7 BCIT programs that ladder up to a master’s degree

BCIT has a long and successful track record of preparing students for great jobs and rewarding careers. But of course, not all grads head straight for the workforce when they leave school. Some opt to pursue a master’s degree, while others choose to work for a period of time, and go back to school later in order to earn new credentials and take their careers to the next level.

Regardless of which path you’re on, there are plenty of BCIT programs that can help pave the way to an even higher education, with proven results.

1) Graduate program in Building Sciences

If you’re passionate about construction, and ready to bring theory and practice together in innovative new ways, you’re in the right place. The acclaimed Building Science Graduate program at BCIT has earned its reputation as a trailblazer, being the first of its kind in Western Canada—as well as the Institute’s first graduate program.

There are two different tracks. For full-time students, the interdisciplinary Master of Engineering in Building Science degree can be finished in 16 months, and culminates in a supervised research project. The Master of Applied Science in Building Engineering/Building Science is the more academic option, with fewer courses but a research thesis that’s as comprehensive as it is rewarding. Both programs are exceptionally popular with students in civil and mechanical engineering.

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2) Ecological Restoration

The scientific discipline of ecological restoration has emerged as a response to our ecosystems being under increasing pressure—due to pollution, industrialization, urban sprawl, and other human influences.

With this education, you can be a physician for the planet, learning how to diagnose ecological degradation and help our natural spaces heal. BCIT offers a Diploma in Fish, Wildlife and Recreation, which ladders up to the Bachelor of Science in Ecological Restoration program. And now, a groundbreaking Master of Science in Ecological Restoration is available as a joint program with SFU. This whole trajectory can be completed within six years.

3) Business Administration and Accounting

We live in a world of global commerce, which is why it’s so important that School of Business grads have a chance to go abroad and grow their skills in an international setting. Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Accounting alumni have the option of applying for graduate programs at BCIT partner institutions in Austria—a country that has long been a leader in European economic thought.

SEE MORE: What’s the difference between a polytechnic and a university?

The Master’s in International Banking and Finance is offered at Vienna’s University of Applied Sciences, while the Master’s in Global Sales and Marketing is at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, in the city of Steyr. Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities.

4) Specialty Nursing

Whether you’re training to be a registered nurse or already working as a highly-skilled RN and want to hone your talent in a specific practice, the advanced certificates in Specialty Nursing at BCIT have you covered.

The only one of its kind in Canada, this program allows students to choose from eight specializations—including critical care, neonatal, nephrology, and pediatric nursing— which means you get to pursue a career in the area that interests you most. From this, BCIT graduates who already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) have gone on to the Master of Nursing program at the University of Victoria.

5)  Forensic Health Sciences

Forensic health brings together two fascinating and in-demand fields: medicine and law. For those already working in healthcare, law enforcement, or an adjacent profession, this program is a great option if you want to go back to school, earn a graduate certificate, and grow your career as a legal and medical expert whose collection of evidence and trusted testimony can change lives.

It doesn’t have to stop there either. Two of the courses in this graduate certificate can be used as transfer credits for the Master of Science in Forensic Nursing program at Aspen University. This online program offers a fantastic and comparatively affordable opportunity for registered nurses (RNs) to receive a well-regarded MSN from an American school, as there are no schools in Canada that award a similar degree.

SEE MORE: BCIT Forensics faculty member on avoiding becoming a victim of romance fraud

6) Prosthetics and Orthotics

If you’re interested in a profession that combines healthcare with technology, and like the idea of working one-on-one with people to help them regain mobility or overcome an injury, then this diploma has your name on it. Prosthetics and orthotics is a widely sought-after specialty, and our students often get job offers before they graduate.

Students who graduate from this program are required to independently seek out their own two-year paid residency and to start logging their residency hours through Orthotics Prosthetics Canada (OPC). The residency experience combined with the Institute’s partnership with McMaster University opens the door for qualified students to earn their Master of Science in Rehabilitation Medicine through distance and online learning while completing their diploma.

7) Technology Management

You might have a background in tech, but in order to take your career to new heights, you’ll need to build your business acumen. The Technology Management program can help. It’s designed to train professionals for success in managerial and supervisory positions, while also opening the door to one of BC’s leading business schools.

Many BCIT alumni have gone on to the Management of Technology master’s program at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. You may also qualify for a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) waiver, which would allow you to skip the MBA’s entrance exam.

At BCIT, our mission has always been to prepare graduates for gainful employment—and that means also preparing them for the master’s degrees that will empower them to land their dream careers. Contact student services or talk to an advisor to discover how continuing your education can help you achieve your goals.