Prestigious, Career-Changing BGS Degree Available through Selkirk College

Admit it. You've thought about going back to school to earn your bachelor's degree a hundred times over the years, but somehow you just couldn't work it out.

Maybe you thought you had to leave your day job in order to study full-time at a far-off university. Maybe online learning never seemed like your thing. Or maybe you asked yourself after years of letting this dream grow cold on the back burner, What would be the point?

The point is that earning a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree right here in the Kootenays has never been more accessible, uplifting and transformative, both personally and professionally.

This month, Selkirk College is readying itself for another cohort, or group, of mid-career adult learners with at least 10 years of work experience and some college education to join the program, which is being offered in partnership with Simon Fraser University.

Lori Woodhouse, a recent graduate, couldn't believe she could access this kind of post-secondary programming so close home. Woodhouse had spent over 20 years working in the auto industry, but felt there was little room for further advancement.

"I wasn't happy with where my career was going and kept kicking myself for not finishing my education many years ago," Woodhouse said. "I knew I needed a degree to obtain a more satisfying career, but I wasn't willing to miss any work -- couldn't afford to. Instead, I ended up working a little extra everyday so I could attend classes."

Courses in the BGS program cover a wide range of topics and are taught by both Simon Fraser University and Selkirk College instructors. The classes take place every second Friday and Saturday for 9 consecutive semesters, with breaks throughout the year and during the full month of August.

When all is said and done, students end up holding a bachelor's degree that is conferred by Simon Fraser University. The program is not for the faint of heart, though. Students should count on setting aside 15 to 18 hours of study per week in addition to whatever demands life already steers their way.

"The adjustments that I needed to make in the first semester and all the work that followed seemed completely daunting at beginning," Woodhouse said. "However, by the end of it, I didn't want the program to stop. I liked the range of courses, since many of them were business related, but the most remarkable thing is that I gained the confidence to acquire a new job in a completely different industry and I love it."

Dawn Lang, another graduate of the program who also went on to find new work, praised the face-to-face contact with instructors and fellow students. "I was 48 when I started in the BGS program and I sometimes questioned the wisdom of going back to school at this time in my life," she said.

However, Lang quickly saw the upside of returning to college to complete her education and counts it as one of the most exciting journeys in her life.

"The completion of this degree allowed me to round out my skill set and finesse and polish some strategies to create a package that I am confident can be useful to others." she said. Lang also added that it was now possible for her to consider graduate school.

To learn more about the BGS Degree program, visit Selkirk.ca/bgs1 and click the Program Information Session link for available times and locations. Registration deadline is March 15, but those who are interested are encouraged to attend an information session before applying.

First published on January 29, 2008