Certificate in Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

Security violations, data breaches, privacy failures and other technology failures are in the news every day and pose a growing threat to business and personal information. This eight-month, full-time graduate certificate program provides students with the security background needed in network technologies, computing hardware, operating systems and protocols to harden and further secure such systems from attack. Students develop, evaluate and support information technology (IT) security solutions by creating cost-effective and secure computing environments that will safeguard networked computer systems, including both on-premise and cloud-based systems. This program helps students become skilled in formulating and organizing security policies and procedures to protect corporate information assets including legal, regulatory and governance issues, and teaches how to detect various hacking and penetration attacks. Students also learn from leaders and industry-connected professors in industry-standard labs.

There is growing disconnect between humans and the environment, but well-trained environmental technologists are looking for solutions as pressures from population, industry and society continue to stress our ecosystem. Equipped with knowledge rooted in an evolving priority of sustainability that is grounded in risk and analytical testing, technologists provide innovative ways to reduce human impact on the environment and work towards a more sustainable way of living.

This dynamic program focuses on the chemical and biological sciences as they relate to environmental pollution. An emphasis is placed on ground and surface water quality, soil and waste management and recycling in urban and industrial settings. You will also examine environmental regulations and review their social and economic impacts on communities.

Training and experience in the handling, analysis and monitoring of a wide variety of biological and chemical parameters linked to pollution are at the heart of this program. First-hand field work and laboratory experience is emphasized in areas such as:

• Analytical chemistry
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental Sampling
• Environmental stewardship
• Instrumental analysis
• Microbiology

Environmental problems and concerns are constantly changing and at Durham College we aim to adapt in order to stay at the leading edge of these changes. Statistics Canada has identified environmental technology as one of the top emerging employment sectors.

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 Environmental Technology Advanced 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 two four-month, paid work terms totalling 840 hours. Work terms are scheduled between semesters two and three and four and five of the 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.

Human resources (HR) professionals work in partnership with business managers to take care of the company’s largest asset – its employees. To help a business run, HR staff provide advice to department supervisors on a range of employee relations issues, design and deliver a range of programs and services focused on individual and team needs, and create company policies that support and promote a workplace culture based on fairness, equity and personal growth.

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

You will acquire skills in the effective use of industry-standard software and learn from professors who are connected to the industry. As a student, you will have the opportunity to interact directly with industry professionals and to participate in hands-on learning opportunities such as case competitions and either a field placement or co-operative education (co-op) experience.

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

Human resources (HR) professionals serve as strategic partners in today’s business environment. They work closely with management colleagues at all levels of a company on a variety of project-based and proactive initiatives. Many roles are performed by HR professionals including the following:

• Advocating on a variety of staff issues
• Developing and implementing company policies, procedures, programs and services
• Giving advice and counsel to corporate executives, line managers and employees

This program will develop your skills, knowledge and abilities in the following areas:

• Compensation management and performance appraisals
• Employee and labour relations
• HR planning and training and development
• Managerial accounting
• Occupational health and safety
• Recruitment and selection

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 Business Administration – Human Resources Management Advanced Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first year of study. 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 years 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.

The ability to resolve conflict is a 21st-century skill required for success in today’s workforce. Trained dispute resolution professionals are in demand across many careers. Students in this program develop a range of alternative dispute resolution, conflict analysis and conflict communication skills. Our graduates are prepared to negotiate and resolve conflict, in both formal and informal situations, within businesses, communities and families. This program has the unique advantage of providing a highly relevant experiential learning opportunity to students as they run their own conflict resolution service on campus. This hands-on practice can enhance on-the-job effectiveness and ensure our students are ready to handle diverse dispute scenarios, giving our graduates a competitive edge. This program is approved by ADRIO and OAFM, and 92 per cent of our students said the program gave them knowledge and skills that will be useful in their future career.

This program is approved by the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and students in the program receive a 16-month student membership with ADRIO. This program is also approved by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM).

This program is designed for students with previous education. Please see the entrance requirements section of this page for more detail.

If you are a university or college graduate or a  professional wishing to gain additional conflict resolution skills, as well as an Ontario college graduate certificate, this program will provide you with the tools, knowledge, and practice to effectively negotiate, analyse and resolve conflict in various settings such as:

• Workplace
• Family
• Community
• Education
• Health care
• Human resources
• Justice
• Advocacy

This program also offers an experiential learning component that enables you to participate in the operation of Campus Conflict Resolution Services.

Are you a pro at managing money with an added interest in stocks, bonds, investing and financial planning? Have you considered getting paid to help others manage their financial portfolios? The two-year Finance – Business program provides a concrete foundation in business as well as training in various areas of financial planning, investments, and life and health insurance. During the program you’ll have the opportunity to write the Canadian Investment Funds Course (CIFC)® exam to be eligible for mutual fund licensing, as well as the Canadian Securities Course (CSC)® exams to be eligible for a securities license. The requirements for each designation/certification listed are set by the granting body, not Durham College. In order to qualify for any of these designations/certifications, students need to follow and meet the required processes.

The Finance – Business program will provide students with the skills and training required to work in a variety of areas within financial services including, firms dealing with pension plans, scholarships, educational savings plans, and investments funds. In addition to a foundation in business, learning will be focused on a range of areas including, personal financial management, tax and retirement planning, investments and estate planning, with an emphasis on training in financial services. Graduates of this program will have skills such as financial analysis, planning and control.

You will learn how to:

• Keep a simple set of books for small businesses using accounting concepts and practices
• Understand the needs of clients in order to create relevant financial goals that are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-sensitive
• Examine other countries, businesses and individuals to observe how they tackle the problem of scarce resources in order to satisfy needs and wants
• Efficiently use industry-standard money management software to perform transactions, keep track of sales and expenses and create financial reports.
• Efficiently use retirement planning software to forecast retirement scenarios for different situations or clients.
• Students may also be prepared to seek related licenses in finance.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Process and maintain financial records in compliance with relevant policies, procedures and regulations for individuals and/or organizations.
• Prepare and present financial information in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations for individuals and/or organizations.
• Generate financial reports for individuals and/or organizations by applying financial mathematics and statistics.
• Contribute to the development and the implementation of a financial plan to meet individuals’ and/or organizations’ needs and objectives.
• Contribute to the development and the implementation of marketing strategies to promote financial products and services and to enhance customer service.
• Develop and implement strategies to establish and maintain professional networking and business relationships in the finance sector.
• Analyse, within a Canadian context, the impact of economic variables, legislation, ethics, technology and the environment on individuals’ and/or organizations’ operations.
• Develop and implement ongoing strategies for personal and professional development, highlighting ethics, values and standards in the finance sector.

Prepare for a career in Canada’s strong pharmaceutical sector, a rewarding field that is seeing continuous job growth and demand in response to our growing and aging population. Help to ensure access to better, safer drugs and consumer products, including in the areas of medical cannabis and health products, by using your training to contribute to the most effective formulations, dosages, and manufacturing processes and the assurance of quality for a wide variety of products.

As a graduate, your knowledge and skills will encompass validation and standardization of formulations, methods and processes, and the ability to conduct experiments following scientific methodology that includes data analysis, proper documentation of observations and analyses, and clear summarizations and recommendations. Featuring a 280-hour field placement, this program will set you on the path for a life-changing career that allows you to make a positive impact on the millions of Canadians who rely on the products you will help produce to improve and maintain their health.

It is estimated that about one per cent of Canada’s population has a developmental disability, requiring support from people who are interested in making a difference in the lives of others through advocacy and education. Developmental service workers are fully committed to ensuring that people with developmental disabilities receive the support they need to lead fulfilling lives as active members of their communities.
A developmental service worker (DSW) supports people in all stages of life who have a developmental disability. They focus on helping people experience satisfying and rich quality of lives as active and valued members of their communities. DSWs have core values which focus on social justice, empowerment, dignity, self-worth, human relationships and integrity.As a student in this program, you will learn how to develop and implement support plans that encourage the development of meaningful and relevant skills, self determination, full community participation and healthy lifestyles. You will also learn how to support families in which a member has a development disability. Finally you will learn the skills necessary to advocate with and for people with developmental disabilities.

The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees is designed to provide students with the core knowledge, skills and abilities fundamental to academic success in health sciences programs such as the collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program delivered by Durham College and Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech), as well as other health science-related programs at the advanced diploma or degree level. This two-semester program is specifically designed for individuals looking to develop their knowledge and skills in communications, mathematics, biology, general and organic chemistry, physics or critical thinking so they are well-prepared for the rigors of their next academic program. In addition, the program provides students with the opportunity to learn about potential careers in the health sciences and identify other programs focusing on the biological or chemical sciences that will enable them to achieve their career objectives.

Quality early childhood education (ECE) is critical in preparing children for future learning. As an early childhood educator, you will have an integral role in promoting children’s development from birth to age 12 within the following five domains: cognitive, social, emotional, language and physical. In the ECE program, you will engage in theoretical studies along with practical applications. Moreover, professional practice and ethics will guide you in working with families, understanding pedagogy and fostering belonging and well-being in children. Upon completion of your program, you will apply to the College of Early Childhood Educators, the provincial regulatory body, to become a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) in Ontario.

This program is approved by the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and students in the program receive a 16-month student membership with ADRIO. This program is also approved by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) and Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO).

If you are a university or college graduate or a professional wishing to gain additional conflict resolution skills, as well as an Ontario college graduate certificate, this program will provide you with the tools, knowledge, and practice to effectively negotiate, analyze and resolve conflict in various settings such as:

• Workplace
• Family
• Community
• Education
• Health care
• Human resources
• Justice
• Advocacy

This program also offers an experiential learning component that enables you to participate in the operation of Campus Conflict Resolution Services.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Complete all work in a manner consistent with professional ethics and practice, mediation process and skills, a respect for self, others, and relevant law and legislation.
• Adhere to legal and professional ethics in the practice of delivering services to de-escalate, prevent, and resolve conflict.
• Recognize and analyze conflict situations.
• Determine the nature and degree of conflict within informal and formal settings by assessing client relationships and interactions.
• Select and apply appropriate conflict resolution and negotiation skills and techniques to enable parties to prevent and/or resolve conflicts.
• Resolve differences within workplaces, communities, and families by utilizing interest-based conflict resolution skills and techniques.
• Engage in reflective practice to build skill and professional competency.
• Create and implement personal and professional development plans to achieve ongoing competence in the practice of mediation and/or alternative dispute resolution professional practice.
• Analyze and produce documents required in the practice of mediation and/or alternative dispute resolution.
• Produce documents required in the practice of conflict resolution and mediation according to industry standards.
• Collaborate with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders to enhance professional working relationships.
• Collaborate with colleagues, clients, and community to enhance professional working relationships.
• Apply knowledge of specialized substantive and procedural laws as they relate to mediation and/or alternative dispute resolution.
• Work within the legal parameters and the scope of practice for conflict resolution practitioners by following relevant substantive and procedural laws.
• Utilize time management, project management, and administration skills to meet client needs.
• Utilize management and administration skills in a mediation and/or alternative dispute resolution practice.
• Conduct intake meetings to gather, screen, and disseminate information required to identify issues, uncover interests, and determine the appropriate approach for resolving differences.
• Conduct interviews to gather, screen, and disseminate information required in mediation and/or alternative dispute resolution situations.
• Facilitate discussion with clients to explore the options and associated processes for resolving family disputes.
• Explain the process, principles, techniques and significance of mediation and/or alternative dispute resolution and how they apply to family disputes.
• Contribute to collaborative discussion about the application of restorative justice principles as viable alternatives for repairing harm and restoring relationships.