Diploma in Environmental Technician – Water and Wastewater Systems Operations (Compressed, Co-op Option)

at Northern College - Kirkland Lake Campus Canada

The Addiction and Mental Health Worker program provides students with evidence-based knowledge and skills in screening, assessing and responding to people with mental health, substance use and other addictions from diverse cultural and community perspectives.

Graduates will be prepared to analyze multiple and intersecting causes and impacts of addiction and mental health issues from a multidimensional framework that integrates an Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) lens, inclusive of Indigenous and traditional approaches to healing. The focus of this approach will prepare students to work with individuals and family members experiencing addiction and mental health issues and challenges, as well as to intervene in an advocacy role at organizational and systems levels to promote equitable access to supports and services, including health promotion and prevention/harm reduction.

The field placement component of this program provides students with the opportunity to work in inter-professional teams to gain direct practice experience providing support to clients and families/kin through case management, assessment and referral and navigating systems of care.

This program provides the specialized training required to become a licensed drinking water and/or wastewater systems operator under Ontario’s rigorous standards. You’ll train for interesting, good-paying, stable work opportunities that are making a real difference in our environment. It’s a trades-focused, hands-on operator’s line of work – where operators and practical environmental stewardship meet. Students have a choice of studying under the original compressed co-op delivery program or an uncompressed, non-co-op delivery. Both options include a blended program combining on-site and distance learning.

Co-op Delivery Option
Co-operative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with an academic credit for practical work experience. Our original program co-op delivery option provides students with the fastest path to becoming fully licensed operators in Ontario. Students follow a continuous 6-semester cycle of academic and placement semesters, taking 2 years of continuous study or placements until graduation. This compressed (4 academic semesters into 3) delivery prepares students with a strong combination of theory and the opportunity to obtain up to one year of paid co-op practical systems operator experience. Because it is a compressed delivery, the academic semesters have up to 27-28 hours classes/ week. Northern College will make every effort to assist students in finding co-op employment, but cannot guarantee co-op employment. Students are encouraged to speak with local employers in water and/or wastewater treatment plants about co-op placements prior to starting the program.

Students write the Ontario Operator-In-Training (OIT, a kind of “learner permit”) examination and the Drinking Water Operators Entry-Level Course exam, and through three 4-month-long co-op placement semesters have the opportunity to obtain the year of work experience required to take their full industry certification exams and enter the industry as fully licensed Class I operators. This program is now recognized by OACETT as meeting the requirements for the Certified Technician designation for graduates

Designed for those interested in gaining entrance to and/or a competitive advantage in the mineral exploration job market. This program provides students with the entry-level knowledge and skills to function as a valuable member of a mineral exploration team on projects in grassroots exploration to mine-site exploration. The two-semester program incorporates both classroom teaching and valuable hands-on experience during a culminating two-week field school. The modular format and distance or in-class delivery of this program provides the flexibility for students to study while maintaining their employment and caters to students in remote northern communities. Graduates are ready to enter the job market with a college certificate after only one year of study.

Important Information
The Mineral Exploration Techniques program is a blended program combining on-site and distance learning. Students require the use of a personal computer to access course content, submit assignments, and complete online tests.

Pathways to Success
Certificate to Diploma: Graduates of the Mineral Exploration Techniques program may choose to continue their studies in the Haileybury School of Mines – Mining Engineering Technician Diploma program at Northern College, with advanced standing in three common courses. Certificate to Diploma to Degree: Once graduates of the Mineral Exploration Techniques certificate program have successfully completed their Mining Engineering Technician diploma program, they may be eligible to enroll in the Bachelor of Mining Engineering Technology degree (BTech) from Queen’s University (blended learning format) in two additional years plus a bridging semester.

Social Service Workers focus on promoting equality, and addressing disadvantages that people face on the basis of race, disability, gender or age. They use their knowledge of human behaviour and development, communication, interviewing and counseling skills, to work with groups and/or communities to help them become more caring and capable of supporting their communities.

This program prepares students to work with people who are experiencing stressful events in their lives from an individual, family and community perspective. Students will learn how to intervene in crisis situations and will develop skills needed to assist individual clients, groups, families and communities to better meet their challenges and to enhance their social functioning. Clinical practice labs and field placements provide a milieu where students are able to apply theory into practice through interviewing, case assessment and planning. Students must be able to apply skills, such as teamwork and group work outside of class. They may also be required to seek feedback from agency professionals for lab work and video assignments. Northern College values lifelong learning in an effort to maintain the current competencies outlined by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. The College assists learners in developing competent skills, attitudes and an interest in the social service profession egalitarian and supportive relationships with our professors and facilitators facilitate adult learning and development

The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program prepares graduates for success in professional health career programs. This program provides an admissions pathway into the Bachelor of Science – Nursing, Practical Nursing, and Paramedic programs at Northern College. It also provides admission requirements for most health career programs offered at other Ontario community colleges and is a partner in several university articulation agreements.

Computers and network systems are everywhere: in industry, business, vehicles, law enforcement, laboratories and homes. Computer engineering technicians are needed to support them! This program addresses many applications for computers including business analysis, networking and system security. Computer Engineering Technicians maintain software, systems and networks to improve life for society. This program prepares students to write exams for certifications such as Cisco (CCNA), CCNA Security, Networks +, A+ Certification, Server+ and Linux + Certification.

The Business – Accounting option will give students the skills to handle a variety of accounting situations. As part of a management team, graduates will help gather, organize and analyze financial data, administer accounting systems, and advise on accounting problems. Courses in the first two semesters will introduce students to accounting principles.

They will also take courses in marketing, human resources management, math, and business to provide themselves with a solid foundation for their chosen career. During the third and fourth semesters, new subjects are added and earlier subjects are expanded upon. Students will also practice accounting procedures using both manual and computerized accounting software programs. The Canadian Payroll Association and the Canadian Institute of Bookkeeping recognize these Northern College courses.

This program provides graduates with the background in science and technology related to welding that will prepare them to interact with engineers and scientists while maintaining the practical skills necessary to supervise trade personnel. Welding professionals are concerned with all activities related to the design, production, performance and maintenance of welded products. To adequately design a weldment, the welding professional must not only understand the material being joined, but also the effect of welding variables of many welding processes on the final product. To achieve this, lab time is intertwined with a curriculum of metallurgical science and engineering theory. In developing the skills required in becoming a welding inspector, students complement their knowledge of non-destructive examination with a working knowledge of codes, standards and stress analysis.

The Welding Engineering Technician program is identical to the first two years of the Welding Engineering Technologist program. Students graduating from the Welding Engineering Technician program have two options, the first being immediate entry into the work force, the second is to continue their studies for one more year.

The third year option allows those graduates, wishing to specialize in welding technology, to receive a greater depth of training and knowledge in welding processes, welding metallurgy, welding physics, failure analysis and welding circuits. Pathways to Success: Welding Engineering Technology graduates may have entry into the McMaster Bachelor of Technology Manufacturing stream.

Northern College in conjunction with Algonquin College offers a two-year Business – Agriculture Ontario College Diploma program which combines agriculture with business and management training, providing you with the skills necessary to successfully operate a farming operation, or to provide services to agricultural businesses.

Agriculture is an increasingly complex industry, with sophisticated agribusiness managers required to make decisions about crop/herd selection and improvement, pest and soil management, equipment maintenance, farm safety and agricultural production. At the same time, there is a growing need for skills and knowledge to apply management concepts related to agricultural financial administration, human resources, operational efficiency, government regulations, technology, sales and marketing.

Through this program, you examine agricultural techniques through a business lens, with a focus on:

• Developing fundamental research
• Financial and operations skills to evaluate farm production methodologies
• Technologies and systems in order to inform business decisions

You have opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills through activities, simulations, case studies and interactions with professionals in active farm operations.