Bachelor of Public Safety (Honours) (Co-op)

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

Discover a career supporting children, families and communities

The Bachelor of Early Learning and Community Development (Honours) program prepares you to work with children and families in both the community development and educational sectors and provides you with a variety of transferable skills.

There is an increasing awareness of the importance of early learning in our society. Similarly, there is an ongoing need to develop and support early learning opportunities for children and their families within a variety of settings. The early learning sector is evolving to address these changes. This program is ideal for those who want to play a role in these developments.

This program combines theory and practice, giving you the skills and knowledge you need for engaging with communities, families and children to create and implement community and school based programs that support early learning and development.

Throughout the program, you have three varied field placements within both community and school settings. These give you the chance to apply your skills to real-world settings. With field placements, applied learning and a semester-long work term, graduates are ready for employment in the community development and education sectors.

Graduates may find work in:

• Community health agencies
• Kindergartens
• Early learning programs
• Child and family centres
• Provincial government
• Non-governmental agencies addressing the needs of families and children

Interactive Media Design is a two year Ontario College Diploma program designed to prepare you for a variety of careers in the digital media industry. Web-design and programming, as well as video and motion graphic skills, are in demand in all employment sectors. You explore the primary elements of media project planning and development with equal importance given to the creative and the technical aspects. This balanced learning experience prepares graduates to be generalists in the media industry, meaning you can jump into a wide variety of roles as you begin your careers.

Strong emphasis is placed on hands-on media production through courses in computer-based web design and programming, as well as video and motion graphics. Through a number of program-specific elective courses, you can focus your path towards specializing as a video producer or a web developer, or you can choose to remain as a generalist, depending on your interests. You plan and execute individual and team-based projects under the guidance of a faculty, industry experts in the media field. You gain practical experience working with live clients through applied projects. You navigate these learning opportunities with the operating system of your choice, such as Apple OS X, Windows or other platforms.

This industry-driven program provides you with the diverse skillset that makes you adaptable in today`s dynamic job market across all sectors. Graduates may find employment in a wide variety of fields utilizing their skills in dynamic media development, web design and programming, photography, videography, motion graphics, project management, UX design, graphic design and content management. Other opportunities involve start-up businesses and a wide variety of alternate professional fields.

Students also have the option to gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op version of the program are subject to availability. Students who elect to apply to the non co-op version of the program may not have the opportunity to transfer to the co-op version at a later date.  

This one-year Ontario College General Arts and Science - Design Studies Certificate helps you develop your creativity, learn design principles, and enhance your drawing skills. You will learn about layout, typography, mixed media, photography, drawing, 3D modelling, and industry standard design software. These skills will assist you in creating a competitive portfolio, which you may use to pursue further studies in the design field.

You receive an Ontario College Certificate in General Arts and Science - One Year, with a concentration in Design Studies. This program helps you to expand your knowledge in design and choose your career path. This certificate prepares you to be successful in other programs such as:

• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Interior Decorating
• Illustration
• Architectural Studies
• Industrial Design
• Advertising
• Mobile App Design
• Web Development
• Multi-media and more

Completion of this certificate confirms to potential employers that you have the ability to learn at a post-secondary level. With this certificate, you may also choose to continue your education in Year II of the General Arts and Science Ontario College Diploma program.

The two-year Fitness and Health Promotion Ontario College Diploma program prepares you to perform the roles and responsibilities of fitness and health consultants who plan, promote and deliver a wide variety of services. These include activity and educational programs that enhance the health, fitness and well-being of individuals and groups in diverse settings.

In this program, you learn the skills and knowledge to live a fit and healthy lifestyle, which, in turn, allows you to help others achieve their own health and lifestyle goals.

Field placements in the program provide on-the-job training. These varied placements allow you to apply the skills and knowledge gained in classes to a workplace setting, as well as gain exposure to potential employers and add to your overall marketability and employability after graduation.

Nationally-recognized certifications in Group Fitness and Personal Training are part of the program, further enabling you to meet the demands of a growing market in fitness and health promotion.

Upon graduating, you may find employment in the fitness industry in a variety of settings. These may include:

• Fitness and health clubs
• YMCA/YWCA corporate
• Recreation and fitness programs
• Public and private fitness programs
• Community institutions for special populations
• Municipal recreation departments

Launch your legal career

In the two-year Law Clerk Ontario College Diploma program, you study a broad range of legal topics and processes to prepare you for a career as a legal assistant or law clerk.

This program prepares you for administrative work in an office environment where you work independently under the general direction of a lawyer, or as part of a legal services team. Learn from dedicated faculty who ensure that your skills surpass industry standards.

As a student, you develop and practise the skills that are essential for a successful career, including:

• paying attention to details and independently following instructions
• organizing client files and managing deadlines
• interviewing clients
• performing general office procedures
• working with legal software to compile information and prepare documents
• compiling evidence and documentation
• maintaining corporate documents and filings
• entering data in legal forms and drafting routine correspondence
• preparing briefs
• learning about family, estates, civil litigation, corporate, administrative and real estate law practices
• engaging in civil litigation and research

Benefit from the ability to participate in an off-site field placement or in an in-class workplace simulation. These experiences give you real-world experience and an opportunity to practise your skills.

This four-year degree program is designed for students seeking careers in the hospitality, culinary, food services and food science sectors through a unique combination of food science and culinary skills. Well suited for those with a passion for food and a love of science, this program produces skilled graduates with culinary and food science backgrounds equipped with the abilities to create innovative, high quality food products for existing and emerging markets.

Through combining the disciplines of food science and culinary arts, students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to become professionals within this innovative and emerging field. Students examine a broad range of topics including food chemistry, food microbiology, sensory evaluation, food processing, as well as culinary science and food service management, with a focus on food product development and enhancing the nutritional value of food products. These core science skills are complemented by advanced skills in food preparation, cooking, baking, safety and sanitation, management and leadership. Through applied research in product development, students have the opportunity to research, create and market their own products. In addition, students participate in two practical cooperative education learning opportunities gaining valuable applied industry experience.

Major food companies and producers seek individuals who have the ability to design, develop and process quality food choices that are healthy, affordable, desirable and safe for consumers. Graduates are well positioned to find employment opportunities with major food manufacturers or small, private label companies, in the areas of food production management, food technology, product development, quality assurance management, food services and food research and development as well as in health-related industries or entrepreneurial endeavours. Algonquin College is working closely with the Research Chefs Association (RCA) in seeking RCA`s accreditation as a Culinology(R)program. Graduates of this program are well positioned to write RCAs Certified Research Chef examination.

In the two-year Horticultural Industries Ontario College Diploma program you learn how to create landscapes from design to implementation. By offering a condensed format over 16 months, the Horticultural Industries program allows you to fast track your career.

Learn the key aspects of this dynamic industry, including:

• Urban and rural landscape design, installation and maintenance
• Nursery production and management
• Sustainable urban agriculture
• Green roof and living wall technology

The program offers a hands-on learning experience during the industry`s prime production period in the spring/summer/fall. Practice skills in Algonquin College`s extensive campus gardens surrounding the Horticulture Centre and within the attached greenhouse complex.

The various plant collections and the vegetable garden provide you with the perfect opportunity to study plant identification, plant selection and ideal growing conditions. You take active part in further developing and maintaining the grounds in smaller work-groups, simulating the industry.

To further your skills and make connections in the industry, you complete a 12-week co-op placement as part of the program. The landscape industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving, with a high-demand for skilled horticultural specialists and landscape designers.

Graduates may find work, either as employees or self-employed, in:

• Construction and maintenance firms
• Landscape design
• Nurseries and garden centres
• Urban food production
• Tree care industry
• Park systems
• Consulting or teaching        

Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), Dental Assisting (Levels I and II) is a one- year certificate program that allows the students to enhance their skills and knowledge and practice in ethical and professional dental settings. The students have a provision of client care in Algonquin College’s onsite dental clinic and participate in a two- week (60 hours) placement in a dental office and thus develop expertise in intra-oral care, oral health education and promotion, radiography, clinical chair side and laboratory skills. 

The graduates of this college are eligible to give the National Dental Assisting Examination Board (NDAEB) examination which is a requirement to practice as a Level II Dental Assistant in Ontario and are also eligible to apply for certification with the Ontario Denal Assistants Association (ODAA).

This one-year General Arts and Science - Introduction to Fine Art Ontario College Certificate program gives you hands-on training in an art studio setting. It introduces you to possible careers and education pathways in the arts and culture sector. Build a diverse set of basic technical skills while gaining practical experience with:

• Painting
• Drawing
• Printmaking
• Sculpting
• Digital media

You also learn essential business skills that are necessary when working as a professional artist. Additionally, you learn about trends and topics in art history, as well as contemporary art theory and practices.

You receive an Ontario College Certificate in General Arts and Science - One Year, with a concentration in Introduction to Fine Art. Using the portfolios you have created, you can apply to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program at the university level. You can also continue your education at Algonquin College programs such as:

• Gaphic Design
• Photography
• Applied Museum Studies
• Interior Decorating
• or in Year II of Algonquin College`s General Arts and Science Ontario College Diploma program.

Should you decide to enter the workforce, this certificate demonstrates to employers that you have the ability to learn at a post-secondary, you are committed to a career in the arts, and you possess critical thinking skills.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated 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 or Vocational Studies (Business, Technology).

In the one-year Interactive Media Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate program, you develop the hands-on skills to plan and develop websites, online media and dynamic content. While learning industry-standard practices, you gain the solid foundation in interactive media that you need to further your career in today`s dynamic job market.

You experience the complete design and development process lifecycle of a media-rich product and learn the fundamentals of the industry standard software package Adobe Master Collection, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator and more.

While acting in the role of an interactive media producer , you develop and implement multimedia projects with rich media content to create various ways of interacting with consumers.

Throughout the program, as you apply your skills on solo projects and team-based applications for a wide variety of users and audiences, you may deal with regional, national and international clients.