Purpose

The ABE Graduation Certificate Program prepares students for success in post-secondary education, life-long learning and employability by offering education and skills in a supportive and flexible learning environment.

The program gives students the opportunity to plan an education/employment pathway and acquire all of the necessary courses to access Career and/or University Transfer programs at VCC and other post-secondary institutions. 

Duration

Students have three (3) years to complete the Program. 

Students must complete a minimum of eight (8) credits from the core courses and enough elective courses to complete the total minimum program credit requirement of twenty-eight (28) credits.  

* Some ABE courses are delivered in two (2) parts. Successful completion of both parts of a course is required in order to receive an equivalent credit for one ABE level course.

Note: Students, who complete the program requirements as listed above, are eligible to apply for the Adult Graduation Diploma from the BC Ministry of Advanced Education. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Use critical thinking skills to analyze text, interpret information, and solve problems.
2. Compose well-organized and coherent text across several genres.
3. Read, evaluate, and analyze a variety of text, including literature, articles and reports.
4. Use mathematical software to model and solve problems.
5. Use mathematical models to represent and solve real-world problems across a variety of disciplines.
6. Utilize research strategies to strategically search, identify, retrieve and utilize information from a variety of appropriate sources.
7. Apply academic citation standards to correctly document information sources.

1. Apply scientific concepts, analyze scientific problems, and conduct biology, chemistry, and/or physics experiments.
2. Apply responsible local and global citizenship skills in the areas of cultural diversity, human rights and safety, and the environment.
3. Communicate personal values and positions on a variety of social issues.
4. Discuss and evaluate Canadian history, government, law, culture, economy, and geography from 1914 to present.
5. Analyze the effects of contact and colonization on First Nations people, including the impact of certain policies, such as the residential school system.
6. Examine challenges faced by specific First Nations populations, such as women, veterans, elders, and youth.
7. Analyze and synthesize ideas from multiple sources, by identifying main points and integrating own ideas.
8. Communicate through a variety of methods including essays, summaries, debates, maps, charts, graphs, and presentations
9. Use word processing software to apply typographic principles and create business and academic documents that include formulas, charts and macros.
10. Design spreadsheets to analyze, interpret, and project outcomes.
11. Make educational and career choices and develop action plans.
12. Apply effective communication skills both professionally and personally.
13. Apply problem solving and critical thinking skills relevant to work, life and school.   

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted into the Program on an individual course basis as determined by the College and Career Access and College Foundations departments.

Students taking ABE courses through the College and Career Access require departmental approval prior to registering for courses. 

Programs Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses (Minimum of 8 credits)		8
ENGL 0981	English 12 Part 1
ENGL 0991	English 12 Part 2
ENGL 0994	English 12 Essential
MATH 0861	Math 11 Part 1
MATH 0871	Math 11 Part 2
MATH 0862	Foundations of Math 11 Part 1
MATH 0872	Foundations of Math 11 Part 2
MATH 0863	Business/Tech Math 11 Part 1
MATH 0873	Business/Tech Math 11 Part 2
Elective Courses (Minimum of 28 credits)		28
ACED 0707	Job Search Techniques
ACED 0709	Education & Career Exploration
ACED 0710	Work Experience
ACED 0711	Communications
BIOL 0983	Biology 12 Part 1
BIOL 0993	Biology 12 Part 2
CHEM 0983	Chemistry 12 Part 1
CHEM 0993	Chemistry 12 Part 2
COMP 0981	Computer Science 12
COMP 0982	Word Processing 12
COMP 0984	Spreadsheet Management 12
COMP 0985	Database Management 12
COMP 0986	Digital Art and Graphics
COMP 0987	Computer Programming
LAWS 0982	Law 12 Part 1
LAWS 0992	Law 12 Part 2
MATH 0983	Math 12 Part 1
MATH 0993	Math 12 Part 2
PHYS 0983	Physics 12 Part 1
PHYS 0993	Physics 12 Part 2
PSYC 0981	Psychology 12 Part 1
PSYC 0991	Psychology 12 Part 2
SOSC 0861	Social Science 11
SOSC 0999	Social Justice 12
Total Credits		36

Evaluation of Student Learning

Evaluation methods are clearly stated in each course outline. These may include exams, quizzes, assignments, reports, essays and lab activities. 

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Transcript of Achievement

The evaluation of learning outcomes for each student is prepared by the instructor and reported to the Student Records Department at the completion of semesters.

The transcript typically shows a letter grade for each course. The grade point equivalent for a course is obtained from letter grades as follows:

Grading Standard

Transcript of Achievement

Grade	Percentage	Description	Grade Point Equivalency
A+	90-100		4.33
A	85-89		4.00
A-	80-84		3.67
B+	76-79		3.33
B	72-75		3.00
B-	68-71		2.67
C+	64-67		2.33
C	60-63		2.00
C-	55-59		1.67
D	50-54	Minimum Pass	1.00
F	0-49	Failing Grade	0.00
S	70 or greater	Satisfactory – student has met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
U		Unsatisfactory – student has not met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
I		Incomplete	N/A
IP		Course in Progress	N/A
W		Withdrawal	N/A
Course Standings
R		Audit. No Credits	N/A
EX		Exempt. Credit Granted	N/A
TC		Transfer Credit	N/A

Grade Point Average (GPA)

1. The course grade points shall be calculated as the product of the course credit value and the grade value.

2. The GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total number of achieved course grade points by the total number of assigned course credit values. This cumulative GPA shall be determined and stated on the Transcript at the end of each Program level or semester.

3. Grades shall be assigned to repeated courses in the same manner as courses taken only once. For the purpose of GPA calculation of grades for repeated courses, they will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.