Banner: Continuing Education

Contact Info

Continuing Education & Contract Training:

cectinfo@camosun.bc.ca
250-370-4578

Main Switchboard:

250-370-3000

Enrolment Services

Phone: 250-370-3550
Toll free: 1-877-554-7555
Online: Enrolment Services

Enrolment Services Hours

Mon-Wed: 9am-4pm
Thur: 9am-5:30pm
Fri: 9am-4pm

Cashiers Hours

Mon-Wed: 9am-4pm
Thur: 9am-5:30pm
Fri: 9am-4pm

Bookstore Hours

Lansdowne campus

Fisher Bldg 134
Phone: 250-370-3080
Mon-Thurs: 8am-6pm
Fri: 8am-4pm

Interurban campus

Campus Centre 247
Phone: 250-370-4080
Mon-Thurs: 8am-6pm
Fri: 8am-4pm

Arts and Culture

Special Presentations

Snowbirds: Behind the Scenes with Canada’s Air Demonstration Team New

Mike Sroka spent several years as a photographer with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. His experiences are the subject of the coffee table book Snowbirds: Behind The Scenes With Canada’s Air Demonstration Team. You are invited to spend an afternoon with Mike as he discusses what it was like to train, travel and fly with the Snowbirds. Mike will present his multi-media presentation "ToFly" which debuted at the 2008 Frame by Frame Photoforum where he was a keynote speaker. Refreshments will be provided during break.

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Communication & Career

Career Exploration

This introductory workshop is for people who are unsure of their career direction. Joining others in a similar situation, you will start the career planning process by taking stock of who you are through self-assessment exercises. You will then gain information about careers and resources to help you make informed decisions and begin goal-setting and planning.

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Humanities

A Brief History of Victoria New

This four session course will take an in-depth look at some of the fascinating highlights of Victoria's history. Photographs, paintings, maps and videos will illustrate each session to help bring the past to life. Among the topics covered will be: local First Nations, their way of life and where they lived; Spanish and British explorers; founding of Fort Victoria; the Douglas Treaties; Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858; incorporation and growth of Victoria as a city; social life in the 1800's; role of the Royal Navy; Victoria and the Pig War; rise and fall of industries and shipping; streetcars and the development of neighbourhoods; how Victoria became the capital city; old homes and families; and Victoria's changing face during the twentieth century. Instructor, John Adams is a local historian, author and tour guide.

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History of the Blues New

This course will present an understanding of the relationship between Blues and social history from Slavery to the present. We will document the development of the musical genre in the American south, up the Mississippi, into the industrial cities of the North, and finally out into the "big world". Rather than as an artifact in a museum, we will look at Blues as an evolutionary process. We will also look at Blues (and its progeny) in Canada, England, the West Indies, and beyond.

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Philosophy for Non-Philosophers

In a world where academic philosophy seems abstract and remote, this course will serve as a beginner's guide to the problems of philosophy and how philosophy can have a direct influence on each person's life. We will examine many questions such as: "What is the Good?"; "How do we know anything?"; "Can we really be free?"; "What is personal identity?"; "How is it possible to live a good life?"; "Does life have any meaning?" This course will examine a broad range of philosophers, including the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Kierkegaard, Camus, Nietzche and Wittgenstein.

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Perennial Philosophy: Philosophia Perennis New

Perennial philosophy is neither a particular branch of philosophy nor any religion; it seeks a middle ground that requires an inner search (religion) and an outer method and rigour (philosophy). Although the term philosophia perennis had been in use since the fifteenth century, Gottfried Leibnitz (seventeenth century German philosopher and mathematician) used the term in reference to the common eternal philosophy that underlies all religions. The term was adopted in the twentieth century by a number of writers, including Aldous Huxley in his book The Perennial Philosophy. This course will examine some of the basic themes found in both the Renaissance understanding of "philosophia perennis" and its modern equivalence "perennial philosophy". Topics that will be discussed include the nature of the ground of reality, personal identity and the divine, self knowledge and wisdom, time and eternity, death and contemplation, and grace.

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Passion and Murder in Shakespeare's Plays New

Passion and violence are inextricably linked in a number of Shakespeare's best plays. Why was love (and lust!) linked so closely with violent death for Shakespeare's audience? Why did intense passion seem to lead inexorably to disaster? How did traditional roles for women impact Shakespeare's lusty lovers and passionate heroes? We'll find out! The class will examine four of Shakespeare's classic dramas: Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, and Hamlet. We'll also consider two films that highlight the relationships under study: Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet and Branagh's Hamlet.

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Photography

Digital Cameras for Beginners

Is your new digital camera still in its box? Are you frustrated by all the different settings and functions on your camera? This course will help you to understand the settings on your camera and learn how to manage image quality, focus, lighting and storage of digital photos. Perfect for the "point and click" photographer, this course will help you to record and store your family and vacation memories with ease. Bring your camera and manual to class.

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Photography – Introduction

This course is designed to be an introduction for traditional and digital photographers. Focus on the basics and you're on your way to creating picture perfect photographs! Learn the basic functions of your camera (traditional and digital) including: exposure, light (metering and flash), depth of field and composition. Bring your camera and manual to class and plan to shoot approximately three rolls of print or digital images during the course. Field trip for section 001 is Sat, October 16, 9-11:30am. Field trip for section 002 is Sat., October 16, noon-2:30pm.

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Digital Photography – The Next Step

This course is designed for people who have taken the Introduction to Photography course or have a strong understanding of photographic basics but are still having a difficult time figuring out many of the functions and settings on their digital camera. Discover how those settings will affect your images and what considerations are needed for you to obtain your best hard copy output. Throughout this course we will explore the many aspects and features pertaining to digital photography. With the aid of your camera and manual we will familiarize ourselves with many of these functions and in doing so improve your understanding of digital photography basics. No class October 11.

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Nature and Travel Photography

This course will teach you to take better nature and travel photos whether your travels take you to local parks or around the world. You will learn how to compose photos to bring out maximum impact in any setting. Through a mix of lectures, field trips and group critiques, Josh will share his expertise, knowledge and passion for nature photography to help you move beyond snapshots to create professional quality images in the field. This course is designed for people who have a strong understanding of photographic basics and already know how to use their cameras. It is a good follow up to Introduction and/or Intermediate Photography courses. Digital SLR, tripod and flash are recommended. Please bring your camera and manual to class. Thursdays will be in the classroom; Saturdays will be outdoors (October 2, 16, 23). No classes Thursday, October 7 or Saturday, October 9

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And Now For Something Completely Different

A less than serious, but seriously fun, look at photography. You know all the rules, or least the basic ones. This course will take a look at the various "elements of composition" and then consider which rules to apply and which to ignore in a series of non-traditional photographic assignments. Macro for a portrait? Maybe. What about photos that are eye level and shot with a 50mm lens? Boring! Can a person shoot a photo where no light exists? Let's find out. Each week, students will be given an assignment that incorporates a non-traditional solution to a traditional situation. The assignments will be fun, but also challenging. Students should have the ability to control aperture (AV) and shutter speed (TV). Although not required, a tripod is highly recommended, as is a macro lens or close-up filters. Students will be responsible for submitting print or digital images for assignments during the course. The course includes two Saturday field trips on September 25 and October 16, locations TBA. Please bring your camera and instruction manual to the first class.

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Photographic Storytelling New

Ever wonder what it's like to shoot for National Geographic? Did you ever look at one of your own photographs and say "it doesn't really tell the whole story"? Join Mike Sroka, documentary photographer and author, for a series of interesting discussions and challenging assignments that will investigate ‘how to tell a story' with your camera. We will look at the structure of a simple story and then use multiple photographs to create fun and effective ‘mini-documentaries'. Critiques will show you how to become more critical in the viewfinder as you take on the role of the ‘storyteller'. "Birthday parties will never be the same!" Students should have the ability to control aperture (AV) and shutter speed (TV). A tripod is recommended but not required. Students will be responsible for submitting digital images for assignments during the course. The course includes two Saturday field trips on September 25 and October 16, locations TBA. Please bring your camera and instruction manual to the first class.

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Visual Arts

Acrylic Painting, Level 1 – An Introduction

We begin our lives with a blank canvas... Learn how to paint with acrylics and make art – for the pure enjoyment of it. Learn techniques unique to acrylic paints resulting in a finish of depth, richness and vibrancy. This course is primarily for those who are new to painting or have no experience with acrylics, but may also benefit those with some painting experience who wish to continue or return to painting in a supportive studio space. Let your imagination out to breathe! Please call 250-370-4578 for a supply list or print from our website before the first class. (Approx. cost of art supplies is $90.)

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Acrylic Painting, Level 2 – Even More! New

Paint and have fun with acrylics – for the pure enjoyment of it. This class is for those who have been learning about the basic fundamentals unique to working with acrylic paints – for anyone wishing to enjoy the next level of painting techniques. Explore with acrylics even further, with even more creativity, resulting in a finish of depth, richness and vibrancy. Please call 250-370-4578 for a supply list or print from our website prior to the first class. (Approx. cost of art supplies is $90.)

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I Can Draw!

Want to have fun while learning to draw? You can draw, and this course will prove it. Starting from simple shapes and lines, each project builds upon your previous successes and learning. Each new project introduces additional drafting, seeing, and planning techniques that give you the skill to finish the next drawing confidently. You will learn value, composition, how to draw textures, how to select drawing materials, how to draw from life, from photographs, and from your imagination. Soon you will be drawing images with confidence you would never have believed possible. Learn to see, think and draw like an artist. You can do it! Please call 250-370-4578 for a supply list or print from our website, prior to the first class. (Approx. cost of supplies is $70.) No class October 11.

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I Can Draw Portraits! New

People are interesting – and drawing them is REALLY interesting. Do you have a special person in your life, a friend, or a great photo of someone you would like to draw? In this course, you will learn to draw portraits from photos using the grid method that has been practiced for centuries. Discover the tools and techniques that make this method easy. Learn the proportions of a face and how to draw facial features, and shapes. Capture people's essences and expressions in beautiful drawings. You can do it! Please call 250-370-4578 for a supply list or print from our website prior to the first class. (Approx. cost of supplies is $65.)

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Writing & Publishing

Writers' Workshop Series

The Writers' Workshop Series brings well-known, published local writers to the classroom to work with a small group of aspiring writers (maximum 12 participants per workshop) in a genre workshop. Participants will have an opportunity to hone their craft in a supportive, creative community of learners.

Beginning in Delight, Ending in Wisdom: Poetry Workshop New

Poetry is that tension between life and language, between the experience and the desire to convey that experience to others. Poetry allows us to inhabit our lives more fully, through passionate attention to detail and our focused search for the words to express what we feel deeply. Yet if we listen closely, if we surrender to the moment, often the poem comes to us. This workshop is designed for the novice or the experienced writer wanting to do some intense listening and some happy writing. Writers of all levels and all genres wanting to revive and explore their craft can benefit from this course. We will use writing exercises, prompts, pictures, and models of other poems to awaken the voice within each of us. Expect to do lots of writing and be surprised at what arises! Bring your best pen and notebook.

  • 2010F WRIT 610G 001 • Oct 7-Nov 4 • 5 sessions Barbara Pelman
    Thu • 6:30-9pm • $185+HST • Lansdowne

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Writing Young Adult and Juvenile Fiction Workshop New

This course is a hands-on writing workshop for adults interested in writing novels for middle-grade children (ages 8-12) and/or teens. Students will learn about the genres of juvenile and young adult fiction; and through discussion and in-class writing exercises, further develop their skills in creating convincing characters, writing realistic dialogue, and building engaging stories. In a small and supportive group, students will have an opportunity to share their work with others and receive constructive feedback. The class will also cover the art of revision, and the process of submitting work for publication.

  • 2010F WRIT 614G 001 • Oct18-Nov 15 • 5 sessions Robin Stevenson
    Mon • 6:30-9pm • $185+HST • Lansdowne

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Creative Writing for Beginners: Releasing the Writer Within

Have you always wanted to write but haven't known where to start? This course will help you begin to develop your own personal writing aesthetic by exploring the building blocks of creative writing – character, plot, dialogue, scenes and description. We will explore elements of fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry through in-class writing exercises designed to release your writer within. Guest speakers will be invited for their expertise in a particular genre. No class October 11.

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Writing Short Fiction

Interested in writing fiction, but unsure where to start? Have a story you are dying to tell? This class is an introduction for those who would like to start (or who have recently started) writing fiction. The short story is the perfect place to begin. This course will take you through the process of writing a story from start to finish. Topics will include Great Openings, Making Dialogue Sparkle, Bringing Characters to Life and Submitting Your Story for Publication. Participants will complete a short story during the course and submit it for a class workshop.

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Mukqua Cin: The Courage to go Within

Most people hold onto the idea of what writing should be and therefore never get down to the ground of writing about what truly matters to them. Whether you are trying to break the back of a crime novel, stitch together a memoir, or working in any number of genres, this course is designed to tap into the wisdom of your experiences and get you writing freely about what is meaningful in your life. You will learn to write from experience, not about it.

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Grammar: Just the Basics

This course is an overview of the basic elements of the grammar of written English, including the rules of punctuation, parts of speech and their roles in a sentence, and the basics of subject and predicate. This course covers basic grammar questions with clear explanations and abundant in-class reinforcement exercises. It is an introduction to English grammar; the sequel (Grammar: The Next Step) covers more advanced topics.

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Grammar: The Next Step

This course deals with grammar for effective writing. Students will translate wordy, convoluted gibberish into good, concise and readable English. It covers more advanced topics than WRIT 800V (Grammar: Just the Basics).

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Introduction to the Business of Online Writing and Editing

The Internet offers many different kinds of work opportunities for writers and editors. You too could be working for businesses and individuals all over the globe. This course looks at what kind of services are in demand, how to get started, how to create successful bids and win projects, how to price your services, and how to build your business. The class will include an exploration of the Elance bid site. Please email cectinfo@camosun for a short pre-class assignment, available after you register.

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Learn to Write Great Blog Posts New

Have you thought of starting a blog? Do you have a blog and want to improve your post-writing skills? You can use a blog to promote your business, communicate with friends and family or share your enthusiasm for a hobby or a cause – but whatever your blog is about, you need to produce compelling and engaging content on a consistent basis. In this course, we'll discuss how online writing differs from traditional writing, the importance of focus, establishing a routine and keeping your momentum going. We'll spend most of our time working on what matters most: Writing. You'll work on your composition and self-editing skills, and try out easy and fun creativity boosters. By the end of the course, you'll have learned several techniques to help you craft great blog posts.

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Saturday Short Takes

Latin American History Through Music: Part 1 & 2

Have you ever wondered WHY Spanish is spoken in Latin America; WHAT happened during the conquest; WHEN independence was won; WHO was involved in Mexican and Cuban revolutions; or HOW the countries of the Americas made the transition from dictatorship to democracy? Find out now in this fun approach to studying history and politics through music. The course will be given in English and translations of song lyrics will be provided. Students may register separately for Part 1 or/and Part 2.

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Paris: La Ville de L'amour

Have you always dreamt of going to Paris? Spend an afternoon discovering this romantic city. Francois, a true Parisian will take you on a virtual tour of Paris's lively night scene, the romantic Siene, the majestic Eiffel Tower, the magnificent architecture, and the unique small communities that make up one of Europe's most seductive capitals.

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A Parent's Guide To High School New

Want to help your student maximize their high school experience? Not too sure how to go about it? This half-day session may be just what you're looking for. Parents of new or returning students will develop a better understanding of how high school operates. The class will focus on understanding the roles and responsibilities of the key participants: student, teacher and parent(s). The session will help you to maintain a constructive interaction with teachers and administration, and help to clarify many of the expectations held by each participant.

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Publish Your Own E-Book

Thinking about publishing your writing but struck out with traditional publishers? Don't fancy the headache of self-publishing in print? Then it's time to join the latest publishing sensation. You can publish your magnum opus (or cookbook, or romance, or...) in an electronic book format, sell it through major online booksellers and receive above average royalties as easy as a,b,c...well, almost. This course will introduce you to all things e-book including set-up and formatting, online bookselling sites, e-reader choices, cover image basics and marketing possibilities.

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You've Written a Book – Now What? New

You've done it! You have finally finished your manuscript and it's ready to be turned into a book. But how do you get it published? Suzanne Anderson will tell you about the four common ways to become a published author. This course will cover what you need to know about being published – by a trade publisher, a subsidy publisher, an e-publisher or by doing it yourself. Anderson is an author, publisher and book coach. She has written two books and works full time as a writer.

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Self Publishing in Canada New

Self-publishing is gaining popularity worldwide, but the competition for bookstore shelf space is fierce. This course will help you publish your book without making a lot of expensive mistakes. Learn about editing, design choices, the legal stuff, typesetting, working with printers, publicizing and marketing your book.

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The Play's the Thing: Introduction to Playwriting New

Do you have an idea for a play but are not sure where to begin? Have you already started one but don't know where to take it next? This course will guide you through the playwriting process from start to finish. We will examine the elements of Monologue, Dialogue, Character, Action and Conflict and use writing exercises to get you going. Learn how to fast track your first draft, how to develop your new play, and the essentials of the business of playwriting. Guaranteed to both encourage and inspire!

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The Language of Poetry New

By developing a heightened awareness of language-use students will write poems rich in linguistic verve. In-class exercises will use metaphor, rhythm, rhyme and meter to write active and imaginative poetry. We will also look at tightening language and taking leaps. In addition to creating new pieces in class, students will look at the work of other poets and each other's work. Bring a favourite poem by another poet.

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Asking the Difficult Questions in Poetry New

A longing to question the realities, beliefs, and assumptions of the world prevail in poetry from Mary Oliver to Tim Lilburn; John Burnside to Jan Zwicky and Kathleen Jamie. These poets, and others, ask questions through image and metaphor; they ask them directly or the question sits like a rare bird between the written lines. In this course we will ask and explore the difficult questions. We will discover how other poets ask and how they go about seeking answers in the lines of their poetry, and we will use image, language and form to explore and write our own questions. Bring a favourite poem by another poet.

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Mama Memoirs New

Being a mother is one of the most unique and creative experiences ever! Do you find yourself saying that you'll remember this moment forever, but know you won't? Write it down! Recording your experiences is easier than you think. Treat yourself to this one day workshop where we will celebrate the richness of motherhood experiences through in-class writing exercises, discussion and sharing.

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And Return to Write About It: Travel Memoirs

In this intense one day memoir class you will re-live the experiences of travel through writing about them. Starting with short, focused writing exercises, you will go on to write a longer piece recapturing a journey or part of one. This course is helpful for those wanting to share stories of travel with family and friends, but also for those interested in pursuing freelance travel writing opportunities.

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Last updated: 4-Aug-2010 10:04 am