Certificate in Design Foundations

at Conestoga College - Doon Campus Canada

This two-year diploma program will prepare graduates for a number of progressive careers in the diverse field of recreation and leisure services. Throughout the program, students will experience active learning opportunities that connect theory and practice through in-class projects, community connections, and practice placements, making learning engaging and meaningful. As champions of recreation and leisure services, students will provide leadership in designing, implementing, and evaluating inclusive programs for diverse populations (children, youth, adults and seniors). Through social entrepreneurship, students will enhance community wellness, research-informed practices, professional leadership, and interprofessional collaboration.

The two-year Office Administration - Legal program provides students with a specialization in legal administrative procedures and processes to meet the needs of an increasingly global and technologically advancing legal industry. 

In the first year, students build strong technological, administrative, and communication skills, and are introduced to office procedures specific to the legal environment. Students begin their legal studies with an introduction to civil litigation and legal accounting.

In the second year, students continue to apply substantive and procedural law to the production of legal documentation in the areas of family law, litigation, real estate, wills and estates, and corporate law. Students receive extensive administrative training, with an emphasis on problem-solving skills, by completing client files and accounting procedures, integrating a variety of current computer programs and specialized legal software.

Throughout the program, students are exposed to a wide variety of hands-on practical applications with an emphasis on organizational, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As a capstone to the program, students showcase their skills by completing a 90-hour work placement.

If you are attracted to modern manufacturing technologies and enjoy working with machines, this skills-based program will appeal to you. It prepares you for entry into the tool and die/tool maker skilled trade or related career in the manufacturing sector, including apprenticeship. You will learn the high-precision hand fitting, positioning, aligning and assembly techniques involved in the production of stamping dies. Also, the program incorporates a number of months of paid co-op education work, and covers all the learning outcomes for Level 1 and Level 2 of the related apprenticeship program in Ontario. As a graduate of this program, you may not be required to complete the in-school apprenticeship training or take an exemption exam for Levels 1 and 2 should you choose to pursue a tool and die maker apprenticeship. The optional co-op stream includes two back-to-back co-op work terms.

Applying to the Co-op Stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Every student who meets academic eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum 65% session weighted average as well as successful completion of Precision Machining Theory I (MACH1940) and Precision Machining Practice I (MACH1955).
• Students who are not admitted into the Co-op stream or students in the non-co-op stream will have co-op semesters off instead of participating in co-op work terms. These off semesters enable students to gain part-time or full-time work or volunteer experience to build their resume and/or can catch up on academic work if scheduling permits.

Co-op Information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn while you apply what you learn in a real workplace environment. See the Co-op webpages.
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

Imagine pursuing your passion in the highly creative profession of visual merchandising. Visual merchandising is 'marketing' and 'branding' - designing and creating visuals to sell a product or service. It is the process of creating an inviting and interactive environment for the consumer utilizing a variety of mediums.

You will study fashion trend forecasting, costume design, colour theory, prop-making, drawing and painting, event planning, mannequin detailing, photography, graphic design, scale modeling, planograms, window display and commercial merchandising. This two-year diploma program focuses on project-based, hands-on learning for the creative problem solver! You will use cutting edge industry software to design three dimensional spaces and planograms.

If you are passionate about design and decorating spaces, you will enjoy learning the latest skills in our state-of-the-art studio complete with a 'retail store' within the space. Use your natural creative talent and experience the many opportunities to design and display your work within the community.

A field placement opportunity is provided to gain industry career experience before graduating, most often leading to full-time positions in the field of visual display and merchandising.
Conestoga is the only college offering Visual Merchandising Arts graduates the opportunity to earn a second two-year diploma in Interior Decorating in just one year! Successful students become even more marketable, capable of designing for both commercial interiors and home interiors!

Conestoga’s Media Foundations program helps you build a broad media skill set for online and broadcast media giving you an opportunity to explore areas of creative industries and to find your passion. Whether you want to be a photographer, multimedia content creator, producer, visual storyteller or a marketing and communications expert, and are not sure where to start, this one-year certificate program can help you build a solid practical and theoretical grounding in creativity, technology, media-related processes, and professionalism. Over two semesters, faculty with current industry experience will provide guidance as you generate ideas, write, present, capture images, and use online and social media platforms to strengthen your storytelling skills. You will work on both individual and collaborative team projects, using industry standard software and technology, giving you an opportunity to build a competitive portfolio of original work. Media Foundations prepares you for further education in various Creative Industries programs, such as Broadcast Radio, Broadcasting-Television and Independent Production, Journalism, Advertising and Marketing Communications.

This two-year diploma program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to practice evidence-informed hearing healthcare and to function as an integral member of the interprofessional health- care team. Graduates of the program will have demonstrated the necessary patient-focused skills to manage the needs of the hard of hearing. The program provides a rich learning environment that utilizes classroom education, laboratory simulation, various interprofessional exercises, and clinical exposure to hone competency. The course work is designed to ensure the student is capable to assess hearing and provide hearing patients with appropriate rehabilitation options – in particular, the selection and fitting of today’s technologically-advanced hearing aids. Additionally, the course work will prepare the student to manage minor hearing aid and earmold repairs and modifications. It will prepare students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and critical thinking ability for proficiency within a hearing healthcare environment. After successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to write national/provincial examinations and to complete 1000 hours of supervised internship through the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners (AHIP).

The Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness (OHSW) graduate program provides a focused body of knowledge and skills for individuals interested in developing and building their knowledge and skills in occupational health, safety and wellness. In today's work environment, a balance of work and personal wellness is critical from both the personal and organizational perspective. The workplace is a priority target setting for health promotion initiatives as set out by the World Health Organization, with the end goals of protecting and promoting both individual and organizational well-being. Therefore, employers are required to manage occupational health, safety and wellness from a legal perspective, and have moral and ethical imperatives to do so. Additionally, there is an economic advantage to employers who seek to maximize productivity and engagement in the workplace since healthy workers are more productive, more engaged, and have lower absenteeism and presenteeism rates.

The program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in how occupational health, safety and wellness initiatives can be developed and implemented in businesses and organizations to address these imperatives. Students will research and analyze existing health, safety and wellness trends and utilize that research to develop programs that address health, safety and wellness concerns within the workplace.

Quality Assurance - Manufacturing and Management
Today’s manufacturing sector requires highly skilled individuals with in-depth knowledge of current quality assurance, problem solving, and management practices. If you have the desire to be part of a quality movement, and want hands-on experience with the tools to support your career goals, then this program will be of interest to you. This two-semester Quality Assurance Manufacturing and Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate will provide you with the knowledge and techniques to improve the delivery and quality of goods and services. This program focuses on the use of modern quality improvement and problem solving methods that support the achievement of performance excellence in manufacturing and associated business processes. A combination of theoretical and practical learning opportunities will prepare you for a variety of management and quality focused career opportunities.

Project Management
Learn how to manage simple to complex projects from start to finish, and become a critical part of an organization’s most exciting achievements. Develop the skills you need to oversee project management activities such as planning, managing scope, costs, time while balancing client expectations. Learn organizational Agility with practices such as Scrum. Establish goals for your project team and lead them to overcome obstacles to achieve success, meeting stakeholders needs. Earn project management education hours towards a variety of certifications: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Scrum Master (ASM), Risk Management Professional (RMP), or Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) designations. Interested in taking this program on a part-time basis? It's possible to complete this program while still working full-time and fulfilling your other commitments.

Working within the payroll function of an organization requires a diverse set of skills along with specific knowledge of bookkeeping, payroll, and legislative applications to ensure all aspects of the accounting and payroll cycles and compliance elements are met. This two-year Ontario College diploma program provides the necessary skills and knowledge to perform effectively in entry-level bookkeeping positions as well as providing a solid knowledge of the payroll functions within organizations and the skills to perform the payroll and accounting tasks for manual and computerized systems. This program will also look at industry trends and best practices related to the compensation, benefits, and payroll functions within organizations. Topics addressed will include the payroll cycle and related calculations, how to work with agencies to ensure compliance with all legislative and government requirements, and documentation processes. Graduates will gain a solid foundation of the payroll functions within organizations and will be able to perform payroll functions for various organizations working with specific accounting systems and processes utilized in Canadian businesses. As well, graduates will provide valuable contributions to the interpersonal dynamics of an organization based on their knowledge of organizational planning and operations. Graduates that achieve Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) minimum grade requirements will be eligible to become a certified Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) with just 12 months of related work experience (8 months for co-op graduates). This designation ensures you have the payroll compliance knowledge and skills you need to succeed, helps you command a higher starting salary, and opens the doors for future advancement. When you get certified, you join a growing community of supportive professionals and gain access to the resources you need to stay current and compliant. Graduates will also have completed the 3 transfer credits required for the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) certification which is the next step for PCP certification holders looking to enter a management position. Graduates will only need to complete 2 further payroll courses with CPA and demonstrate 2 years of work experience, being responsible for the payroll function of an organization. CPM certification provides the valuable payroll compliance and management skills needed to advance.

In just eight months, graduates of the Medical Office Practices certificate are prepared to confidently assume front-line roles within the growing community-based health services field. This unique program provides coursework in health care terminology, medical, dental and alternative office management, medical billing, insurance and bookkeeping procedures, and introductory medical transcription. This strong foundation of medical office procedures, coupled with courses in effective communication strategies and the latest computer applications ensures that graduates are in-demand in a wide variety of health care settings.

Students who successfully complete this certificate may apply to the second year of the Health Office Administration diploma with advanced standing.