Advanced Diploma in Public Relations and Strategic Communications

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

With a unique combination of business skills and a solid understanding of the sport industry, sport managers oversee professional and amateur athletes and teams; co-ordinate sporting events; and work behind the scenes at some of the biggest sporting venues in the world.

As Canada’s longest-running college sport management program, our team will prepare you to excel in an administrative or management role in the business of sport. Our program focuses on developing skills related to all aspects of the Canadian sports scene. When you complete the program, you will be prepared to enter into specific sport-related fields by applying the knowledge, experiential learning and concepts gained inside and outside of the classroom.

The program begins with coursework in fundamental business skills and sport industry understanding, progressing to more advanced applications and hands-on learning experiences in the subsequent semesters. Concluding the third year, you will have the opportunity to complete a full-semester (500-hour) field placement available in collaboration with industry partners.

In addition to formal classroom work, this program offers numerous volunteer and networking opportunities, an overnight leadership camp in the third year and a variety of experiential learning options to prepare you for this chosen career.

Please note: After completing two years of sport study you may choose to graduate with a diploma in Sport Administration.

If you hold a three-year diploma or degree with an overall average of 65 per cent or higher, you may wish to explore the two-semester Sport Business Management graduate certificate program.

From touchscreen applications and websites to motion design and video, interactive media designers create the User Experience (UX). In this cutting-edge program, students learn to design and produce illustrations, photography, infographics and animations for anything interactive. Graduates of this program become skilled compositors, able to create motion graphics, virtual environments and integrated media content.

Most consumer products are created in a laboratory or industrial setting where the quality of the raw materials is monitored. Chemical laboratory technicians work in a supporting role using testing methodologies to assure quality with chemical manufacturers, pharmaceutical and food ingredient companies, energy producers and the emerging green product sector. One of the few two-year science-based diploma programs at Ontario colleges, the Chemical Laboratory Technician program will provide you with foundational knowledge in many different disciplines to open the door to the career of your dreams.

Students spend almost half of their course time in the laboratories, learning to operate state-of-the-art analytical instruments such as gas chromatographs, atomic absorption spectrometers and fluorometers, while building core wet chemistry skills. Once you have successfully completed the first year, or the entire two-year diploma, there is also the opportunity to specialize towards a specific industry by completing the remaining coursework for some of our three-year advanced diplomas.

This program will provide you with the ability and confidence to seek opportunities and provide support within the dynamic world of engineering, including the automotive, energy generation, construction and manufacturing sectors. Your future role may steer you towards a career in industrial design, metal and non-metal fabrication including machining or technical support. Students train and explore in our premier advanced automation facility through an experiential learning path that engages them with real-world controllers, operator touch screens, industrial networks, robotics and more.

This program will appeal to you if you prefer hands-on experience and like technology. You will learn to create computer-aided drawing (CAD) models of machine parts and assemblies, program computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software and manufacture designs using computer numerical control (CNC) code. The program is taught in up to date laboratories, utilizing the latest design software and manufacturing and testing equipment.

From the manufacturing and production to power generation and oil and gas industries, employment opportunities exist in:

• Engineering design and drafting
• Installation
• Manufacturing
• Product/system testing
• Operating
• Quality management and evaluation
• Technical sales
• Servicing of mechanical systems

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 Supply Chain and Operations Management 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 a globally recognized credential – Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel Certification to help you stand out to employers in a competitive market.

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

Supply chain and operations management is the core functional area of any business. Supply chain and operations managers obtain, develop and manage the resources required to deliver goods and services to clients. This includes contributing to key decisions involving:

• Purchasing/Procurement
• Operations planning and scheduling
• Supply chain management
• Quality assurance
• Facilities management
• Inventory management
• Transportation, distribution and logistics

Whether it’s a small business or a large publicly traded corporation, accounting professionals are needed in all areas of the economy, in both the public and private sectors. Our program is taught by industry-connected professors who will give you the skills and knowledge to excel in the field. You will learn how to apply the latest tools and technologies – making you instantly valuable to an employer.

You will have the opportunity to hone your skills and gain valuable work experience through a co-operative education (co-op) option or field placement. This program gives you a powerful combination of knowledge, skills and real-life work experience. 

This two-semester General Arts and Science Liberal Arts Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech) Transfer program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing advanced standing into the second year of Ontario Tech’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Forensic Psychology. Students must complete BIOL 1841U – Essentials of Biology during their first semester of study at Ontario Tech or during the preceding spring/summer term. This program will provide an opportunity to develop and refine academic skills and ultimately provide the foundational knowledge needed to help ensure success in subsequent academic studies. This program also allows students to familiarize themselves with life and workload at a post-secondary institution.

This two semester General Arts and Science Liberal Arts Ontario Tech University Transfer pathway is designed for individuals interested in pursuing studies in Ontario Tech’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Forensic Psychology.

This program will provide an opportunity to develop and refine academic skills and, ultimately, provide the foundational knowledge needed to help ensure success in subsequent academic studies. This program also allows students to familiarize themselves with life and workload at a post-secondary institution.

Students will be required to complete six courses per semester (12 courses in total). These include five core (or mandatory) courses in Communications (two), Computers (one), Statistics (one) and Preparing for Academic Success (one). Other prescribed courses in this two-semester pathway include Canadian Law (one), Psychology (two), Political Science (one), and Sociology (two).

Graduates of this pathway who have completed the requisite courses with a minimum average grade of at least ‘B+’ (77-79 per cent), with no individual course below ‘B-’ (70-72 per cent), may apply for admission into Year 2 of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Forensic Psychology program.

Some General Arts and Science courses are also transferable to other post-secondary programs. Individual academic planning assistance is also offered by the student advisor, and students are strongly encouraged to meet with their advisor before selecting their courses.

The Computer Systems Technician program is the perfect vehicle to launch a rewarding career in computer assembly, installation, configuration and troubleshooting. You will learn from industry-connected professors in new, state-of-the-art labs. This program is built on partnerships with some of the most influential names in networking today, including Cisco, IBM and Microsoft. Graduates will be able to help support computer users throughout an entire organization by deploying desktop and laptop systems, assisting users with day-to-day tasks, supporting help desk environments, troubleshooting networking issues and rolling out emerging technologies that will give their organization a competitive advantage.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop.

This program will provide you with the technical skills and expertise required to work in the high-demand world of personal computers, networking and application support to meet the information technology (IT) needs of modern organizations.

The program curriculum addresses the technical aspects of commonly used components and troubleshooting techniques for:

• Computer hardware
• Networking technologies
• Operating systems
• Security
• System administration

You will also learn how to develop your communication and administrative skills and be trained in critical-thinking skills designed to help you respond to many technical challenges. As a graduate, you will be able to:

• Challenge for industry-recognized certifications (e.g. Cisco CCNA, Microsoft MCP, CompTIA, A+, Net+)
• Install and configure system software and network devices
• Troubleshoot computer system and network issues.

Note: To ensure you make an informed decision about your IT career path, a common first semester is offered for the Computer Systems Technician, Computer Systems Technology, Computer Programmer and Computer Programmer Analyst programs. This approach will give you an opportunity to explore the systems/programming applications and networking/hardware applications of the IT sector.

With a unique combination of business skills and a solid understanding of the sport industry, sport managers oversee professional and amateur athletes and teams; co-ordinate sporting events; and work behind the scenes at some of the biggest sporting venues in the world.

As Canada’s longest-running college sport management program, our team will prepare you to excel in an administrative or management role in the business of sport. Our program focuses on developing skills related to all aspects of the Canadian sports scene. When you complete the program, you will be prepared to enter into specific sport-related fields by applying the knowledge, experiential learning and concepts gained inside and outside of the classroom.

The program begins with coursework in fundamental business skills and sport industry understanding, progressing to more advanced applications and hands-on learning experiences in the subsequent semesters. Concluding the third year, you will have the opportunity to complete a full-semester (500-hour) field placement available in collaboration with industry partners.

In addition to formal classroom work, this program offers numerous volunteer and networking opportunities, an overnight leadership camp in the third year and a variety of experiential learning options to prepare you for this chosen career.

Please note: After completing two years of sport study you may choose to graduate with a diploma in Sport Administration.

If you hold a three-year diploma or degree with an overall average of 65 per cent or higher, you may wish to explore the two-semester Sport Business Management graduate certificate program.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Examine the role of management in organizations and apply those skills to the sport industry.
2. Apply marketing concepts to the sport industry.
3. Assess the political, sociological, economic, historical and ethical parameters that influence sport.
4. Develop and apply personal and professional ethics.
5. Explain the structure, governance and operations of sport organizations.
6. Apply accounting knowledge and skills to the operation of sport business.
7. Develop attitudes, skills and knowledge for career success in a workplace environment.
8. Establish a personal and professional career plan.
9. Plan, execute, and evaluate events.

Water is a life source that millions of species depend on for survival. As a water quality technician, you will work towards keeping water safe for consumption and for its return to the environment through proven treatment methods. Distribution and collection methods will also be examined. As part of this program, you will complete the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks entry-level Drinking Water course and may also challenge the four Ministry operator-in-training exams (water treatment, wastewater treatment, water distribution and wastewater collection) for an additional fee. This program also offers you the opportunity to add to your skills and knowledge with real-life work experience gained through either a field placement or a co-operative education (co-op) experience

Program Details
Public health depends on the superior management of water quality and a team of professionals is required to ensure safe water for residents of Ontario. The Water Quality Technician program is designed to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills to work in water and wastewater treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection and environmental monitoring.
You will receive the specific education required to develop the skills needed to meet the demands of municipalities with water and wastewater treatment systems, water-use industries and environmental monitoring agencies.
Classes will be delivered at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses, depending on the semester and year. This enables students to utilize various applicable lab resources. Students will be notified in advance when they register for classes.
You will focus on:

• Engineering concepts
• Environmental quality
• Professional responsibility relating to co-workers, the public and regulators
• The impact that water quality has on human health

Targeted skills development includes:

• Chemistry and mathematics related to water quality, treatment and analysis
• Conflict management, problem solving and effective communications
• Emerging pathogen risks and public health concepts
• Hydrology
• Knowledge development in the areas of operation of water and wastewater systems
• Microbiology
• System design concepts and blue print reading
• Sampling, laboratory techniques and data interpretation

Co-operative education (Co-op):
The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.
Students in the Water Quality Technician Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive.  Students who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third semesters of their program.
Supports are available through the Co-op office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Co-op office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters of the program before graduating.