Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy

at Humber College - Lakeshore Campus Canada

By combining the latest recording technologies and entrepreneurial business strategies with performance, production, songwriting and composition in jazz, pop, R&B, Latin and world music, you will be well equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for success in today’s music world.

Founded in 1972, the program has consistently produced many of the most successful commercial and jazz musicians in Canada and the world. With more than 350 students and a faculty of 18 full-time and 80 part-time teachers, our program is one of the largest, most diverse and highly regarded programs of its kind in the country. Long known for the strength of its professors, Humber offers you the opportunity to study privately, in classroom situations, and in several of the more than 50 ensembles directed by a who’s who of Canadian music. As Toronto is the centre of Canada’s entertainment industry, Humber attracts the top professionals in jazz, musical theatre, television, film, commercials and pop.

After two years of core music courses, you will continue with lessons on your major instrument, as well as take classes in music production and music business while also choosing from electives in arranging, composition, advanced improvisation, film scoring, music production techniques, songwriting, ethnomusicology or pedagogy.

You’ll develop musicianship and artistry by presenting your own recital, arranging and composing original material, and recording and marketing your own music.
In addition, you will take courses in music history, theory, aural training and improvisation, and have the opportunity to participate in a variety of ensembles.

All students complete a major recording project/portfolio in their fourth year. The assembled portfolio, which includes a complete press kit and professional-quality recording, as well as other promotional materials, functions as your calling card for entrance into the music industry upon graduation.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Perform, compose, produce music at a professional level for entry to the competitive, global music industry.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of diverse musical styles and contextualize themselves within contemporary music history: specifically defined as the idioms of African American musical genres, mainstream pop music, country/folk music, Latin music, music for musicals and film, art music and jazz.
• Demonstrate, through performance and composition, a technical and musical mastery of harmonic, melodic and rhythmic structures.
• Demonstrate, through performance, an extensive knowledge of contemporary musical repertoire and apply appropriate performance skills in diverse music contexts.
• Compose and arrange in a broad range of contemporary music styles.
• Prepare and present a portfolio of recorded material reflecting a broad range of styles.
• Record, edit and produce a broad range of contemporary music.
• Apply computer applications/music technology skills in composition, arranging and production.
• Critically analyze and evaluate sound recordings and describe their production characteristics.
• Demonstrate, through production and performance, organizational, project management, and implementation skills.
• Demonstrate leadership, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, research and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of contract law, copyright law, intellectual property rights, royalties, and rules of public domain.
• Make use of entrepreneurial music business skills to engage in the competitive contemporary music industry.
• Demonstrate professional “freelance” etiquette relating to job seeking and keeping skills.
• Demonstrate an ability to research and present findings from primary and secondary sources.
• Formulate, articulate and present their own ideas about music, art and society through discussion and writings.
• Demonstrate an artistic awareness and understanding of musical aesthetics.
• Assess personal strengths, musical and business skills, knowledge, artistic vision, interests, and abilities.

Work Placement

• You will participate in a work placement designed to mirror the professional music world, which is largely characterized by contract, freelance and part-time employment. You are responsible for accumulating the equivalent of 420 hours of experience which will allow you to establish contacts and relationships with key companies and industry professionals.

Humber’s Theatre Arts - Performance program is known for its rigorous training in physical and devised theatre that enables you to find success wherever your career path takes you. We are nationally known for our innovative curriculum based in the creation of original work.

We believe in:

• Developing creative artists with a strong foundation in essential skills
• Ensuring our graduates have the business skills to make their livings as artists/performers
• Providing a well-rounded education as well as comprehensive training
• Developing collaborative work that is original, thoughtful and challenging
• Exploring intercultural and multidisciplinary theatre that speaks in the present to a vision of the future

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Perform dramatic roles in a variety of styles, such as in children's plays, plays geared for school audiences, experimental plays presented by alternate theatres, in standard repertoire of current and classical plays presented by regional theatres and festivals, as well as in musicals, revues and cabaret productions.
• Perform non-classical, vocal material – solo and choral - and execute basic dance steps and choreography as required by musical productions and classical plays.
• Apply different techniques required to perform on proscenium, thrust or arena stages, as well as open air theatres.
• Adapt performing style to the electronic media; working for the camera (film, television and video production) as well as the microphone as in various aspects in radio broadcasting.
• Provide services as drama resource person for community theatre, recreational programs, children's programs and private teaching.
• Accept employment as a professional actor and provide services to professional standards.

The Humber Advantage
Humber Productions

• Each year, Humber Theatre presents a number of original productions which demand the full creative engagement of performance and production students under the guidance of internationally recognized artists.

Hands-On Experience

• Students in Humber's Theatre Arts - Performance program are on stage throughout their time at school, building hours and hours of in-class experience.

Humber’s Bachelor of Music degree program is unlike any other four-year music degree in North America. Combining studies in recording technology and entrepreneurial business strategy with performance, production, songwriting and composition in jazz, pop, R&B, Latin and world music, the Bachelor of Music program equips you with the knowledge and skills needed for success in today’s music world. 

You’ll study with teachers who represent the who’s who of Canadian music, develop your musicianship on your own instrument through private lessons and ensembles, as well as in group classes exploring ear training, music theory, improvization, production, history and related subjects. As Toronto is the centre of Canada’s entertainment industry, Humber attracts the top professionals in jazz, musical theatre, television, film, commercials and pop. 

After two years of core music courses, you will continue to develop your instrument and performance skills, as well as take classes in music production and music business while also choosing from electives in arranging, composition, advanced improvisation, film scoring, music production techniques, songwriting, ethnomusicology, pedagogy and more.  

You’ll develop musicianship and artistry by presenting your own recital in your third year, arranging and composing original material, and recording and marketing your own music 

All students complete a major recording project/portfolio in their fourth year. The assembled portfolio, which includes a complete press kit and professional-quality recording, as well as other promotional materials, functions as your calling card for entrance into the music industry upon graduation. 

Work Placement
You will participate in a work placement designed to mirror the professional music world, which is largely characterized by contract, freelance and part-time employment. You are responsible for accumulating the equivalent of 420 hours of experience which will allow you to establish contacts and relationships with key companies and industry professionals.

Humber’s Bachelor of Commerce - International Business degree program will help you develop the knowledge and applied skills you need to carve out a career not only in a multinational company but also in nimble, fast-paced small- and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. Our program combines a balanced approach to teaching business featuring case studies, problem solving, modelling and data analytics in support of decision-making. Course content, skill-building activities and writing and applied projects maintain a strong focus on the three pillars of international business: marketing, finance and operations.

Our program starts with a foundation of business studies in areas such as consumer behaviour, micro and macroeconomics, finance and accounting, law, marketing, and operations management. Specialization courses in international business will give you the opportunity to gain practical skills through applied projects such as creating a full business and strategic plan to launch a business in an external market. You will gain experience developing processes from concept through to execution. Examples of specialization courses include Intercultural Communications, International Finance, Supply Chain Management and International Logistics, International Marketing, International Trade Law, and Strategic Business Analytics.

You will learn from experienced professors and a network of industry professionals who provide feedback and evaluation on industry projects. 

Work Placement
The program requires that you complete 14 weeks/420 hours of paid work during your work placement term in the summer between your sixth and seventh semesters. This gives you the hands-on, real-world experience that employers value. Your placement will give you the opportunity to explore the field you’d like to work in when you graduate. We will work with employers and our industry partners to help you identify opportunities to pursue.

Humber’s Developmental Services Worker (DSW) – Accelerated diploma program teaches you skills to effectively promote the physical, mental and emotional health of individuals with special needs.
You’ll be taught by developmental services experts who are active in the field, in classes with comparatively low student to teacher ratios. Our curriculum is designed with input from the developmental services field ensuring courses are current and relevant.

You’ll begin your studies by learning the stages of human development, the types of developmental disabilities and the range of available community support services for this population. Next, you’ll learn intervention techniques, person-centered planning, abnormal psychology/dual diagnosis, basic pharmacology, supporting people with autism and other complex needs, augmentative forms of communication, and effective responses to people who have been abused. Finally, you’ll develop skills in building interpersonal relationships and counselling.

Work Placement
We offer a wide range of innovative and traditional work-integrated learning opportunities. The field placement co-ordinator will consult with you regarding your interests and preferences in order to connect you to specific agencies. During your third semester, you will complete a 400 hour internship. Your third semester takes place from May through mid-August.

Humber’s Bachelor of Commerce – Finance degree program offers comprehensive knowledge of both business and finance. Our program starts with a foundation of business studies in areas such as organizational behaviour, law, economics, finance, accounting, marketing and operations management. Specialization courses will focus on theories, methods and techniques in various aspects of finance including analysis, planning and risk management. Our project-based curriculum, designed by industry experts, helps you develop the skills to move from idea to execution, all while learning core business concepts and financial strategies. A senior-level project in your final year will give you experience in problem solving, evaluating strengths and limitations, and making appropriate decisions in a real-world, team-based environment.
The program requires that you complete 14 weeks/420 hours of paid work in the summer between your sixth and seventh semesters. This gives you the hands-on, real-world experience that employers value. Your work placement will give you the opportunity to explore the field you’d like to work in when you graduate. We will work with employers and our industry partners to help you identify opportunities to pursue.
Both the private and public sectors are looking for financial analysts, managers and advisors, and the demand will only grow in the future. Our degree will help you work towards a career that will see you build, shape and support financial organizations. Our program provides the knowledge, hands-on experience and skills necessary for you to become an analyst or consultant in:

• Finance
• Financial services
• Planning
• Investments
• Risk management
• Insurance

You’ll also be positioned to pursue graduate studies or take on a more specialized role as a financial analyst, financial advisor/planner, banker, money manager or claims adjuster. As a highly qualified financial expert, you’ll have the potential to be promoted to mid- or senior-management positions as your career progresses. And if working for yourself appeals to you, you’ll have the know-how and experience to channel that entrepreneurial spirit and start your own business.

Humber’s Bachelor of Film and Media Production degree program combines theory and practice with the goal of preparing you for a rewarding career in media. You will learn a variety of screenwriting and storytelling techniques, and how to combine them into compelling visual narratives. You will be taught by professors highly experienced in the film industry, and benefit from their insights and experiences.

This rigorous program covers a broad range of practical and academic topics such as direction, picture and sound editing, cinematography, videography, and post-production. You will study both fiction and nonfiction filmmaking. You will gain vital research and management abilities and attend seminars hosted by industry professionals, giving you access to valuable insights and contacts. In addition to standard film school topics, this program focuses on multiplatform delivery, ensuring graduates are ready to take advantage of new digital content channels. A film and media theory component is combined with courses such as entertainment law and media entrepreneurship, preparing graduates for their careers in film. A capstone project in your final year will allow you to apply your skills and demonstrate your creative vision.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Create film and media content using current industry standard tools and procedures to meet project goals and realize well-crafted stories. 
• Assume various roles in all phases of film and media content creation including writing, producing, directing, camera and post-production.
• Synthesize current and historical cultural and aesthetic movements and technological trends in the creation of media, in relation to one’s own creative practice.
• Manage all aspects of film and media projects in compliance with professional, ethical, legal and current safety standards.
• Create and deliver completed projects with a high degree of aesthetic and technical accomplishment.
• Develop and pitch concepts for film and media that are original, feasible and compelling to a defined audience.
• Assess the parameters of financing, marketing and distribution associated with film and media projects, to establish their viability.
• Collaborate professionally on film or media projects, providing innovative contributions while adhering to current and evolving industry practices.
• Reflect critically on one’s own process during self-evaluation and peer assessment, both orally and in writing in order to identify gaps in professional knowledge and ability.
• Build and maintain a professional portfolio that highlights individual contributions to media projects for prospective clients, employers, agents and collaborators.

Humber’s Business Administration advanced diploma program allows you to develop extensive knowledge on how businesses work and teaches you to become competent in the full range of skills needed to facilitate business operations.

Courses in operations management, accounting, human resources management, marketing research and much more will give you the opportunity to cultivate key business skills such as communication, teamwork, project management and strategic business analysis. This program is built on a common platform of a solid business education – principles of management, marketing, business law, finance mathematics and microeconomics. This common platform is shared with other business diploma programs in year one and is expanded on in year two.

Work Placement
You’ll be assisted in finding a paid or unpaid business work placement where you’ll practise your skills during an 84-hour assignment. This adds valuable hands-on experience to your resumé. Close relationships with the business professionals who constantly update the curriculum will give you valuable networking contacts.

Humber’s Introduction to Commercial Jazz Music certificate is a performance-based program designed to help you assess and strengthen your skills. It solidifies your knowledge of the fundamentals of western music and develops your current performance skills through the jazz-specific areas of improvisation, repertoire development and small group ensemble performance. You will emerge from the program with a clearer understanding of the field and your own career potential within it, and as a stronger candidate for entry into postsecondary music degree and diploma programs. All courses have a particular focus on the commercial jazz field.

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
  • Recognize & identify common styles of music.
  • Describe the commercial/jazz field in terms of tradition, artists, & styles.
  • Explain the contribution of various artists to the development of particular styles & idioms.
  • Analyze the components & performance differences of recorded selections.
  • Play a repertoire of memorized materials that are considered standards in the commercial/jazz field & reflect the various styles inherent in this music.
  • Write diatonic melodies in various styles demonstrating knowledge of relevant harmonic & melodic concepts & structures of form.
  • Perform in an ensemble demonstrating basic ensemble skills such as intonation, tuning, time, feel, balance & dynamics.
  • Identify their own musical strengths & weaknesses in terms of a performance career in the commercial/jazz field.
  • Implement strategies & plans for on-going personal & professional growth & development.
  • Establish a practice of critical self-assessment & professional goal setting.

Humber’s Professional Writing and Communications graduate certificate program supports you as you learn and practise the craft of writing while building a professional portfolio. This unique program provides you with the core transferrable skills you need to build a successful career in a variety of communications roles. Building on foundational skills such as storytelling, drafting, editing, pitching, interviewing and research, you will build proficiency in areas such as media writing, social media management, project management and design.

With a focus on writing for different audiences and purposes, as well as using current technologies to maximize the impact of your message, you will be well-positioned to enter the workplace with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a professional writer/communications specialist across a variety of sectors. You will also learn how to think strategically in preparation for taking on leadership positions within communications departments or starting your own freelance writing business.

The program will create a community of writers and support collaboration, networking, professional development and publication.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Analyze the elements of storytelling in texts and choose appropriate narrative techniques and forms for a variety of writing projects.
• Create documents suitable for a diversity of audiences and purposes using advanced linguistic and rhetorical skills.
• Create documents that adhere to standards of structure/formatting for standard print and electronic forms such as informational articles, reports, blog posts, and web site copy, and strategically repurpose content across these forms.
• Integrate new communications technologies into an existing media toolkit.
• Manage a multifaceted editorial project or communications campaign from the planning stages through completion, using a team-oriented, collaborative leadership style.
• Adapt a consistent, unique writing voice to different platforms and genres.
• Assess the needs of complex communications campaigns and then select and deploy appropriate strategies to meet those needs, using knowledge of communications theory and audience analysis.
• Produce and/or edit error-free publications for both print and on-line environments, through the use of grammar and mechanical rules, correct and relevant editorial terminology, and copy-writing and style guides.
• Analyze the structure and mechanics of a variety of document forms, both electronic and print, and apply substantive, line-level, and copyediting revisions as appropriate.
• Analyze the media landscape and the range of communications fields to plan ways to navigate the industry and market oneself.
• Create an online portfolio and social media profile to market writing skills to potential employers and freelance clients.
• Select suitable and credible research sources for strategic applications to a range of advanced communication challenges.