mâcîhtâtân means “let’s begin.” UnBQ welcomes you to start your academic journey with us. The mâcîhtâtan Entrance Program offers a one year of full time post secondary study for high school and mature students to build academic and personal management skills that are required for success in post-secondary. You will journey through academic courses that are prerequisites to enter a degree program. Embedded into your journey are nêhiyaw isîhcikêwina and miyo pimâtisiwin experiences. In accordance with UnBQ vision and philosophy, guidance and mentorship by Indigenous Scholars, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers will wrap you in an environment of self healing and academic achievement.

Admission Requirements
High School Students - applicants must have attended high school to grade 12 or have been out of high school for a minimum of one year. Students will hold Alberta High School course credit for:

• Successful completion of English 20-1 or English 30-2
• Credit in a minimum of any three:
  
  • Social Studies 20-1 or Social Studies 30-2
  • Mathematics 30-2 0r Mathematics 20-1
  • One Fine Arts – Art, Drama, Dance, Music- minimum 20 level
  • Science 20
  • Chemistry 20
  • Biology 20
  • Physics 20

Mature Student Status
If you are 21 years of age or older before class starts and you do not have English 30-1, you can write an Accuplacer exam to assess your eligibility for admission.

Program Highlights

• miyo pimâtisiwin experiences
• nêhiyaw isîhcikêwina (ceremony)
• Individual supports
• Cohort Seminars
  • Critical thinking/reading
  • Academic Writing
  • Study skills
  • Communication- personal and business
  • Research skills
  • Protocol teachings

Program Curriculum includes:
Fall Semester

• CREE 100 Introductory Cree (full year course, 6 credits)
• COMM 200 Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
• COMP/ENG 200 Introduction to English (3 credits)
• MATH 90
• Orientation Cultural Camp (mandatory)
• Cohort Seminars (mandatory)

Winter Semester

• CREE 100 Introductory Cree (continued)
• IYIS 210 Historical Impacts (3 credits)
• ENG 275 Introduction to Essay Writing (3 credits)
• SCIENCE 90
• Cohort Seminars (mandatory)

mâcÎhtâtan is a year long program that begins in the Fall Semester, September; and the Winter Semster that ends in April. Students are enrolled in four courses in each of the two semesters (Fall and Winter) with a total of 18 credits upon successful completion, and all credits are eligible/transferable to a degree program.

Please contact Team Lead, Valerie Cardinal, in the Blue Quills Literacy Centre at 780 645 4455 ext 117 and/or at valeriec@bluequills.ca