Location
Start Dates

  • September 03, 2024
  • January 09, 2025
  • May 05, 2025
Program Delivery

  • Face to Face - Synchronous
  • Blended - Synchronous - Asynchronous
  • Online - Asynchronous

For information on Tuition & Fees for High School Upgrading courses, please click on the 'Course Tuitions' tab and the 'Other Fees' tab.

Program Description

Complete or upgrade the high school courses you need to enter post-secondary education. We offer accredited Alberta Education high-school courses and flexible learning options to help you quickly reach your goals.

Delivery:

Blended, Asynchronous, Synchronous – a course delivery mode using a scheduled online class and learning activities, as well as on-site scheduled learning activities such as labs and/or scheduled exams. Students work independently to complete online self-paced assignments by a certain date. Class sessions are recorded for learners to review on their own time as well.

The following courses will be offered as BAS in the 24FALL term:

Aboriginal Studies 10, 20, 30

Biology 20, 30

Chemistry 20, 30

Science 20

Physics 30

Mathematics 20-2, 30-1, 30-2

English 20-1, 20-2, 30-1, 30-2

Social Studies 20-1, 20-1, 30-1, 30-2

Face-to-Face– a course delivery mode where learning activity is scheduled and takes place in a classroom or similar setting onsite at the college. May include lecture, laboratory, and seminar components.

The following courses will be offered as FS in the 24FALL term:

Biology 20, 30

Chemistry 20, 30

Physics 20

Science 10

Mathematics 10-C, 20-1, 20-2, 30-1 

Microsoft Office 10 

English 10-1, 10-2, 20-2; 30-1, 30-2

Social Studies 10-2

Special Projects 10 (By referral only)

Post Secondary Foundations (By referral only)

Online, Asynchronous – a course delivery mode where learning activities take place at times and locations of the learners own choosing though the use of online communication technologies. Learners are required to connect with their instructor on a weekly basis as a requirement of this course. In-person or proctored exams may be required.

The following courses will be offered as OA for the 24FALL term:

Math 10-3

Math 20-3

Math 30-3

Math 31

Science 30

View upgrading course map

 

Minimum Technology Requirements

All learners must have regular access to technology. A desktop computer or laptop is with the following capabilities is:

  • Have reliable internet access.
  • Have a camera and microphone.
  • Support MS Teams and Desire to Learn (D2L)
  • Allow access to email through a myBVC account.
  • Allow access to PDF and Word documents.
  • Have a keyboard to create text documents of 500 words or more.

 

Financial Support

Our programs are eligible for Learning Income Support through the Government of Alberta. Financial supports may be available to you.

Check funding availability

At this time, there is no funding available for Fall 2024

Related Links


Course Listings Request More Information
Welcome Centre

South Campus
345 - 6 Avenue SE
403-410-1402
Toll-free: 1-866-428-2669
info@bowvalleycollege.ca

Academic upgrading is offered for Canadian resident students (citizens, permanent residents, and refugees) only.


Admission Requirements

Course Listings Request More Information
Welcome Centre

South Campus
345 - 6 Avenue SE
403-410-1402
Toll-free: 1-866-428-2669
info@bowvalleycollege.ca

Ojeen

"The School of Foundational Learning is a place where the instructors strive to rebuild your confidence and where your success is important to them. Through the encouragement I have received from my instructors while upgrading over the last two years, I was able to achieve all the courses I needed to take my next step at University."

Ojeen Youhana

Student, Academic Upgrading 2018

Course Listing


Full course outlines are available here.

Curriculum subject to change.

Courses in Program

In Class course delivery subject to change

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students explore and respond to novels or book-length nonfiction, film, Shakespearean plays, poetry, and short stories. Students write personal, critical, and analytical response to texts. This course prepares students for English Language Arts 20-1. The -1 stream helps students develop skills needed to write and critically analyze literature and nonfiction.
Prerequisite: B in ENGL0705 or B in READ0105 and B WRIT0105

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students explore and respond to novels or book-length nonfiction, film, modern plays, poetry, popular nonfictions, and short stories. Students write personal and critical response to contexts and texts. This course prepares students for English Language Arts 20-2. The -2 stream helps students improve functional and critical reading and writing skills.
Prerequisite: C- in ENGL0705 or C- in READ0105 and C- WRIT0105

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students explore and respond to novels, film, Shakespearean plays, modern drama, poetry, essays, and short stories. Students write personal, critical, and persuasive response to texts, literary texts, and prose. This course prepares students for English Language Arts 30-1. The -1 stream helps students develop skills needed to write and critically analyze literature and nonfiction.

Prerequisite: C- in English 10-1

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students explore and respond to novels, film or book-length nonfiction, modern plays, poetry, and short stories. Students write personal, critical, and persuasive response to contexts, prose, and non-print texts. This course prepares students for English Language Arts 30-2. The -2 stream helps students improve functional and critical reading and writing skills.
Prerequisite: C- in English 10-2

This is an Alberta Education Diploma credit course. Students read and respond to novels, film or modern plays, Shakespearean plays, poetry, short stories, and popular nonfiction. Students write personal, persuasive, and critical response to literary texts, prose, and other texts. The -1 stream helps students develop skills needed to write and critically analyze literature and nonfiction.
Prerequisite: C- in ELA2105

This is an Alberta Education Diploma credit course. Students explore and respond to novels or book-length nonfiction, film, modern plays, poetry, essays and short stories. Students write personal, critical, and persuasive response to contexts, prose, and non-print texts. The -2 stream helps students improve functional and critical reading and writing skills.
Prerequisite: C- in English 20-2 or English 20-1

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students will explore historical aspects of globalization, the effects of globalization on lands, cultures, human rights and quality of life. Through multiple perspectives students examine the effects of globalization on peoples in Canada and beyond, including the impact on Aboriginal and Francophone communities. Students will develop skills to respond to issues emerging in an increasingly globalized world.
Prerequisites: C- in ENGL0705 or C- in READ0105 and C- in WRIT0105

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students will explore the complexities of nationalism in Canadian and international contexts. The course covers the origins of nationalism and the influence of nationalism on regional, international and global relations. Through multiple perspectives students develop understandings of nationalism and how nationalism contributes to the citizenship and identities of people in Canada. This course prepares students for Social Studies 30-1.
Prerequisites: C- in SST1772

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students will examine historical and contemporary understandings of nationalism in Canada and the world, the origins of nationalism as well as the impacts of nationalism on individuals and communities in Canada and beyond. Students examine examples of nationalism, ultranationalism, supranationalism and internationalism from multiple perspectives. Students will develop personal and civic responses to emergent issues related to nationalism. This course prepares students for Social Studies 30-2.
Prerequisites: C- in SST1772

This is an Alberta Education diploma credit course. Students will explore the origins and complexities of ideologies and examine multiple perspectives regarding the principles of classical and modern liberalism. Students analyze various political and economic systems assess the viability of the principles of liberalism. Developing understandings of the roles and responsibilities associated with citizenship encourages students to respond to emergent global issues.
Prerequisites: C- in SST2771

This is an Alberta Education diploma credit course. Students will examine the origins, values and components of competing ideologies. They will explore multiple perspectives regarding relationships among individualism, liberalism, common good and collectivism. Students examine various political and economic systems to determine the viability of the values of liberalism. Developing understandings of the roles and responsibilities associated with citizenship will encourage students to respond to emergent global issues.
Prerequisites: C- in SST2772 or D in SST2771

In this course students study the Aboriginal Perspective on oral tradition, worldview, traditional societies, contact, and cultural exchange. This course highlights current issues, art, and literature in Aboriginal cultures.
Pre-requisite: C- in ENGL0705

In this course students study Aboriginal history and culture change in Canada. This course highlights the Aboriginal way of life, the effect of colonization, the Metis and Inuit struggles, treaties, assimilation, and education.
Pre-requisite: C- in SSN1154

In this course students study contemporary Aboriginal issues including inherent rights, traditional governance, Aboriginal rights and self-government, land claims, communities in today's society, and world issues.
Pre-requisite: C- in SSN2154

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Topics include spatial sense and reasoning, algebra and number sense, graphing, and study of relations.
Prerequisite: C+ in MATH0801, D in ENGL0705 or D in READ0105 and D in WRIT0105; MAT1791 (repeat)

This is an Alberta Education credit course. The -3 stream is designed for students who want to enter the trades or directly into the workforce. Topics include spatial reasoning and measurement, number sense, critical thinking, and algebra.
Prerequisite: D in MATH0801 or C+ in MATH0703; MAT1793 (repeat)

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Topics include algebra and number sense, trigonometry, quadratic functions, quadratic equations, and reciprocal functions. The -1 stream is designed for students who want to enter post-secondary programs that require the study of calculus.
Prerequisite: Math 10C with a grade of C

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Topics include logical reasoning, properties of angles and triangles, acute triangle trigonometry, sine and cosine law, radicals, and quadratics. The -2 stream is designed for students who want to enter post-secondary programs that do not require calculus.
Prerequisite: Math 10C with a grade of C-

This is an Alberta Education credit course. The -3 stream is designed for students who want to enter the trades or directly into the workforce. Topics include spatial reasoning and measurement, number sense, critical thinking, statistics, and algebra.
Prerequisite: D in Math 10-3

This is an Alberta Education diploma credit course. Topics include algebra and number sense, trigonometry, inverses of relations, logarithms, exponential and logarithmic functions, polynomial functions, and permutations. The -1 stream is designed for students who want to enter post-secondary programs that require the study of calculus.
Prerequisite: C in Mathematics 20-1

This is an Alberta Education diploma credit course. Topics include logical reasoning, geometry, trigonometry, statistics and probability. The -2 stream is designed for students who want to enter postsecondary programs that do not require calculus.
Prerequisite: C- in Mathematics 20-2

This is an Alberta Education credit course. The -3 stream is designed for students who want to enter the trades or directly into the workforce. Topics include spatial reasoning and measurement, number sense, critical thinking, statistics, algebra, and probability.
Prerequisite: D in Mathematics 20-3

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Math 31 is taken as a corequisite or pre-requisite to Math 30-1. Topics include differential and integral calculus, algebraic computations of functions and graphs. This course helps prepare students who want to study university level mathematics.
Prerequisite: B in Math 30-1

This is an Alberta Education credit course. Students in this course will study energy and matter in chemical change, energy flow in technological systems, cycling of matter in living systems, and energy flow in global systems.
Prerequisite: C- in SCIE0801 , C- in ENGL0105 or C- in READ0105 and C- in WRIT0105, C- in MATH0801

This is an Alberta Education credit course. It is intended for students who do not need specialized sciences in career programs or trades. Students in this course study chemical changes, changes in motion, the changing earth, and changes in living systems.
Prerequisite: C- in SCN1270

This is an Alberta Education credit course. This course analyzes energy and matter exchange in the biosphere, ecosystems and population change, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and human systems. This course prepares students for Biology 30.
Prerequisite: C in SCN1270

This is an Alberta Education credit course. This course analyzes the diversity of matter and chemical bonding, forms of matter, matter as solutions, acids and bases, quantitative relationships in chemical changes.
Prerequisite: C in SCN1270 and C- in MAT1791

This is a diploma course for Alberta Education credit. This course analyzes thermochemical changes, electrochemical changes, chemical changes of organic compounds, chemical equilibrium focusing on acid-base systems. This course prepares students for post-secondary programs that focus on chemistry and other sciences.
Prerequisite: C- in SCN2796 or C- in CHEM0201

This is an Alberta Education credit course. This course analyzes kinematics, dynamics, circular motion, work, and energy, oscillatory motion and mechanical waves.

This is Alberta Education diploma credit course. This course analyzes momentum and impulse, forces and fields, electromagnetic radiation, and atomic physics.
Prerequisites: C- in SCN2797 or C- in PHYS0201

This course consists of modules working in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. Each module has 2 to 3 units with a final project. There is no final exam. Upon successful completion of COMP0702, COMP0101, COMP0201 and COMP0301, students will be proficient at an intermediate level in each of the Microsoft Office Applications.
Prerequisite: B in COMP0702, D in ENGL0705 or D in READ0105 and D in WRIT0105

This is a diploma course for Alberta Education credit. This course analyzes nervous and endocrine systems, reproduction and development, cell division, genetics and molecular biology, and population and community dynamics. This course prepares students for post-secondary programs in health and biological sciences.
Prerequisite: C- in SCN2231 or D in BIOL0201

This is an Alberta Education diploma credit course. It is intended for students who do not need specialized sciences in career programs or trades. Students in this course study how living systems respond to their environment, chemistry and the environment, electromagnetic energy, and energy and the environment. This science course is accepted as a 30 level science in many post-secondary institutions and career programs.
Prerequisite: C- in SCN2270

Special Projects is designed to give Alberta Education Credits in recognition of work undertaken by students on an individual or small group basis. This offering is learner driven. Students will identify areas of focus and then develop the skills needed for success in these areas.

Beginning a post-secondary journey means more than just academic studies; it involves building comprehensive skills that involve a well-rounded approach to success. In this course students will learn how to access college resources and supports, build networks, practice using the essential technology necessary at a post-secondary level, and develop study methods that work for them. Students will also be introduced to a variety of critical academic reading and communication skills, as well as habits that develop wellness. Students will finish the course with stronger academic skills, social awareness, resiliency, and readiness for post-secondary success.

Program FAQs

Yes, Online courses are available in select subjects.  Learners may be required to write monthly assessments in person or through an approved proctor.

See high school upgrading program description page for an up-to-date list of course offerings.

No.  Our online classes are recorded, allowing you to watch them at time which is more convenient for your schedule. 
No, classes are scheduled during the weekdays, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.
Most courses will run 4 – 5 classes per week per course.  For example, if you are enrolled in 3 courses, you would have between 12 and 15 classes a week.  These may include a combination of on site and online courses.

Learners can take a maximum of 3 courses per semester. You can decide how many courses you’d like to take when it’s time to self-register.  A meeting with a career counsellor would be encouraged to ensure you are taking the right courses for your career goals.

Classes are scheduled in 90-minute blocks.  Learners can expect most classes to run 75 minutes, allowing time to move from class to class.

Yes. Please contact our International Education Department at 403-410-3476 or via email at international@bowvalleycollege.ca

No. Many of our classes require pre-requisite courses or grades. Your course placement will be determined as follows:

  1. Transcript Placement – Requires recent (7 years or less) Canadian transcripts, or
  2. Placement Test.

Bow Valley College offers placement tests free of charge. You can write a placement test for math and/or English. These placement tests will provide you with a grade level for course enrollments.  Science placements are dependent on your English and math levels and max out at science 10. Higher level science course placements will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 
No, unfortunately, you must be 18 years or older to attend our Adult Upgrading program. 

We have three terms per year.  The Winter runs from Jan-April, the Spring term runs from May-Aug, and the Fall term runs from September – December. 

Yes. Our High School courses follow the Alberta Education curriculum and are accredited. It is always in your best interest to contact the other school to confirm their requirements.   
Yes, based on the requirements for an Alberta High School Diploma, students can earn either a standard or equivalent high school diploma by completing courses with us.  The actual diploma will be issued through Alberta Education.  Our Upgrading students will receive Alberta Education credit for the High School courses they complete, which can then be applied toward a HS Standard or equivalency Diploma. 
No, as per the GED website, the GED is no longer offered as of May 03/24. This designation has been replaced with the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC).  Please see https://www.alberta.ca/canadian-adult-education-credential for more information. 
No, student loans only cover post-secondary programming.
Yes, the Government of Alberta’s Foundational Learning Assistance Program offers financial support to help cover tuition and living costs. Students must be accepted into the program to apply. Please visit: Foundational Learning Assistance for more information.
Yes. Our Learner Success Services department offers many resources to help all our students. You will need to make an appointment to meet with a Learner Success Advisor.

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  • If you are currently studying in a post-secondary program at BVC, please register for your courses via mybvc to ensure your enrolments and fees are processed appropriately.
  • Cart total based on domestic tuition rates. For information about International Tuition rates please see Additional Fees Apply
  • If you anticipate applying for a student loan, your payment will be refunded to you based on your loan award once your funding has been received by BVC.

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