Certificate of General Arts and Science in Environmental Studies

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

Baking and Pastry Arts Management is a two-year Ontario College Diploma program that offers the pâtissiers and the aspiring bakers an entry into the baking and pastry industry. During the course, the students spend the majority of their time in receiving hands-on experience in the labs and the college facilities, with current industry technologies and equipment and regard to sanitation and safety. Besides baking and decoration, the students also gain entrepreneurial experience related to sales and cost forecasting, marketing and capital costs, business planning, and labor distribution with respect to the daily operation of a professional bakery.

Trained industry professionals guide the students via a balance of traditional and contemporary baking techniques to make chocolate specialties, gum paste, almond paste figurines, blown, pulled and cast sugar pieces, plated desserts and specialty products, artisan breads, specialty and wedding cakes, emphasizing on nutrition throughout. 

During the duration of the program, the students participate in various industry-based field placements, perfecting their knowledge and skills with real-world experiences. Interested students may also have the option to travel to an international location for practice and instruction to further develop their knowledge and skills in the fine art of baking and pastry. The students can seek employment in patisseries, resorts and catering companies, in-store bakeries, wholesale production facilities, restaurants, hotels, artisan bakeries and commercial bakeries. 

The three-year Computer Engineering Technology - Computing Science Ontario College Advanced Diploma program prepares you for an information technology (IT) career in the private or public sectors. You gain the knowledge and skills to use a broad range of IT-based analytical thinking and problem-solving skills in support of the day-to-day operation of an enterprise`s software systems or in the development of new systems.

Learn a variety of programming languages (Java, C#, C++, C, and others) and operating systems (Windows, Unix/Linux, and QNX). In addition, you study the development tools and debugging techniques used to design, code and test integrated and/or embedded applications and software systems.

In your final year, you work in teams on sponsored real-world projects to develop a comprehensive application as part of the software engineering portion of the program. You also have the opportunity to select an elective course from an approved list, in areas that include graphics/multimedia, advanced database programming, android, business programming (Cobol), security and advanced web programming.

The majority of the program consists of courses in systems programming, software development, testing and maintenance. The balance of the curriculum consists of courses in technical communications skills (both oral and written), mathematics and general education electives.

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.

Graduates may find employment as systems, integration, and applications programmers and/or testers, and as customer service representatives providing training and product support to clients of high technology corporations.

• Graduates may also pursue careers in such diverse areas as:
• Game and multimedia development
• GUI (graphical user interface) development
• IT communications, IT security, real-time and database systems
• Web-based applications
• Technical roles in all levels of government (federal, provincial, and municipal)

Prepare for a variety of dynamic technical positions within the manufacturing industry

The two-year Manufacturing Engineering Technician Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for technical positions in the manufacturing industry. Gain a broad overview of manufacturing and industrial engineering principles, with a focus on product manufacturing, and learn from professionals with strong industrial backgrounds.

As a student in this program, you experience a combination of classroom, lab and machine shop environments and cultivate ideas from conception to production within various streams. These include, but are not limited to:

• Solid modelling
• Computer numerical control programming
• Process engineering
• Fabrication
• Project management
• Quality control 

Learn how to use tools specific to the industry such as software and machinery, Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing, and CNC machinery. In your final term, undertake projects with external or internal industry partners where you analyze, plan and execute deliverables.

Graduates may work in a number of capacities within the industry, finding employment as a:

• CNC programmer
• CNC machinist
• Quality control inspector
• Production scheduler
• CAD drafter and designer
• Process engineering in manufacturing firms and corporations 

Specialize with a challenging and rewarding career in finance

Earn a flexible diploma that shows you are aware of all areas of business, and that you also have specialized education in finance. Finance is one of seven majors available to Business Administration students. This three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma program starts with three semesters learning a variety of essential business skills before ultimately deciding on a Major.

The Business Administration - Finance program prepares you to meet the high proficiency standards needed to complete professional designations and licensing courses in the financial services industry.

Learn how to become a strategic, skilled financial expert whom individuals and businesses will trust to create and analyze financial plans. You learn from experienced faculty who provide you with an education based on all areas of finance, including:

• Financial analysis and decision-making
• Customer service, sales and marketing financial products and services
• Wealth management
• Retirement and tax planning
• Insurance and estate planning 

Develop an understanding of the operations and importance of financial services. Use a hands-on approach to explore topics such as:

• The time value of money
• calculating return on investment and tax treatment of returns
• The relationship between risk and return
• Canadian financial institutions and regulators
• Financial planning steps and the components of a financial plan 

This Ontario College Graduate Certificate program, delivered in a 42-week consecutive format, prepares you for a career in the field of recreation therapy. Recreation Therapists work with individuals facing key health issues and cognitive, physical and/or mental health challenges across the lifespan from children, youth, adults to seniors. In this program, you develop a strong foundation of skills and knowledge to use the tools of recreation and leisure to ensure people of all ages and abilities have a healthy social, physical, emotional and cognitive lifestyle.

Develop advanced knowledge of how to complete client assessments, create individualized and group programs and document client outcomes. Apply a variety of facilitative techniques to promote meaningful recreation and leisure participation, improve functional ability, and enhance quality of life and wellness. Through collaboration, teamwork, research and professional involvement, you learn to adapt, implement and evaluate recreation activities to meet the needs of people in a wide range of settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centres, municipal community programs and mental health agencies. Through a combination of theory and industry-based work terms, you gain theoretical and practical knowledge and experience.

As a current institutional member of Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO), students enrolled in the Therapeutic Recreation program receive a Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Student membership for the duration of the program. Graduates may apply to become registered members of TRO and/or other professional associations. As well, Algonquin College is working closely with TRO in seeking recognition of this program, thus allowing graduates to apply to become a Registered Therapeutic Recreation Ontario member.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Provide for the safety of clients, self and others in compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, standards and ethical practices.
• Assess individual needs, strengths, challenges and interests of people experiencing barriers to healthy leisure lifestyle in order to assist them in meeting their goals.
• Maintain accurate documentation in accordance with ministry guidelines, professional standards of practice and organizational policies and procedures.
• Plan, implement and evaluate holistic individual and group recreation therapy programs which respond to identified needs, align with assessment results and adhere to current best practices.
• Provide individual and family therapeutic functional intervention, leisure education support, and opportunity for recreation participation.
• Research, analyze and evaluate recreation therapy activities and programs using evidence based practices.
• Plan, implement and evaluate community, private and institutional programs and/or services and processes to enhance quality of life for clients.
• Collaborate with individuals, caregivers, interprofessional teams, volunteers and community service providers using a person-centered approach to promote personal, social, economic and the health-related benefits of recreation therapy services.
• Develop and plan for ongoing personal and professional growth and development.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute 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.

The three-year Child and Youth Care Ontario College Advanced Diploma program prepares you to help vulnerable children, youth and families with complex needs.

Learn to develop and implement a wide range of prevention, intervention and treatment strategies to foster positive change and healthy development in clients. Apply the principles of relational practice with clients, while respecting their unique culture and diversity.

In classes, you learn practical and theoretical concepts and then apply them in field placements.

Working with clients in field placements helps you to develop into a confident and competent child and youth care practitioner. By the end of this program, you have practical experience in two different work environments in the field of child and youth care.

This is the only Child and Youth Care program in Ontario to offer two courses in therapeutic outdoor activities. In these courses, you learn to facilitate therapeutic activities in the outdoors while on a camping trip with fellow classmates and faculty - a truly memorable learning experience.

There is a wide variety of work opportunities for you after graduation. As a child and youth care practitioner, you may find employment in a:

• Group home
• Hospital
• Mental health treatment centre
• Shelter
• School
• Youth justice program
• Community resource centre

The Bookkeeping and Accounting Practices Ontario College Certificate program gives you the knowledge and skills to work effectively in a variety of accounting and bookkeeping roles.

This one-year program balances theory and practical training, to ensure that you are ready for your career. Faculty members include experts dedicated to ensuring that you gain a solid foundation of skills.

Explore the full accounting cycle, including:

• Identifying and recording business transactions
• Preparing financial statements
• Developing essential bookkeeping skills by practising working with data such as purchases, payments, sales, collections and payroll.
• Effectively identifying and applying business processes by maintaining paper and computerized financial records.

Develop communication and math skills as well as an understanding of business practices. Work with popular accounting software and spreadsheet tools to ensure that your technical skills are up-to-date.

With an Ontario College Certificate from Algonquin College, you may find employment in entry-level roles such as:

• Payroll clerk
• Accounts payable clerk
• Accounts receivable clerk
• Billing clerk debt collections
• Accounting clerk
• Bookkeeper
• Accounting assistant

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 Office Administration - Executive Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for a rewarding career as an administrative professional in the public or private sector.

Develop essential skills through extensive applied practice in a simulated office in the areas of human resources, social media, office management, domestic and international travel, event planning and finance. Enhance your MS Office suite abilities through document production, transcription, desktop publishing, accounting practices, and database and project management.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Conduct oneself professionally and adhere to relevant legislation, standards and codes of ethics.
• Manage the scheduling, coordination and organization of administrative tasks and workflow within specific deadlines and according to set priorities.
• Coordinate the collection, analysis, distribution and response to communications in the workplace to facilitate the flow of information.
• Operate and provide support related to the use, maintenance and procurement of office equipment and technologies.
• Evaluate, establish and administer a variety of records management systems* to ensure confidential, secure, accessible and organized electronic and paper records.
• Produce financial documents and reports by identifying and compiling relevant information and using accounting software.
• Prepare and produce a variety of business documents using available technologies and applying industry standards.
• Use interpersonal, leadership and client service skills to respond to diversity and to support the vision and mission of the organization.
• Research, analyze and summarize information on resources and services and prepare summary reports with recommendations.
• Select and use information technologies to support communication with internal and external stakeholders and to promote the organization.
• Organize and coordinate meetings, conferences, special events and make travel arrangements, including the preparation of related documentation.
• Support the implementation of projects by applying basic principles of project management.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

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).