Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Studies - Human-Centred Design

at Algonquin College - Ottawa Campus Canada

The one-year Human Resources Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate program prepares you to be a human resources practitioner. This program offers you applied and theoretical lessons focusing on building human resources management graduate-level knowledge and skills needed to attract, select and retain the best organizational talent.

In addition, you learn the foundational knowledge required to act as a strategic partner in an organization. Faculty includes credentialed academics and practitioners from across the spectrum of human resources practice who are dedicated to preparing you for career success.

Acquire essential knowledge and skills related to finance and accounting, organizational behaviour, project management and employment law. Explore the psychology of the workplace, the legal environment, accounting, and economics.

Adopt an applied approach, exploring:

• Recruitment and selection
• Compensation
• Employee and labour
• Industry relations

In your second semester, you may qualify to complete an unpaid work placement. This gives you the opportunity to practice your skills and integrate your knowledge in a real-world organization.

Work toward your Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) accreditation from the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA). The nine certified human resources professional coursework requirements from the HRPA are within this certificate and approved by HRPA.

Upon graduation, you are ready for a rewarding career in human resources management. You could find employment in many for-profit and non-profit organizations, such as hi-tech, manufacturing or retail. You could assume the role of:

• Human resources generalist
• Human resources coordinator
• Human resources business partner
• Occupational health and safety specialist
• Recruiter
• Training and development specialist
• Labour relations specialist
• Compensation analyst

The program spans over a period of one year and is focused on those who wish to improve the current global situations via advanced knowledge and application of sustainable building strategies. During the course, the students enhance their understanding of building technology, construction and design from their prior experience/education.

The course curriculum includes courses in methods and materials designed to lessen the reliance on fossil fuels and harness the energy resources of water, wind and the sun and offer sustainable energy conservation improvements. The students are introduced to a variety of design technologies and strategies that make buildings healthier and livable for people, reduce environmental impact, manage material resources and conserve energy in an economical way. 

The graduates of the course can find jobs with design and construction firms, architectural, engineering, government agencies, Green building consultants and related disciplines.

Develop your awareness of sustainable building operation expertise for a career in the rapidly advancing field.

The Building Automation System Operations Ontario College Graduate Certificate program builds on your industry and educational experience and deepens your understanding of technologies that support the sustainable operation of buildings and ongoing building optimization.

By working with data analysis, you gain the ability to monitor and adjust energy usage and gauge system parameters, alarms and activities within a building. The program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to advance in the building technology field.

With increased awareness of sustainable measures and growing energy costs, professionals in this field are moving towards high-performance automated buildings. These Smart buildings are reducing consumption and ensuring comfort, health and safety.

In this program, you use case studies, hands-on learning, and field work to give you the knowledge to understand and apply skills in relation to building automation systems.

Graduates who are looking to work in the building technology field may find employment in many different positions, including:

• Building automation system operator
• Building automation technician
• HVAC automation and controls technician
• Building automation process leader

The one-year Geographic Information Systems Ontario College Graduate Certificate program provides you with knowledge and skills relating to geographic and cartographic science, with a focal point on information systems technology.

In this program, you use both hands-on and theoretical approaches to explore topics such as:

• Field data collection
• Programming
• Remote sensing
• Enterprise geo-database design and management
• Cloud-based services
• Application development
• 2D and 3D cartographic design
• Spatial analysis and project management

A key part of this program is the independent project that you begin in your first semester and complete throughout your studies. You identify an area of interest, develop a project proposal, and then implement and complete your project, all in collaboration with an industry or government sponsor.

Cooperative education (Co-op)    
Cooperative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience though paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op online readiness activities and in-person workshops.

Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and facilitates the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to re-locate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.

Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses.

The one-year Sommelier Ontario College Certificate program gives you the skills and knowledge to enter or advance a career in the wine profession.

Wine and beverage expertise has become an essential tool in the hospitality industry, creating a high demand for qualified professionals. In our sommelier lab, you acquire the specialized skills and extensive knowledge to meet this demand.

Gain knowledge of the viticulture and viniculture of primary grape growing areas around the world. Through tastings of a variety of wines, expand your ability to recognize distinctive aromas and flavours associated with various wine regions. Learn food and wine pairing skills, cellaring tips, marketing techniques, grape varieties, wine list development and the proper service of wine, beer and whiskeys.

Take your skills into the real world with a 40-hour field placement at a restaurant, wine shop, winery, wine retail outlet or wine show. This industry experience helps you build valuable connections and become career-ready. These connections have led some of our graduates to launch successful freelance writing or teaching-careers.

Turn your passion for sport into a rewarding business career

The Sport Business Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate program prepares you for an exciting career in the ever-growing, multi-billion dollar sports industry.

The program positions you to work in the management and business aspects of the sports industry. Study in Canada`s capital, where there are professional sports franchises and more national governing sport bodies and multi-sport organizations than any city in Canada.

Receive cross-disciplinary training and sport management professional preparation. Learn:

• Event planning and management
• Sport bidding and hosting
• Sport tourism
• Sport marketing
• Sport finance and economics
• Sport sponsorship
• Ticket sales

Understand sport business in the social context, community sport issues, sport governance and the legal aspects of sport. Acquire skills in entrepreneurship, customer service, and project management.

Your program experience includes team work, case studies, role playing, and a variety of applied assignments. Connect with business management within the sport industry, with access to influential industry leaders, who share their experiences in the classroom. The program includes an intensive, hands-on work placement. For a minimum of 16 hours per week, you can apply your skills and knowledge to projects with organizations and clients in the sport industry. Network with industry professionals as you complete your work placement activities. Many students take advantage of these opportunities and receive further placement hours.

Upon graduation, students are well-prepared to begin working as a sport business professional. Your career could involve:

• Event planning
• sales
• Marketing
• Facility management
• Business administration

You could work within:

• Professional sport
• National and provincial sport governing bodies
• Public agencies
• Community recreation departments
• Sporting goods companies
• Sport marketing agencies
• Sport agent operations
• Athletic service organization

The Early Childhood Education Ontario College Diploma program, delivered in an intensive format over 34 weeks, prepares you to become an educator of young children in a variety of early learning settings.

As a student in the Intensive program, you have relevant prior education and experiences that allow you to complete the coursework in an accelerated time frame. As a result, the program is fast-paced with frequent assignments.

This program provides you with the ability to create, implement and assess play-based curricula while building stimulating child-centred environments.

Benefit from both theoretical and hands-on learning opportunities. You have two field placements during the program that focus on children from birth to age 12. These real-world experiences allow you to integrate theory with professional practice in early learning programs.

You assist in providing guidance to children while planning, implementing and evaluating programs. Through your placements, you gain valuable hands-on skills and experience to help you understand the diverse roles, settings and responsibilities of an Early Childhood Educator.

Upon graduation, you are eligible to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE). Registration with the CECE is required to be eligible to work as an Early Childhood Educator in Ontario.

The one-year Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees is an Ontario College Certificate program that prepares you for more advanced health science programs. You develop strong study skills and earn post-secondary credits that may transfer to other post-secondary programs.

As a student, you explore your interests in the health science field while meeting the eligibility requirements for a number of Algonquin College advanced diploma programs. These include:

• Biotechnology - Advanced (Co-op and Non-Co-op Version)
• Cardiovascular Technology
• Dental Hygiene
• Massage Therapy
• Medical Radiation Technology
• Respiratory Therapy

In addition, graduates may be eligible to apply to various degree programs including:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at the University of Ottawa
• Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) at the University of Ottawa
• Bachelor of Human Kinetics (BHK) at the University of Ottawa
• Bachelor of Science in Kinetics (BScHK) at the University of Ottawa
• Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) at Queen`s University

The curriculum provides you with the opportunity to learn more about potential careers in the health sciences as you improve your skills in communications, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics.

The intention of this program is to prepare you for further study in either advanced diploma or degree programs, rather than moving directly into a chosen industry.

It is important to note that completing this program does not guarantee entry into a health or science program.

Students interested in further academic study in a health-related one-year certificate or two-year diploma program should consider applying to the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas program.

The three-year Child and Youth Care Ontario College Advanced Diploma program prepares you to help vulnerable children, youth and families with complex needs.

Learn to develop and implement a wide range of prevention, intervention and treatment strategies to foster positive change and healthy development in clients. Apply the principles of relational practice with clients, while respecting their unique culture and diversity.

In classes, you learn practical and theoretical concepts and then apply them in field placements.

Working with clients in field placements helps you to develop into a confident and competent child and youth care practitioner. By the end of this program, you have practical experience in two different work environments in the field of child and youth care.

This is the only Child and Youth Care program in Ontario to offer two courses in therapeutic outdoor activities. In these courses, you learn to facilitate therapeutic activities in the outdoors while on a camping trip with fellow classmates and faculty - a truly memorable learning experience.

There is a wide variety of work opportunities for you after graduation. As a child and youth care practitioner, you may find employment in a:

• Group home
• Hospital
• Mental health treatment centre
• Shelter
• School
• Youth justice program
• Community resource centre

In the one-year Marketing Research and Analysis Ontario College Graduate Certificate program you master the current and emerging techniques in marketing research. This program prepares you for a data-driven career in the marketing research discipline.

You learn to investigate how and why people purchase products and services. In this program, you develop the employable skills to conduct marketing and opinion research in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors. The curriculum emphasizes the marketing research process including:

• Research design
• Questionnaire construction
• Moderator`s guide construction
• Data collection
• Basic and intermediate statistical analysis and interpretation, and
• Report writing and presentation skills

In addition, you become familiar with the scientific method of hypotheses testing and reaching conclusions to solve business problems.

Graduates may have opportunities to work in a wide variety of research settings in government, not-for-profit organizations, research providers and private businesses that use marketing research.