Certificate in Trades Fundamentals

at Durham College - Whitby Campus Canada

Health offices are increasingly complex, driven by technology and requiring strong administrators at the helm. As a student in this program, you will learn medical terminology and have a general understanding of anatomy and physiology. You will understand procedures required to operate a health care office and will be able to transcribe a wide range of health-related data. You will understand the latest hospital information systems and know how to use them. You will learn from professionals who are current in their field and will have the opportunity to enhance your resumé with real-life work experience.
This compressed program is delivered in four consecutive semesters, which means you are ready to graduate in only 16 months. Classes in this program are offered on three consecutive days each week.

Program Details:
Classes in this program are offered in a compressed format on three consecutive days each week.
The Office Administration – Health Services program is available in both a two-year format and a compressed (four consecutive semesters) option.
Please note: Students who choose the compressed, fast-track option will not have a semester off/summer break.

This program is designed to develop the skills required to perform administrative support in a wide variety of health care environments. Students will gain a practical understanding and knowledge on topics including:

• Basic anatomy and physiology
• Confidentiality and privacy
• Medical billing
• Health care ethics
• Health care office and hospital procedures
• Medical terminology and transcription
• Electronic medical records software
• Patient management

Guided by a field-to-fork philosophy, this program prepares students to be leaders in the rapidly evolving food sector. Working in a one-of-a-kind environment, you will learn to create the wholesome, locally produced, farm-fresh food in demand by today’s consumers, and how you can contribute solutions to communities looking to feed cities in creative and sustainable ways. In addition, you will experience how agri-tourism brings urban residents to farming and will have an enhanced awareness of local food production.

With more than 50 hours of your time spent in the labs and fields of the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, you will gain a unique hands-on opportunity to become familiar with the concepts that are critical to the food and agricultural industry, all within the context of a field-to-fork philosophy. You will learn in our fields, greenhouses, hoop house and state-of-the-art food chemistry and processing labs, while planning for, planting, tending to and harvesting more than 50 different varieties of produce, berry bushes, herbs and more.

Through the development of your own value-added food products, you will have a greater knowledge and understanding of the opportunities that come with food production. Whether you are interested in a career with a food company, managing a food operation, developing your own food product or owning a greenhouse or production farm, you will gain critical skills in modern farming concepts and food processing to position you as an industry leader.

The Food and Farming program will offer you a hands-on opportunity to become familiar with the concepts of food production. You will focus on:

• Plant propagation
• Soil and plant nutrition
• Fruit and vegetable production under field, greenhouse, garden and container conditions
• Product development
• Food processing including niche processing of local foods
• Food and agriculture regulations
• Disease and pest management
• Business practices including product branding, entrepreneurship and marketing.

It will be offered at the Whitby campus, home of the college’s new Centre for Food. This incredible new learning centre will undergo further expansion to include orchards, agricultural fields, greenhouses and more. Students will also utilize the specialized laboratories at the college’s Oshawa campus and participate in several field trips through the year.

Whether you find yourself at a dairy farm or in a nuclear power plant, your knowledge and skills of electricity, safety and installation methods will give you the ability to install, maintain and troubleshoot the motor controls and wiring systems that allow businesses to operate. Having physical control of temperature and pressure systems ensures that staff are comfortable and safe, and that work is completed effectively and up to code. Graduates will meet the Ministry of Labour’s Working at Heights training requirement.

As an Electrical Technician student, you will learn the fundamentals of electrically based technologies and how to assemble, install, test and calibrate electrical testing equipment.

This program will focus on the skills required to install and maintain current industrial, electrical and electronic systems, including programmable logic controls, and enable you to develop troubleshooting and problem solving skills through theoretical and extensive hands-on training.

Topics include:

• Electrical theory
• Instrumentation
• Motor controls
• Canadian Electrical Code
• Blue Prints
• Electronics
• Building systems (fire alarms, data networks, security, etc.

Hands-on instruction will account for up to 35 to 45 per cent of class time. If you successfully complete Year 1 and choose to leave at that time, you will receive an Ontario College certificate in Electrical Techniques.

Don’t know if you want to provide heat, water or energy? Build machines or keep them running? Get a taste of the trades and see what suits you best! In this program, you will gain exposure to and experience in a variety of areas designed to help you choose a skilled trade or apprenticeship program. To assist you with firmly establishing a career within the skilled trades you will be introduced to:

• Automotive
• Carpentry
• Electrical
• Industrial maintenance
• Machining
• Plumbing
• Welding
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) essentials

In addition, you will have an opportunity to rotate through different trades and gain hands-on, practical knowledge through theory and shop work in order to make a knowledgeable and well-informed decision on your future career goals.

This three-year program will prepare you for a career in multiple aspects of automation technology, spanning the electrical and mechanical engineering boundaries. It primarily focuses on industrial automation and its associated control systems, programming, design and documentation. Students in this program are the primary users of the world-class Integrated Manufacturing Centre (IMC) and Industrial Programming laboratories which provide our graduates with an edge upon graduation. For a preview of the extraordinary, industrial grade IMC laboratory, view these 360-degree video links.

As part of the industrial world leader Fanuc Robotics Certified Education training program, all graduates from Electromechanical receive Fanuc Robotics' HandlingTool Operations and Programming Level 1 Certification. Key automation technology career opportunities are available in several application areas including:

• Custom machine builders and integrators
• Building automation integrators
• Conveying and sortation systems specialists
• Food and beverage processing companies
• Nuclear Operations
• Commercial HVAC integrators
• Cosmetics industry control systems
• Automated machining companies
• Boiler control and burner management
• Punch press control systems
• Water Treatment Plant automation
• Electrical cable manufacturers
• Process Instrumentation and Control
• Renewable energy applications
• Sterilization process equipment manufacturers
• Automotive maufacturers
• Technical sales (device application)

As a graduate, you will specialize in designing, analyzing, troubleshooting, modifying, maintaining and repairing automated electromechanical equipment, components, systems and subsystems. In addition, you will be able to:

• Apply communication, documentation, computer applications and teamwork skills to support the engineering activities of an organization
• Assist with project management
• Conduct quality assurance functions
• Manage customer service quality-control
• Perform purchasing.

A superior, modern training facility, the IMC is a world-class, industrial-grade, automated facility that houses major equipment components including:

• Rockwell Automation Programmable automation Controller hardware
• Allen Bradley Human Machine Interface screens
• Automatic identification (bar code scanners and Radio Frequency ID)
• Industrial networks (including Ethernet IP)
• Fanuc Industrial robot arms
• Fanuc Roboguide 3D Simulation software
• Variable Speed Drives (motor control)
• Material handling systems
• Process instrumentation and control hardware, software, and networking
• Vision cameras
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software for remote monitoring and control

Please note: You will be required to purchase safety shoes and glasses in order to participate in many laboratory settings on campus.

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 Electromechanical Engineering Technology Advanced Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their second 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 three and four 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.

This program will appeal to your creative, analytical and mathematical sides with instruction in freehand sketching and computer-aided drawing, sustainability and green technology, renovation and restoration, site planning, calculations of load, structural sizing and estimating project costs, and technical communications designed to prepare you for an exciting career in architectural technology.

In the three-year Architectural Technology program you will focus on the commercial aspect of construction and renovation and gain an in-depth understanding of building and construction technology. This program, designed to prepare you for an exciting career in architectural technology, will appeal to your creative and analytical side with instruction in freehand sketching; sustainability and green technology; history of architecture; renovation and restoration; site planning; and technical communications.

You will gain knowledge and apply skills in computer aided drawing, building methods and project management using the most current computer-aided drafting programs such as AutoCAD and Building Information Modeling. In addition, you will learn construction and sustainable technologies for materials such as wood frame, steel, masonry and precast concrete and develop project management skills.

Graduates employed in this field will be skilled in analyzing building codes to determine design requirements; drafting contract and bidding documents; assisting architects with drafting construction and design plans; and constructing design models. The sustainable design skills you will gain will make you current and relevant in today’s increasingly eco-friendly architectural field. Graduates are eligible to apply for additional industry-relevant certifications, which may be a requirement for some employers.

You will further your practical knowledge through a team project/placement component in your third year, which will strengthen your work experience as well as develop your skills in building code, building specifications, estimating and structural and mechanical knowledge.

Master the art of food and flavour in our Culinary Management program. You will explore locally grown food, experiment with ethnic and contemporary cuisine, and develop your skills in the culinary arts, while learning valuable management skills that will take your career to the next level. Significant focus is placed on lab/kitchen time, encouraging students to develop their techniques and products, much of which they are able to take home and enjoy. Graduates are sought after by a broad range of employers because of their unique skills, which include artisan meat cutting, cheese production, baking, canning and preserving.

The Culinary Management program is offered at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF), which is guided by a field-to-fork philosophy and sustainable business practices in all activities. This incredible learning centre provides access to a demonstration theatre; state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and meeting spaces; Bistro ’67, a full-service, green-certified teaching restaurant; and growing fields just steps from the labs.

The Culinary Management program is offered at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF), which is guided by a field-to-fork philosophy in all activities. This incredible learning centre provides access to a demonstration theatre; state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and meeting spaces; Bistro ’67, a full-service, green-certified teaching restaurant; and growing fields just steps from the labs.

You will learn to provide accomplished culinary planning, preparation and presentation for a variety of food-service environments. With a strong emphasis on skill development, theory, service and managerial training, you will become equipped with the skills and industry knowledge required to succeed. This program will foster ongoing personal growth and learning in the areas of self-management, interpersonal skills, professional ability and industry awareness.

In addition, you will gain knowledge about the diverse needs of today’s diners and consumers and focus on locally grown and produced foods. Hands-on experience in culinary, pastry and restaurant demonstration labs and classrooms will help you to develop essential skills related to a la carte cuisine, pastry, desserts and baking, ethnic cuisine, contemporary cooking and more.

The Culinary Management program will foster ongoing personal growth and learning in the areas of self management, interpersonal skills, professional ability and industry awareness including:

• Applying cost control techniques to food-service operations
• Effective marketing to promote the successful operation of a hospitality business
• Developing ongoing personal and professional strategies and plans to enhance culinary leadership and management skills

Students in this program will benefit from working and learning in Bistro ’67, a full-service, green-certified teaching and learning restaurant operated by staff and students.

With access to a national historic site and a one-of-a-kind living lab that provides students with legacy opportunities to complete campus projects, this program will help you graduate with the creative, entrepreneurial, and professional skills needed to be an industry leader. The art, science and business of horticulture are the focus of this program, ensuring students learn the skills required to create landscapes, renew historical gardens, enhance communities and express their creativity while learning the complexities involved in a broad range of professional environments. In addition, the dynamic, hands-on opportunities to experience the many aspects of the industry will make a difference as you work towards becoming a professional horticulturist. 

Gain knowledge and hone your skills in landscape construction, nursery management and soil and plant nutrition so you are prepared to work in creating and developing dynamic residential lots, business locations and communities. A growing interest in landscaping, gardening and urban agriculture is prompting more people to spend money on these enjoyable diversions and opening new opportunities for graduates.

You will also have access to an unmatched learning environment, with more than 50 per cent of learning time focused on hands-on activities offered at the college’s W. Galen Weston Centre for Food, a unique field-to-fork-focused learning environment, and Parkwood National Historic Site, which provides access to historic gardens and greenhouses, further the understanding of different concepts and designs you will face upon graduating.

You will focus on:

• Aspects of growing plants outdoors, indoors and in a greenhouse environment.
• Disease and pest management.
• Landscape construction.
• Landscape design fundamentals.
• Nursery management.
• Parks and turf management fundamentals.
• Plant propagation.
• Retail store operation.
• Small equipment operation and safety.
• Soil and plant nutrition.

Note: Primary location Whitby (some courses may be delivered at Parkwood Estate in Oshawa)

Water is a life source that millions of species depend on for survival. As a water quality technician, you will work towards keeping water safe for consumption and for its return to the environment through proven treatment methods. Distribution and collection methods will also be examined. As part of this program, you will complete the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks entry-level Drinking Water course and may also challenge the four Ministry operator-in-training exams (water treatment, wastewater treatment, water distribution and wastewater collection) for an additional fee. This program also offers you the opportunity to add to your skills and knowledge with real-life work experience gained through either a field placement or a co-operative education (co-op) experience.

Program Details:
Public health depends on the superior management of water quality and a team of professionals is required to ensure safe water for residents of Ontario. The Water Quality Technician program is designed to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills to work in water and wastewater treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection and environmental monitoring.
You will receive the specific education required to develop the skills needed to meet the demands of municipalities with water and wastewater treatment systems, water-use industries and environmental monitoring agencies.
Classes will be delivered at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses, depending on the semester and year. This enables students to utilize various applicable lab resources. Students will be notified in advance when they register for classes.

You will focus on:

• Engineering concepts
• Environmental quality
• Professional responsibility relating to co-workers, the public and regulators
• The impact that water quality has on human health

Targeted skills development includes:

• Chemistry and mathematics related to water quality, treatment and analysis
• Conflict management, problem solving and effective communications
• Emerging pathogen risks and public health concepts
• Hydrology
• Knowledge development in the areas of operation of water and wastewater systems
• Microbiology
• System design concepts and blue print reading
• Sampling, laboratory techniques and data interpretation

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 Water Quality Technician 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 a four-month, paid work term between the second and third semesters of their 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. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters of the program before graduating.

Electricity powers our world and is present all around us, providing light, power, air conditioning, and refrigeration. This program focuses on commercial and residential electrical installation. It will provide you with basic skills in electricity and electrical system installation and ensure you become familiar with the relevant tools and materials required in this field to successfully understand, install and test basic electrical systems for a specified number of applications. Graduates will meet the Ministry of Labour’s Working at Heights training requirement.

The Electrical Techniques program focuses on residential installations and will provide you with the basic skills to successfully install grounding/bonding for a specified number of applications.

You will learn to assist in the interpretation and preparation of electrical drawings and related documents and how to analyze and solve simple technical problems related to basic electrical systems by applying mathematics and science principles. The use of diagnostic equipment, tools, and computers will help you solve basic electrical problems and gain a better understanding of the industry.

Under the supervision of a licensed electrician, as a graduate, you will

• Test and troubleshoot electrical and electronic circuits, equipment, and systems
• Ensure health and safety standards and best practices are applied in the workplace

If you successfully complete this program, you may be eligible to challenge the basic level exemption test for the electrician apprenticeship trade.