Students require a computer, an Internet connection (high-speed Internet is recommended), and Internet browser software to participate in the courses. Ideally, students will have a computer with a sound card and speakers to listen to course videos and audio. All courses require a word processing application such as Microsoft Word. Individual courses may have additional software requirements. Technical assistance is available for all courses.
Archives: FAQs
Is PCU-WHS an accredited university?
Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS):
- is an authorized institution to grant degrees
- was founded in 2007 through an Act of the government of British Columbia
- is a private, statutory, not-for-profit university
- is approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training in the granting of degrees
- has the BC Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, which is renewed annually
How do I study online?
PCU-WHS is located in Port Alberni, British Columbia, but all BDM courses are offered exclusively online. Students can study from their province or territory of residence within Canada, or from another country.
Students require a computer, an Internet connection (high-speed internet is recommended), and internet browser software to participate in the courses. Students should have a computer with a sound card and speakers to listen to course videos and audio, plus a microphone to participate in synchronous sessions. All courses require a word processing application such as Microsoft Word. Individual courses may have additional software requirements. Technical assistance is available for all courses.
All courses at PCU-WHS are offered by highly qualified faculty with a depth of multidisciplinary experience.
The online platform provides you with:
- 24-hour access to course resources and materials
- More opportunities to directly communicate with faculty
- Constructive interaction with other students
- Greater flexibility and convenience in managing your time (courses are not self-paced, however; timelines for course work are provided)
- An environment to participate at a time and place best suited to your needs
- Additional time to reflect before responding to discussions and other activities
- An environment where the independent learner flourishes.
Students will have 24-hour access to most course resources, activities, and materials. The few synchronous activities (Zoom sessions, student presentations) will be scheduled in the Pacific time zone, but scheduling will aim to accommodate other time zones in which the students are residing, when possible.
What is the course format?
All courses are offered online and consist of study guides, readings and videos, asynchronous discussion forums to which you post, assignments, and two to three zoom sessions with your instructor. You can study at the time and place that works best for you. For most courses, the one-hour zoom sessions are the only course components that have a scheduled time, but recordings are usually made available on your course site after they are completed. The capstone courses (Final Project or Practicum) of your final year may have additional scheduled activities.
3 credit courses are offered in a 12-week format. There are additionally a few 1.5 credit courses held over 6-weeks.
The 12-week courses require a commitment of ~8-9 hours per week per course, over the 12 weeks. The 1.5-credit courses are similar in nature, and each require a commitment of ~8-9 hours per week over 6 weeks.
What is the format of the BDM program?
The BDM (Bachelor of Disability Management) is an internationally recognized undergraduate degree program. It is a 120-credit program that includes specialized credits specific to disability management and additional credits known as “electives”. Many students, following their credit assessment, will find that they have transferrable credits available before they begin their study with PCU-WHS.
Courses are delivered on a trimester basis. All courses are offered online, typically only once per academic year.
Previous Editions
WHDM 503: Refocusing Organizations and Systems on Return to Work Priorities (1.5 credits)
The purpose of this course is the examination of change strategies at the organization and system levels that can promote international and national priorities for return to work and work retention. In this course the foci are on conceptual, social, economic, evaluative and individual approaches that enable organizational change and the role of leadership in sustainable transformation in return to work.
WHDM 502: Creating the System Conditions for Good Practice in Return to Work (1.5 credits)
The purpose of this course is to examine how standards at the systems level provide a foundation for achieving excellence in return tor work. In this course the focus will be on examining the principles and tenets of guidelines and standards as well as the challenges in interpreting and applying them within diverse international contexts.
WHDM 501: The Contribution of Return to Work Programs to Economic & Social Inclusion (3 credits)
The purpose of this courses it to critically examine the international legal and policy contributions that have shaped a context for developing and implementing return to work programs. In this course students will compare and contrast the international and national social, occupational, economic factors that impact upon the effectiveness of programs to promote labour participation of people with disabilities.
WHDM 412: Final Practicum (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to gain 160 hours in the workplace in the field of disability management at an advanced level.
Prerequisites: WHDM 314
WHDM 410b: Final Research Project (3 credits)
Under the supervision of the faculty advisor, the student implements the approved research project plan. This can involve recruiting participants, gaining informed consent and collecting either qualitative, quantitative or case study data. The student prepares the data for statistical analysis or interpretative processing, implements an appropriate data reduction procedure and summarizes the results. Based on the results, the student generates a set of conclusions and recommendations in discussion with the supervisor. The student submits a detailed project report, which includes a reflection on the research process and lessons learnt for future research activities, for assessment.
Prerequisite: Students must be in the final year of the program
WHDM 410a: Final Research Project Proposal (3 credits)
The purpose of WHDM 410a and 410b is to provide students with the opportunity to consolidate their learning in the BDM by developing and implementing a research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The student selects a theme or topic in consultation with the advisor, reviews the relevant literature and generates a working research question. The faculty advisor facilitates the student to focus the research question and to consider the most appropriate approach to exploring it using appropriate research design and methodologies. The project can involve documenting practical experience or critical analysis of workplace health practice at a system, organizational or individual level. In addition to standard qualitative or quantitative research or evaluation designs, both personal practice and single case study designs in collaboration with another person are acceptable. The student produces a structured proposal and formulates a project management plan which is submitted to the PCU-WHS Research Ethics Committee for approval. The proposal is revised based on the feedback from the PCUREC and may be re-submitted if required.
Prerequisites: Students must be in the final year of the program
WHDM 409: The Changing Nature of Work (1.5 credits)
The purpose of this course is to examine factors that affect the nature of work and how it is performed. This will include technological change, work organization, the divide between rote work and more cognitively complex tasks, globalization and organizational mobility, and the use of outsourcing and temporary employees. There will be an emphasis on how the transformation of work in the contemporary world of work impacts upon the field and practice of disability management.
WHDM 408: Workplace Insurance and Benefits (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to explore the types of workplace insurance that are commonly available, along with questions about how insurance is funded, how benefits are calculated, and who provides the insurance – whether private, public or some combination of the two. Participants will be expected to apply concepts of their own jurisdictions.
WHDM 407: Conflict Resolution & Negotiation in the Workplace (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide participants with a background in theories, models, tools, and strategies to manage workplace conflict. Modules will be designed to provide theoretical grounding in conflict management models, and also to move past theory in order to use models based on those theories to strategically manage workplace conflict.
WHDM 406: Case Management & Service Coordination Part 2 (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to examine the skills and knowledge required for case management and service coordination, along with problem solving processes used in complex situations. The client’s role as the centre of the process will be explored. Students will also consider issues related to diversity, lack of client commitment to the process, and ethics and law.
Prerequisite: WHDM 403 or WHDM 308
WHDM 405: Ethics in Disability Management (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of ethics, the role of the Disability Management Professional and the application of ethics to workplace issues. There will be a focus on the CDMP Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct document and how it applies to providing disability management services. The course will cover concept specific information in ethics and examples or points of contact between concept specific information and the disability management profession. Through individual work and group discussions, students will move from obtaining information to potential application in their professional work lives. Students will work through the CDMP Ethical Standards and Professional Conduct document to determine the potential application to disability management services.
WHDM 404: Economics of Workplace Health Initiatives (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the application of economics concepts to workplace health initiatives. Students will consider the costs and benefits to individuals, organizations, and society (as represented by governments, and quasi-governmental agencies) when occupational health and safety programs, disability management programs and wellness programs are in place or are improved.
WHDM 402: Unions and the Workplace (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of the international, national, and regional frameworks of the labour movement and how unions operate in representing workers and interacting with management. The focus of the course is on how the union movement has contributed to improving working
conditions and occupational health and safety on behalf of injured workers; training and advocacy initiatives; labour efforts in return to work and accommodation; mechanisms of participation, labour’s critique of employer wellness and behaviour-based safety programs. Factors affecting the potential for cooperation between the employers and labour and critical issues for labour in occupational health and safety, accommodation, and return to work are reviewed
WHDM 401: Ergonomics (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the score of ergonomics and the application of ergonomic principles to work organization. It includes an overview of concepts and related theory and ergonomic assessment processes, and the identification and application of solutions.