Ski Resort Operations and Management – Diploma

Program Details

Credential Received

Diploma in Ski Resort Operations and Management

Overview

Program Summary

You already love the slopes and cannot get enough of the action, now you can take your passion to new career heights. Selkirk College’s Ski Resort Operations and Management (SROAM) program can help you become a top professional in this vibrant industry.

Based in Nelson, BC, you will be at the centre of epic mountain culture and have easy access to world-class ski resorts where you can sharpen your ski, snowboard and networking skills. Covering all aspects of ski resort operations, our program gives you a unique blend of management skills and industry knowledge to prepare you for lasting leadership roles. This curriculum contains articulated business and tourism courses transferable towards any college and university in BC; as well as specific industry course content not available at other post-secondary educational institutions.

Field trips provide students with first-hand exposure to all aspects of resort indoor and outdoor operations. Direct meetings with ski industry managers and supervisors at resorts visited give students a chance to explore job opportunities for their work semester and after graduation.

During the first three semesters, students take courses focused on tourism, business, and operational subjects that prepare them for a role in the snowsports industry. During the fourth semester, students undertake a paid work semester of their choice within the industry. The work term is a co-operative education endeavor that involves both employer and college supervision of the students’ work experience. Students choose their work placement and negotiate with employers to determine possibilities for job rotation and other learning opportunities. Students receive one on-site visit from an instructor during the work semester and must complete a final assignment to receive credit for this work term.

Program Outcomes

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

• explain terms, concepts, and theories relevant to the Canadian ski industry.
• demonstrate developing critical and creative thinking skills.
• apply emerging problem solving skills.
• communicate effectively and efficiently in various formats to a variety of stakeholders, consistent with industry expectations.
• outline professional and ethical standards within their field.
• conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner in academic and work-related environments.
• apply basic accounting principles as required.
• apply the basic principles of organizational behaviour, management theories, and human resource management.
• competently use standard industry technology in operations, communication, and record keeping/data collection.
• demonstrate a working knowledge of ski industry operations and their value to the economy.
• apply industry specific government health, safety, and environmental standards and regulations.

Program Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

• Any English course at the grade 12 level with a minimum of 67%. For international applicants, IELTS 6.5 overall band score (with no band less than 6.0), or equivalent on other internationally recognized English Language Proficiency Tests. If an international student applies with an IELTS of 6.0 overall score (with no band less than 5.5), then they would need to meet the requirements below.
• Applicants who lack the specific English admission requirements may still gain admission to the program with the understanding that they will complete ENGL 66 Essential English with a minimum of 67% in the first year of their program. This course must be completed to be able to advance beyond 30 program credits.

Additional Requirements

Once the above admission requirements have been met and the student has been accepted to the program a student must:

• Submit a completed Application Questionnaire to the coordinator.
• Submit a standard resume to the coordinator. On the resume, part-time or full-time ski and related tourism industry experience is to be included.

Once the two requirements above have been completed the student will work with the program coordinator to schedule an in-person or remote interview. The interview is intended to provide the students advice on how to best succeed in the program but is not a condition of admission

• This is a popular program; candidates are strongly advised to apply early.
• It is strongly recommended that students have keyboarding skills and an understanding of Microsoft Windows prior to program commencement.
• This program has an enrolment objective of 30 students per year. Students are accepted on a first come, first served basis subject to meeting all program registration requirements.
• Field trips are a requirement of the program. Transportation and travel expenses are an extra expense to be paid by the student. Approximately $500 should be budgeted to cover these expenses.
• Students must acknowledge that they are in good health, able to stand for long periods of time, and able to lift up to 25 kg.

Graduation and Promotion

In order to receive your credential in your program you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 and can carry no more than one (1) failing grade in the previous semester courses to be promoted to subsequent semesters.