Graduate Certificate in Applied Research (Optional Co-op)

at Conestoga College - Doon Campus Canada

Conestoga’s Media Foundations program helps you build a broad media skill set for online and broadcast media giving you an opportunity to explore areas of creative industries and to find your passion. Whether you want to be a photographer, multimedia content creator, producer, visual storyteller or a marketing and communications expert, and are not sure where to start, this one-year certificate program can help you build a solid practical and theoretical grounding in creativity, technology, media-related processes, and professionalism. Over two semesters, faculty with current industry experience will provide guidance as you generate ideas, write, present, capture images, and use online and social media platforms to strengthen your storytelling skills. You will work on both individual and collaborative team projects, using industry standard software and technology, giving you an opportunity to build a competitive portfolio of original work. Media Foundations prepares you for further education in various Creative Industries programs, such as Broadcast Radio, Broadcasting-Television and Independent Production, Journalism, Advertising and Marketing Communications.

Business Analytics
The need for business analytics in today’s fast-paced world necessitates that employees possess the skills, technologies, and practices for continuous exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight into what happened and why. A well-trained business analyst will use the insights to help drive change and business planning within organizations. You will learn how to describe, interpret, and inform business decisions in specific areas of data-driven business. You will improve your data literacy skills and develop an analytic mindset that will help you make strategic decisions based on data. The Business Analytics Ontario College Graduate Certificate program focuses on two of the four types of analytics used in business - Descriptive Analytics and Diagnostics Analytics. Using these two types of analytics, you will practice summarizing data findings to communicate what is currently going on in business and help stakeholders see what contributed to the outcome of your findings.

Financial Technology
The field of financial technology is evolving as it responds to the challenges facing the 21st century financial sector. This means that professionals employed in the field must be equipped to support diverse client groups such as individuals and company-based financial institutions. If you have a background in the computer industry, finance or other related fields, and are ready to attain in-depth competencies to help consumers and businesses track, manage, and facilitate their finances, this Ontario College Graduate Certificate program will be of interest to you. Through a variety of projects, case studies and interactive learning opportunities, and using current and relevant resources to support the latest trends in financial technology, you will develop the skills needed to help individuals and businesses secure their finances. You will study topics such as applications, emerging market trends, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and management. In just eight months, graduates will be job-ready to take the lead in the financial technology industry in various roles such as Business Analyst, Blockchain Business Analyst, Financial Technologist and other roles related to financial technology.

This program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to perform their role as occupational therapist assistants and physiotherapist assistants (OTAs and PTAs). OTAs and PTAs are primarily responsible for implementation of treatment plans to promote physical functioning or to enhance participation in activities of daily living for individuals with a wide range of health conditions. The program integrates classroom theory with hands-on practical skills learning in living lab settings. To enhance critical thinking, decision making and leadership skills, the program makes use of diverse learning opportunities such as small group case-based learning, simulation exercises, applied learning projects and e-learning. Exposure to clinical experiences across a variety of clinical settings is integrated into the curriculum to ensure students have an opportunity to apply skills in a supervised setting.

The Business Administration - Management (BAM) program is designed for students whose career goals include business management, self-employment or entrepreneurial ventures.The variety of courses in this program will provide students with a big-picture understanding of all major areas of business (finance and accounting, marketing and sales, human resource management and supply chain and operations), competitive skills and forward thinking for today’s evolving workforce. This program helps students develop their skills as a management generalist, offering maximum flexibility in their career choices. Students gain an understanding of the theory and skills needed for the practical applications of modern management techniques used in a variety of corporate, government and non-profit entities, as well as in small business ventures.Students in the BAM program gain exposure to real-life working environments through a variety of innovative structured activities. These may include research projects, guest speakers, consulting projects with local industry, mentoring opportunities, plant tours, computer simulations, cases, reflective exercises and role-playing. Students who graduate from this program with an overall average of 70% or more are eligible for entry into Year 3 of the four-year International Business Management degree program.

This program provides students with the laboratory skills, technical knowledge, fundamental understanding, and employability skills for careers in Biotechnology and Life Science industries. Students will experience an integrated curriculum and applied learning environment that focuses on scenarios relevant to current innovations in the growing fields of Biotechnology and Life Sciences. The program offers independent and collaborative opportunities to develop personally and professionally, and to perform laboratory duties in compliance with all legislative guidelines. Training includes practical and technical instruction in several areas including biology, biochemistry, microbiology, analytical chemistry, cell culture, molecular biology, and computer applications. Graduates of the Biotechnology Technician program will compete in emerging professions within diverse sectors of the bio-economy including: environmental, agricultural, food, pharmaceutical and biomedical technologies, analytical chemistry, and many other exciting fields.

Business - Marketing is a two-year diploma program designed for people seeking a high-level overview of the marketing industry. The program focuses on the fundamental principles of marketing and gives graduates hands-on skills to gain employment in the marketing industry. The program offers courses in advertising, graphic design, internet, research, sales, events and retail while developing teamwork, communication and general business skills. In addition, students participate in the design and presentation of marketing, advertising and event plans. Conestoga College is an Accredited Partner of the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA). This program is accredited by the CPSA Institute as providing all 35 hours of pre-requisite education toward the Certified Sales Associate designation, the first level of the Graduated Certification Framework. Students successfully completing this program will earn their Sales Certificate from the CPSA Institute. Learn more about the CPSA Institute professional designations here. The program is delivered in four consecutive semesters.

Working within the payroll function of an organization requires a diverse set of skills along with specific knowledge of bookkeeping, payroll, and legislative applications to ensure all aspects of the accounting and payroll cycles and compliance elements are met. This two-year Ontario College diploma program provides the necessary skills and knowledge to perform effectively in entry-level bookkeeping positions as well as providing a solid knowledge of the payroll functions within organizations and the skills to perform the payroll and accounting tasks for manual and computerized systems. This program will also look at industry trends and best practices related to the compensation, benefits, and payroll functions within organizations. Topics addressed will include the payroll cycle and related calculations, how to work with agencies to ensure compliance with all legislative and government requirements, and documentation processes. Graduates will gain a solid foundation of the payroll functions within organizations and will be able to perform payroll functions for various organizations working with specific accounting systems and processes utilized in Canadian businesses. As well, graduates will provide valuable contributions to the interpersonal dynamics of an organization based on their knowledge of organizational planning and operations. Graduates that achieve Canadian Payroll Association (CPA) minimum grade requirements will be eligible to become a certified Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) with just 12 months of related work experience (8 months for co-op graduates). This designation ensures you have the payroll compliance knowledge and skills you need to succeed, helps you command a higher starting salary, and opens the doors for future advancement. When you get certified, you join a growing community of supportive professionals and gain access to the resources you need to stay current and compliant. Graduates will also have completed the 3 transfer credits required for the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) certification which is the next step for PCP certification holders looking to enter a management position. Graduates will only need to complete 2 further payroll courses with CPA and demonstrate 2 years of work experience, being responsible for the payroll function of an organization. CPM certification provides the valuable payroll compliance and management skills needed to advance.

Are you passionate for the art of visual storytelling through film and video? In this program you will learn to write, perform, shoot, and edit content in a variety of formats. Using industry standard equipment and software, storytelling skills are enhanced through lighting, sound design, and post-production finishing.The program's inventory of HD field cameras and professional lighting kits is continually enhanced by the acquisition of the latest ancillary gear. Multi-camera production experience is well served by our fully equipped HD studio along with remote production equipment.The fourth semester of this 2-year program is split between a field placement where you will work within the industry and a final capstone project where you will integrate the skills you have learned within the program. This provides you with an opportunity to produce a project you are passionate about and to strengthen your portfolio. Along with jobs within the Film and Television Industry, the Television and Independent Production Program also prepares you to navigate the world of freelance employment or to create your own opportunities through entrepreneurship.

Project Management
Learn how to manage simple to complex projects from start to finish, and become a critical part of an organization’s most exciting achievements. Develop the skills you need to oversee project management activities such as planning, managing scope, costs, time while balancing client expectations. Learn organizational Agility with practices such as Scrum. Establish goals for your project team and lead them to overcome obstacles to achieve success, meeting stakeholders needs. Earn project management education hours towards a variety of certifications: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Scrum Master (ASM), Risk Management Professional (RMP), or Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) designations. Interested in taking this program on a part-time basis? It's possible to complete this program while still working full-time and fulfilling your other commitments. 

Supply Chain Management - Global
The Supply Chain Management - Global program prepares students for careers in the fields of logistics, procurement, supply chain and operations. Through extensive practical learning activities, students enhance their knowledge of supply chain concepts applicable to a variety of sectors. Graduates will be well-prepared to support the management of job functions by examining the connections between strategic objectives, stakeholder expectations, and supply chain design, functions, processes and roles; determining the value-added and financial implications of supply chain decisions and design on business profitability, efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction; using risk mitigation tools and strategies; reviewing supply chain activities and transactions for compliance with relevant policies, standards, legal, regulatory and contractual obligations; collaborating with, and using leadership and communication skills to build strategic relationships with a diversity of stakeholders. This program has been approved for advanced standing towards attaining the Certified SCMP Designation. Interested in taking this program on a part-time basis? It's possible to complete this program while still working full-time and fulfilling your other commitments. 

Massage therapists are important members of the interprofessional health care team, working with a broad range of patients. Massage therapy consists primarily of hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, specifically, the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints for the purpose of optimizing health, through engagement not only of the musculoskeletal system but also of the neurological and circulatory systems. The Massage Therapy program is geared towards those individuals with an interest in health care and helping people, an aptitude for science and problem solving, and direct hands-on application of skills. This three-year advanced diploma is designed to meet the educational requirements for certification, through examination, as a Registered Massage Therapist by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. This fully-integrated program covers the basic biological sciences such as anatomy and physiology, massage therapy specific knowledge and skills, and clinical reasoning and therapeutic decision making.