Dipping your toe into the welcoming waters of post-secondary knowledge and learning has never been easier with growth of the Open Studies Program at Selkirk College.
On-campus and online courses are now being offered to the entire community in many academic areas of the college. From Family Dynamics to History of Jazz and Anthropology of Religion to Principles of Macroeconomics, there are 30 courses to choose from for the upcoming Fall Semester that begins in September.
“There are some pretty spectacular courses we offer with some amazing expertise in our faculty,” says Allison Alder, the dean that oversees the Open Studies Program. “Providing access to some of our courses through this program brings more diversity and perspectives within the classroom, so it benefits all students.”
Selkirk College continues to offer a plethora of programming through its Community Education & Workplace Training arm, but the Open Studies Program is different. Learners wanting to explore one-off courses in credential programs are now able to seamlessly enrol without the need for transcripts and college admission requirements.
Whether for personal or professional interest, those enrolled in Open Studies Program courses become Selkirk College students. Community members looking to expand knowledge, high school students wanting to get a taste of post-secondary or learners from other institutions eyeing specific areas of interest, are all welcome to take part.
“There are academic expectations, these are college-level courses,” says Alder. “There is a course outline which is our contract with learners, there are learning outcomes and the instructors are there to help students meet the learning outcomes. If you are looking for credit in the course, there are assignments and tests that must be completed to earn a grade.”
The Open Studies Program was launched in September 2022 to address community interest in specific courses and make the enrollment process more accessible. For several years, the college has been offering the popular Indigenous 100: Regional Perspectives on Languages and Cultures and a few Creative Writing courses to learners outside credential programs. The move to an Open Studies Program allows for a greater array of courses to be incorporated.
Though the majority of students in the courses offered through the Open Studies Program will be working towards specific credentials, those getting a taste for subject areas will be warmly welcomed.
“We feel that this adds to the experience for the full-time students,” says Alder. “Those who decide to take one of these courses will bring more diverse perspectives and are there to learn, so they will contribute to the class discussions and group work. Instructors and other students see this as a positive.”
Credits earned in most of the courses offered through the Open Studies Program will show up on transcripts and most are transferable to other post-secondary institutions across the province and Canada. Becoming a student through the program also provides access to Selkirk College services such as recreation, library, academic counseling and the writing centre.
Find out more about what is being offered in both the 2023 Fall Semester and 2024 Winter Semester in the Open Studies Program. There is information about how to apply and when the specific courses are scheduled in the timetable.
Learn more about the Selkirk College experience.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all