Diploma in Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

As one of the top ten in demand professions in Canada, public relations professionals, including communications and media relations specialists, share vital messages through attention-grabbing writing, video, social media, special events and fundraising campaigns. Regardless of the field – sports, fashion, music, television or health-care – a creative PR professional is an essential part of any successful business or non-profit organization. In this growing industry our graduates are highly sought after and enjoy a wide range of career opportunities. The hands-on curriculum includes two unique field placements. Durham College is the only compressed program in Ontario, which allows graduates to enter the workforce in just two calendar years.

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)

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.

If you have an interest in helping others in an oral health care setting and becoming a valued member of a dental team in your community, this may be the profession for you. Students will acquire knowledge, skills and training in the professional behavior necessary to work as a Level II dental assistant, providing education and care in a variety of dental settings.

The Practical Nursing program is designed to prepare graduates who are able to meet the challenges of the expanding role of nursing in today’s society. As a practical nurse, you will combine your knowledge, skills and judgement to provide safe, competent, ethical nursing care to meet the unique needs of all patients throughout the continuum of care.

Approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), the Practical Nursing program teaches the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to practise as a safe, competent and professional practical nurse. Using the concept of caring as the basis of nursing, you will develop knowledge, skills and judgment in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for all age groups as they experience various health challenges. A particular focus is placed on the ability to communicate in a caring and therapeutic manner.

With a strong emphasis on practical hands-on experience, you will apply theory gained in the classroom and simulated lab practice to environments including:

• Community
• Long-term care
• Maternal/child
• Mental health

Upon completion of your program, you must successfully complete the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE) to become a registered practical nurse (RPN) in Ontario and a member of the CNO*.

Please note: In Ontario the following conditions are laid out by the Nursing Act to be registered as a practical nurse. These conditions may impact your ability to register with CNO as an RPN post-graduation.

To register as a RPN in Ontario you must:

• Be fluent in written and spoken English or French
• Have evidence of your suitability to practice as an RPN in Ontario including not suffering from a physical or mental condition/illness, which may affect your ability to practice nursing
• Have a good character including providing a Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) Criminal Reference Synopsis as part of the registration process. Please note: If your CPIC synopsis is not clear, CNO may determine that you are not eligible for registration
• Not be subject to proceedings with respect to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity in nursing or other health profession in Ontario
• Pass the CPNRE
• Provide proof of Canadian citizenship, landed immigrant status or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

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.

This joint Durham College (DC) and Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech) diploma-to-degree program will enable you to earn two credentials in only four years. Experience the best of both learning environments while on the journey to a rewarding career in finance. Build a solid foundation in business as well as training in various areas of financial planning, investments, and life and health insurance, using the latest technology in combination with the most current business and IT trends.

Students will be prepared to write the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) Global Education Inc. exam, the professional designation of Chartered Financial Analysts, 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 external industry licencing exams, fees and the requirements for each designation/certification are set by the granting body, not DC or Ontario Tech. In order to qualify for any of these designations/certifications, students need to follow and meet the required processes.

Personal hygiene, mobility, preparing meals and taking essential medication are elements of daily life that most people take for granted, but there are many individuals who are unable to perform these tasks independently. The personal support worker (PSW) is the front-line care provider whose responsibilities focus on the provision of personal care and support that include activities of daily living with client populations across all institutional, community care and service settings. PSWs provide compassionate, client-centred care to enhance and maintain the quality of everyday life. Through dedicated faculty, enhanced curriculum, skills and certifications obtained in the course of study, and implementation of several interprofessional education and simulation opportunities, our students graduate well-prepared and job-ready. In fact, our recent PSW student and graduate satisfaction rate was 100 per cent (2018-2019).

In this program, students differentiate themselves by taking their marketing skills to the next level.  They are immersed in digital technologies (such as artificial intelligence for marketing automation), data analytics, international marketing, and gain a deep understanding of the psychology of consumer behaviour and experience design. By applying this learning, students contribute to real business strategies.

Prepare to enter an exciting career where you can help develop business strategy and design customer experiences. You will have the opportunity to participate in marketing simulations, events and inter-collegiate competitions (local, provincial, and national). You will also have the opportunity to grow your professional network and gain valuable industry experience in preparation for launching an exciting marketing career.

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. 

For those who are passionate about the environment and want to dedicate their work to preserving and protecting our earth, air and water, this program provides a diverse and rewarding career path. As an environmental technologist, you will spend your days outdoors conducting critical monitoring, sampling and surveying before returning to the lab to perform your analyses and the office to record and tabulate data. Whether advising organizations on best practices or holding them accountable for poor ones, your work will be vital to ensuring the health of our communities and planet.

If you are a domestic or internationally educated student with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, you may be eligible for a compressed, fast-track opportunity to complete your advanced diploma requirements in two semesters.

The Environmental Technology 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 the program. First-hand field and laboratory experience is emphasized in areas such as:

• Analytical chemistry
• Data collection
• Environmental stewardship management
• 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.

This fast-track option is designed for students with existing academic credentials and will provide you with the advanced skills necessary for employment in the environmental field. The program provides technical practice with many opportunities for hands-on experience and project-based learning.