Diploma in Behavioural Science Technician

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

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.

Crossing borders and spanning oceans, supply chain is a global industry that provides endless opportunities for skilled professionals who can plan, control, execute and optimize a product’s flow from point of origin to point of consumption in the most economical way possible. Each major phase of a product’s movement through the supply chain has its own distinct business process and discipline, and supply chain professionals have the unique knowledge and skillset needed to effectively manage the intricacies of this process.

The Supply Chain Management – Global program is a strong choice for students with previous education or experience in business administration or operations, and will deepen their understanding of the complexity and interconnectedness of roles, work processes, transactions and stakeholders within and between supply chains, and the impact supply chain decisions can make on an organization’s financial prosperity.

If you have an interest in human behaviour and a desire to help others improve their quality of life then this interdisciplinary program is for you. Develop the in-demand skills of implementing Applied Behaviour Analysis to support individuals across the lifespan with developmental issues or disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, acquired brain injury, addiction or dementia. In addition, students will learn about the applications of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies and the impact these therapies can have on these populations.

Through a comprehensive mix of theoretical, research and applied courses, students will develop in-demand professional competencies that link the science, clinical, communication and ethical aspects of behavioural science.

Beginning with the development of a strong foundation in behaviour analysis, introductions to psychology and research and methods for developing therapeutic communication skills, the program progresses to the study of complex concepts in human behaviour and applications.

This program will help you to develop the knowledge and skills required to effectively address two of Canada’s leading health care issues – mental health and addictive behaviours. You will gain both a theoretical understanding and the clinical skills required to help your clients successfully navigate their challenges with mental health and/or addictive behaviours as they begin their journey to wellness.

Designed for students with previous, relevant education, this highly specialized program was developed in consultation with recognized experts in the fields of addiction and mental health including Lakeridge Health Corporation.

Program highlights include the opportunity to:

• Expand the skills required to practice in addiction and mental health settings
• Gain experience with a broad spectrum of clinical settings where addiction/mental health related issues arise
• Develop an understanding of the particular needs of diverse populations
• Receive training in evidence-based approaches to counselling.

Please note: Some courses may be delivered in online or blended formats using the college's learning management system.C

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

Biotechnology touches a broad range of industries including food processing, health, pharmaceuticals, food production and agriculture. The discipline has created knowledge and products essential to our continued livelihood such as vaccines to prevent disease, pest-resistant plants, environmentally friendly biofuels and improved detection of diseases. Graduates of the Biotechnology - Advanced program are suited to work in a range of industries including those focused on food, the environment, pharmaceuticals, natural health products and cannabis. Learning within state-of-the-art labs using industry-grade equipment, students learn how living organisms or parts of living organisms can provide new methods of production and development of new products in a range of industries as well as the regulations which govern the use of these techniques. Our courses are rooted in real-world applications and our extensive analytical instrumentation lab provides practical, hands-on training. Students graduate with a strong base of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to draw from in their future careers.

Our well-equipped biotechnology, microbiology, chemical analysis and pharmaceutical facilities provide our students with hands-on experience in the methods and instrumentation used in the biotechnology, cannabis and pharmaceutical industries.  Our students learn the theory of and perform experiments involving the isolation and manipulation of DNA, the purification and characterization of proteins, growth, maintenance and management of tissue cultures and microorganisms, and the analysis of pharmaceuticals.  In the final semester students combine their knowledge to use biological organisms to manufacture a chemical product used in an industrial process. Our graduates leave with the scientific theory and skills combined with a clear understanding of regulatory affairs and the ethical implications of the biotechnology industry and its influence on society.

During placement, students have the opportunity to gain experience at partner organizations, including pharmaceutical companies, university research labs and analytical testing faculties. Graduates are employed in both the public and private sectors.

The Fitness and Health Promotion program will prepare you for a meaningful career that goes beyond the walls of a gym, with a focus on supporting a diverse range of populations, including clients of all ages and abilities. Fitness and health promotion professionals are invested in providing clients with a full-range of services – from research and design to implementation and execution of programs, facilities and activities. Offering a program of study that both balances and connects theory with practice, graduates enter the workforce with a broad skill set that includes supporting motivation, behaviour change as well as an introduction to entrepreneurship for those interested in pursuing their own business.

You will participate in hands-on learning experiences in state-of-the-art lab facilities practising the skills that you will apply during your work-integrated learning opportunities. Curriculum focuses on wellness, behaviour change, business practices, and exercise science. Courses include exercise physiology, nutrition, functional anatomy, injury management and exercise prescription. The Fitness and Health Promotion program will prepare you for an exciting and engaging career in a dynamic field that will positively influence the lives of your clients.

The healthcare industry in Canada and around the world is growing rapidly. To help meet the demand, health care has turned to new and innovative medical technologies to improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. In doing so, healthcare providers have become dependent on the technology to function properly, to be available and to be managed in a cost-effective and efficient manner by qualified biomedical engineering technologists. As a graduate of this program, your skill set will include the ability to assess current and innovative medical technology, as well as purchase, install, calibrate, maintain and manage the life-cycle of critical medical equipment. Biomedical engineering technologists are essential members of any healthcare team because they have these skills.

The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas (PHSC) is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a health sciences career. This two-semester program provides the foundation necessary for success in a college health sciences program such as Paramedic, Practical Nursing, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant. It is also designed for individuals who would like to strengthen their communication, mathematics, biology, chemistry and critical thinking or physics skills as well as familiarize themselves with college life and college workload.

In addition, the program provides students with the opportunity to learn about potential careers in the health sciences while earning post-secondary credits that can be transferred to other health sciences or science-related programs.

An education in journalism provides excellent training in critical thinking, writing and presenting ideas while preparing students for one of the most interesting careers imaginable. Armed with very transferable knowledge, skills and experience, journalism graduates go on to write and deliver stories on all written and broadcast platforms. Students also develop an array of social media skills and undergo experiential learning through the program’s ‘working newsroom’, before moving on to a seven-week field placement, applying their skills in a professional environment. Students taking the Journalism advanced diploma program will have an additional four-week field placement at the end of the sixth semester.

This program embraces the broad changes occurring in the media landscape and offers a progressive curriculum that will allow you to focus on development of journalism, social media skills and content creation on all platforms – online, print and broadcast. Students in the Journalism – Mass Media program will develop the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to work in this progressive, critical profession. In their first year, students are introduced to the core journalism skills and learn how society functions both locally and globally. In their second year, students focus on creating content for all media platforms and undergoing experiential learning through our ‘working newsroom’'.

Due to the constant evolution of technology and the increasing development of new platforms of communication, traditional media professions such as journalism are facing new opportunities, as well as new challenges. Changes in the delivery methods of traditional news have forced journalists and others within the journalism industry to change how they do their jobs. For instance, journalists can now collect information with their phones and deliver stories directly to multiple platforms.

Graduates will have developed skills in: broadcasting, reporting, interviewing, editing, writing, content creation and media production, teamwork and critical thinking. You will have knowledge of applicable legislation, standards and professional ethics, and recognize the importance of continuous learning. More specifically, you will gain a clear understanding of the impact of digital technology on journalism and will be able to respond and adapt effectively and efficiently to technological changes.

Upon successful completion of this program you will have opportunities at an entry-level in a wide variety of news organizations and as content creators for a variety of private companies and public organizations, such as school boards, hospitals and governments. Graduates will have the skills to perform a range of tasks, including:
Writing local, national and international news through interviews and research

• Writing news stories for publication and/or broadcast
• Editing, analyzing and verifying information for accuracy
• Researching and conducting interviews for broadcast, online and print
• Applying production skills and using equipment to create content for a range of platforms
• Using social media platforms to engage audiences
• Planning and designing editorial content to meet a mass communications strategy for a client

Durham’s Journalism – Mass Media program has successfully covered the campus and community since 1974. It has an ongoing history of excellence, winning Ontario Community Newspaper Association honours on a regular basis. Our graduates have a track record of producing quality work across Canada – for news organizations such as CBC, CTV and TSN and in communities from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Grads have also earned careers as content creators and social media coordinators for companies, agencies and institutions.