Diploma in Public Relations

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

Endorsed and accredited by the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, Tourism- Travel Services is a two-year Ontario Diploma program blending on the job training and classroom theory and providing students with opportunities to develop employability skills for a fruitful career in the ever growing travel and tourism industry. Subjects in the curriculum include customized vacation planning, niche and group travel, world tourism geography, sustainability in tourism, social media, marketing, sales, entrepreneurship and customer service excellence. 

The students of the program write the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) exam to gain the mandatory license. The graduates are also encouraged to apply to the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) to write the national certification examination to be accredited as a Certified Travel Counsellor (CTC). 

The graduates of the program can seek jobs in the transportation service providers (airlines, rail companies, automobile rental firms, bus operators and cruise lines), travel service providers (agencies-retail and wholesale), government tourist offices, accommodations sector, attractions and tour operators. 

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.

The three-year Advertising and Marketing Communications Management Ontario College Advanced Diploma program prepares you to take your career into many industries. By combining business theory and creative messaging, this industry-respected program enables you to develop skills in idea conceptualizing, copywriting, layout and production design. You also develop integrated marketing communications strategies through researching what drives target audiences and planning how to reach them effectively.

Experienced, industry-connected faculty prepare you to plan, create and implement marketing communications. Key class projects work on real advertising and marketing communications issues with local companies as clients. As well, alumni and industry leaders act as guest speakers in every semester.

Put classroom theory to work through hands-on creation in one of the second-year student-run business unit teams:

• the award-winning Algonquin Times and Glue Magazine - where teams work on websites, print editions, social media channels, events and apps
• DIGG - the student-run ad agency where every client has a unique problem to be solved
• SLiDE - the in-house marketing department for Algonquin`s DARE District that works with Ottawa entrepreneurs.

The program encourages you to expand your learning and network through optional class trips in second and third year. As a second-year student, you have the unique opportunity to visit and tour select advertising and marketing agencies and visit program alumni in Toronto. As a third-year student, you have the opportunity to visit New York and attend one of the largest industry conferences in the world, Advertising Week.

At the end of the program, take your real-world experience a step further with a six-week job placement within the area of advertising and marketing communications. Upon graduating, be ready to start your career in this field.

There are many job opportunities for graduates of this program. You may find employment with an advertising or creative agencies and any organization that has a marketing, communications, media or promotions department. This includes:

• retail
• professional services firms
• technology companies
• associations
• governments

You might even launch your own marketing and communications company.

In this two-year Strategic Global Business Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate, you learn to navigate complex geopolitical climates and to develop positive cross-cultural relationships, so that your business can have global reach. You explore the ways that areas of business management work together to form a strategic global approach.

Extend your business management skills as you identify feasible opportunities to enter new global markets in ethical and socially responsible ways that comply to international policies, regulations, and laws. Identify how to manage projects, human resources, finances, marketing, sales, risk and continuity within international settings. Apply business principles to digital business environments through e-commerce, supply chain and social media marketing to support the business in a global market. Think innovatively to explore ways to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning while protecting your business through cyber security and information management. The program culminates with a collaborative project complete with an industry partner, an opportunity that supports your growth as a strategic global business professional.

The two-year Business - Marketing Ontario College Diploma program provides learners with a strong theoretical marketing foundation and the opportunity to apply it through hands-on industry projects, assignments and simulation tools. You develop the knowledge and applied skills to succeed in a wide range of marketing and business roles. Additionally, you use computing technology in a collaborative learning environment to learn, develop and apply the technical skills that employers desire.

Learn about how marketing affects the operations of a business - from product conception to launch and delivery.

Explore concepts such as:

• Marketing to the consumer and business marketplace
• Product and pricing strategies
• Marketing planning and decision-making
• Global marketing
• Marketing communications and promotions
• Marketing research
• Professional selling
• Sales management
• Digital marketing and distribution

Complete hands-on assignments that involve case studies, simulation platforms, research assessments and role-playing. You also have the opportunity to work with industry clients in the program, including developing a full marketing plan for a local client.

Cooperative education (Co-op)
Cooperative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience through paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op online readiness activities and in-person workshops.

Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and facilitates the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to re-locate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.

Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses.

The Business - Accounting Ontario College Diploma program balances accounting theory with tools used in the industry. This two-year program equips you with the essential skills for various entry-level accounting positions.

Learn how to complete accounting tasks, from conducting bookkeeping responsibilities to preparing financial statements and personal income tax returns. Expand your knowledge of various business concepts including economics and finance.

Explore accounting concepts while sharpening your communication, math and technological skills. Courses incorporate accounting software to strengthen your computer literacy and provide you with up-to-date technical skills, which are essential in this field.

In the program`s final semester, you have the opportunity to apply for a work placement to practise your skills in a real work setting. See Additional Information for eligibility requirements.

Students considering a professional accounting designation or an accounting credential are advised to make inquiries with the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario) before deciding to complete this program. See Additional Information for further details.

This program prepares you for entry-level positions in:

• Financial accounting
• Managerial accounting
• Payables and receivables
• Taxation

Graduates typically find employment in roles such as:

• Accounts payable clerk
• Accounts receivable clerk
• Bookkeeper
• Payroll clerk
• Junior staff accountant

With a focus on organizational and creative writing, the two-year Professional Writing Ontario College Diploma program teaches you the skills and flexibility to work as a writer in a variety of fields. You learn writing skills for electronic and print media from nationally recognized writers, authors and communications experts.

Acquire the necessary skills to write independently and collaboratively in freelance and organizational settings. With attention to detail, learn to research, write, edit and proofread. Many writers balance freelancing with other employment, so the program focuses on the development of creative skills along with knowledge of the existing market for fiction and creative non-fiction in Canada. You gain highly marketable communications, writing, and editing skills that are useful in many industries in both for-profit and non-profit sectors.

During the program, local freelancers lead workshops and may mentor you in the field. You participate in a work environment for a seven-week field placement where you have the opportunity to apply your writing skills while building connections with potential clients and employers.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Recognize the fundamental concepts of storytelling.
• Write for media in Canada with an awareness of historical and cultural contexts.
• Demonstrate understanding of the production process of print, live events, broadcast, the Internet and film.
• Employ computers and writing software proficiently.
• Work in independent, collaborative, and organizational settings.
• Write in a broad range of styles appropriate to a variety of media.
• Write scripts for presentations, live events and speeches.
• Create plots, characters and themes that engage audiences.
• Effectively edit their own and others` writing.
• Demonstrate superior time management skills.
• Manage their writing career on sound small-business principles.
• Market their writing skills in their chosen field.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

The one-year Scriptwriting Ontario College Graduate Certificate program provides you with the knowledge, writing experience and hands-on skills necessary to become a writer in the ever-expanding fields of film, television, theatre, video and digital media content.

Discover your style and voice, as well as how to develop characters and write stories for any audience. By the end of the program, you possess an extensive professional-quality portfolio of work.

By analyzing issues and trends in film and media, you learn how to market your skills effectively and work professionally in our industries . Faculty are up-to-date, experienced professionals who help guide your projects. Guest speakers are regular visitors to your class and provide tips and advice on your potential career path.

At the end of the program, you have the opportunity to travel to Toronto and pitch your film or TV series ideas at major broadcasting and production companies. You also meet agents, distributors and accomplished screenwriters, and attend industry events during your three-day stay. It is a great opportunity to connect with important players in the industry and get their feedback on your projects.

You also expand your real-world experience with a 40-hour work placement. These placements are generally non-writing positions that allow you to learn more about how the production process works, make industry contacts and broaden your skill set.

Another opportunity that you may choose to participate in is the Hothouse Reading Series, which showcases short excerpts from students` plays read by professional actors. You receive feedback from the audience that provides you with invaluable insight to strengthen your writing.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Conceive, write, edit, revise and rewrite scripts using industry standard formats and technology.
• Function effectively as part of a writing and/or production team in the delivery of scripts.
• Apply production and business management skills to complete tasks efficiently and meet deadlines in the workplace.
• Critically evaluate the quality of product being presented for production.
• Develop strategies for personal and professional development by analyzing issues and trends in target industries.
• Ensure that all work is completed in compliance with applicable laws, statutory obligations, regulations, and industry principles and practices.
• Apply creative techniques for writing for a variety of media and styles.
• Work in a professional and ethical manner, maintain professional relationships, and communicate effectively with clients, co-workers, supervisors and others.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

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.

This one-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate program prepares students for a career in design research and strategy. Professionals in this field examine the intersection of research, technology, business and design to apply a human-centred approach to solving problems. These professionals work in a variety of fields, including private, public and government organizations, to provide strategic direction for system, product, policy and/or service design. The skills gained in this program complement a myriad of professional backgrounds, from designers, computer programmers and engineers looking to update their skillset to public servants and social scientists looking for new ways to draft policies and model services.

Students collaborate with industry partners in a design studio setting throughout the program to find solutions for real-world issues.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Apply a universal, interdisciplinary design approach to overcome complex problems and create intelligent solutions that address social, technological and economic challenges.
• Manage a holistic, human-centred process to deliver design strategies, products, systems and services for government, corporations and non-profit organizations.
• Design collaboratively in an interdisciplinary studio environment to produce communication, products, systems and service projects for a variety of media.
• Apply primary and secondary research methodologies to the design process using a think/make practice model to achieve project outcomes that meet user needs and adhere to industry standards.
• Adhere to the professional practices of a design studio to facilitate and manage the success of design teams in achieving project goals.
• Participate in an iterative, multi-phase design process in order to create testable prototypes and realized products.
• Liaise and negotiate project direction and process with stakeholders to produce strategies and outcomes that align with business objectives.
• Present and defend research results and design outcomes to a diverse audience using effective communication strategies.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.