Certificate in Pre-Trades And Technology

at Sault College - Ste. Marie Campus Canada

Looking for a fun and challenging career in the outdoors? Interested in learning a variety of recreational and wilderness-based skills? This is the program for you.

The natural, rugged wilderness of the Algoma Highlands and Lake Superior region make the Sault area an ideal location for studying parks and Adventure recreation. The area contains several provincial parks and Parks Canada facilities, conservation areas, municipal parks, and outdoor recreational facilities. Included in this list are several Michigan State parks and U. S. National parks and forests, all within a short drive of Sault College.

Unique in Canada, our two-year Adventure Recreation and Parks Technician program offers you a broad background in natural resource management, with quality instruction in three major areas of concentration: Parks, Adventure Recreation, and Travel & Ecotourism. Specialty courses in the parks field include Park Operations, Park Interpretation, and Park Protection.

Adventure recreation training forms the second major component of our program and includes specialty courses in Recreation Planning, Adventure Recreation, and our Second Year Field Camp travel & ecotourism training forms the last major component of our program, and includes specialty courses in Ecotourism, and Adventure Expeditions.

Field trips and hands-on experience form an important part of the program. Students will visit a number of park systems and outdoor recreational facilities in the Lake Superior region. Knowledge of the natural environment will be stressed through acquiring field identification skills in a number of different courses such as Trees and Shrubs, Plant Diversity, Animal Diversity, and Regional Geology. During fall camp, students will be exposed to a number of skill areas in the outdoor recreation field, such as canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and wilderness camping.

As part of our commitment to providing practical, hands-on training and skills necessary to secure long-term employment, our program offers valuable opportunities to acquire employer recognized certifications where feasible. Many of these certifications are provincially or nationally recognized. Some of the specialized parks-related training which may be outside of class includes Chainsaw Operator Safety and Heritage Interpreter certification. Specialized outdoor recreation-related training may also be offered and may include certification in wilderness survival, kayaking, canoeing, nordic and alpine skiing, snowboarding, rock and ice climbing, and scuba diving. All certifications are subject to specific requirements and where applicable additional fees. Some certification courses are arranged through the School of Continuing Education at an additional cost to the student. Most of these certifications are provincially or nationally recognized.

Students may have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects. Please see the `Applied Research Centre` section for more information relating to the Sault College Applied Research Centre.

Co-operative Education (Co-op)
Co-operative Education (Co-op) provides opportunities for you to learn beyond your classroom as you integrate relevant work
experiences into your academic studies. Co-op also lets you further develop life and employment skills while earning money.
You can also get a better idea of the career options available to you and build your network of contacts for future employment. Many employers prefer hiring co-op grads because of the applied learning they receive. We will prepare you for your summer work term and employment upon graduation.

Goals of Co-operative Education:

• Provide opportunities for students to learn and apply job search skills.
• Enable students to develop a network of employer contacts.
• Expose students to the realities of the workplace in their chosen field.
• Provide quality work experience where students can apply their knowledge and skills.
• Assist employers by providing well-trained, enthusiastic Co-op students.

Sault College and Humber College are partnering to offer an innovative opportunity for post-secondary learners. Beginning September 2021, the Colleges will co-deliver the Bachelor of Engineering - Mechatronics, allowing students to study at either Sault College – Sault Ste. Marie Campus or Humber’s North Campus. This collaboration strengthens opportunities for learners, particularly those in the North, to study in exciting and emerging fields while living closer to home.

The Bachelor of Engineering – Mechatronics discipline gives you hands-on experience with industry-standard advanced technology. You can choose from focused study in either robotics or embedded systems.  During the course of  the program, students will solve real industry and community problems and gain knowledge and skills in mechanical, electrical, electronics and computer engineering. Students use emerging and cutting edge  technologies in robotics, control, electronics, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), motors, mechanical components, digital and analog circuits, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), machine learning, modeling, simulation, embedded systems, and advanced manufacturing. Each of these themes provides theoretical knowledge alongside hands-on training to complement a systems-thinking approach to solving real world problems. 

In addition, this program provides an opportunity to work on industry-led projects through multidisciplinary capstone projects as well as applied research opportunities. Through these experiences, students apply the theoretical knowledge gained during their education to solve real industry problems, while improving their professional skills such as teamwork, communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

The Mechanical Techniques - Machine Shop program is designed to provide you with a solid foundation in the use of shop equipment and precision measuring instruments.
After only one year of study, you`ll receive an Ontario College Certificate in Mechanical Techniques - Machine Shop.
The Mechanical Techniques - Machine Shop (Machinist) program is designed to provide you with a strong foundation in the use of shop equipment and precision measuring instruments. As a student of this program, you will gain knowledge and hands-on skills with a wide variety of equipment including lathes, milling machines, and grinders, as well as precision measuring instruments, to support the production and repair of components in a mechnical environment.

Program Outcomes
A graduate of the Mechanical Techniques Program at Sault College will reliably demonstrate the ability to:

• Complete all work in compliance with current legislation, standards, regulations and guidelines.
• Contribute to the application of quality control and quality assurance procedures to meet organizational standards and requirements.
• Comply with current health and safety legislation, as well as organizational practices and procedures.
• Support sustainability best practices in workplaces.
• Use current and emerging technologies to support the implementation of mechanical and manufacturing projects.
• Troubleshoot and solve standard mechanical problems by applying mathematics and fundamentals of mechanics.
• Contribute to the interpretation and preparation of mechanical drawings and other related technical documents.
• Perform routine technical measurements accurately using appropriate instruments and equipment.
• Assist in manufacturing, assembling, maintaining and repairing mechanical components according to required specifications.
• Select, use and maintain machinery, tools and equipment for the installation, manufacturing and repair of basic mechanical components.

This eight-month program, unique in the province of Ontario, is designed for those who don`t have a business-related background or education, but recognize the importance of having key knowledge of business to enhance job prospects and for advancement in their careers. In only a few months, you will develop the skills in the key areas of management, marketing, accounting, finance, human resource management and other critical business-related functions, while earning a graduate certificate from a recognized post-secondary program. Most other college programs take two years to give you the level of study you will gain at Sault College in less than one. Business knowledge is recognized as a necessary piece of one`s portfolio when actively seeking exciting opportunities in the domestic and global marketplace. In today`s economy, employers seek what this program will provide you: the skills required to solve problems, make decisions, and perform a multitude of tasks, all with a strong foundation of what it takes to lead and succeed.

Are you interested in progressing to university? The General Arts and Science UniversityTransfer diploma gives you the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subject areas such as communications, social sciences, humanities, the arts or math and science at a postsecondary level, and discover what it is that interests you. The UniversityTransfer diploma program also provides you with an excellent foundation for a university education, another diploma program or a career that requires wide-ranging and flexible, transferable skills, which meet the needs of many employers. This program can be taken full or part time allowing you flexibility in your studies.

Program Outcomes
A graduate of the Sault College General Arts and Science - UniversityTransfer Program will reliably demonstrate the ability to:

• Develop, through general knowledge gained in a wide range of subjects, insight into both self and society.
• Develop flexibility and clarity of both thought and expression in order to develop communications competence to a level required by business and industry.
• Understand and utilize critical thinking processes and problem solving techniques.
• Examine and evaluate various aspects of our changing society to assist in developing a sense of personal and social responsibility as a citizen in society.
• Employ basic vocational, skills drawn from the areas of the Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences of Vocational Studies (Business, Technology).

The 3-year Mechanical Engineering Technology advanced diploma program will give you what it takes to help bring design to life!
Through in-class instruction and a world-class lab simulating the manufacturing environment, gain the critical skills to become an integral member of today’s engineering teams, including:

• Quality control procedures
• In-depth performance testing
• Product development support
• Design and manufacturing
• Improving engineering designs through analysis

This program is not a direct intake. This does not preclude current Sault College Electrical Engineering program students from working towards gaining this additional diploma.
If you are enrolled in any of the following Sault College Electrical Engineering Programs listed below, you may be eligible in your second or third year to take courses that will allow you to gain this additional diploma:

• 4026 - Electrical Engineering Technician - Process Automation
• 4127 - Electrical Engineering Technician - Process Automation & Trades
• 4029 - Electrical Engineering Technology - Process Automation

The Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technician program will prepare you to install, calibrate, configure, maintain, service, test, troubleshoot, analyze and upgrade measuring and control devices and systems, which equip process industries.

In 8-months obtain a Business Fundamentals Certificate to enter the workforce faster or to discover your unique interest in Business by exploring the possible pathways and subject areas that lead into a 2 and/or 3 year Business program.

Join our well-respected Professors as you explore human resources, accounting, marketing and business principles and concepts toward a greater understanding of the world of business. Students will have access to curriculum that integrates the use of current technologies and innovative software in a look into the real world of business to give you an edge to succeed.

Sault College`s unique geographic location, bordering the United States, allows us the opportunity to provide a global perspective to the important study of business. You can rest assured that the Business Fundamentals program will provide you with a unique set of skills that are in increasing demand and highly regarded by the business community. At Sault College, preparing you for a successful career is Our Business.

Program Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Identify factors that have an impact on an organizations business opportunities.
• Explain the impact of corporate sustainability*, corporate social responsibility and ethics on an organizations business initiatives.
• Use current technologies to support an organization`s business initiatives.
• Apply basic research skills to support business decision making.
• Perform basic accounting procedures and financial calculations to support the operations of an organization.
• Describe marketing and sales concepts used to support the operations of an organization.
• Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance.
• Outline the functional areas of a business and their interrelationships.

It may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but robots are replacing jobs! Over the next 10 years, nearly half of the Canadian workforce could be affected by automation.

The growth of automation means a growing industry in solution-driven product design, development and testing. We know you’re ready to change the future of industries. The Robotics and Automation program will have you thriving in a changing workforce. Gain knowledge, specialized expertise and professional skill related to robotic applications and automation. Use a state-of-the-art laboratory to simulate a manufacturing environment and put your ideas into action to solve real-world problems.

Want to contribute to conserving and protecting our natural environment? Are you interested in learning how natural ecosystems function and interact? Do you want a rewarding career carrying out work leading to the sustainability of natural resources?
If you answered yes, this is the program for you. Our team of experienced Natural Environment faculty can teach you the skills you`ll need to gain meaningful employment in the rapidly expanding environmental sector.

Students will study the natural environment and learn to understand how ecosystem components interact together. You`ll be taught how to identify organisms including birds, fish, mammals, insects, fungi, plants and trees. The physical parts of ecosystems are critically important to their function, so emphasis will be placed on understanding the climatic and geological forces that have shaped the land. Courses in forest soils and aquatic resources will provide students with knowledge of these processes.

The focus of this program will be on teaching field skills and techniques which are essential for the inventory, evaluation and monitoring of natural communities. Practical field training will be provided to teach navigating in wild areas using compasses and GPS, and using canoes, motorized boats, ATV`s and snowmobiles for back country transportation. You`ll also learn the latest techniques to monitor and measure natural resources.

The location of Sault College makes it ideal for this program. The rugged natural wilderness of the Algoma Highlands and Lake Superior provide unlimited opportunities for outdoor activity. While classroom lectures and labs provide the theoretical background for the program, much of your time will be spent outside doing hands on applications of what you`ve learned. A critical appreciation of ecosystem function within urban environments will also develop, as students learn of the capacity of the natural environment to solve common urban issues.

Numerous Natural Resource agencies make Sault Ste. Marie their home (e.g., Ontario Forest Research Institute, Great Lakes Forest Research Centre, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Sea Lamprey Control Centre, and Invasive Species Centre). The city is also touted as the renewable energy capital of Canada. With the opportunity to visit a variety of local sites, students learn how natural resources are assessed and utilized to provide clean energy. At the core of these projects are the natural heritage assessments and ongoing monitoring that contribute to long term sustainability. Students will apply a variety of technologies in this important effort to mitigate climate change, yet ensure an energy rich society.

Graduates of this 2 year program are encouraged to continue their studies in the Natural Environment Technologist program though a technician diploma may be awarded after 4 semesters. Students may have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects. Please see the `Applied Research Centre` section for more information relating to the Sault College Applied Research Centre.

Co-operative Education (Co-op)
Co-operative Education (Co-op) provides opportunities for you to learn beyond your classroom as you integrate relevant work
experiences into your academic studies. Co-op also lets you further develop life and employment skills while earning money.
You can also get a better idea of the career options available to you and build your network of contacts for future employment. Many employers prefer hiring co-op grads because of the applied learning they receive. We will prepare you for your summer work term and employment upon graduation.

Goals of Co-operative Education:

• Provide opportunities for students to learn and apply job search skills.
• Enable students to develop a network of employer contacts.
• Expose students to the realities of the workplace in their chosen field.
• Provide quality work experience where students can apply their knowledge and skills.
• Assist employers by providing well-trained, enthusiastic Co-op students.