Open Studies

Study what matters the most for your goals.

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School of Arts and Sciences

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About

Open Studies allows you to take individual courses without being enrolled in a full-time program. It’s perfect for people who want to gain skills, or earn credits toward a future diploma or degree without committing to a specific program right away.

Get the flexibility to study courses that match your goals without committing to a full program. Focus your career path, explore new fields, or progress at your own pace while earning credits toward a diploma or certificate.

Invest in your future at a pace and price that works for you.

Open studies is cost-effective and efficient, allowing you to skip application fees while offering greater work-life balance and control over your schedule.

Courses are offered online as well as at our downtown Calgary campus.

Dual Credit courses are recommended for students in Grades 11 or 12, allowing them to earn both high school and college or university credits simultaneously. Contact your high school guidance counsellor for more details.

How do I know if Open Studies is right for me?

You’re considering post-secondary education but aren’t sure which program to choose:

  • Explore courses that interest you to find the right fit.
  • Look for courses that could inspire you to pursue a particular diploma or certificate program.

‍If you’ve been accepted into your dream program and want to start taking courses before it begins:

  • Earn credits through Open Studies that count toward your future diploma or certificate program. Click here to find which Open Studies courses are part of diploma or certificate programs.
  • Successfully completing an Open Studies course could help you skip program prerequisites when you start.

If you've finished high school and want to take courses before enrolling in a certificate, diploma, or degree program:

  • Bow Valley College Open Studies offers the chance to experience post-secondary courses and earn credits, helping you get a head start.

If you're looking to reskill or upskill with a specific course:

  • Open Studies helps you build the skills needed for a new job or promotion.
  • An Open Studies course boosts your resume and job profile.
  • Lifelong learners can expand their knowledge in areas of personal or professional interest.


For Regional Learners

If you live in the service area surrounding Calgary and want to take a course:

  • To find out about Regional programming, contact us at 403-476-2233 or regional@bowvalleycollege.ca
  • To apply for Fall 2025 (September - December) courses, please fill out this form:

Admission requirements

There are no formal admission requirements, but success in Open Studies courses is more likely if you have an English language proficiency level suitable for the program you're interested in.

Please see the English language proficiency requirements page for more information.

You need one of the following options:

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English Language Proficiency Requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, please review English language proficiency requirements.

Academic upgrading

Enhance your previous education to meet the missing admissions requirements for one of the BVC programs.

Available intakes

Starts in
Registration opens in
Domestic
International
July 2025
November 2025

Tuition and fees

Term
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Total fees*
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Term
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*All tuition and fees are subject to change. Program tuitions are estimates only.  Your actual tuition and fees are calculated on actual course registrations and can be viewed under "Statement of Account" in MyBVC or by requesting a Statement of Account from Registrar Services.
To register in a course in Open Studies:

Courses

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Zero Textbook Cost

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Course is eligible for PLAR
Course Code Course Name
ADDC1101 Introduction to Addiction Studies
FASD1101 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness for Human Service Professionals
JUST1101 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
JUST1102 Diversity and Criminal Justice in Canada
ELCC1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Development
ELCC1301 Child Development
ELCC1305 Developing through Play
Course Code Course Name
ACCT1103 Introduction to Financial Accounting
ADMN1101 Introduction to Professional Keyboarding
ADMN1204 Administrative Procedures I
FNSR2401 Risk Management Principles & Practice
HRES1101 Organizational Behaviour
HRES2202 Talent Acquisition & Engagement
HUCL1101 Role Concepts in Health Care
HUCL1401 Medical Terminology
LEGL1201 Introduction to the Legal Profession
IDEC1101 Colour and Light in Decorating
IDEC1103 Principles & Elements of Design
IDEC1201 Drawing and Sketching
LEGL1501 Litigation I
MGMT1101 Introduction to Management
MGMT1102 Introduction to Organizations and Sustainability
MGMT1201 Business Communications
MGMT1302 Computer Applications
MGMT1303 Excel for Administrative Professionals
MGMT1401 Microeconomics
MGMT1501 Business Mathematics
MGMT1601 Business Law
MGMT2301 Microsoft Excel
MKTG1101 Introduction to Marketing
SCMT2101 Introduction to Supply Chain Management
Course Code Course Name
DESN1101 Fundamental Principles of Digital Design
DESN1401 Introduction to the Digital Design Profession
SODV1101 Programming Fundamentals
TECH1101 Web and Internet Fundamentals
TECH1301 Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems
Course Code Course Name
ANAT1101 Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL1401 The Organization and Diversity of Life
BIOL1402 Fundamentals of Bioenergetics
CHEM1901 General Chemistry: Structure and Bonding
CNST1100 Introduction to Canadian Studies
COMM1101 Interpersonal Relationships and Communication Skills
ENGL1201 English Composition
ENGL1302 Literature and Society
ENGL2302 Crime Narrative
MATH1600 Introduction to Statistics I
MATH1902 Introductory Calculus
PHYS1900 Mechanics
POSC1201 Canadian Politics: Institutions and Issues
PSYC1101 Introduction to Psychology
PSYC1201 Human Growth and Development across the Life Span
PSYC1202 Child and Adolescent Development
SOCI1101 Introduction to Sociology
SOCI1201 Sociology of the Family
SOCI1301 Sociology of Aging
INDG1101 Introduction to Indigenous Studies
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