The publishing industry has been transformed by an unprecedented surge of activity as individuals and organizations share text and post images as never before. This has led to exciting changes and challenges in the way writers and publishers look at publishing. Graduates of this two-year diploma program will have the technical skills and wide range of experience crucial to navigating this industry.
Our applied and academic courses take students through the first stages of the writing process to the final post-production stages of publishing in a variety of formats. Our goals are to foster students' writerly personae, to hone their critical voices, and to teach them how to write professionally for multiple audiences. From creative writing workshops to web publishing labs to book design studios to professional editing classes, our courses help students acquire the skills necessary to ensure their work resonates on both page and screen.
We teach our students using industry-standard software, beginning on the first day of class and carrying through each semester of the program. Students can also take advantage of unique hands-on opportunities to put their skills into practice. Okanagan College features a working letterpress print shop, as well as other in-house elements such as Kalamalka Press and Ryga: A Journal of Provocations. These are only some of the opportunities for students to build the sort of portfolio that demonstrates to prospective employers how lessons learned in the classroom contribute to the broad skill set of a qualified professional.
Graduates of the program have a variety of options. Some may pursue employment in a range of traditional and new media outlets, from independent presses to commercial publishing houses. Others may choose to continue their studies in fields such as creative writing, journalism, marketing and media studies.
This diploma can only be completed in full at the Vernon campus. A selection of courses is offered at the Kelowna, Penticton and Salmon Arm campuses but a number of specialized courses and second year courses are only offered at the Vernon campus.
Career options available after transfer and additional study include:
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
Okanagan College
Kelowna Campus,
1000 KLO Road,
KELOWNA,
British Columbia (BC),
V1Y 4X8, Canada
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
Vernon Campus
7000 College Way,
VERNON,
British Columbia (BC),
V1B 2N5, Canada
A regular applicant will be a secondary graduate or a secondary school student, or its equivalent, who has or who will complete the requirements for senior secondary graduation, or its equivalent, not less than one month prior to commencement of classes for the semester to which admission is sought - either fall or winter. The following minimum entrance requirements will apply to regular applicants:
English requirements
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
Okanagan College goes beyond just delivering an outstanding education, it helps students find their career and gain all the skills needed to succeed.