Academic Upgrading

NorQuest College is a recognized leader in academic upgrading. We have provided upgrading and foundational training in Edmonton for nearly 40 years, and have prepared thousands of students to progress to further education or pursue more rewarding livelihoods. Whether it's improving high school marks to gain acceptance to the post-secondary program of your choice at NorQuest or another institution, supporting your return to academics to pursue a new career, or improving your literacy and foundational skills for work and life, NorQuest can get you where you need to go in our friendly, mature, and student-oriented environment.

NorQuest is an accredited high school as well as a comprehensive community institution, offering Alberta Education high school credit courses and equivalency courses. Successful completion will allow you to move forward to pursue your goals.

NorQuest's highly qualified and experience staff will support you in achieving your specific goals by designing an individual learning to meet your particular needs as quickly as possible, ensuring that you understand your learning path, and providing student services and supports along the way if you require them.

  • Academic Upgrading (10-12)Full-time (FT), Part-time (PT), Online

    NorQuest College offers high school courses that follow the Alberta Education curriculum and high school equivalency courses that are accepted by Alberta and Canadian universities and college. These courses prepare you to continue on to post-secondary studies at NorQuest or another college, technical institute or university and increase your job opportunities. Each student receives a skills and prior learning assessment and an individual learning plan to understand your educational path.

  • Academic Upgrading (7-9)Full-time (FT), Part-time (PT), Online

    NOTE: This program is under review for the 2013/14 Academic Year.

    The Academic Upgrading Grades 7 to 9 program is offered in a friendy, mature and student-oriented environment. You will take a skills and prior learning assessment to determine what level you are at to develop your individual learning plan to map our your educational path.

  • Adult LiteracyFull-time (FT), Part-time (PT)

    NOTE: This program is under review for the 2013/14 Academic Year and will not be accepting applications.

    The Adult Literacy program will improve your reading, writing, numeracy and communication skills through a variety of learning activities. You will also improve your knowledge of and ability to use technology.

  • Ben Calf Robe UpgradingFull-time (FT), Part-time (PT)

    Complete your foundational studies (grades 7-9) and high school upgrading in an environment that celebrates Aboriginal culture.

  • Continuing Education for Academic Upgrading

    NorQuest College offers pre-high school (grades 7-9) courses, high school credit courses, and prep courses for entry to MacEwan University during evenings and online to allow you to balance work and life commitments with your upgrading needs. Many courses accept students on a continuous basis, so you do not have to wait to start.

  • Prep for Business CareersFull-time (FT), Online

    Upgrade your education in just 4 months to prepare for entry into a NorQuest College business program.

  • Prep for GEDFull-time (FT)

    NOTE: This program is under review for the 2013/14 Academic Year.

    Prep for GED is a 16-week program designed to prepare you for the General Educational Development examinations.

    After successfully completing all GED prep courses, students will be prepared to write the GED exams. NorQuest College is an accredited GED testing centre. Please note that students must apply to write the GED exams, and pay appropriate testing fees.

  • Prep for Practical NurseFull-time (FT)

    Prepare to enter NorQuest College's Practical Nurse diploma program and obtain 2 of the 3 prerequisites for entry in just 4 months.

  • Youth In TransitionFull-time (FT)

    This full-time program focuses on increasing academic and personal communication skills for ESL (English as a second language) youth, ages 17 to 25, who wish to transition into an adult learning post-secondary environment. The curriculum and projects are high interest and fast-paced.

    Starts every 8 weeks between September and April.

  • English 030-1
    Build on the knowledge you gained in English 10-1 and English 20-1 by studying short stories, non-fiction, poetry, drama, a novel, film, and media. Write essays analyzing the universal themes used in literature. Represent ideas visually or through class presentations.
  • English 030-2Online
    Write paragraphs, essays, business letters, and speeches. Study a novel, short stories, poetry, drama, media, and a feature film. Present your ideas visually. Make class presentations.
  • English Language Arts 10-1Online
    Analyze short stories, poetry, drama, a novel, non-fiction, and a feature film. Use a step-by-step writing process to write personal and literary journals, paragraphs, essays, poetry, and scripts. Represent ideas visually or through class presentations. Learn editing and revising skills. Respond to literature using art, collages, music, or compositions. Improve your reading and writing skills in preparation for English 20-1.
  • English Language Arts 10-2Online
    Write paragraphs, personal essays, and business letters. Learn how to edit and revise your writing. Read a variety of literary forms. Practise your communication skills and critical thinking skills. Represent ideas visually or through class presentations. Improve your reading and writing skills in preparation for English 20-2.
  • English Language Arts 20-1Online
    Build the foundations of literary theory, style appreciation, and analytical skills that are needed for English 30-1. Analyze short stories, drama, poetry, non-fiction, a novel, a feature film, and media. Create essays and reports. Represent ideas visually or through class presentations.
  • English Language Arts 20-2Online
    Continue studying the types of literature including short stories, novels, plays, and poetry. Learn to write expository, persuasive, and personal paragraphs and essays. Represent ideas visually or through class presentations. Study literature as well as cartoons, illustrations, and a feature film. Evaluate media, including advertising and propaganda. Develop communications skills. Improve your reading and writing skills in preparation for English 30-2.
  • English Preparation
    Improve your reading and writing skills as you prepare for English Language Arts 10-1, 10-2, 20-1, 20-2, Reading 089 or English 089. Increase your word attack skills, reading speed, and research and analytical skills. Enhance your sentence, paragraph, and essay-writing skills using the five-step writing process. Improve your spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. Learn through individual, group, teacher-directed, and computer-assisted instruction.
  • Essential Math - 100
    This is a whole numbers course. Concepts covered include whole number addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and place value.
  • GED Prep
    Brush up on writing, literature, science, social studies, and math. You will receive instruction in basic math and geometry, essay writing, and grammar and reading.
  • High School Prep Math - 100
    Prepare for Pure or Applied Math 10. Topics include number systems, exponent laws, solving linear equations, word problems, polynomials (operations), measurement, and a unit on shape and space.
  • Pre-Algebra 1 - 100
    Learn the basics of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and decimals. Review whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
  • Pre-Algebra 2 - 100
    Learn the basics of ratios and proportions, percents, measurement, and graphing to prepare for academic math. This course includes signed numbers, equations, ratio, percent, proportion, and measurement.
  • Reading and Writing Development Bel 1 - 90
    This course is designed to improve basic reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills. It serves a multi-level group through a variety of techniques including small groups, individualized, teacher-directed, and computer-assisted instruction.
  • Reading and Writing Development Bel 2 - 90
    This course is designed to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, and beginning writing skills. It serves a multi-level group through a variety of techniques including small-group, individualized, teacher-directed, and computer-assisted instruction.