Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Studies - Human-Centred Design

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

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.

Bring your drawing skills to life through acting and storytelling

The three-year Animation Ontario College Advanced Diploma program provides you with the skills needed to meet the standards of the demanding international animation industry. As a student attending one of the best animation programs in Canada (as ranked by Animation Career Review, 2019), you learn industry-standard technologies, drawing and animation skills.

This program focuses on acting and body mechanics and where you learn traditional, 3D, tradigital (using Toon Boom`s Harmony) and video game animation techniques. Our faculty members are industry professionals who have worked for studios such as:

• Disney
• Sony Image Works
• Mercury Filmworks
• Jam Filled Entertainment
• Warner Bros. Animation
• Corus (Nelvana)
• Pip
• Kratts
• Ubisoft

Gain the ability to communicate your ideas through drawing, and to present them visually. Learn to see images in motion - a skill necessary for an animator, and ensure your animated creations are realistic and meet industry standards.

Focus is on layout, location and character design, gesture drawing and anatomy studies of the NUDE model, all culminating in performance-based character animation.

By the end of the program, you have a portfolio and demo reel that showcases your work. This highlights your creativity, skills and proficiency with relevant animation software and technologies, demonstrating that you are ready to enter the field.

There are many job opportunities for graduates of this program. You may find work as a(n):

• Animator at a professional animation or game studio
• Layout artist
• Location or character designer
• 3D animator, rigger or modeller
• Background artist
• Tradigital rigger or modeller

Other employment opportunities might include working on feature films, animated TV series or commercials.

Massage Therapy is a three-year Ontario College Advanced Diploma program that prepares students with the required skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to offer safe, ethical and effective care at entry level practice in the profession of massage therapy. The foundation of the program is based on the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics given by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) and the curriculum focuses on developing in the students the skills of pathophysiology, entrepreneurship, professionalism, empathic responses, anatomy, decision making, massage theory, critical thinking, communication and physiology.  Students develop specialized knowledge, skills and judgment in conducting a systematic client assessment, formulating a comprehensive and clinical impression, developing a specific treatment plan, performing safe, competent, and comprehensive massage therapy and evaluating outcomes.

The Social Service Worker (Intensive) program, comprised of three terms, is an accelerated model of the two-year Social Service Worker program. This program is available for students who have completed prior post-secondary education in a related field (six courses in psychology, anthropology, and/or sociology).

Through theory and practical experiences, the program prepares you to support a wide range of client groups and communities who are in the process of change or growth, including those impacted by issues such as:

• loss and separation
• family crisis
• poverty
• violence
• homelessness
• addiction
• disability
• unemployment
• oppression
• resettlement issues

As a student, you complete one field placement experience totaling more than 350 hours. You identify, practice and incorporate theoretical knowledge at a level that provides top client service. As well, you strengthen the bond between yourself and the community by participating in various applied research projects and direct practice opportunities. With these opportunities, you are ready to work on the front line of social services.

Graduates may secure employment as Social Service Workers in provincial, municipal and private social service agencies including:

• drop-in centres
• employment services
• addiction and mental health services
• schools and youth services
• community health and resource centres
• shelters
• residential treatment programs

International Business is one of seven majors available to Business Administration students. The three-year Business Administration Ontario College Advanced Diploma starts with three semesters where you learn essential business skills to build a strong foundation before ultimately deciding on a Major.

The Business Administration - International Business program provides you with a wide range of international business skills, to pursue a career in the growing competitive global marketplace. This comprehensive program covers all aspects of international trade, and provides you with the confidence and expertise to be successful whether you work in government or as an international entrepreneur and a business leader in the global community.

Through activities, projects and case studies, you are fully immersed in the international business environment, including:

• International marketing
• Research
• Business plan development and management
• Supply chain management
• Law
• Market-entry strategies
• Finance

The two-year Architectural Technician Ontario College Diploma program teaches you the skills and techniques to enter a career in the architecture and construction fields.

Your professors are industry professionals who provide you with a learning experience from the construction industry and the architectural profession, enabling you to be successful in your academic and professional ventures.

Begin the program with a focus on residential construction, and progress to studying commercial construction. Develop skills related to all facets of building construction, including design and technical resolution with the integration of building and material detailing.

As a student in this program, you have the opportunity to study a variety of practical topics, using both applied and theoretical learning, and a project-based, integrated studies approach. Courses include:

• Working Drawings
• Methods and Materials of Construction
• Codes and Standards
• AutoCAD
• Revit
• Visual Communications
• Design
• Environmental Systems

Accredited by the Canadian Medical Association, the Medical Radiation Technology offered by Algonquin College is a three year Ontario College Advanced Diploma that prepares graduates with the technical skills and the theoretical knowledge required to carry out diagnostic procedures under the role of a medical radiation technologist as mentioned by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists Radiological Technology competency profile.

Problem-solving skills and critical thinking is developed in the students so that they can quickly adapt the knowledge into clinical practices to provide safe patient assessment and therapeutic and diagnostic skills in consistency with the best standards of practice for the medical radiation technology. With the simulation, extensive clinical experiences, theoretical courses and laboratory practice, the students acquire sufficient ability to produce quality images of the internal structures of the human body.

Become a Powerline Technician

This two-year Powerline Technician Ontario College Diploma program prepares you with the skills you need to succeed as a powerline technician in Ontario. Begin by learning electrical basics and move on to design, planning, construction and maintenance of distribution lines.

You will learn:

• How to use AutoCAD to design structures in 2D and 3D
• About electrical machinery and metering
• How to develop essential safety skills and knowledge
• About practice rigging
• How to design overhead and underground power installations 

Starting in the second term, you begin spending one day per week at the Hydro Ottawa partner site located on Bank Street in Ottawa. There you learn climbing, rigging and other hands-on skills you can apply throughout your career.

To ensure the safety of all students, you must complete a Working at Heights training session before you begin training at Hydro Ottawa.

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 be able to work as a powerline technician with electric power generation, and transmission and distribution companies, or pursue a career with electrical contractors and public utility commissions.   
 

The program spans over a period of one year and is focused on those who wish to improve the current global situations via advanced knowledge and application of sustainable building strategies. During the course, the students enhance their understanding of building technology, construction and design from their prior experience/education.

The course curriculum includes courses in methods and materials designed to lessen the reliance on fossil fuels and harness the energy resources of water, wind and the sun and offer sustainable energy conservation improvements. The students are introduced to a variety of design technologies and strategies that make buildings healthier and livable for people, reduce environmental impact, manage material resources and conserve energy in an economical way. 

The graduates of the course can find jobs with design and construction firms, architectural, engineering, government agencies, Green building consultants and related disciplines.

The two-year Electrical Engineering Technician Ontario College Diploma program provides you with the essential knowledge and skills sought by employers in the industry. Develop skills in the design, installation, maintenance and repair of electrical systems from cable loops, phone and fire suppression systems to robotics and machinery.

Through a series of theory courses and extensive practical labs, you learn to use scientific and engineering principles, including:

• Foundation of electrical principles, codes and regulations
• How to design, install and troubleshoot electromagnetic controls, electrical machinery and programmable controllers
• The different instrumentation options available and the applicable use for them
• An understanding of robotics and controls as well as industrial telecommunications
• Critical thinking skills and an understanding of the environmental impact of technology
• AutoCAD and applications
• The different infrastructure requirements of distributed electrical systems or fire alarm system codes and standards, installation and maintenance
• Fundamentals of mathematics, calculus, technical communications for engineers, programming and computer applications
• Project management and leadership skills

OACETT (Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists) recognizes this program as meeting the academic requirements for certification in the Certified Technician (C.Tech) category. While a student, you are encouraged to register as an Associate member of OACETT.

Graduates of the Electrical Engineering Technician program may pursue the Electrical Engineering Technology Ontario College Advanced Diploma to further open career options in the electrical engineering field. The advanced diploma also creates an opportunity to transfer into year 3 of the Electrical Engineering program at Lakehead University.

This program prepares you to work in a wide variety of careers in the electrical industry, including in areas such as electrical testing and maintenance, manufacturing and electrical automation.

Graduates may work in the electrical engineering field as a(n):

• Electrical designer
• Electrical technician/technologist electrical engineering technologist
• Robotics technician
• Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) technician
• Automation engineering technologist
• control/automation technician
• Instrument Technician