Graduate Certificate in Paralegal

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

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.

Enter the field of environmental health and safety management and launch a career where no two days are ever the same. As a graduate of this program, you will apply technical knowledge of safety hazards, health risks and dangers to prevent injuries and illness while supporting broader public safety. Become a highly skilled professional with the expertise to manage the social, health, environmental and legal issues associated with the built and natural environment. With the implementation of new legislated requirements in Canada regarding workplace safety and environmental protection standards, job prospects in this field are continuing to grow. Combine strategic problem solving with strong interpersonal skills as you perform environmental audits, deliver training, implement safety controls, conduct incident investigations, develop controls and contingency planning and prepare technical documentation and records in a quality-controlled environment. You will also be well-positioned to pursue the Certified Health and Safety Consultant designation upon graduation.

As an Environment Health and Safety Management graduate, you will be able to:

• Perform work audits in environmental and occupational health and safety in compliance with legislation to prevent workplace risk exposure.
• Design evidence-based training programs that use industry best practices for evaluating the health and safety of built and natural environments.
• Evaluate technical, environmental and industrial hygiene procedures and systems in their alignment to legislation, regulatory standards and guidelines.
• Conduct material testing in the laboratory and on site using qualitative sampling methods and statistical data analysis to determine contaminants and hazards.
• Propose health and safety recommendations that respond to concerns arising from audit findings, risk and life cycle assessments and the review of report documentation.
• Prepare health and safety technical documentation to record the results of investigations of the built and natural environment.
• Manage project communication with partners to ensure consistency and maintain quality.
• Develop emergency responses to industrial and natural disasters by assessing and minimizing environmental and labour impact.

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.

The Computer Systems Technician program is the perfect vehicle to launch a rewarding career in computer assembly, installation, configuration and troubleshooting. You will learn from industry-connected professors in new, state-of-the-art labs. This program is built on partnerships with some of the most influential names in networking today, including Cisco, IBM and Microsoft. Graduates will be able to help support computer users throughout an entire organization by deploying desktop and laptop systems, assisting users with day-to-day tasks, supporting help desk environments, troubleshooting networking issues and rolling out emerging technologies that will give their organization a competitive advantage.

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

This program will provide you with the technical skills and expertise required to work in the high-demand world of personal computers, networking and application support to meet the information technology (IT) needs of modern organizations.

The program curriculum addresses the technical aspects of commonly used components and troubleshooting techniques for:

• Computer hardware
• Networking technologies
• Operating systems
• Security
• System administration

You will also learn how to develop your communication and administrative skills and be trained in critical-thinking skills designed to help you respond to many technical challenges. As a graduate, you will be able to:

• Challenge for industry-recognized certifications (e.g. Cisco CCNA, Microsoft MCP, CompTIA, A+, Net+)
• Install and configure system software and network devices
• Troubleshoot computer system and network issues.

Note: To ensure you make an informed decision about your IT career path, a common first semester is offered for the Computer Systems Technician, Computer Systems Technology, Computer Programmer and Computer Programmer Analyst programs. This approach will give you an opportunity to explore the systems/programming applications and networking/hardware applications of the IT sector.

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.

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

Welcome to the exciting world of high-technology electronics! Electronics engineering technologists design, test, install and service electronic equipment in the fields of computer hardware, software and networking of consumer products; industrial automation; medical equipment; power generation; process instrumentation and control; telecommunications; and test and measurement.

In this program, you will learn to develop apps (applications) for the Internet of Things (IoT) using various operating systems, which will run on different wearables and mobile devices, and learn rapid prototyping and 3D printing.

No other discipline opens as many career doors to the exciting world of high technology as electronics. Electronics engineering technologists design, test, install and service electronic equipment in the fields of computer hardware, software and networking of consumer products; industrial automation; medical equipment; power generation; process instrumentation and control; telecommunications; and test and measurement. In this program you will learn to develop apps (applications) for the Internet of Things (IoT) using various operating systems, which will run on different wearables and mobile devices, and learn rapid prototyping and 3D printing.

No other discipline opens as many career doors to the exciting world of high technology as Electronics. In addition, no other branch of science engineering technology has contributed more to the development of the modern world than Electronics. In this program you will learn to develop Apps (applications) for the Internet of Things (IoT) using various operating systems, which will run on different wearables and mobile devices, learn rapid prototyping and 3D Printing. Electronics engineering technologists design, test, install and service electronic equipment.

As a technologist, you have the ability to expand your skills into a wider career path including the design of circuits and projects. Technologists study more advanced courses in math, engineering theory and scientific principles giving them advanced knowledge. Since many technologists move into more advanced levels of engineering as part of their career progression, this program covers theory through the hands-on, practical, project-based learning of:

• Analog and Digital electronic circuits and systems
• Data communications, networking configuration, installation, security and troubleshooting
• Instrumentation and control
• Internet infrastructure and protocols
• Microprocessor-based controls
• Process instrumentation and controls
• Robotics and programmable-logic-controller (PLC)-based controls
• Telecommunication systems
• IoT and Emerging Technologies

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. To ensure program flexibility, the Electronics Engineering Technician and Electronics Engineering Technology programs have a common first and second year.

Do you have a passion for the beauty industry and possess a creative, artistic spirit? The Cosmetic Techniques and Management program will prepare you to be a leader in the cosmetics, personal care and fragrance industries, giving you the competitive edge you need to launch a successful career.

Experience weekly hands-on instruction in state-of-the-art lab facilities, where students learn practical make-up application techniques using a comprehensive professional student kit. Working alongside experienced faculty, you will create a range of cosmetic applications, including make-up for special events, media, photography, as well as period, airbrushing, creative and special effects application techniques.

Foundational concepts are also at the core of the program to develop as an industry professional, where students experience training in areas ranging from colour theory and skincare analysis to communication and client consultations. Recognizing that cosmetics is an ever-growing billion-dollar industry, the program takes a holistic approach that emphasizes important business skills and entrepreneurial training. A strong focus is placed on meeting industry professional standards, including teaching best practices and protocols in infection control. Students also have the opportunity to collaborate with a professional photographer in their final semester and develop their portfolio of work to assist with obtaining future job opportunities.

Our expert faculty and program team have diverse training and industry experience, ranging from fashion, beauty, fine arts, fragrance, and creative special effects, as well as cosmetics retail and event management. Faculty have represented prominent luxury cosmetics brands and have also had their special effects work featured on Breakfast Television for Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland.

You will complete a field placement to complement your in-class learning as well as gain hands-on experience overseen by expert faculty and the Spa Manager, while working in the fully operational Durham College Spa.

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.

In this program designed specifically for applicants with existing academic credentials, students with a degree in science can expand their knowledge of the biotechnology industry and complete their Biotechnology advanced diploma in fewer semesters. Biotechnology touches a broad range of industries including 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 competitively qualified 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.

Professionals with knowledge in international business can help organizations understand marketing, law, trade and finance as they apply to the global village we live in. As a professional in this field you may investigate, analyze, administer and manage human, physical and operational resources, as well as complex strategic and practical management issues. In particular, you will gain skills in strategic decision-making, and conducting operational and marketing analysis for business firms on a global scale. Graduates of this program often work on cross-functional and global project teams in order to serve their clients.

Durham College is a Platinum Accredited Partner of the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT – www.FITTforTrade.com). This partnership means that Durham College offers an international business program that has been validated by FITT as meeting their high standard of industry excellence. Students registered in our FITT-accredited program have a direct link to FITT and its full range of global trade credentials.