Diploma in Social Service Worker

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

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. 

Whether you’re interested in a career in health care, rehabilitation or social services, the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTPA) program will prepare you to work with clients of all ages with a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional and developmental conditions. Working under the guidance of a registered occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist, you will maximize physical function and occupational performance to promote increased daily functioning and overall well-being for your clients. Hands-on labs begin in semester one where you learn and practice therapy skills in small groups to prepare you for success in the field. This program offers close to 600 clinical hours in a range of unique and diverse placement settings. Our new onsite living lab provides realistic simulations that transform classroom knowledge into the practical skills required for the field.

In this two-year program you will learn to assist with the implementation of rehabilitation treatment plans and programs across the lifespan, from children to older adults, and throughout the continuum of care. Our faculty team brings a wide variety of clinical experiences and expertise to ensure you are well-prepared for your future career in rehabilitation.

Program highlights:

• Hands-on labs begin in semester one where you learn and practice therapy skills in small groups to prepare you for success in the field
• Close to 600 hours of fieldwork experience, offering diverse placement settings
• Theory and labs specializing in teaching the knowledge and skills necessary to treat clients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiac, respiratory and complex conditions
• Our new on-site living lab provides the opportunity to practice clinical skills and scenarios in a realistic environment
• Focus on development of professional skills throughout the program, including effective verbal and written communication strategies
• Collaborations with community partners and other disciplines allow students the opportunity to experience  interprofessional  rehabilitation and further develop team-work and communication skills

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.

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.

Find a way to make a difference with your creativity. The Fine Arts – Advanced program will push you along the path you have chosen, challenging you through critical discussions, pointing you to artists with similar concerns and aesthetics, and encouraging you to grow and achieve the potential evident in your preliminary explorations. This program will prepare you to address the complex challenges of the 21st century and promotes citizenship by educating you not only for careers and jobs in the visual arts, but also for your role as an active and engaged practicing artist in your community.

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

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.

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.

The majority of youth will develop naturally into law-abiding citizens. For some however, behavioural concerns may arise, which continue into adulthood. Some risk factors impact pro-social development and may result in the youth committing or repeating the commission of criminal offences. An understanding of the issues as well as prevention and intervention strategies can assist in reshaping this behaviour. Determined, passionate and patient, youth justice and interventions graduates combine their education and experience to make a positive impact on the lives of today’s youth.

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)

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.