Certificate of Proficiency in Language and Culture Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus

The Proficiency in Language and Culture Certificate consists of 15 credits: 4 courses (12 credits) at the first- and second-year level in the language of specialization, and 1 course (3 credits) relating to the culture or cultures associated with that language. Students who are native speakers of a language are not able to obtain a certificate in that language since they cannot take lower-level courses in that language for credit. Students would have the option to substitute an additional culture course for one of the language courses, an option which may be of interest to students who have done languages in high school and thus do not need to take all 12 credits from 100/101 onwards.

Ideally situated on Mid-Vancouver Island with spectacular views of the coastal mountains, Vancouver Island University is a comprehensive teaching university with approximately 15,000 students across four campuses. VIU proudly fosters student success, strong community connections, and international collaborations by providing access to a wide range of programs, from academic undergraduate and master’s to industry-responsive trades and vocational training.

To be a part of the VIU community is to know what it is like to matter here. The VIU community acknowledges the traditional, unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’Amin, Snaw-naw-as, and Qualicum First Nation on whose lands it teaches, learns, researches, lives, and shares knowledge. It raises its hands and says, "Hay ch qa’ sii’em sieye’ yu mukw" Mustimuxw to the original stewards of these territories.