Diploma in Community Worker (Fast-Track)

at George Brown College - St. James Campus Canada

The Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate program provides students with a feminist analysis of the political and counselling issues related to gender-based violence experienced primarily by self-identified women, children, trans and non-binary survivors. It trains students to be agents for change in their work of community education, political action and law reform. It prepares students to provide anti-oppressive counselling for survivors who have experienced or are experiencing gender-based violence.

Note: Some of our student placement partners require students in this program to have a police reference check completed before their field placement. These reference checks, which can take up to four months, are done to protect the clientele of these agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law. The fees for the reference checks vary and must be paid by the student. Students are responsible for ensuring that the check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).” Students who are unable to provide a clear police reference check may find that their choice of placements is limited.

Field education plays an important role in this program by preparing students to work with those affected by gender-based violence including not only those directly impacted, but the communities within which they live and work. This often includes those who identify as trans and non-binary, and other disenfranchised populations.

In year one, students will spend 250 hours with a non-profit community partner (Mondays and Tuesdays, January – April) and will typically engage in introductory activities, such as shadowing staff, conducting outreach, fundraising and special events, and learning about how programs and services are developed. First-year placements vary and can include sites that focus on public education, food banks, drop-ins and political action work, but are generally not frontline positions.

In second year, students will build on that experience by engaging in more direct 1-to-1 survivor counselling, group facilitation, case management, and advocacy. Placements begin in September and continue through to the end of April for a minimum of 500 hours. Students will often do this placement at emergency shelters, rape crisis centres, youth services, health providers and other agencies who provide frontline support.

The agencies used by the program for field placements are very similar to those employing our graduates. In many instances, employers hire graduates because of contact and experience with them through the fieldwork placement. Most agencies are within Toronto, while some agencies, located in other communities such as Brampton, St. Catherines, London, Hamilton, Barrie, Pickering and Oshawa, provide students who live in those communities with placement opportunities.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Apply a feminist analysis in all areas of their work in the field of violence against women and children.
  • Provide ongoing supportive counselling.
  • Provide individual advocacy and political advocacy services
  • Facilitate groups for women and children.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of existing services for women.
  • Cope with high stress work demands and develop strategies for personal survival on the job.
  • Develop and deliver prevention programs.
  • Organize fundraising and write applications and proposals for grants.
  • Utilize the media and organize community response to violence against women and children.
  • Become familiar with pertinent legislation and understand the process of formulating social policy.

The George Brown College Financial Planning graduate certificate program provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in the field of financial services.

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:

• Help clients take steps to achieve their life goals through an integrated approach to the management of all their financial affairs, including such areas as:
• Financial Management – assess the client’s current and future financial position, based upon their cash flow, budget and net worth.
• Investment Management – assess the nature of the client’s assets based on their risk tolerance, time horizon and expected rates of return
• Retirement Planning – compare the client’s expected lifestyle in retirement to their current retirement assets and planned savings
• Tax Planning – assess the client’s current and future tax obligations and strategies employed to minimize or defer taxation
• Insurance and Risk Management – manage the client's exposure to an unexpected financial loss due to death, health issues, property damage and other risks
• Estate Planning – assess how the client can meet their objectives upon death in the most efficient and cost-effective manner
• Prepare a comprehensive financial plan for a complex client situation, integrating and prioritizing the activities listed above

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Integrate ethical decision-making processes into all aspects of the financial planning profession.
  • Apply recognized financial planning principles and industry standards to the systematic analysis of financial position and requirements.
  • Prepare accurate and relevant financial plans manually and electronically.
  • Integrate economic and personal information necessary for effective financial planning decisions.
  • Compare, contrast, and select, from appropriate financial products and services, investment planning and counselling services for the public according to industry standards, including taxation counselling.
  • Effectively market financial products through the development of an inventory of prospective clients, following up with individual sales strategies in pursuit of new and renewal business.
  • Recognize potential tax and legal implications within a financial planning situation.
  • Identify and apply written and verbal client-focused communication styles and strategies.
  • Research market opportunities and implement a business plan in support of client needs, as well as student career choices.
  • Qualify to challenge the Certified Financial Planner (CFP™) and to be fully licensed with the IIROC/MFDA.
  • Provide recommendations and options to the public for managing risk involving life and health insurance products.

The Theatre Arts – Performance program at George Brown's School of Media and Performing Arts offers you vigorously concentrated, career-oriented training in the fundamental skills, practicalities, traditions and professionalism needed to work as a professional actor in theatre, television and film.

The conservatory, hands-on training is an integrated curriculum in which almost all subjects are related directly to the acting profession. Five skill courses form the core of our classical approach to training the actor: voice, speech, movement, music and dance. The acting curriculum features improvisation, contact improvisation, storytelling, poetry, text analysis, contemporary and classical scene studies, neutral mask, character mask, clowning, commedia dell’arte, television and film technique, and audition preparation. Further classes include: stage combat, dialectology, theatre history, the business of acting, and the Alexander Technique.

Besides great partnerships with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Tarragon Theatre and Theatre by the Bay, George Brown has run a successful mentorship program for a number of years. In the final year, students will be paired with a successful theatre practitioner. This partnership starts in the students’ final semester and continues for roughly a yearlong period. Mentors will meet with the student at a minimum three times as the student graduates and begins to transition out into the field. This program has been not only a success for the students but mentors have also expressed how great the experience has been and how rewarding it is to be there for the students as they graduate.

Program Learning Outcome

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Perform in a variety of theatrical contexts by applying acting, movement, and voice techniques as required.
  • Develop and present strategies for personal, career and professional development within the performing arts industry.
  • Apply and analyze theatre traditions and current trends from a variety of historical and cultural contexts to enhance personal creativity and theatrical performance.
  • Investigate and articulate personal reasons for pursuing creative work in the theatre.
  • Complete all work in compliance with industry standards and policies and professional ethics.
  • Use entrepreneurial and project planning skills to develop production and administrative aspects of professional theatre.
  • Perform vocal material – solo and choral – and execute staging and choreography as required by a theatrical performance.
  • Create and devise original works of theatre individually and collectively to perform in front of an audience.

Social Service Worker is an innovative program that provides students with an opportunity to learn theoretical models, approaches to practice, group facilitation, mental health supports, social innovation and anti-oppressive practice. This two-year program combines in-class learning with field placement.

This is an approved education program by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

Program Learning Outcomes
The Ministry of Trainining, Colleges and Universities program standards apply to all Social Service Worker Diploma Programs delivered by OCAAT institutions.

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Develop respectful and collaborative professional and interpersonal relationships that adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service works.
  • Record information accurately and communicate effectively in written, digital, verbal and non-verbal ways, in adherence to privacy and freedom of information legislation, in accordance with professional and workplace standards.
  • Integrate a practice framework within a service delivery continuum, addressing the needs of individuals, families and communities at micro, mezzo, macro and global levels, and work with them in achieving their goals.
  • Plan and implement accessible and responsive programs and services, recognizing the diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families and communities and meeting these needs.
  • Examine current social policy, relevant legislation, and political, social, historical, and/or economic systems and their impacts for individuals and communities when delivering services to the user/client.
  • Develop strategies and approaches that support individual clients, groups, families and communities in building the capacity for self-advocacy, while affirming their dignity and self-worth.
  • Work from an anti-oppressive, strengths-based practice, recognizing the capacity for resilience and growth of individuals and communities when responding to the diverse needs of marginalized or vulnerable populations to act as allies and advocates.
  • Develop strategies and approaches to implement and maintain holistic self-care as a member of a human service profession.
  • Work with individuals, groups, families and their communities to ensure that service provider strategies promote social and economic justice, and challenge patterns of oppression, discrimination and harassment, and sexual violence with clients, coworkers and communities.
  • Develop the capacity to work with the Indigenous individual, families, groups and communities while respecting their inherent rights to self-determine, and to identify and address systemic barriers that produce ill-effects, developing appropriate responses using approaches such as trauma informed care practice.
  • Note: The learning outcomes have been numbered as a point of reference; numbering does not imply prioritization, sequencing, nor weighting of significance.

The Centre for Business has an established reputation for business education that focuses on critical thinking, innovative solutions, leadership and entrepreneurial mindsets, and engaging with the latest technologies. Our faculty bring a combination of professional experience and advanced education to offer course content that is always evolving and reflective of trends in industry and academia.

The School of Management supports academic programs and industry projects such as:

• Analytics Hub
• Humology (human-technology) Lab
• Consulting Hub
• Enactus (social innovation platform)

Why the Bachelor of Business Administration (Business Analytics)?

Businesses have access to an abundance of data, creating opportunities for our graduates throughout high-demand sectors such as banking, government, pharmaceutical, finance, health care and telecommunications. In order for business leaders to make better decisions, they need analysts with a superior ability to interpret data from multiple sources. How do you ensure the appropriate data will be most effective for making optimal decisions? When do you involve human judgment? How do you tell a compelling story from the data? What are some of the most practical applications of current analytics technologies?  

In this business analytics degree program, you will learn an applied framework that incorporates business intelligence models, data management, data insights and frameworks, data science-based decisions, and value creation opportunities to build strong confidence when data is used for increased effectiveness in decision-making. Drawing on global experiences, your professors will prepare you for an analytics role not just in Canada, but in any country on the planet. 

Upon completion of the program, you will know the differences between various analytics approaches and be able to identify the most appropriate ones for your situation. More importantly, you'll know how to tackle big data and leverage it for better business decision-making and outcomes.

This program focuses on skills development, technical and otherwise, including analytic understanding and dissemination for various business uses. A bold mix of skills – including some programming using the latest software, applied statistical comprehension and database understanding – will be explored in the context of organizational data requirements.

The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees (A108) program prepares you to gain entry to health science programs at a college or university. You will develop your knowledge and skills in communication, mathematics, human anatomy, biology, physics, and organic/inorganic chemistry so that you are well-prepared for the rigours of a degree or advanced diploma program. This program contains advanced level English and elective courses that may be eligible for transfer credits in other programs where applicable.

As a graduate from this program, you are eligible to apply to the following advanced diploma programs at George Brown College:

• Dental Hygiene
• Denturism
• Dental Technology
• Hearing Instrument Specialist

In this Marketing Management – Financial Services graduate certificate program in Toronto, students will develop the marketing skills that employers value in the area of Financial Services Marketing. This particular area of marketing combines an understanding of the special needs of financial services customers with strong marketing acumen. Students will develop skills to successfully market to different customers and build long-term profitable relationships with them.

The Business Administration – Finance advanced diploma program provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in the financial services sector. The financial services sector continues to grow and adapt to the needs of clients through the use of technology. People with customer service skills and knowledge of financial planning, call centre operations, investments and risk management are needed in this fast-paced environment.

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:

• Help clients take steps to achieve their life goals through an integrated approach to the management of all their financial affairs, including such areas as:
  • Financial Management – assess the client’s current and future financial position, based upon their cash flow, budget and net worth.
  • Investment Management – assess the nature of the client’s assets based on their risk tolerance, time horizon and expected rates of return
  • Retirement Planning – compare the client’s expected lifestyle in retirement to their current retirement assets and planned savings
  • Tax Planning – assess the client’s current and future tax obligations and strategies employed to minimize or defer taxation
  • Insurance and Risk Management – manage the client’s exposure to an unexpected financial loss due to death, health issues, property damage and other risks.
  • Estate Planning – assess how the client can meet their objectives upon death in the most efficient and cost-effective manner
• Prepare a comprehensive financial plan for a client situation, integrating and prioritizing the activities listed above

This program (B130) is also offered with work experience. Students who wish to apply for Business Administration – Finance with Work Experience should apply to B150. Find out more about Field Education at the Centre for Business.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Co-ordinate the processing and maintaining of financial records in compliance with relevant policies, procedures and regulations for individuals and/or organizations.
  • Co-ordinate the preparation and the presentation of financial information in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations for individuals and/or organizations.
  • Analyze financial reports for individuals and/or organizations by applying financial mathematics and statistics.
  • Develop and evaluate a financial plan to meet individuals’ and/or organizations’ needs and objectives.
  • Develop, implement, evaluate and co-ordinate marketing strategies to promote financial products and services and to enhance customer service.
  • Develop, implement and evaluate strategies to establish and maintain professional networking and business relationships in the finance sector.
  • Analyze and evaluate, within a Canadian context, the impact of economic variables, legislation, ethics, technology and the environment on individuals’ and/or organizations’ operations.
  • Develop, implement and evaluate ongoing strategies for personal and professional development, highlighting ethics, values and standards in the finance sector.
  • Co-ordinate the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of team projects by applying project management principles.

You have a passion for food, cooking, and health and realize that people are becoming more concerned about nutrition and lifestyle. You can incorporate culinary skills and nutrition as you train for a rewarding career in the Culinary Management – Nutrition program.

In this two-year diploma program, you'll learn how to work in a variety of environments including the food service industry to meet the demands of increasingly health-conscious consumers. This program combines instruction in culinary techniques, food service management, ingredient knowledge, healthy recipe, menu, and food product development with the latest advances in the field of nutrition. You'll learn in a dynamic setting that includes demonstrations, lectures, and hands-on culinary practice.

You’ll also complete a seven-week industry externship placement in your final semester, which will give you a great head start as you begin your career.

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Provide advanced culinary planning, preparation, and presentation for a variety of food service environments using a range of classical and contemporary techniques.
• Apply basic and advanced food and bake science to food preparation to create the desired end product.
• Contribute to and monitor adherence of others to the provision of a well-maintained kitchen environment and to the service of food and beverage products that are free from harmful bacteria or other contaminants, adhering to health, safety, sanitation and food handling regulations.
• Ensure the safe operation of the kitchen and all aspects of food preparation to promote healthy workspaces, responsible kitchen management and efficient use of resources.
• Create menus that reflect knowledge of nutrition and food ingredients, promote general health and well-being, respond to a range of nutritional needs and preferences, and address modifications for special diets, food allergies, and intolerances, as required.
• Apply business principles and recognized industry costing and control practices to food service operations to manage and promote a fiscally responsible operation.
• Apply knowledge of sustainability, ethical and local food sourcing, and food security to food preparation and kitchen management, recognizing the potential impacts on food production, consumer choice, and operations within the foodservice industry.
• Select and use technology, including contemporary kitchen equipment, for food production and promotion.
• Perform effectively as a member of a food and beverage preparation and service team and contribute to the success of a food-service operation by applying self-management and interpersonal skills.
• Develop strategies for continuous personal and professional learning to ensure currency with and responsiveness to emerging culinary techniques, regulations, and practices in the foodservice industry.
• Contribute to the development of marketing strategies that promote the successful operation of a food service business.
• Contribute to the business management of a variety of food and beverage operations to foster an engaging work environment that reflects service excellence.

The advanced diploma Business Administration – Marketing program will open doors to opportunities in the exciting and fast-moving field of marketing. Marketing at George Brown is more than textbooks and lectures. Our learning is hands-on and project-based, and this program provides opportunities for case studies as well as real-world projects that can involve industry partners.

What differentiates the three-year advanced diploma from the two-year diploma is the additional opportunities for more advanced hands-on learning as well as digital marketing courses, international marketing courses, marketing research courses, and marketing strategy courses. You can also expand your horizons with additional business electives.

This learning experience will enable you to:

• Develop an integrated marketing communication strategy for marketing products, concepts, goods, or services based on an identified target market
• Conduct primary and secondary market research to provide information needed to make marketing decisions
• Develop strategies to establish effective working relationships with clients, customers, consumers, co-workers, supervisors, and others
• Evaluate the viability of marketing products, concepts, goods, or services in an international market or markets
• Formulate and prepare a marketing plan including marketing objectives, marketing mix, marketing strategies, budgetary considerations, and evaluation criteria
• Integrate digital marketing and social media into a marketing plan with an understanding of various platforms and technologies.

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Develop a marketing plan that will meet the needs or goals of a business or organization.
• Develop an integrated marketing communication plan for marketing of a product, concept, good, or service based on an identified market need or target.
• Determine strategies for the development of new and/or modified marketing concepts, products, goods, and/or services that respond to evolving market needs.
• Determine strategies for the efficient and effective placement/distribution of a product, good, and/or service that respond to an evolving market.
• Determine the impact of using different marketing strategies for a product, concept, good and/or service, on the finances, return on investment (ROI), and business goals of an organization.
• Analyze the viability of a concept, product, good, and/or service in local, national or global markets.
• Conduct market research to provide information needed to make marketing decisions.
• Communicate marketing information persuasively and accurately in oral, written, graphic and interactive media formats.
• Plan, prepare and deliver an effective sales presentation or pitch to address the needs of the client.
• Develop strategies with clients, customers, consumers, co-workers, supervisors, and others to maintain and grow working relationships
• Develop learning and development strategies to enhance professional growth in the field.
• Apply entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new career opportunities that might include contract employment, and self-employment initiatives.
• Apply and contribute to a framework of organizational policies and practices, when conducting business of the organization.
• Apply the principles of business ethics and corporate social responsibility to business decisions.

This program (B158) is offered with work experience. Students wishing to apply for Business Administration – Marketing without work experience should apply to B108.