Diploma in Developmental Services Worker

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

For students who want the best of both worlds, this joint Durham College and Ontario Tech University diploma-to-degree program will enable you to earn a human resources (HR) diploma and an honours degree in only four years. The opportunity to study in both learning environments provides a solid foundation for a successful career in HR where you will help to develop balanced workplaces so both the business and the employee can achieve their goals. You will acquire skills in the effective use of industry-standard software and learn from professors who are connected to industry. As a student, you will have the opportunity to interact directly with industry professionals and to participate in hands-on learning opportunities such as case competitions.

Are you looking to start your own business? Entrepreneurship and small business development are vital components of economic growth in Canada with 75 per cent of all new jobs being created in the small business sector. You will learn and work with industry-experienced professors and business professionals as your mentors who have started and run successful businesses. This program will help prepare you to launch your business with business industry connections and a complete business plan the day you finish.

The healthcare industry in Canada and around the world is growing rapidly. To help meet the demand, health care has turned to new and innovative medical technologies to improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. In doing so, healthcare providers have become dependent on the technology to function properly, to be available and to be managed in a cost-effective and efficient manner by qualified biomedical engineering technologists. As a graduate of this program, your skill set will include the ability to assess current and innovative medical technology, as well as purchase, install, calibrate, maintain and manage the life-cycle of critical medical equipment. Biomedical engineering technologists are essential members of any healthcare team because they have these skills.

An education in journalism provides excellent training in critical thinking, writing and presenting ideas while preparing students for one of the most interesting careers imaginable. Armed with very transferable knowledge, skills and experience, journalism graduates go on to write and deliver stories on all written and broadcast platforms. Students also develop an array of social media skills and undergo experiential learning through the program’s ‘working newsroom’, before moving on to a seven-week field placement, applying their skills in a professional environment. Students taking the Journalism advanced diploma program will have an additional four-week field placement at the end of the sixth semester.

This program embraces the broad changes occurring in the media landscape and offers a progressive curriculum that will allow you to focus on development of journalism, social media skills and content creation on all platforms – online, print and broadcast. Students in the Journalism – Mass Media program will develop the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to work in this progressive, critical profession. In their first year, students are introduced to the core journalism skills and learn how society functions both locally and globally. In their second year, students focus on creating content for all media platforms and undergoing experiential learning through our ‘working newsroom’'.

Due to the constant evolution of technology and the increasing development of new platforms of communication, traditional media professions such as journalism are facing new opportunities, as well as new challenges. Changes in the delivery methods of traditional news have forced journalists and others within the journalism industry to change how they do their jobs. For instance, journalists can now collect information with their phones and deliver stories directly to multiple platforms.

Graduates will have developed skills in: broadcasting, reporting, interviewing, editing, writing, content creation and media production, teamwork and critical thinking. You will have knowledge of applicable legislation, standards and professional ethics, and recognize the importance of continuous learning. More specifically, you will gain a clear understanding of the impact of digital technology on journalism and will be able to respond and adapt effectively and efficiently to technological changes.

Upon successful completion of this program you will have opportunities at an entry-level in a wide variety of news organizations and as content creators for a variety of private companies and public organizations, such as school boards, hospitals and governments. Graduates will have the skills to perform a range of tasks, including:
Writing local, national and international news through interviews and research

• Writing news stories for publication and/or broadcast
• Editing, analyzing and verifying information for accuracy
• Researching and conducting interviews for broadcast, online and print
• Applying production skills and using equipment to create content for a range of platforms
• Using social media platforms to engage audiences
• Planning and designing editorial content to meet a mass communications strategy for a client

Durham’s Journalism – Mass Media program has successfully covered the campus and community since 1974. It has an ongoing history of excellence, winning Ontario Community Newspaper Association honours on a regular basis. Our graduates have a track record of producing quality work across Canada – for news organizations such as CBC, CTV and TSN and in communities from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Grads have also earned careers as content creators and social media coordinators for companies, agencies and institutions.

Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations allows you to combine law enforcement experience with advanced fitness training and conflict management to gain additional professional certifications for a rewarding career in the justice sector. Whether you choose to join an investigation agency, private security firm or work in law enforcement, your experience and newly acquired skills will give you the edge you need.

The two-semester General Certificate pathway provides students with a high degree of choice and flexibility. This program is designed for students who are looking to determine their long-term academic or career goals as well as students who have specific academic/career pathways beyond the other General Arts and Science pathways. Students can earn credit towards other Durham College programs. The General Certificate provides opportunities to refine essential academic skills and develop the foundational knowledge needed to help ensure success in subsequent post-secondary studies. This program also allows students to familiarize themselves with post-secondary life, expectations, surroundings, and opportunities.

Designed for students with previous post-secondary education, this program is a fast-track to the sport industry. Sport business management is recognized as a distinct enterprise that requires specific skills, knowledge, attitudes and experience.

Students gain advanced, intensive training through one semester of academics and one semester of field placement.

With a commitment to personal and professional achievement, the program also offers a student-led sport conference, numerous networking opportunities and variety of experiential learning options to prepare you for your chosen career.

If you have an interest in human behaviour and a desire to help others improve their quality of life then this interdisciplinary program is for you. Develop the in-demand skills of implementing Applied Behaviour Analysis to support individuals across the lifespan with developmental issues or disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, acquired brain injury, addiction or dementia. In addition, students will learn about the applications of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies and the impact these therapies can have on these populations.

Through a comprehensive mix of theoretical, research and applied courses, students will develop in-demand professional competencies that link the science, clinical, communication and ethical aspects of behavioural science.

Beginning with the development of a strong foundation in behaviour analysis, introductions to psychology and research and methods for developing therapeutic communication skills, the program progresses to the study of complex concepts in human behaviour and applications.

Dental office administrators play a vital role that enhances operations in the dental setting such as processing information, utilizing paper and electronic management systems, scheduling, financial records and proficient interpersonal skills. They create a connection between clients and dentists by coordinating requests from both parties. This program combines academic study and practical applications to provide a graduate with the skills, knowledge and professionalism to manage dental office business applications, software and communications for a client-centered practice. Graduates are eligible to write a certification examination through the Ontario Dental Assistants Association. Durham College’s Dental programs are highly regarded within dental communities.

Web developers act as a vital bridge between the design of a website and back-end coding to create a seamless user interface by applying traditional design methods to emerging technologies while being flexible, creative and quick to respond to the design challenges of the ever-changing digital landscape.

Building on the fundamentals of interactive media design, this program prepares students for an exciting career in the field of web design and web development. Delivered by the School of Media, Art & Design, students will have access to the latest software and web technologies in studios built specifically for interaction and web design. Unlike other web development programs, students will approach interactive elements through a creative lens to develop the graphic and technical skills to become highly competent designers and deliver dynamic, cross-media content in a complex and competitive business environment. With the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to design and develop web content for all digital platforms, graduates will be familiar with the latest trends and techniques when entering the workforce.