Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy

at Humber College - Lakeshore Campus Canada

In the current knowledge economy and information age, and as organizations recognize the growing need for research on which key policy and strategic decisions are based, the demand for social, market, and marketing research has increased substantially. The Research Analyst graduate certificate program focuses on the theoretical, practical, and ethical underpinnings of research, while equipping you with the statistical, technical and professional skills necessary to do applied research in a variety of different settings throughout the public and private sectors.

In this program, you will focus on all of the major aspects of the research process including research design, information retrieval and evaluation, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the preparation and presentation of research findings.

Special features of the program include an emphasis on professional, ethical and legal implications when designing research studies; new research technologies for data collection; analysis; presentation; proposal writing; research entrepreneurship; project management; and program evaluation.

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

• Interpret primary and secondary data applying principles of currency, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose.
• Design and execute a marketing or social research project to provide recommendations and actionable insights.
• Manage research projects with due consideration to budget, schedule, quality, scope, ethics, and data governance.
• Prepare a variety of effective social and marketing research documents and deliverables using knowledge translation and mobilization practices.
• Communicate results of research using effective and engaging written, oral, visual and multi-media modes, that are appropriate for diverse audience needs.
• Respond to the evolving sensibilities/concepts of equity, diversity and cultural sensitivity in conducting research.
• Mitigate risk by the detection of bias in research design and processes.
• Collect data using varied robust, effective and appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Organize and analyze primary and secondary data using industry standard software tools.
• Conduct research projects in accordance with legal, ethical and professional standards.
• Develop a career ready profile through goal-setting, on-going professional learning and industry exposure.
• Evaluate research evidence and findings for the identification of assumptions, soundness of logic and the veracity of claims.
• Select and synthesize academic, trade, business, institutional, governmental, or non-governmental resources for appropriate research purposes.

Work Placement

• Students complete a twelve-week placement allowing them to gain valuable practical and professional experience.

Humber’s Developmental Services Worker (DSW) diploma program teaches you skills to effectively promote the physical, mental and emotional health of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Our faculty team consists of developmental services professionals who are active in the field, and our small class sizes allow for individualized attention. Our curriculum is designed with input from developmental services field experts, ensuring courses are current and relevant.

Your studies begin 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. 

You’ll also build your expertise in our counselling labs which provide an ideal setting to develop competencies for working with individuals with limited verbal skills.

Work Placement
Our program offers a rich diversity of innovative and traditional work-integrated learning opportunities. You will complete 568 hours of experiential education with three separate community partners over the duration of the program.

After consulting with you regarding your interests and preferences, your field placement co-ordinator will refer you to specific agencies for these unpaid work experiences.

Field placements run for 14 weeks in Semester 2 of the first year. Students are required to complete 168 hours in this time. Placements are two days per week. Internships take place during fourth semester of second year. Students are required to complete 400 hours with two different employers, four days per week for 14 weeks.

Humber’s Event Management graduate certificate program is one of the most comprehensive event management programs available. We provide you with essential skills such as venue selection, timing, approvals, professional etiquette, staging, selection of food and beverage, budgeting, staffing, and evaluation. You will learn to design, develop, co-ordinate and manage a broad range of events such as corporate meeting planning; film, documentary and music festivals; not-for-profit experiential events and galas; brand experience; consumer events; and trade shows, to name a few. Additionally, you will gain transferable, practical knowledge and skills in management practices such as planning, design, marketing, human resource and volunteer management, sponsorship, catering management, budgeting, risk management, and event evaluation. Faculty are chosen for their expertise and experience in the event management field and many continue to work in the industry.

Work Placement
Gain hands-on experience in the industry with a 160-hour (minimum) work placement that will give you the opportunity to apply in a real business what you have learned in the classroom. Students initiate the placement with the aid of faculty, targeting companies in the Greater Toronto Area.

Placements can be completed on a part-time basis throughout the academic year or full time once classes finish.

The Humber Experience
Whether it is a connection with music festivals, corporate meeting planning, fundraising or not for profit experiential marketing, students in this program come into classroom and find like-minded people who love to plan, organize, create, execute, manage and excel in the world of events. It is a dynamic fast paced, adrenalin-based career that when done right makes the work look effortless. Taught by industry experts who have the credentials to deliver content at the postgraduate level, this comprehensive program curriculum is layered with industry-focused assignments that give the experience necessary to work in this growing field.

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 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 International Development graduate certificate program is designed for individuals who want to see the world and make a difference within it. This program provides graduates with the skills and knowledge required to manage, develop and grow international development and disaster relief projects anywhere in the world. Graduates may find themselves in some of the most difficult environments in the world, or they may work in developed countries changing policies to make a difference in the Global South. Faculty are chosen for their field expertise and experience in international development – most continue to work with numerous international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or United Nations agencies while teaching at Humber part time.

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

• Contribute directly to project planning and the articulation of project goals having national or regional objectives, including the preparation or modification of proposals and bids, and the negotiation of program/project elements and budgets.
• Implement strategies to secure project funding.
• Establish administrative systems and procedures relating to program approval processes, reporting systems, technical assistance requirements, procurement, international travel and project termination/evacuation.
• Assist in the co-operative management with partners of specific program and project elements, including the development of implementation plans and strategies, in-course project monitoring and evaluation, and project modification as required.
• Assume responsibility for the management of key financial and physical resources associated with projects, including planning, procurement, monitoring and reporting on progress, reviewing and revising initial plans based on in-project performance, and preparing reports for further analysis and review.
• Demonstrate effective human resource management and labour relations skills relating to projects, including the recruitment and supervision of project personnel and effective interaction with external specialists or consultants acting under contract.
• Perform statistical analysis in a business environment.
• Interpret and apply national and international regulations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of individual and corporate ethics in a business environment, and the importance of effective leadership and team-building in joint ventures based on international co-operation.
• Communicate and work effectively in cross-cultural environments.
• Use industry specific language to describe challenges, solutions and opportunities across the ID arena.

Work Placement

• You will gain industry experience and build your international development network with an eight-week (minimum) work placement within the development/humanitarian sectors. Many students choose to do this placement overseas but it can also be done here in Canada.
• With the program co-ordinator’s support, placements are found through a combination of your interests and contacts with graduates and industry partners. The educational foundation for the work placement includes learning how to optimize resumés, LinkedIn profiles and cover letters, as well as covering the broad set of skills needed to be comfortable and safe working outside of Canada.

Humber’s Bachelor of Social Science – Criminal Justice degree program provides you with a broad-based understanding of the criminal justice system, why crime occurs and how best to respond to crime on both a societal and individual level. The curriculum combines both theory and applied skills, providing the breadth of knowledge and experience you need to meet the demands of working in this field. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the perspectives of offenders, front-line professionals, administrators, the community and others who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

In your first year of study, you will participate in a social science foundation year (common platform with other students from the Faculty of Social and Community Services). In years two through four, the curriculum will then focus on content specific to the criminal justice system. Your studies will allow you to develop knowledge and skills critical to a variety of fast-paced, ever-changing settings within the justice field. You will gain a fundamental understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches developed in relation to crime, victimization, criminalization, criminal justice, sociology, policy studies, law, and correctional practice. Your courses will include an in-depth study of the nature and causes of crime, processes for managing crime, deviance, victimization, mental health, community safety, rehabilitation, recidivism, social policy, restorative justice, and alternatives to incarceration.

Humber’s multidisciplinary teaching approach emphasizes critical thinking, as well as analytical, organizational, research and writing skills. These are combined with the development of professional skills including communication, interpersonal skills, conflict management, problem solving, team building and leadership.

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

• Describe and critically examine a range of key concepts and theoretical approaches within criminology and criminal justice and provide an evaluation of their application.
• Evaluate complex social problems in terms of criminological theories of crime, deviance, victimization, crime control and penal practice.
• Provide an analytical account of social diversity and inequality and their effects in relation to crime, victimization, crime control and penal practice.
• Analyze the value of criminological work as it applies to crime, crime victims, policing, criminal justice and penal policies.
• Outline and interpret the historical development of the Canadian Correctional System while discussing the core values and principles associated with the Criminal Justice System and evaluate the various ethical systems.
• Analyze the structure and operation of correctional facilities.
• Evaluate the complex role of the community in the Criminal Justice system while discussing the roles of the various players within the criminal justice system and the interdependence that exists among them.
• Identify the process of program management and measure the cost and effectiveness of correctional programs.
• Discuss the challenges and rewards of working with special populations in an institutional and community setting.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of institutional and community correctional intervention by comparing provincial, national and international jurisdictions while evaluating alternatives to the current correctional intervention strategies, with a view to anticipating future directions.
• Examine and apply a range of research strategies and methods and assess the appropriateness of their use.
• Formulate and evaluate criminological questions with clarity while analyzing the ethical implications of criminological research in a variety of applied research settings.
• Discuss criminological topics with an appreciation of criminological theory, of evidence, limitations, and of relevance to current debates and present conclusions in a variety of appropriate academic formats.
• Employ effective interpersonal communication skills and techniques to interact with clients, team members and the community overall, working effectively and assertively in groups or teams to achieve desired goals and resolve differing and/or opposing ideas and points of view through the use of effective conflict management skills.
• Acknowledge the limits of knowledge in the field of social science and criminal justice through academic writing and professional practices.
• Adhere to the laws, codes, regulations, standards and practices to protect the health, safety and welfare of clients, the public and other professionals in the Criminal Justice System.
• Demonstrate ongoing self-reflection, self-awareness, self-confidence, self-direction, self-management and use resources to plan for and attain personal, career and work-related goals.

Work Placement
Students engage in one 420 hour field placement on a full-time or part-time basis. Field placements provide students with practical learning opportunities where they can apply theoretical and course-based content to real-world job experience. The field placements, which are typically unpaid, are arranged with the assistance of a placement advisor.

Humber’s Art Foundation certificate program offers you the opportunity to investigate different areas of artistic media and develop portfolios for entry into further study. Expand your horizons with comprehensive training in the basics of current visual arts exploration within a diverse studio environment. Discover your strengths and creative options, and your future in the world of art.

This program integrates visual art skills across several media and is designed to encourage you to explore a wide range of techniques and concepts. You will work closely with experienced faculty from a variety of creative industries developing innovative approaches and building your strengths through a variety of painting, drawing, photography, digital design, video, animation and fine art classes, as you gain valuable insights about the art world. In just two semesters, you will gain a thorough understanding of many artistic disciplines and build well-developed visual literacy and creative skills. You will apply your acquired skills to create a portfolio that will support your personal work and/or prepare you to pursue related programs at Humber and beyond.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Analyze, simplify and deconstruct complex forms to solve artistic problems.
• Employ basic measurement systems to produce accurate proportional and perspective renderings.
• Create traditional and digital artwork which reflects adherence to accepted design principles.
• Apply basic principles of visual perception, simplification, organization and the nine-point value scale to create realistic images.
• Identify types and applications of drawing, painting and photographic tools and equipment used to produce original artworks.
• Apply basic principles of colour observation, colour and pigment mixing, and digital colorization to accurately depict value, hue and saturation.
• Create the illusion of three dimensions on a plane surface by applying techniques of texture, shading and linear perspective.
• Discuss and present a range of critical issues of visual culture, examining how images gain meaning in cultural arenas.
• Develop, refine and present drawings, digital images, animated images, video and photographs in professional portfolio format suitable for presentation to higher education admission panels or employers.
• Research and pursue opportunities for on-going artistic development.
• Define and use correct terminology to discuss and critique the impact of historical and contemporary visual, digital, animated, video and photographic images.
• Create photographic and video art for specific purposes using basic technical capabilities of cameras and computer imaging software.
• Plan and design animated sequences using basic classical animation.

Humber’s Child and Youth Care advanced diploma program prepares you to promote the optimal development of children, youth and their families. Students are required to develop skills in assessing needs, designing and implementing programs and planned environments, and using daily life events to support and facilitate positive change. The program provides foundational knowledge in infant, child and adolescent development; child and youth care relational practice principles; psychology of the family; evidence-based or evidence-informed intervention strategies; group dynamics; and therapeutic activities.

You will learn that an essential component of professional practice is self-awareness, with many courses emphasizing self-reflection and the classroom being a professional practice environment. Your high energy level and emotional maturity will help you meet the demands of working with children and youth with complex needs.

Our program is delivered by award-winning faculty, renowned in their field, with current, relevant experience and advanced degrees. A key feature of the program is its therapeutic play lab fostering experiential learning.
Work Placement
Field placements with established partnerships are a critical component of this program. There is an exciting variety of innovative and traditional field placements available in and around the Greater Toronto Area. Field placements can also be arranged in your own community and are unpaid.

For the first field placement, opportunities are often school-based and occur two days a week for fourteen weeks. For the final two placements, you will be able to submit four to six placement choices with the school making the final decision. These field placements run four days per week.

The Content Strategy graduate certificate program is designed to prepare students for the emerging and expanding field of content strategy. Content strategists help organizations and agencies establish and maintain credible, viable and trustworthy content - content that has value, content that is inherently inclusive and content that is purposeful. Content strategies are unified visions of digital and analog interactive systems and communications in a platform-agnostic system.

Content strategists oversee the publishing of content by providing advice and direction to improve brand awareness, internal communications, public relations and user experience. Strategists engage with all aspects of the content development lifecycle, from ideating and curating content to creating artifacts and deliverables that allow organizations to analyze content and make holistic, strategic recommendations for the development of content based on thorough analysis.

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

• Develop carefully considered, holistic strategies and tactics for the establishment of a credible, viable and trustworthy online presence for an organization or agency in order to optimize web-based business assets.
• Conduct a qualitative and quantitative audit of existing content inventory in order to assess it for accuracy, currency, usefulness, usability and findability.
• Analyze internal and external factors and trends that impact the creation, delivery and governance of an organizations’ content in order to maintain relevancy, currency and alignment with business goals.
• Present clear recommendations for content creation, delivery and governance that meet business goals and user needs for current and relevant information, advice and direction, procedures to follow, and relationship building.
• Design and manage a workflow that defines the people, processes and timelines required for effective content creation, delivery and governance.
• Help online readers to find information, solve problems and complete tasks by publishing effectively written original content and sourcing relevant curated material.
• Deliver quality accessible, branded content consistently across selected digital channels that is appropriate for the target audience.
• Develop policies, standards and guidelines for the maintenance of content accuracy, consistent brand messaging and user engagement that complies with relevant law, industry standards and business best practices.
• Conduct a retrospective review using qualitative data and evidence from web analytics to measure the impact of a content strategy on business outcomes.
• Identify and address the implicit and explicit biases of self, team members and audience in order to curate socially, culturally and environmentally sensitive content that strengthens brand equity.

Work Placement - Students will participate in a mandatory work placement in their final semester of study.