Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

The four-year Bachelor of Building Science (Honours) degree program is designed to give you a broad knowledge base related to building environments. It covers all facets of building design, construction, human comfort and sustainability. It is Canada`s only Bachelor of Building Science program.

The small class sizes of the program allow you and your peers to form tight-knit working groups and build effective communication skills necessary to succeed in the industry. You will send approximately one third of your time working in the labs, developing your skills. You also have the opportunity to gain industry experience from the site visits, professors who are actively working in the field, and two mandatory paid cooperative education (co-op) terms.

As a student in the program, you learn skills specific to architecture, construction methodologies, building enveloped, sustainability and other areas such as:

• Science and engineering principles, professionalism and methodologies
• Fundamentals of mathematics, technical writing, computer applications
• Building frames and structures, geotechnical engineering, and materials science
• Sustainable design, botany, renewable energy, urban planning and building information modeling
• Business fundamentals, project planning and management, research and leadership skills

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Integrate sustainable building practices and alternative energy solutions and present options that balance client specifications, site conditions, and human factors.
• Use sound, acceptable engineering principles for the solution and documentation of situations encountered during the construction or rehabilitation of buildings.
• Communicate effectively with all project stakeholders.
• Read, interpret, and, with direction, modify documents related to building plans, including working drawings that involve structural, electrical, and mechanical features.
• Formulate strategies for the efficient and effective commissioning and operation of buildings and building systems.
• Evaluate the practical applications of primary and secondary theoretical research related to existing and emerging construction methods and materials.
• Analyze, test, and comment on the functionality of alternative structural, mechanical, and electrical solutions proposed for integration in both new projects and renovations.
• Contribute to the on-going economic viability of construction and engineering projects through the application of principles of estimating, accounting, and cost controls.
• Facilitate partnerships and productive interactions within project teams that involve knowledge-workers and skilled trade workers.
• Ensure work, activities, and practice are in compliance with established ethical and professional standards, as well as local, provincial, and national legislation.
• Adapt to changes in employment requirements through the development, implementation, and updating of professional and personal development plans.
• Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

If you have a recognized Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology or Civil Engineering Technology, you may be eligible to enter the third year of study. If you have a recognized Diploma in Architectural Technician, Construction Engineering Technician, or an Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology you may be eligible to enter into the second year with advanced standing. See the Bachelor of Building Science (Honours) Entry into Level 5 and Bachelor of Building Science (Honours) Entry into Level 3 bridging programs for details.

With this one-year General Arts and Science - Justice Studies Ontario College Certificate program, expand your knowledge related to the justice, legal or law enforcement fields. Take courses in criminology, the Canadian criminal justice system and politics. Explore social sciences in courses such as pscyhology, sociology, addiction and human relations.

You receive an Ontario College Certificate in General Arts and Science - One Year, with a concentration in Justice Studies. This certificate prepares you to be successful in other Algonquin College programs, some of which include:

• Police Foundations
• Community and Justice Services
• Law Clerk

This one-year Design foundation Ontario College Certificate allows you to develop fundamental design skills and to explore a range of design-related disciplines, in order to discover where your strengths and interests lie.

Throughout the program, you develop foundational knowledge and skills used in a variety of design elements such as:

• Principles of design and layout
• Typography
• Drawing and sketching
• Perspective
• Colour theory
• 3D structure
• Time management
• Web design
• Industry-standard software.

You explore your own aptitudes and interests through research and a speaker series of professionals, to help determine which area of design best suits you. Your work accumulates into a portfolio that represents your best design and artwork, which can be used to apply for future programs of study. An annual showcase provides an opportunity to exhibit your portfolio and interact with industry professionals, peers and the community.

Launch your legal career

In the two-year Law Clerk Ontario College Diploma program, you study a broad range of legal topics and processes to prepare you for a career as a legal assistant or law clerk.

This program prepares you for administrative work in an office environment where you work independently under the general direction of a lawyer, or as part of a legal services team. Learn from dedicated faculty who ensure that your skills surpass industry standards.

As a student, you develop and practise the skills that are essential for a successful career, including:

• paying attention to details and independently following instructions
• organizing client files and managing deadlines
• interviewing clients
• performing general office procedures
• working with legal software to compile information and prepare documents
• compiling evidence and documentation
• maintaining corporate documents and filings
• entering data in legal forms and drafting routine correspondence
• preparing briefs
• learning about family, estates, civil litigation, corporate, administrative and real estate law practices
• engaging in civil litigation and research

Benefit from the ability to participate in an off-site field placement or in an in-class workplace simulation. These experiences give you real-world experience and an opportunity to practise your skills.

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 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.

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.

Start your music industry career sooner by learning the world of audio production and the business of music.

With a condensed format of 42 weeks, the Music Industry Arts Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to start your music industry career sooner. You learn how to work as a producer, engineer or music professional in today`s music industry.

As a student, you produce multi-track recordings in a real studio environment where you learn the full range of audio engineering and music production skills.

Although the primary focus is on audio production, the program also has a significant focus on the business side of the music industry. Explore:

• Legal contracts
• Copyright issues
• Royalties
• Music publishing

Discover the inner workings of recording and the business of music, which could help you further your music career. Experienced, industry-connected faculty prepare you to budget, schedule and prepare a business plan for a recording project.

During the program, you work in small studio lab classes to gain hands-on experience in the recording studio with guidance from an instructor. Individual time in the studio lets you experience what it is like to control your own recording session. You can use this time for your own projects, mastering the equipment or applying techniques learned in class.

There are many different career paths in the industry after graduation. You may find employment as:

• A performing artist or songwriter
• An audio engineer
• A producer
• A personal manager
• A music publisher
• A concert promoter

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.

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.