Certificate in Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

Get the technical skills required to repair and modify automated equipment

The two-year Electromechanical Engineering Technician Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for many different career pathways. Industry professionals teach you the skills to repair and modify automated equipment in many different sectors.

In this program, you experience both classroom and lab-based hands-on learning. You develop team building skills and collaborate on class projects.

As a student in this program, you learn about:

• Electronic circuits
• Industrial pneumatics
• Computer-aided design
• Microcontrollers
• Digital logic
• Programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
• Motor controls and machine tool operations
• Industrial robots
• Mechatronics  

In the one-year Marketing Research and Analysis Ontario College Graduate Certificate program you master the current and emerging techniques in marketing research. This program prepares you for a data-driven career in the marketing research discipline.

You learn to investigate how and why people purchase products and services. In this program, you develop the employable skills to conduct marketing and opinion research in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors. The curriculum emphasizes the marketing research process including:

• Research design
• Questionnaire construction
• Moderator`s guide construction
• Data collection
• Basic and intermediate statistical analysis and interpretation, and
• Report writing and presentation skills

In addition, you become familiar with the scientific method of hypotheses testing and reaching conclusions to solve business problems.

Graduates may have opportunities to work in a wide variety of research settings in government, not-for-profit organizations, research providers and private businesses that use marketing research.

The one-year Financial Services Ontario College Graduate Certificate program prepares you for a challenging and rewarding career in the customer sales and service areas of:

• Banking
• Insurance
• Financial planning
• Wealth management

In this program, you build on your pre-existing business skills, financial knowledge and professional experience. You are introduced to financial products and services and financial advising. You learn how to create and present financial plans. As well, you practise collecting and analyzing client information and providing financial advice based on that information.

You also participate in work-integrated learning. This gives you the opportunity to practise your skills and knowledge in a realistic financial services workplace context.

Algonquin College partners with The Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) to offer the Financial Services Graduate Certificate program, which is an approved educational path to Personal Financial Planner®(PFP®) designation and prepares you to write the Applied Financial Planning Certification examination, which is necessary to obtain the PFP® designation.

The Personal Support Worker Ontario College Certificate program prepares you for immediate work in healthcare. This two-semester program provides you with the knowledge and practical skills to work as a care provider in a range of healthcare settings.

Develop the ability to engage with persons and families of various ages and health-related needs to promote healthy living. Learn how to assist clients with their daily personal care needs, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. In your career, you help those who need assistance to remain as independent as possible.

Through theory, lab practice and clinical/community experiences, learn how to deliver person-centred care, encourage independence and improve the quality of life for your clients.

Participate in clinical experiences, where you focus on the various skills needed to succeed in the field. In these clinical placements, you demonstrate your knowledge and expertise and learn about applying different concepts to real-world environments. These clinical experiences provide you with the opportunity to continue learning as a student member of a healthcare team.

After graduating, you may find employment as a Personal Support Worker. In this role, you work under the supervision of Registered Nurses and/or Registered Practical Nurses in:

• retirement homes
• long-term care facilities
• home care agencies, and
• hospitals

The two-year Recreation and Leisure Services Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to pursue a career in a variety of supporting roles and leadership positions at culturally relevant recreation facilities, parks and in open spaces. In this program, you learn how to make a difference in the community by promoting and advocating for the benefits of recreation, leisure and healthy living.

Experience the fun, exciting and growing recreation and leisure services field. As a student, you complete more than 300 hours of field placement, which provides you with on-the-job training and active experience in the industry.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Develop, implement and evaluate inclusive recreation, leisure and wellness programs and events for individuals, groups and communities which respond to assessed needs, interests, abilities and that use available resources and incorporate best practices.
• Apply administrative and customer service skills to support the delivery of recreation, leisure and wellness programs, events and services.
• Analyze, develop and implement marketing strategies to reach diverse individuals, groups and communities for programs, events, services and facilities using current communication technologies.
• Contribute to the development of fiscally sustainable and responsible recreation, leisure and wellness programs, events and services using current and relevant principles and practices of business, finance and social entrepreneurship.
• Supervise, lead and support the development of staff and volunteers involved with recreation, leisure and wellness programs, events and
• services.
• Apply safety and accessibility practices to the efficient operation and administration of recreation and leisure facilities and settings.
• Promote the benefits and values of recreation, leisure and healthy active living and recommend inclusive programs, events and services to individuals and groups.
• Apply community development strategies which engage citizens and community partners while advocating for healthy communities.
• Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development as a recreation and leisure services professional.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

The four-year Bachelor of Automation and Robotics (Honours) degree program prepares you for a career in the field of automation and robotics.

Autonomous and remotely operated systems are deployed the world over with ever increasing frequency. Such systems are being implemented in many instances to reduce risk to human workers, to achieve higher efficiencies in manufacturing and to improve the quality of lives through robot-assisted rehabilitation and care. Variations of these systems are often in place for reasons of feasibility, efficiency, safety or practicality. Traditionally, in order to develop such systems, collaborative expertise and knowledge in aspects of mechanical and electrical engineering as well as computer science is necessary. Through a combination of these three fields of engineering, this program helps you acquire the theoretical and applied expertise to succeed in the field of automation and robotics.

As a student in this program, you acquire knowledge and skills specific to electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science, including:

• Engineering principles, professionalism and methodologies
• Fundamentals of mathematics, technical writing, dynamics, electronics, computer programming, optical systems and materials science
• Machine design, control systems, electromechanical actuators, sensors, vision systems and the software necessary to design and simulate autonomous and remotely operated systems and components
• Project planning and management, and research and leadership skills

This co-operative education program provides you with learning opportunities through industrial and/or applied research placements. A comprehensive final year project tied to the needs of industry exists to challenge you, presenting the opportunity to test and further develop knowledge and skills. If you are interested in the potential of self-employment, you have an opportunity to foster entrepreneurial aspirations.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to

• Analyze, design, modify and support mechanical, software and electrical components, processes and systems by applying fundamentals of engineering.
• Build functional robotic components by researching and integrating knowledge from mechanical, electrical and software engineering practices.
• Customize existing non-autonomous systems into autonomous or semi-autonomous systems by designing and integrating solutions and developing autonomy algorithms and controls.
• Analyze and solve complex technical problems in the field of robotics and automation by applying the principles of engineering and mathematics.
• Develop, execute and interpret quantitative and qualitative analysis and tests for industrial mechatronic and automation systems.
• Lead and perform diagnostics on a variety of industrial automation controls, sensors, data acquisition devices and interfaces by developing and using troubleshooting skills and techniques.
• Ensure all work is performed in compliance of relevant laws, codes, regulations, policies, ethical principles, safety procedures and engineering practices and standards.
• Contribute to the on-going and upcoming innovation and research in the robotics and automation field.
• Develop entrepreneurship and effective business planning skills to innovate robotics technology targeting new and existing local and global markets.
• Develop personal and professional strategies and plans to adapt to change, maintain currency and foster interprofessionalism.
• Manage the project and communication with clients and other professionals to translate abstract ideas into tangible project requirements and products.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific factors that enable the contribution to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Interactive Media Design is a two year Ontario College Diploma program designed to prepare you for a variety of careers in the digital media industry. Web-design and programming, as well as video and motion graphic skills, are in demand in all employment sectors. You explore the primary elements of media project planning and development with equal importance given to the creative and the technical aspects. This balanced learning experience prepares graduates to be generalists in the media industry, meaning you can jump into a wide variety of roles as you begin your careers.

Strong emphasis is placed on hands-on media production through courses in computer-based web design and programming, as well as video and motion graphics. Through a number of program-specific elective courses, you can focus your path towards specializing as a video producer or a web developer, or you can choose to remain as a generalist, depending on your interests. You plan and execute individual and team-based projects under the guidance of a faculty, industry experts in the media field. You gain practical experience working with live clients through applied projects. You navigate these learning opportunities with the operating system of your choice, such as Apple OS X, Windows or other platforms.

This industry-driven program provides you with the diverse skillset that makes you adaptable in today`s dynamic job market across all sectors. Graduates may find employment in a wide variety of fields utilizing their skills in dynamic media development, web design and programming, photography, videography, motion graphics, project management, UX design, graphic design and content management. Other opportunities involve start-up businesses and a wide variety of alternate professional fields.

Students also have the option to gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op version of the program are subject to availability. Students who elect to apply to the non co-op version of the program may not have the opportunity to transfer to the co-op version at a later date.  

Build a solid foundation for your career in residential or commercial construction

The two-year Construction Engineering Technician Ontario College Diploma program introduces you to a wide range of knowledge and skills to work in the construction industry. This program combines both hands-on application and theory to help you secure a career in the residential and commercial construction industries.

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) recognizes this program as meeting all of the academic requirements for certification in the Certified Technician Category. Using state-of-the-art facilities in Algonquin`s ACCE building, you build a solid foundation for your future career.

Take courses in surveying, construction materials, estimating and construction, building code and structural design documentation. Learn about health and safety relating to the field, hydraulics, geographic information systems and AutoCAD. Experience hands-on learning and participate in field trips.

Students also have the option to gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op version of the program are subject to availability. Students who elect to apply to the non co-op version of the program may not have the opportunity to transfer to the co-op version at a later date.

This program has strong ties to the construction industry and may help you build contacts throughout your time at Algonquin College.

Graduates of this program have the ability to work in a number of sectors within the construction industry. You may find opportunities in:

• Cost estimating
• Residential, commercial and civil projects
• surveying
• Project management
• Building inspection
• Materials testing and quality control
• Construction inspection 
• AutoCAD: After you complete this program, you may choose to take an extra year of study in order to receive an Ontario College Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology.

The two-year Interior Decorating Ontario College Diploma program develops your creativity and artistic flair in residential and commercial interiors. Recognized by the Decorators & Designers Association of Canada (DDA), this program prepares you with the essential design and client relations skills needed to succeed as an Interior Decorator.

Develop your creativity through hands-on projects using modern digital techniques as well as traditional skills. Create appealing atmospheres, discover current trends, choose effective colour palettes, understand complex kitchen and bath design, and manipulate elements such as furnishings, finishes and lighting. Work with individuals and/or businesses to improve residential and commercial spaces to enhance the users` experience.

The program provides an opportunity for you expand your real-world experience through competition and real community projects. Moreover, you are able to gain valuable industry experience and contacts as well as apply your skills during your 42-hour field/work placement during your final semester.

There are many career opportunities in the industry after graduation. Graduates may find employment as a:

• Residential or commercial decorator
• Kitchen and bath designer
• Set decorator
• Staging and colour consultant
• Exhibit designer
• Sales/product representative
• Window display and merchandising consultant for retail spaces or photo shoots

Get career-ready cutting-edge skills in our Salon, Spa and Boutique.

By combining hands-on training and theory, the two-year Hairstyling Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for a career as a licensed professional hairstylist in a fast-paced and exciting industry.

As a student, you learn techniques such as:

• cutting
• styling
• permanent waving
• chemical hair relaxing
• colouring
• lightening
• hair additions
   

You also gain skills in salon operations using industry-standard software. By working in the Salon, Spa and Boutique, you have the chance to put your skills into practice on real clients.

Demonstrate your knowledge by developing individualized styling options, prescribing products and practicing safe and hygienic practices. Upon completion of the program, you are granted 1,500 hours towards the 3,500 total hours required to complete your apprenticeship. After completion of these requirements, you write an exam to earn your Red Seal license so you can work as a certified hairstylist.

You may find employment as a:

• Hair stylist
• Colour technician
• Salon manager in salons, day or resort spas, health clubs, cruise ships, or beauty institutes
• sales representative for a manufacturer or distributor