Graduate certificate in Addiction and Mental Health

at Durham College - Oshawa Campus Canada

Find a way to make a difference with your creativity. The Fine Arts – Advanced program will push you along the path you have chosen, challenging you through critical discussions, pointing you to artists with similar concerns and aesthetics, and encouraging you to grow and achieve the potential evident in your preliminary explorations. This program will prepare you to address the complex challenges of the 21st century and promotes citizenship by educating you not only for careers and jobs in the visual arts, but also for your role as an active and engaged practicing artist in your community.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific laptop and software requirements for this program click here. 

Do you have a passion for health care and a desire to provide relief to people dealing with pain? An aging population, as well as greater public awareness of health issues, has resulted in more job opportunities in health occupations. The demand for massage therapy is also fueled by its growing popularity as a means of relaxation, stress relief and rehabilitation in today’s busy society.

In this program, students will acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to provide safe, effective and ethical care at the entry-level of practice within the massage therapy profession.

Major emphasis is placed on the development of effective interpersonal and communication skills, critical thinking, empathic responses and decision making. Students learn how to meet legal and ethical obligations according to legislative and profession-specific guidelines. Anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, massage theory, communication, entrepreneurial and professional skills are also emphasized.

The program’s foundation is based on the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics identified by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).

In six semesters, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

• Conduct a massage therapy practice within a legal, professional and ethical framework.
• Apply business principles relevant to a massage therapy practice.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively and professionally with clients, colleagues and members of the inter-professional team.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships to optimize clients’ health and wellness.
• Collect and assess clients’ information to determine their state of health and the treatment goals.
• Develop, implement and evaluate a plan of care according to the client’s condition and the treatment goals.

The Esthetician – Spa Management program uses a holistic approach to teach students the skills required to build a career in the growing spa industry. If you love working with people and have a desire to help individuals boost their self-esteem, this program will provide you the skills, confidence and experience to hit the ground running. By focusing on techniques in the areas of manicure and pedicure technologies, waxing, facials, body treatments, as well as makeup corrective techniques, you will benefit from a hands-on learning approach, and have the opportunity to hone your skills in the fully operational DC Spa. Open to the public, the DC Spa features state-of-the-art learning facilities and equipment to provide you with real-life work experience.

Our Esthetician - Spa Management program provides vocational hands-on skills plus business management training so you can be job-ready upon graduation. Hands-on courses focus on manicure and pedicure technologies, waxing, body treatments and facial techniques, which include medical esthetic technologies.  Business training includes: retail operations and spa management, communications, spa marketing and client-care protocols.  You will gain real-world experience during your onsite Durham College Spa work placement, where you will deliver spa services to the public while planning, organizing, controlling and leading day-to-day retail operations, spa marketing strategies and managerial duties.

In order to participate in the lab component of the program uniforms must be worn at all times.  Students must meet the pre-lab requirements in order to receive their uniform.

This program will help you to develop the knowledge and skills required to effectively address two of Canada’s leading health care issues – mental health and addictive behaviours. You will gain both a theoretical understanding and the clinical skills required to help your clients successfully navigate their challenges with mental health and/or addictive behaviours as they begin their journey to wellness.

Designed for students with previous, relevant education, this highly specialized program was developed in consultation with recognized experts in the fields of addiction and mental health including Lakeridge Health Corporation.

Program highlights include the opportunity to:

• Expand the skills required to practice in addiction and mental health settings
• Gain experience with a broad spectrum of clinical settings where addiction/mental health related issues arise
• Develop an understanding of the particular needs of diverse populations
• Receive training in evidence-based approaches to counselling.

Please note: Some courses may be delivered in online or blended formats using the college's learning management system.C

There is growing disconnect between humans and the environment, but well-trained environmental technologists are looking for solutions as pressures from population, industry and society continue to stress our ecosystem. Equipped with knowledge rooted in an evolving priority of sustainability that is grounded in risk and analytical testing, technologists provide innovative ways to reduce human impact on the environment and work towards a more sustainable way of living.

This dynamic program focuses on the chemical and biological sciences as they relate to environmental pollution. An emphasis is placed on ground and surface water quality, soil and waste management and recycling in urban and industrial settings. You will also examine environmental regulations and review their social and economic impacts on communities.

Training and experience in the handling, analysis and monitoring of a wide variety of biological and chemical parameters linked to pollution are at the heart of this program. First-hand field work and laboratory experience is emphasized in areas such as:

• Analytical chemistry
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental Sampling
• Environmental stewardship
• Instrumental analysis
• Microbiology

Environmental problems and concerns are constantly changing and at Durham College we aim to adapt in order to stay at the leading edge of these changes. Statistics Canada has identified environmental technology as one of the top emerging employment sectors.

Co-operative education (co-op):
The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.

Students in the Environmental Technology Advanced Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete two four-month, paid work terms totalling 840 hours. Work terms are scheduled between semesters two and three and four and five of the program.

Supports are available through the Co-op office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Co-op office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions.

Developed in response to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on business processes globally, the Honours Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence program will teach you skills, tools, and techniques to design AI solutions.

A comprehensive mix of courses, that not only focus on technical theory but also on topics including legal, social, and corporate responsibility, as well as a field placement and capstone project, will teach you project management, as well as critical and analytical thinking skills.

The skills of Behavioural Science Technicians are increasingly in demand as Canada’s population continues to age, more people seek support for mental health and addictions, and diagnosed cases of Autism Spectrum disorder continue to rise. 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.

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

You will gain knowledge and skills of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to support clients from various age groups.  You will  learn how to assist with behavioural assessments and contribute to the design and application of behaviour change plans for clients with developmental disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries, dementia and other conditions associated with aging.   

Graduates will enter the field with the ability to engage in ethical decision-making and collaborate with other professionals when providing behavioural treatment. Behavioural Science Technicians are employed in a variety of settings related to education, family support services, mental health treatment and gerontology.

In this program designed specifically for applicants with existing academic credentials, students with a degree in science can expand their knowledge of the biotechnology industry and complete their Biotechnology advanced diploma in fewer semesters. Biotechnology touches a broad range of industries including health, pharmaceuticals, food production and agriculture. The discipline has created knowledge and products essential to our continued livelihood such as vaccines to prevent disease, pest-resistant plants, environmentally friendly biofuels and improved detection of diseases.

Graduates of the Biotechnology – Advanced program are competitively qualified to work in a range of industries including those focused on food, the environment, pharmaceuticals, natural health products and cannabis. Learning within state-of-the-art labs using industry-grade equipment, students learn how living organisms or parts of living organisms can provide new methods of production and development of new products in a range of industries as well as the regulations which govern the use of these techniques. Our courses are rooted in real-world applications and our extensive analytical instrumentation lab provides practical, hands-on training. Students graduate with a strong base of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to draw from in their future careers.

This program is designed to provide a balance between strong technical skills and artistic vision. With an emphasis on effective composition and meaningful content you will explore a variety of topics including:

• Colour
• Image storage
• Light
• Optics

This program also emphasizes critical thinking by requiring you to:

• Examine past solutions
• Explore new and more efficient techniques
• Learn how to use technology confidently and safely.

The curriculum combines creative theory, technical language and practical experience through the use of state-of-the-art hardware and software. Courses are focused on a variety of techniques including image capture and processing as well as entrepreneurial skills

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific hardware and software requirements for this program click here.

As the only one of its kind in Ontario, the Law Clerk Advanced program will help you gain experience in both foundational areas of law such as corporate, litigation, family and real estate, as well as specialized areas such as securities, intellectual property, employment and immigration law to prepare you for a rewarding and successful career. Whether you want to be a law clerk in a law office, a corporate legal department or a government agency, you’ll have the skills needed for a successful career.  The demand for graduates has never been greater with over 50% of students routinely securing full-time employment before classes even finish!

Co-operative education (co-op)
The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.

Students in the Law Clerk – Advanced Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete two four-month, paid work terms totalling 840 hours. Work terms are scheduled between semesters two and three and four and five of the program.

Supports are available through the Co-op office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Co-op office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions.