This one year program will provide you with the foundational hospitality skills to prepare you for an entry-level front-line position.
Through industry focused instruction, you will develop a functional understanding of front office operations, guest services, menu planning, food preparation, food and beverage operations and service techniques, writing and presentation skills, as well as marketing concepts, principles and practices.
Completed through a blended delivery model, this program is designed to help balance work and learning commitments. You can look forward to spending your first term in-person on campus completing four courses, with the second term consisting of two courses delivered online, along with completing 600 hours of work-integrated learning (paid work experience).
Work Integrated Learning: Students enrolled in the Hospitality & Tourism certificate program will be required to complete one paid industry work experience (600 hours).
Program Intakes:
Applications Open:
Length of Program: One Year
Method of Delivery: Blended (On-Campus and Online)
Credentials: Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a certificate in Hospitality & Tourism. Graduates will also receive certification in Proserve, Food Handling and First Aid.
Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.
Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:
*Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
Olds College welcomes applications from international applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency. Further information can be found on our website under International Students. International Students will require a Study Permit and a Co-Op Work Permit for this program.
International Students in this program will require a Co-Op Permit, a Study Permit and a Social Insurance Number for this program. Learn more on the International Students page.
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
Accommodations Estimate: Limited housing for International Students is available on campus for Term 1. College Court Townhouses include all utilities (heat, electricity and internet).
For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Olds College has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
It is required that you come to Olds College with the following technology:
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
Time Requirements: You will participate in numerous field trips where you will get to network with and learn from partners and entrepreneurs in the hospitality and tourism industry. You will also get hands-on experiences through planning and executing a variety of projects, tours, and special events, including a major capstone project. You will also participate in a paid work experience.
As part of your curriculum of studies, students will take classes in both our Dining Room and Kitchen. Appropriate uniforms are required for those classes and special events. The dress code will be strictly enforced to ensure that all students maintain the professionalism, safety, and sanitation requirements that are critical to the success of this industry.
While the details of the dress code(s) will be explained in detail on the first day of classes, you will need at some point during the term, to have black closed-toe dress shoes, black dress pants, black dress socks and a black neck tie.
The remaining components of the kitchen and dining room uniforms will be available through the Olds College Campus Store.
Uniforms will need to be clean and pressed whenever you are wearing it, so you may want to consider bringing an iron and ironing board (if you will be living in student housing, there are a limited number of irons and ironing boards available for sign-out).
Additionally, students will sometimes be required to dress in business formal or business casual fashion for special events and field excursions.
Information on other required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.
