Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication (Optional Co-op)

at Conestoga College - Waterloo Campus Canada

As a member of an interprofessional health-care team, a Personal Support Worker (PSW) provides supportive person-centred care across the lifespan to individuals and families, at various levels of health and wellbeing, in a variety of care environments including: long-term, community and/or hospital care settings. Conestoga's PSW program prepares students to become preferred graduates for the profession; one that truly makes a difference in the lives of others.

Students will progress from beginning engagement to an entry-to-practice prepared professional PSW; one who participates in the delivery of care as directed by the plan of care/service plan with activities of daily living, comprising personal care, home management and nutrition and family responsibilities. Throughout the program, students learn how to promote a comfortable and safe environment for all clients including those experiencing responsive behaviours, risk for injury and/or clients requiring end-of-life care. Provincially recognized certificates related to these areas of learning will be received.

This unique program provides in-depth theory and hands-on training for the brick and stone masonry trade. Located at the Waterloo campus, Conestoga's Masonry Centre provides the ideal setting to work with brick, stone, and a variety of other masonry materials. You will be given many opportunities to design and construct masonry walls and features in a safe and efficient manner; and will also learn to safely and properly operate hand and power tools, as well as equipment used by masons on a construction site. Additionally, you will also gain valuable knowledge about vital aspects of the brick and stone trade in Canada, including heritage masonry and refractory masonry, as well as commercial and residential applications. A graduate of this program may be exempt from the Level 1 in-school apprenticeship training should they choose to pursue a Brick and Stone apprenticeship.

Information technology and network infrastructure are targets for malicious activity on a regular basis. News reports about data breaches, security violations, privacy failures and other infrastructure failures highlight a growing threat to business and personal information. This one-year, full-time, graduate certificate program is designed to address this growing threat to our network infrastructure. It will provide students with the security background in network technologies, computing hardware, operating and protocols, to harden and further secure such systems from attack. Students will learn to identify threats through audits and supporting technical methods, as well as evaluate and develop appropriate policies to support a strong organizational security posture. This program offers skills that allow graduates to evaluate risk and design infrastructure solutions that keep a business's code, data and network systems safe. Students benefit from specialized courses taught by highly qualified industry experts and as a result, should expect to have classes scheduled up until 8:00 p.m.

Information Technology Infrastructure

Information technology workers need a broad range of practical skills to enhance concepts and principles that are often the focus of post-secondary study. This two-semester Ontario College Graduate Certificate program concentrates on hands-on application of network and systems administration practices and techniques commonly employed in modern IT enterprise infrastructure management.
Students will gain valuable skills and knowledge in the deployment and configuration of network operating systems (desktop and server), infrastructure services and network technologies. Students will also acquire foundational knowledge to work towards challenging professional certification exams from various organizations. Graduates of this program will have the skills required to move into IT administration positions or transition into more advanced graduate studies in areas such as security, networking and operations.

Computer Applications Development

This one-year, full-time, graduate certificate program provides students with a broad business and technical background in computer applications, database applications, data communications, programming, data design and systems analysis and design. This program provides the student with programming experience and the skills necessary to analyze and design Information Technology (IT) based solutions.In the Computer Applications Development program, students benefit from specialized courses taught by highly qualified industry experts. As a result, students should expect to have classes scheduled up until 8:00 p.m.The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

The Global Hospitality Management graduate certificate program is open to international students with a background in hospitality. This program will complement a diploma or degree, and enable applicants to gain a work visa in Canada to work in management jobs in the hospitality industry. Graduates of the Global Hospitality Management program will have significantly more management and finance ability specific to the hospitality industry than graduates from a diploma program in a similar field, and will be able to progress into a management position in a hospitality organization very quickly upon completion of the program.
This one-year graduate certificate program is structured to meet the growing needs of the hospitality and tourism industry. The program focuses on essential operational and management areas building on prior knowledge in finance, human resources, and sustainable hospitality operations, while introducing a strong understanding of customer service, event management and the global hospitality industry.

The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term instead of the Guided Career Management course.

Developed in collaboration with industry leaders, this two-year program in Baking and Pastry Arts Management focuses on advanced pastry and baking training, as well as the management skills required to work successfully in this fast-growing industry. This program is designed to help students start a career as a baker or pastry chef. It will include practical, theoretical and hands-on training in areas of baking, cake decorating, sanitation and safety, and pastry shop management, as well as advanced techniques practiced in this ever-evolving industry. Students will spend extensive time in the College's state-of-the art labs and teaching facilities developing and expanding on the core skills of the industry. These include: artisan breads and breakfast pastries; wedding cakes; chocolates and confections; plated desserts; classic and modern tarts, entremets and petits fours; laminated dough and viennoiseries; ice cream and sorbets; artisan sugar confections. In the classroom, students will acquire the technical knowledge of ingredient function, formula balance, and modern technology as it relates to this field. On the business side, students will learn the key skills that are necessary to run a successful operation including: cost control and forecasting; labour relations and leadership; sales and marketing and small business development. Students have the option of participating in an industry-based co-op, further refining their knowledge and skills with real-world experience which will provide a true advantage. Additionally, interested students may have the opportunity to travel to an international location in collaboration with college partners for what can be a life-changing experience. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

Co-op Information
Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn while you apply what you learn in a real workplace environment. See the Co-op webpages.
The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

Applying to the Co-op Stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Every student who meets academic eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum of 70% session weighted average, with no dropped or failed courses during the term that occurs two terms prior to the co-op work term.
• Co-op is not an option for Level 3 transfers.

This two-year program focuses on the restaurant and hotel sectors and is designed to provide students with balanced training that combines theory and practical experience in the specific skills involved in people management, hands-on preparation, customer service, and financial controls needed in the hospitality industry. Optional co-op terms can be completed in a restaurant, hotel, catering or other approved food and beverage facility either locally or across Canada. In addition, courses such as communication, computer skills, marketing, and nutrition ensure graduates are well rounded to meet the demands of industry. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

The one-year Hospitality Operations - Food and Beverage certificate program is designed to provide students with balanced training, combining theory and practical experience in the specific skills involved in the preparation, service and control of food and beverages.

This program provides students with an overview of the hospitality and tourism industry along with entry-level management skills for this very diverse and integrated industry. Students will receive a broad base of business and entrepreneur skills ensuring a strong understanding of financial, customer service, marketing, and the human resources aspects of the industry. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

Program Outcomes

• Support an industry and workplace service culture by adopting a positive attitude and professional decorum, accommodating diverse and special needs, and contributing as a team member.
• Deliver customer service and solutions that anticipate, meet and/or exceed individual expectations, as well as organizational expectations, standards and objectives.
• Use marketing concepts, market research, social networks, sales strategies, relationship management skills and product knowledge to promote and sell tourism products, services and customer experiences.
• Apply business principles as well as basic accounting, budgeting, financial and administration skills to support the effective management and operation of a variety of organizations delivering tourism products and services.
• Comply with relevant organization and workplace systems, processes, policies, standards, legal obligations and regulations, and apply risk management principles, to support and maintain efficient, safe, secure, accessible and healthy tourism operations.
• Use appropriate technologies to enhance the quality and delivery of tourism products, services and customer experiences, to measure the effectiveness of tourism operations and to participate in tourism development.
• Keep current with tourism trends and issues, and interdependent relationships in the broader tourism industry* sectors to improve work performance and guide career development.
• Use leadership, teamwork, conflict and relationship management skills and tools, as well as knowledge of organizational behaviour, employment standards and human rights to contribute to a positive work environment.
• Respond to issues and dilemmas arising in the delivery of tourism products, services and customer experiences by using and promoting ethical behaviour and best practices of corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability
• Organize new tourism products for clients based on an analysis of local and international destinations to establish connections with industry leaders.
• Examine economic, political, social, global and intercultural factors that influence the management of travel services, marketing strategies, customer retention and sales programs.

Applying to the Co-op Stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Every student who meets academic eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum 70% session weighted average, with no dropped or failed courses during the term that occurs two terms prior to the co-op work term.

Co-op Information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn while you apply what you learn in a real workplace environment. See the Co-op webpages.
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

Reporting Systems and Database Development
Learn how to manage and interpret data into meaningful, actionable reporting. Reporting Systems Development requires both breadth of technology awareness, as well as organizational and operational skills. This two-semester Ontario College Graduate Certificate program delivers hands-on experiential practices and techniques commonly employed in the dynamic field of data management. Become qualified for the following career opportunities: Data Systems Manager, IT Manager, Senior Data Officer, Reporting Team Lead, and many more. You will gain valuable skills and knowledge in systems (desktop and server), databases, reporting solutions, visualization, cloud technologies, and web analytics while acquiring foundational knowledge in data ethics, formal report requirements, and IT security.

Computer Applications Development
This one-year, full-time, graduate certificate program provides students with a broad business and technical background in computer applications, database applications, data communications, programming, data design and systems analysis and design. This program provides the student with programming experience and the skills necessary to analyze and design Information Technology (IT) based solutions.In the Computer Applications Development program, students benefit from specialized courses taught by highly qualified industry experts.