foundation to
build on throughout the program.
The only courses with prerequisites within the program
are the following
electives (see course descriptions):
- Technical Writing & Editing II (PDTW 002) requires Technical Writing & Editing (PDTW 001).
- E-Portfolio (PDJT 001) requires completion of at least the 5 core courses in the program.
How much does the program cost?
Individual course costs range from $279 to $409 ($349 to $509 for international students), plus a non-refundable application fee. Students also pay a Students’ Union Fee and Activity Fee of approximately $25.
There will also be some costs for manuals (see FAQ below) and perhaps software (see FAQ below), depending on your course selection (particularly depending on which course electives you choose). Software discounts are available to students enrolled in the program.
You should check out individual course links from http://pr.viu.ca/techcomm (individual course links at upper right-hand side of page). Any required manuals or software are listed on the individual course pages. You can also review the FAQs regarding software and manuals for more information.
Total program costs over the two years will be approximately $3200 plus perhaps $50 for course texts and software – again, depending on which course electives you choose. Note that you pay for each course when you register for the course - you do not need to pay for the entire program at one time.
What manuals or course materials do I need to buy?
Most of the materials for the program are provided as part of the online lessons. However, the ‘Handbook of Technical Writing’ (Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, Walter E. Oliu) is strongly recommended for students in the program. As well, a reasonably-priced manual is required for the following courses:
Your instructor may also suggest other resources that would be beneficial for you to have on hand.
What software do I need to buy?
You will not need to purchase any specialized software for the core courses in this program. However, you will need MS Office Pro 2007 or higher for the Technical Writing Tools course. Most of the elective courses have been structured to use free, downloadable trial versions of the software studied. However, depending on which electives you take, you may need to purchase software (see list of courses requiring software below).
You also need to be aware of the computer and system requirements outlined under Technical Requirements.
The following elective courses require the purchase of software:
Discounted software available to students registered in a related Continuing Studies course at Vancouver Island University.
What is the workload like?
The workload varies depending on the course you are taking (as well as the skills you are bringing to that course). On average, you can count on a commitment of about six hours per week per course (three hours in the online classroom, three hours offine for reading and assignments). You will have two years to complete your certificate. A passing grade for each course is 65%.
What is the online classroom like?
Lessons are released each week in the online classroom, usually on Mondays. Lessons are normally released as web pages or pdf files.
Assignments are normally due late on Sunday nights so that you have the weekend to complete your assignments. Other than that, there is no specific schedule for you to go online or interact with other students, so you can work on your course when it suits your individual needs.
The online classroom uses the Moodle Learning Management System, and we provide a free orientation so that students can check out and learn about the online learning environment. This orientation course includes sample tutorials, quizzes, assignments, readings, and discussions related to File Management (for Windows® XP®), to help you familiarize yourself with the way in which the online Moodle classroom works.
The Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) allows for email-based discussion between students and the teacher (where everyone can see each others' emails), as well as one-to-one email capabilities. You will be expected to interact with other students and the teacher in the moderated discussion forums, where the teacher will introduce a topic related to the weekly lesson and ask students for their input.
The Moodle LMS also enables students to upload completed assignments, complete interactive quizzes, and link to online web resources related to the course topic.
How do I get into the online classroom?
You will not be able to access the online classroom until your course start date. If you have registered and paid for your course, we will set you up with access to your online course.
To access your course on the listed start date:
Link to the course site (http://ce.viuonline.ca), select the small Login link in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, and login as:
Username: student # (no spaces, no '-', eg. 336223321)
Password: your date of birth (no spaces, no '-', yyyymmdd format)
Click on the name of the course for which you are registered.
Please make sure to change your password after logging in the first time to ensure a secure login.
For more information on accessing the online classroom, go to: http://pr.viu.ca/online/moodle-login.asp
What additional fees will I have to pay?
There is a non-refundable application fee.
Students also pay a Students’ Union Fee and Activity Fee of approximately $25.
There are several electives that require a manual (see section on Manuals/Course Materials), and you may wish to purchase discounted software available to students. Check under 'Software' for more information.
Information on total program costs is available from: http://pr.viu.ca/techcomm/faq.asp#pgmcost
What if I need to withdraw from the course?
You can withdraw for a full refund up to 7 days prior to your course start date.
There is no refund available to students who withdraw after 7 days prior to the course start date. If you do not complete your course, you will have to re-take the course in order to receive a grade for the course and have it counted toward your Certificate. There is a two-year limit to complete all the courses in the Technical Communication Certificate program.
How was this program developed?
We’ve followed the basic curriculum guidelines of the Canadian Interest Committee (CIC)(1997). This committee was comprised of STC professionals who were tasked with determining what a technical communication program should include. Our courses are continually updated to reflect the changing needs of this dynamic profession. More information on the CIC.
How does our program compare to other similar Technical Communication programs?
Our program is similar in scope to certificate programs offered at other public post-secondary institutions. A key advantage of our program is the flexibility it offers through its completely online format.
How can I get credit for previous education and experience?
We have a formalized Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process,
which
was set up to allow us to recognize and place students
appropriately based
on their prior learning and experience. More information on PLA.
How do I get my certificate upon program completion?
Since this program is part-time and students may complete the program at various times, you will need to submit a request for your Certificate once you have successfully completed the required courses in this program. Link here for the Certificate Request Form.