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.

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
Starts in
Registration opens in
July 2025
November 2025

Tuition and fees

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Estimated total tuition cost:

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Term
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Estimated total tuition cost:

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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.

Courses

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Course is eligible for PLAR
Code Course Credits PDF
ANAT1101 Anatomy And Physiology 6 picture_as_pdf
BIOL1401 The Organization and Diversity of Life 3 picture_as_pdf
BIOL1402 Fundamentals of Bioenergetics 4 picture_as_pdf
CHEM1901 General Chemistry: Structure and Bonding 4 picture_as_pdf
CNST1100 Introduction to Canadian Studies 3 picture_as_pdf
COMM1101 Interpersonal Relationships And Communication Skills 3 picture_as_pdf
ENGL1201 English Composition 3 picture_as_pdf
ENGL1302 Literature and Society 3 picture_as_pdf
ENGL2302 Crime Narrative 3 picture_as_pdf
FNSR2402 Risk Assessment and Treatment 3 picture_as_pdf
INDG1101 Introduction to Indigenous Studies 3 picture_as_pdf
MATH1600 Introduction to Statistics I 4
MATH1902 Introductory Calculus 4 picture_as_pdf
PHYS1900 Mechanics 4 picture_as_pdf
POSC1201 Canadian Politics: Institutions and Issues 3 picture_as_pdf
PSYC1101 Introduction to Psychology 3 picture_as_pdf
PSYC1201 Human Growth and Development Across The Life Span 3 picture_as_pdf
SOCI1101 Introduction to Sociology 3 picture_as_pdf
SOCI1201 Sociology of the Family 3 picture_as_pdf
SOCI1301 Sociology of Aging 3 picture_as_pdf
Code Course Credits PDF
ACCT1103 Introduction to Financial Accounting 3 picture_as_pdf
ACCT2201 Management Accounting I 3 picture_as_pdf
ADMN1101 Introduction to Professional Keyboarding 3 picture_as_pdf
DATA2301 Fundamentals of Digital Marketing Analytics 3 picture_as_pdf
DESN1201 Introduction to Digital Media Production 3 picture_as_pdf
DESN2201 Introduction to Web Design for Digital Marketing 3 picture_as_pdf
ESPR1101 Introduction to Esports 3 picture_as_pdf
FNSR2401 Risk Management Principles & Practice 3 picture_as_pdf
FNSR2403 Risk Financing 3 picture_as_pdf
HMSV3302 Chronic Illness Management 3 picture_as_pdf
HRES1101 Organizational Behaviour 3 picture_as_pdf
HRES2201 Introduction to Human Resources 3 picture_as_pdf
HUCL1101 Role Concepts in Health Care 3 picture_as_pdf
IDEC1101 Colour and Light in Decorating 3 picture_as_pdf
IDEC1103 Principles & Elements of Design 3 picture_as_pdf
IDEC1201 Drawing and Sketching 3 picture_as_pdf
LEGL1201 Introduction to the Legal Profession 3 picture_as_pdf
LEGL1501 Litigation I 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1101 Introduction to Management 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1102 Introduction to Organizations and Sustainability 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1201 Business Communications 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1302 Computer Applications 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1401 Microeconomics 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1402 Principles of Economics 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1501 Business Mathematics 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT1601 Business Law 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT2301 Microsoft Excel 3 picture_as_pdf
MGMT2503 Introductory Statistics for Business Disciplines 3 picture_as_pdf
MKTG1101 Introduction to Marketing 3 picture_as_pdf
SCMT2101 Introduction to Supply Chain Management 3 picture_as_pdf
SCMT2201 Operations Management I 3 picture_as_pdf
SCMT2302 Negotiation Skills 3 picture_as_pdf
SCMT2401 Logistics & Transportation 3 picture_as_pdf
Code Course Credits PDF
ADDC1101 Introduction to Addiction Studies 3 picture_as_pdf
COMM3201 Intercultural Communication 3 picture_as_pdf
DAST1101 Introduction to Disability Studies 3 picture_as_pdf
DAST1201 Person Centered Planning 3 picture_as_pdf
EDAS1302 Introduction to Exceptionalities 3 picture_as_pdf
ELCC1101 Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Development 3 picture_as_pdf
ELCC1305 Developing Through Play 3 picture_as_pdf
FASD1101 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness for Human Service Professionals 3 picture_as_pdf
HMSV3405 Implementing TRC (2015) Calls to Action in Health and Human Services 3 picture_as_pdf
HMSV3506 Managing and the Canadian Health System 3 picture_as_pdf
HUCL1401 Medical Terminology 3 picture_as_pdf
Code Course Credits PDF
DESN1101 Fundamental Principles of Digital Design 3 picture_as_pdf
SODV1101 Programming Fundamentals 3 picture_as_pdf
TECH1101 Web and Internet Fundamentals 3 picture_as_pdf
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