Graduate Certificate in Financial Services - Canadian Context

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

The one-year Energy Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate prepares you for an exciting career in energy, innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of efficient new energy technologies.

Learn about energy solutions such as efficiency, conservation and sustainability. Participate in laboratory work, contribute to a real-world project and learn from case-studies in the energy management industry. Explore how to implement, manage, administer and work on energy management practices throughout the program. By analyzing data sets, evaluating the impact of energy efficiency and conservation programs and performing cost-benefit analyses, you obtain highly-regarded skills for the industry.

During your final semester, participate in an energy management project with peers and industry partners. Through in-class discussions and collaboration, you plan and create an energy strategy for a commercial building.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Analyze an organization`s current energy profile to plan and establish an energy management strategy.
• Monitor, track and benchmark energy data to compare performance and establish baselines and targets to determine trends.
• Conduct energy assessments to propose optimal energy solutions.
• Recommend energy management options, solutions and technologies to maintain long-term operational and infrastructure efficiency.
• Prepare and present technical reports and proposals in a scientific format using accurate energy terminology.
• Research and apply industry accepted standards for energy analyses.
• Create and present persuasive business cases for energy projects.
• Manage energy project implementation to successfully meet organizational goals.
• Evaluate energy performance using measurement and verification strategies.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

The Practical Nursing Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for work in the healthcare system. You learn the necessary skills and techniques for the workforce - the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation tools required to provide nursing care to those of all ages. Throughout the program, your education includes theory, lab techniques, applied experiences and independent study.

As a student, you have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills in a variety of healthcare facilities, as well as to participate in clinical placements. An added benefit of this program is the Simulation Lab and other Nursing labs on campus, where you experience realistic simulation scenarios. These help you to build confidence in your skills and techniques before working with patients in clinical placements in the community. Placements are in real-world settings such as retirement homes, long-term care homes and hospitals.

In order for you to practice in Ontario, you are required to be licensed by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). This program gives you the necessary knowledge and skills to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination in Ontario.

Registered Practical Nurses work in close collaboration with healthcare teams. You may find employment on a team in a variety of

• Community clinics
• Private homes
• Nursing homes
• Homes for the aged/geriatric
• Rehabilitative, medical, surgical, and obstetrical units

Culinary Management is a two- year Ontario Diploma program that is curated to train the students to become professional chefs by putting a great emphasis on the advanced culinary skills, hands-on experience and managerial training. The curriculum includes courses on sanitation and safety procedures, food preparation, computer applications, the control of food costs, baking techniques, and nutrition and menu planning and the students are required to complete all the industry- related certifications to graduate. 

The students get multiple chances to participate in various activities, event s and competitions at the different hotels, restaurants and event facilities to develop their skills and knowledge. Students are required to complete a mandatory 40-hour field placement per term in order to graduate from the program.

The graduates of the program can seek employment in food preparation and service establishments like cafeterias, restaurants, senior care facilities, hotels, cruise ships or catering companies.

Turn your interest in mobile development into a career needed across a number of different industries

The two-year Mobile Application Design and Development Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to enter the expanding and evolving fields of mobile web and application development. Design mobile website interfaces across different platforms and devices. Learn how to build native applications for mobile devices and use different technologies and programming languages. Topics covered include:

• User interface (UI) design
• User experience (UX) design
• Responsive web design
• Full-stack web development
• Hybrid mobile application development
• Native mobile application development
• Entrepreneurial business skills

Emphasis is placed on a hands-on approach to developing sites and applications.

In your final semester, prepare for industry by developing a mobile solution for a real-world client. Experience working in teams and participate in the analysis, design, implementation, testing and deployment of your mobile solution.

Upon graduation, you may find work in all levels of government, as well as with start-ups and a wide variety of market sectors including technology, healthcare, business, marketing, finance, education and communications. Some available jobs include:

• Mobile app developer
• Full-stack developer
• UX designer/developer
• Web designer
• Web developer
• Interaction designer/developer
• QA tester

This one-year General Arts and Science - Introduction to Fine Art Ontario College Certificate program gives you hands-on training in an art studio setting. It introduces you to possible careers and education pathways in the arts and culture sector. Build a diverse set of basic technical skills while gaining practical experience with:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Printmaking
• Sculpting
• Digital media

You also learn essential business skills that are necessary when working as a professional artist. Additionally, you learn about trends and topics in art history, as well as contemporary art theory and practices.

You receive an Ontario College Certificate in General Arts and Science - One Year, with a concentration in Introduction to Fine Art. Using the portfolios you have created, you can apply to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program at the university level. You can also continue your education at Algonquin College programs such as:

• Gaphic Design
• Photography
• Applied Museum Studies
• Interior Decorating
• or in Year II of Algonquin College`s General Arts and Science Ontario College Diploma program.

Should you decide to enter the workforce, this certificate demonstrates to employers that you have the ability to learn at a post-secondary, you are committed to a career in the arts, and you possess critical thinking skills.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Develop, through general knowledge gained in a wide range of subjects, insight into both self and society.
• Develop flexibility and clarity of both thought and expression in order to develop communications competence to a level required by business and industry.
• Understand and utilize critical thinking processes and problem-solving techniques.
• Examine and evaluate various aspects of our changing society to assist in developing a sense of personal and social responsibility as a citizen in society.
• Employ basic vocational skills drawn from the areas of the Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences or Vocational Studies (Business, Technology).

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)

Sharpen your skills in world-class culinary labs

This one-year Culinary Skills Ontario College Certificate program teaches you the cutting-edge skills you need to succeed in the high-growth culinary industry. Learn essential food preparation skills and techniques from industry professionals in Algonquin College`s world-class culinary labs. Topics include nutrition and food theory, food cost control, menu planning and sanitation and safety procedures.

The hands-on experience and knowledge you gain opens many doors for you and helps to shape your career as a professional cook.

Some classes are held in the evening and on the weekend in Restaurant International, Algonquin College`s on-campus fine-dining restaurant, to give you a taste of your career before graduation.

Expand your real-world experience and make industry connections with an 80-hour field placement. With opportunities to participate in community events, culinary competitions and activities, you have many opportunities to refine your skills and gain further experience. You also have the exciting opportunity to experience food and culture abroad in Italy, if you choose to participate in the annual culinary trip.

The skills you gain may open doors to your culinary career as cooks or assistant cooks in:

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Resorts
• Clubs
• Cruise ships
• Catering companies

The Technical Writer Ontario College Graduate Certificate program provides you with the skills and training needed for a career in technical communication. Throughout this one-year program, you create different types of workplace documents to help users enjoy all features of a product, service or information. In particular, you learn to:

• Research and analyze technical material
• Connect with an intended audience
• Use specialized tools to author documents
• Manage multiple projects to meet the goals of a group
• Create structured documents that cater to different user tasks

These skills are so highly prized in the workplace that you can choose to work in either the public or the private sector, and in a freelance, part-time or full-time capacity.

The Technical Writer program will teach you how to create different kinds of online and print documents such as instruction sets, training materials, user manuals, white papers, proposals, online help, instructional videos and podcasts.

Through a combination of real-world learning, group projects, and collaborative learning activities, you can confidently apply these skills in all areas of industry including manufacturing, health and medicine, government, high-tech and private training institutions.

Cooperative education (Co-op)
Cooperative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience though 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.

Build your career potential with an in-depth understanding of building and construction

Architectural Technology is the third year of an Ontario College Advanced Diploma program that prepares you for a career in the architectural profession and the construction industry. The program gives you the credentials, the knowledge and the skills necessary to further define your career. Graduates of the two-year Architectural Technician Ontario College Diploma program may consider taking the third year, Architectural Technology program to build on their previous studies.

In the Architectural Technology program, you focus on commercial construction and large buildings, as defined in the Ontario Building Code. You participate in a team project that brings together all facets of building construction, including:

• Design and technical resolution with the integration of building and material detailing
• Structural and mechanical layout design for a commercial building assembly
• Revit Architecture is used to execute the design and technical resolution for the project. 

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.

Graduates of this program may find work with:

• Architects` offices
• Contractors in multiple sectors
• Engineering offices
• Building materials sales representatives
• Municipal offices such as the City of Ottawa
• Federal and provincial agencies dealing with construction
• Drafting service offices using AutoCAD and Revit
• Real estate and facilities management companies
• Companies that provide construction, maintenance, and planning services 

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.