General Certificate in General Arts and Science

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

In an economy that depends on finding new ways to use technology to make it easier for us to live, work and play, electronics engineering technicians maintain, operate, test, install and service electronic equipment in the fields of telecommunication, data communications and the Internet of Things (IoT), computing, industrial automation, test and measurement, power generation and distribution, health care and consumer products. The Electronics Engineering Technician program covers theory with hands-on practical experience and project-based learning of analog and digital electronic circuits and systems.

In an economy that depends on finding new ways to use technology to make it easier for us to live, work and play, Electronics is the forefront. Electronics engineering technicians maintain, operate, test, install and service electronic equipment in the fields of:

• Telecommunications
• Data Commu­nications and the Internet of Things (IoT)
• Computing hardware and software
• Industrial Automation
• Test and Measurement
• Power Genera­tion and Distribution
• Medical Equipment
• Consumer Products.

The Electronics Engineering Technician program is two years in duration, covering theory with hands-on practical experience, project-based learning of analog and digital electronic circuits and systems. Energy conservation, environmental awareness, and the global environmental movement will have an impact on you as you train to become part of the green workforce. We promote job-ready skills through leading edge instruction and hands-on practical labs that are available to you in and outside of regular class hours.

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.

Become an integral part of assuring the safety and integrity of our infrastructure, components and structures that are built or are in service in our society. Learn about materials and specific testing methods in order to examine cars, trains, airplanes, spacecraft, towers, bridges, ships, power plants and amusement park rides to identify and analyze possible defects. With education, training, and practical experience under your belt, you will be prepared to begin your training in industry as an inspector to test and evaluate components for internal or external flaws, using advanced technology including visual inspection and radiology/radiographic techniques, allowing people to live and work in a safe environment.

This program will provide you with the education, training and practical experience necessary to begin a career in non-destructive evaluation/testing (NDT).

You will learn how to examine cars, trains, airplanes, spacecraft, towers, bridges, ships, power plants and amusement park rides without causing damage or impairment to their future use, hence the term non-destructive. The purpose of testing in this fashion is to detect possible internal or external defects and examine the properties of an object.

This program is regulated by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and provides eligibility to write certification exams upon graduation. A minimum 70 per cent is required in Introduction to Non-Destructive Testing, Mathematics for Technology II and Ultrasonic Testing I in order to obtain a course credit. Other Non-Destructive Testing courses will require a 70 per cent grade to be eligible for a training certificate.

As a graduate, you will also be eligible for membership in the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists.

Please note: Candidates should not have a fear of confined spaces or heights. Prior to certification exams, tests of visual acuity  are required. Some organizations also require a police check prior to employment.

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.

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

With many millions or more lines of code in the world today, and many more yet to be written, this field is growing constantly. If using your critical thinking ability to solve problems puts a smile on your face then this field could be for you. As a tech-savvy graduate you’ll be trained in how to apply your hands on experience in our program, combining analytical and programming skills, to produce lasting and high quality software solutions that keep the world running smoothly.

This program was developed with input from veterans in the digital entertainment industry and continues to garner enthusiastic support from studios and professional artists across the country. Our industry trained professors are ready to share their knowledge and experience with you. The focus of this hands-on program is to develop and hone your skills as a digital artist through project-based learning and instruction.

You will explore environment and level design, employing modelling, surfacing, lighting techniques and special effects in industry leading real-time engines. All of your work will be supported by a strong foundation in animation for games, technical art, and concept art.

You will gain a solid base in the skills needed to explore new technology and software with confidence including courses in:

• Preproduction design
• Traditional drawing and digital illustration
• Game asset creation employing industry current techniques
• Demo reel production and online portfolio development

Industry context is also strongly emphasized though the use of production pipelines and studio simulation. As a graduate, you will enter the industry with strong technical and creative ability, a realistic understanding of the world of game production and a keen sense of professionalism.

Put your imagination to work in the exciting world of animation. You could be working on the latest TV series or animated feature, animating a triple-A game or doing visual effects for a Hollywood blockbuster. This challenging 3D and 2D digital animation program focuses on character performance and storytelling, supported by modelling and rigging, cinematics, lighting, surfacing, and design. The production pipeline and career paths are studied in depth. This diverse program of study will ensure you can handle any professional challenge in the animation, visual effects or games industries.

The Animation – Digital Production program was developed with input from veterans in the animation, games and visual effects industries and continues to garner enthusiastic support from studios and professional artists across the country. All of our professors come from industry, ready to share their knowledge and experience with students. This challenging 3D and 2D digital animation program focuses on character performance and storytelling, supported by modelling and rigging, cinematics, lighting, surfacing and design.

The production pipeline and career paths will be studied in depth. This diverse program of study will ensure you can handle any professional challenge in the animation, visual effects and games industries.

With access to a national historic site and a one-of-a-kind living lab that provides students with legacy opportunities to complete campus projects, this program will help you graduate with the creative, entrepreneurial, and professional skills needed to be an industry leader. The art, science and business of horticulture are the focus of this program, ensuring students learn the skills required to create landscapes, renew historical gardens, enhance communities and express their creativity while learning the complexities involved in a broad range of professional environments. In addition, the dynamic, hands-on opportunities to experience the many aspects of the industry will make a difference as you work towards becoming a professional horticulturist. 

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.