Graduate Certificate in Public Relations

at Humber College - Lakeshore Campus Canada

Humber’s Bachelor of Child and Youth Care degree program provides you with the knowledge and skills required for in-depth work with children, youth and families. The program is based on the professional practice of child and youth care supported by the disciplines of psychology, sociology, community development, political science and education. The curriculum focuses on the theory and research of relational practice: building relationships to support children and youth in crisis or going through experiences of challenge and change.

You’ll learn from highly qualified professors, as well as from guest lecturers from the child and youth care practice field, youth in care and community representatives. You’ll have the unique opportunity to develop key skills under supervision in our state-of-the-art interview labs, therapeutic play laboratory setting, our family practice room and children’s activity room.

Your courses integrate the study of developmental, preventative and therapeutic approaches in child and youth care and will teach you direct methods such as interviewing and counselling, responding to abuse, therapeutic play, and other intervention modalities taught from a strength-based perspective and within a caring, anti-oppressive framework.

The first two years of the program provide you with a comprehensive understanding of child and youth development, as well as current methodologies in child and youth care professional practice. In the final two years, you will be able to engage in courses related to five areas of concentration in the program – youth justice and advocacy, social policy and research, approaches to care, community development and youth engagement, and international perspectives. The curriculum and work placement experiences throughout the program will support you to select a focus for your final thesis project in fourth year.

Learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Describe, analyze and evaluate key concepts, ethics, values and theoretical approaches (historical and contemporary) in child and youth care and related community development.
• Analyze issues of social diversity and equality and their effects in relation to child and youth care and community development.
• Plan, implement, assess and evaluate child-centred & family-centred programs to meet the needs of clients, staff, families and community.
• Identify the challenges and rewards of working with children and youth especially those with physical, behavioural, social, and developmental issues in independent, organizational, institutional and community settings.
• Identify and evaluate alternatives to the current child and youth intervention strategies, with a view to anticipating future directions.
• Advocate for the holistic development of children and youth.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships and partnerships with clients, professionals and the community demonstrating effective conflict management skills.
• Describe and evaluate the complex role of the community in child and youth development.
• Identify and implement the process of program management, measuring the cost and effectiveness of child and youth care and development.
• Examine & apply various research methods assessing the appropriateness of their use.
• Adhere to the laws, codes, regulations, standards and practices to protect the health, safety and welfare of clients, the public and other professionals involved in child and youth care community development initiatives with children and youth.
• Identify and implement community development processes measuring the cost and effectiveness of child and youth community development programs.
• Analyze contemporary issues in child and youth care including nutrition, literacy, poverty, homelessness, addictions, violence, substance use, crime, resilience and determinants of health.
• Evaluate social justice and political issues in regards to child and youth care and community development practices at local, national and global levels.
• Develop curriculum, programs and strategies for children, youth and the community which reflect current educational theory and pedagogy.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, self-confidence, self-direction, self-management, self-reflection and self-care in one’s professional development

Work Placement
Beginning in the first semester, you will have the opportunity to participate in an introductory field placement preparation course that will enable you to become familiar with the field of child and youth care. In your second semester, you will prepare for your field placement in Semester 3, by participating in the Preparing for Professional Practice course. The field placement in Semester 3 is 200 hours and will support you to develop your skills working in the community with children, youth and families.    

In addition, you will be required to complete a 14-week typically unpaid field placement between third and fourth year.

The combination of field placements will enable you to build therapeutic relationships, role model your professional skills and link academic theory to child and youth care practice.

Humber’s Fashion Management graduate certificate program prepares you to work in the dynamic fashion industry and focuses on the management, marketing, sales of fashion apparel and accessories. Courses cover new product development and branding, fashion buying and retailing, multi-channel sales, international marketing and product management. Visual merchandising skills combined with colour theory skills and trend forecasting give this program a dynamic, hands-on approach to the business side of fashion.

Students in the program can choose the promotions or sustainability profile. The promotions profile covers the rapidly growing promotional side of fashion including courses in integrated marketing communication and social media brand management. Students will learn how to leverage and promote a brand through social media, personal blogs, Instagram, Twitter, online selling and personal website development.

Sustainable fashion profile provides students with opportunities to learn about the important aspects of fashion sustainability such as ethics and supply chain, creative innovations in the fashion industry and how to make a case for sustainability from a financial and managerial perspective. There is a growing demand for industry professionals with knowledge of sustainable solutions and innovation. Students graduate from the program prepared with tools to lead the industry to a lasting sustainable fashion change.

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
  • Review political, economic, social, environmental and regulatory factors affecting fashion industry and global sourcing decisions to achieve cost-effective, sustainable, quality product procurement and operations.
  • Apply accounting, finance and supply chain operation methods to make sustainable business decisions that build competitive advantage for fashion products.
  • Recommend merchandising, store-level operations, promotions and product offering improvements for retailers based on detailed competitive analysis.
  • Develop entrepreneurship strategies that inform start-up business plans to achieve profitability and sustainability goals.
  • Develop a merchandising plan and replenishment process using industry specific tools in accordance with an allocated budget to achieve desired profitability and performance metrics.
  • Justify a promotional marketing and visual merchandising plan based on analysis of the business’s current position in the market to appeal to target audience and support strategic business objectives. 
  • Formulate evidence-based and innovative business plans that serve to solve identified fashion business problems related to production, profitability and market position.
  • Defend a mutually beneficial wholesale fashion line proposal to a retailer based on analysis of the buyer’s performance and profitability, target market and current fashion trends.
  • Employ language of the fashion industry to communicate effectively with direct and indirect stakeholders in line with businesses’ strategic objectives to establish and maintain working relationships.
  • Develop textual and visual online and in-store content to engage target clients through variety of media platforms to strengthen market position and business profitability.
  • Analyze historical and current development in the fashion industry together with predicted future trends to create competitive and sustainable business solutions.

Work Placement
Gain first-hand experience in the industry with a four-week (160-hour) work placement which takes place either part time during the program or full time at the end of the program. Placements provide the valuable work experience employers seek.

The Global Business Management Ontario Graduate Certificate program allows you to prepare for a wide variety of business management careers and gives you the time to decide which is best for you. No business experience, no prerequisite courses required – just your bachelor’s degree and the desire to find your place in the world of business management.

In your first year, the core curriculum covers the major functional areas of business and develops the qualities that every business wants in their managers: leadership, communications, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, strategic planning and much more.

For your second year, you choose one of nine specialization streams to suit your individual needs and preferences. These streams include:

• Advertising Media Management
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Entrepreneurial Enterprise
• Event Management
• Fashion Management
• Financial Planning
• Human Resources Management
• International Business Management
• Marketing Management

Note: Specialization stream availability depends on the term in which second year is started.

Humber’s Bachelor of Community Development degree program offers a unique blend of theory and practice-based experience. Students learn how to work effectively in communities, how to build capacity for change, lead projects and advocate for people who face barriers to living a full and productive life. 

The first year of the program is comprised of a common platform of courses that includes psychology, sociology, human rights, interpersonal communication, counselling and ethics. The second year of study immerses students in the field of community development including foundational courses which explore leadership and advocacy. The final two years of the program provide in-depth study of program development and evaluation, advanced issues in community development, social movements, community participatory research, and senior thesis work. Project work is linked to applied and academic fields.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Compare and contrast different historical and contemporary approaches, theory, values and methods of community work.
• Investigate psycho/social, economic and political theory underpinning community work.
• Analyze social structures that marginalize people by race, gender, class, sexual orientation and ability.
• Analyze community strengths, assets, complexities and resources from an empowerment perspective.
• Analyze root causes of community problems and select appropriate intervention strategies for change.
• Evaluate gaps in services and resources within communities applying participatory research methods that involve community members.
• Compose, present and evaluate action plans with measurable outcomes tied to empowerment evaluation methodology.
• Critique legislation and social policies and create alternative viewpoints that support communities in positive ways.
• Advocate on behalf of communities arguing for change that focuses on identified community needs.
• Devise organizational structures that support and enable community action plans to be implemented successfully.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate plans to access sustainable resources and concrete benefits for communities.
• Critique community development literature and cases to determine best practices in the field.
• Network with community members and organizations to mobilize citizens and develop allies for the change process.
• Facilitate communities through training, education and social learning to build capacity, create leaders and engage human resources.
• Apply interpersonal and group skills to plan and facilitate discussions that build collaborative relationships and community partnerships.
• Acknowledge the limits of knowledge in the field of community development through academic writing and professional practices in working with others from diverse disciplines to provide holistic services to communities.
• Practice leadership and adult education principles to contribute to approaches to community development that result in social justice.
• Deliver professional services based on ethical guidelines and empowerment centred values within the scope of practice.
• Manage own self-care and ongoing professional development plan using self-reflection and community feedback to target areas for skills, knowledge and attitude growth.

Work Placement
Students will engage in field placements (which are typically unpaid). They will complete 420 hours of field placement across two semesters or 420 hours in one summer semester with one of Humber's community partners. Students will be supported by a field placement co-ordinator.

The field placement may be in a social service, community, educational or non-profit organization where students will have an opportunity to work in the community development field. During this experience, students may have a variety of responsibilities including assessment, research-based work, working directly with community groups and individuals, as well as supporting community workers, educators and/or social science professionals.

Students have the option to gain cross-cultural knowledge and experience by completing this field placement abroad. Students can put theory into practice and directly engage with communities across the globe that will benefit from community development work.

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 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 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 Bachelor of Digital Communications degree program explores the dynamic media environment and the cultural, social, economic and political implications of digital innovation. Communications studies are becoming recognized as one of the most significant social sciences in the 21st century. Increasingly, worldviews are shaped through messages received from television, film, the internet, social media and a host of media arts, with profound impacts on how the world and the self are viewed. The construction of everyday lives and identities are negotiated through digital media and social networks which influence how we live, the products we produce and consume, and how we connect.

This program is rigorous and innovative, developing digital storytellers who are skilled in writing, visual communication, web applications and social media. You will build significant business acumen while working in an environment where creative ideas and methods cross-pollinate. As you gain technical competency, you will collaborate and innovate with peers, faculty and visitors, building personal communication and networking skills. Intensive lectures and labs provide direction and practical experience, sharpening technical skills and stimulating critical discourse, using student work as a starting point. Access to studios and computing spaces enables reflective and collaborative project work. Historical, legal, ethical and theoretical considerations are built into the creative process.

As part of the program, you will engage with an array of courses designed to deepen your awareness of your roles as a citizen conscious of the social, political, environmental and cultural contexts of their work. Senior students in this program specialize in advanced communication theory and techniques. A culminating capstone project showcases their abilities and learning, and serves as a platform for launching a career in digital and social media co-ordination, media relations, and many other mass communications fields. Graduates may also choose to further their studies at the master’s level.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Employ distinctive communication styles grounded in a thorough understanding of communication theories, and historical and contemporary trends in visual design and media technologies.
• Create effective media strategies based on insightful audience analysis, principles of branding and marketing and revenue generation and media law and ethics.
• Critically analyze and interpret media messages, comprehending the historical, social, commercial and cultural impact of representational, explanatory, abstract and symbolic images.
• Gather, review, evaluate, interpret and express information using a range of well-developed analytic and creative methodologies.
• Operate as informed producers and consumers of media communications recognizing the aims of commercial business, nonprofits, government, and community enterprise.
• Apply innovative media strategies to effectively analyze and express themes and issues from a range of contexts and perspectives.
• Interpret and apply theoretical and ethical frameworks to identify and solve communication problems in a variety of contexts.
• Present ideas and information accurately and creatively using written, oral, audio-visual and web-based formats.
• Reflect on communication strategies and practices from a range of perspectives and willingly adapt, revise, edit, and develop improvements.
• Manage communication projects effectively, employing a professional attitude towards responsibility, initiative, collaboration, adaptability, accountability and ethical use of resources.
• Integrate leadership and influence skills with accountability in media content creation.
• Direct own continuous learning, pursuing opportunities for constant renewal of skills and knowledge.

Work Placement
Students will participate in one mandatory work placement in the summer between Semester 6 and 7. The placement provides students with an opportunity to gain experience and meet professionals in the digital communications sector. Many of the placements are offered in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), a hub for the communications industry in Canada and home to numerous media, non-profit, marketing, public relations and other private sector companies.

Humber’s Social Service Worker diploma program prepares you to work with people in a professional helping role. Approaching your education from an individual and a community perspective, you will learn how to empower and advocate for people to meet their goals and to access needed services and programs.

Skilled, committed faculty with real-life work experience in the human services field teach with a focus on promoting equity and addressing barriers people face on the basis of race, class, disabilities, gender or sexual orientation.

You will study topics such as human behaviour and development; interpersonal, interviewing and counselling skills; family dynamics; legislation and social policy; and how to work effectively with groups and communities. You will develop the skills needed to intervene in crisis situations and to work with a broad range of people including those experiencing poverty, settlement challenges, domestic violence, mental health issues and substance abuse, post-traumatic stress, and other challenging life events.

Work Placement

• You will work with a field placement co-ordinator to align two unpaid field placements with one of our community partners.
• Your first-year field placement begins in the January semester and your second-year field placement runs throughout the academic year. Field placements are two days per week. You will have the opportunity to experience a full work week in Semesters 2, 3, and 4.

Humber’s Bachelor of Creative Advertising degree program will give you the solid foundation necessary for a variety of advertising careers. A wide range of courses cover important topics in digital marketing, communications, copywriting, promotion, persuasion and typography. Many instructors have significant and ongoing industry experience and will help you develop head-turning creative approaches to advertising.

Our program is enriched by opportunities to work in BuildingF, our in-house creative shop, giving you the chance to work on briefs for real clients while gaining valuable experience, connections and skills. With instruction in industry-standard design and production software, marketing and business principles, and content development and production, you will have a thorough understanding of contemporary advertising and insights into its future. Throughout this program, you will work in creative teams and gain the collaborative skills that will prepare you for the agency workplace.

The program is designed to offer you the flexibility to choose an area of focus, be it account management, art direction or copywriting. Should you find an avenue that suits you, you can immerse yourself in Humber’s advertising graduate certificate programs and continue to hone your abilities and marketability.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Discuss key historical influences on current practices in creative advertising
• Identify relevant legal, regulatory and ethical considerations that apply to specific advertising areas
• Analyze the social, cultural, political, economic and technological influences on consumer behaviours
• Conduct effective primary and secondary research to derive insights applicable to advertising or marketing issues
• Employ a variety of creative strategies to generate ideas for solving advertising or marketing problems
• Create a campaign to solve an identified business challenge that influences the attitudes and behaviours of a described target audience
• Develop a targeted creative brief informed by insightful interpretations of marketing demographic and user experience research
• Contribute to a creative advertising team using acquired specialized competencies in one of creative strategy, art direction, or copywriting
• Express concepts, ideas, information, brand stories and research insights presented through refined verbal and visual techniques appropriate to the audience
• Questions assumptions and biases through listening, reading and observing critically
• Self-assess continuously to appreciate the lessons available in failure and the place of critique in the improvement process
• Collaborate effectively in team environments to achieve identifiable goals
• Employ entrepreneurial skills and thinking to identify market opportunities.
• Develop a showcase portfolio to represent industry ready competency in creative advertising

Work Placement
Students will gain practical, hands-on experience in the industry by completing a mandatory work placement in the winter semester of 4th year. As students are often hired directly from their placements, the final summer term is fully online.