Advanced Diploma in Journalism in Mass Media/Journalism

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

The two-semester General Certificate pathway provides students with a high degree of choice and flexibility. This program is designed for students who are looking to determine their long-term academic or career goals as well as students who have specific academic/career pathways beyond the other General Arts and Science pathways. Students can earn credit towards other Durham College programs. The General Certificate provides opportunities to refine essential academic skills and develop the foundational knowledge needed to help ensure success in subsequent post-secondary studies. This program also allows students to familiarize themselves with post-secondary life, expectations, surroundings, and opportunities.

This program was developed with input from veterans in the digital entertainment industry and continues to garner enthusiastic support from studios and professional artists across the country. Our industry trained professors are ready to share their knowledge and experience with you. The focus of this hands-on program is to develop and hone your skills as a digital artist through project-based learning and instruction.

You will explore environment and level design, employing modelling, surfacing, lighting techniques and special effects in industry leading real-time engines. All of your work will be supported by a strong foundation in animation for games, technical art, and concept art.

You will gain a solid base in the skills needed to explore new technology and software with confidence including courses in:

• Preproduction design
• Traditional drawing and digital illustration
• Game asset creation employing industry current techniques
• Demo reel production and online portfolio development

Industry context is also strongly emphasized though the use of production pipelines and studio simulation. As a graduate, you will enter the industry with strong technical and creative ability, a realistic understanding of the world of game production and a keen sense of professionalism.

Accredited by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO), this program qualifies graduates to apply to write the LSO’s licensing examination, successful completion of which qualifies the graduate to become an LSO member as a professional, licensed paralegal. Unique to Ontario, the paralegal profession was established to provide affordable legal representation and access to the justice system for people who find themselves facing charges under provincial law or some Criminal Code provisions; those who require legal assistance in dealing with government agencies and tribunals in areas such as human rights, social assistance, immigration and workers compensation; and those who are embroiled in disputes involving residential tenancies or small claims court.

Whether you provide paralegal services in your own professional capacity, as a member of a law or paralegal firm, or as an employee of a government agency, your passion and integrity combined with extensive skills and knowledge, will make you the ideal legal representative for those challenged by the law.

Accredited by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO), this program qualifies graduates to apply to write the LSO’s licensing examination, successful completion of which qualifies the graduate to become an LSO member as a professional, licensed paralegal. Unique to Ontario, the paralegal profession was established to provide affordable legal representation and access to the justice system for people who find themselves facing charges under provincial law or some Criminal Code provisions; those who require legal assistance in dealing with government agencies and tribunals in areas such as human rights, social assistance, immigration and workers compensation; and those who are embroiled in disputes involving residential tenancies or small claims court. 

Whether you provide paralegal services in your own professional capacity, as a member of a law or paralegal firm, or as an employee of a government agency, your passion and integrity combined with extensive skills and knowledge, will make you the ideal legal representative for those challenged by the law.

Put your imagination to work in the exciting world of animation. You could be working on the latest TV series or animated feature, animating a triple-A game or doing visual effects for a Hollywood blockbuster. This challenging 3D and 2D digital animation program focuses on character performance and storytelling, supported by modelling and rigging, cinematics, lighting, surfacing, and design. The production pipeline and career paths are studied in depth. This diverse program of study will ensure you can handle any professional challenge in the animation, visual effects or games industries.

The Animation – Digital Production program was developed with input from veterans in the animation, games and visual effects industries and continues to garner enthusiastic support from studios and professional artists across the country. All of our professors come from industry, ready to share their knowledge and experience with students. This challenging 3D and 2D digital animation program focuses on character performance and storytelling, supported by modelling and rigging, cinematics, lighting, surfacing and design.

The production pipeline and career paths will be studied in depth. This diverse program of study will ensure you can handle any professional challenge in the animation, visual effects and games industries.

From recruitment and selection to training and development, a career in human resources (HR) requires a focus on both strategy and people. Skill, knowledge and ability in human resource planning, occupational health and safety, compensation, hiring, employee development, labour relations and managerial accounting enable HR professionals to contribute to business success in an increasingly competitive global marketplace while looking after the organization’s most important asset – its employees.

As a successful graduate of this program you will qualify for approved credit towards the academic component of the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation granted by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). Students who receive an average grade of 70 per cent in these courses and maintain a minimum grade of 65 per cent in each course meet the coursework requirements to write the Comprehensive Knowledge Exams – a significant step towards becoming a CHRP. Please visit www.hrpa.ca for full details.

Revenues for the global esports industry are projected to exceed $1 billion in 2019 and are closely mirroring those of established, mainstream professional sports leagues, including the NBA, NFL and NHL. In turn, the demand for skilled esports business professionals and the number of career opportunities in the field are growing at an exceptionally fast rate. This program will prepare students from a variety of backgrounds to successfully transition into the high-growth field of esports. Graduates emerge as highly skilled professionals possessing a unique combination of expertise in online marketing, copyright law, licensing, sponsorship, event management, content creation and much more. In addition to the tactical skills needed to support and generate revenue within the esports ecosystem, graduates possess deep understanding of gaming culture, including players, fans and the games themselves, which are vital to growing a successful career in this exciting field.

For students who want the best of both worlds, this joint Durham College and Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech) diploma-to-degree program will enable you to earn your diploma and degree in only four years. Regardless of industry, supply chain and operations management is at the heart of every business, which is why the skills developed in this program are in such high demand. Faced with an increasingly global business world, employers are actively seeking our graduates for their job-ready skills in complex problem solving, analytics, decision-making and communications. Students with an interest in business who enjoy making things better and are drawn to the idea of no two work days ever being the same will thrive in this field. Graduates enter the workforce ready to take the diverse, exciting, and rewarding career opportunities that are currently outpacing the professionals available to fill them.

In this program, you will develop knowledge of business processes and management tools to develop demand forecasts; evaluate suppliers’ capabilities to ethically source purchased goods and services; use technology, including SAP® and Microsoft Excel; and develop supply chain plans and schedules to efficiently produce goods or services that meet quality expectations and the needs of the global markets. You will also learn industry-standard practices including Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Just-in-Time, and Lean Principles. Led by knowledgeable faculty with strong ties to industry, this program also provides many opportunities for real-world learning experiences through the design of the curriculum.  You will have the opportunity to earn additional credentials in your program to help you stand out to employers in a competitive market. You can earn the following globally recognized certificates by taking Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams as part of your computer courses:

• Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Associate (COMP1209)
• Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (COMP1209)
• Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (COMP2209)
• Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (COMP 2206)

Accounting is often referred to as the universal language of business. Durham College’s Accounting – Business program is the next step towards a career in the field of accounting. Learning from industry-connected professors, you will develop your knowledge of accounting using the latest tools and technology in order to gain the skills employers need. You will be exposed to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50 and Profile. You will also have the opportunity to earn Microsoft Office specialist certifications

Used in a wide variety of organizations, accounting involves measuring business activities; processing information into financial reports and statements; and communicating information to the appropriate decision-makers. To meet the wide range of accounting employment opportunities, Durham College incorporates a variety of simulations into the courses to help prepare students for the workplace. Students will be exposed to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50, Profile and will have the opportunity to receive Microsoft Office specialist certifications. Courses include:

• Business Mathematics
• Communication
• Computerized Accounting and Excel
• Managerial Accounting
• Financial Accounting
• Personal Taxation

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Record financial transactions in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships, private enterprises, publicly accountable enterprises, and non-profit organizations.
• Prepare and present financial statements, reports, and other documents in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and private enterprises.
• Contribute to recurring decision-making by applying fundamental management accounting concepts.
• Prepare individuals’ income tax returns and basic tax planning in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
• Analyze organizational structures, the interdependence of functional areas, and the impact those relationships can have on financial performance.
• Analyze, within a Canadian content, the impact of economic variables, legislation, ethics, technological advances, and the environment on an organization’s operations.
• Outline the elements of an organization’s internal control system and risk management.
• Contribute to recurring decision-making by applying fundamental financial management concepts

Students in this program explore the nature of creative storytelling by writing, shooting and editing documentaries, short narratives and corporate videos. As you become technically proficient and critically informed, you’ll tap into the power of video to capture the compelling stories of our time, and create fictional stories in fictional worlds. Learn camera operation, composition, lighting, sound design, post-production, and the entrepreneurial skills needed to operate a small video production business.

The Video Production program will prepare you for a career in the exciting world of film, video and television. You will be introduced to:

• Basic principles of electronic field production
• Composition
• Lighting
• Principles of camera operation
• Sound design
• Studio production
• Video editing

The program will also help you develop an editing practice that is technically proficient and critically informed in addition to learning how to:

• Build and design a portfolio suitable for various markets
• Price, estimate and invoice assignments
• Protect your copyright
• Register and operate a small video production business.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific hardware and software requirements for this program  click here.