Certificate in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Techniques (HVAC)

at Durham College Canada

Executive assistants are administrative professionals who contribute to the effectiveness of an office in an important way. They manage projects and budgets, make travel arrangements and manage events, prepare communication and take on a collection of essential tasks. Excellent at time management, project management and multi-tasking, they are critical to any organization. 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.

Classes in this program are offered in a compressed format on three consecutive days each week.

This two-year diploma program is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge required of an executive office assistant. You will gain extensive practical understanding and knowledge of office concepts; business operations and procedures; current computer software; and how to collaborate on various management activities.

You will develop your skills through various learning methods such as group and individual projects, discussions, lectures, case studies and office simulations.

Emphasis is placed on the practical demands of the job including:-

• High-level word processing skills
• Preparing professional documents with accuracy
• Developing presentation, Internet, email, project management, spreadsheet and database skills in a network environment
• Interpersonal and human relations
• Meeting deadlines
• Organizing activities

If you choose to pursue this option, you should enjoy working on computers and interacting with others. In addition, you must be willing to work to develop a professional level of ability in business skills.

Be part of one of the fastest-growing industry segments in the world. Hotels, resorts, restaurants, cruise ships, casinos, entertainment venues and conference centres are all benefiting from an increasing number of travelers from around the globe. Learn the essential operational skills and management techniques that employers value in this vibrant business. Explore the diverse career paths that are available to you, as you unleash your passion for customer service excellence and profitable hospitality business operations. The world of accommodation, food and beverage, travel and tourism is yours to discover.

The program focuses on the management of hotel, restaurant and tourism enterprises and is designed to provide you with a thorough foundation of the professional skills required to begin a career in these sectors. Given the hands-on nature of the hospitality industry, all courses are designed to provide you with active learning opportunities including labs for food and beverage preparation and service and front desk operations, along with numerous case studies and simulation exercises. Built on three key themes – profitable business management, exemplary customer service and an appreciation of sustainable hospitality management practices – each course will take you on an exploration of the various business aspects of the hospitality service industry, including:

• Catering
• Customer service
• Event planning
• Financial and human resource management
• Food service
• Hotel operations
• Marketing
• Restaurant operations
• Entrepreneurship

Teamwork, effective decision-making, critical thinking and leadership skills are explored in Year 1 and also emphasized throughout the second year of the program. You will also participate in a capstone course in Semester 4 designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply the skills you have acquired throughout the program as you operate a full-service hotel through a robust simulation program.

To develop a better affiliation with industry and further your skills, you will be invited to apply to the co-op option during your first semester. Qualified students will complete a four-month, paid work term in the summer between the second and third semesters of the program.  Students can also choose to complete an 80-hour field placement to gain work experience during their fourth semester.

The Hospitality - Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management program is offered at the Whitby campus, home of the college’s new W. Galen Weston Centre for Food. This incredible new learning environment provides access to state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and meeting spaces all designed to offer you the best possible learning experience.

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 starting in the Hospitality - Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management Diploma program in September 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.

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.

The Honours Bachelor of Construction Management (HBCM) program provides students with the knowledge, skills and abilities they will need to succeed in a career in the industrial, residential, institutional, or commercial construction industries. Graduates of the HBCM program will be prepared to make meaningful contributions to the prosperity, sustainability and resiliency of Ontario’s economic future.

As Ontario’s construction sector enjoys sustained and significant expansion, the growing demand for skilled workers continues to create excellent employment opportunities for knowledgeable and well-prepared graduates to fill the estimated 118,000 new construction sector jobs that will be created over the next 15 years.

It is anticipated that demand for well-trained employees will be even more pronounced in occupations that require an advanced level of skill, such as construction managers, estimators, job site superintendents and project managers.

A machine can do many amazing things, but it can’t take care of itself. This program allows students to develop skills in the theory and practice of machine fabrication and maintenance procedures including the installation, service, repair and overhaul of industrial machinery. Graduates are eligible for exemption from all of the in-school requirements for IMM 433A apprenticeship training. Graduates will meet the Ministry of Labour’s Working at Heights training requirement.

This program will prepare you to become a maintenance mechanic or technician by exposing you to the manufacturing, production and maintenance needs of several different industries. You will develop skills in the theory and practice of machine fabrication and maintenance procedures with an emphasis on the installation, service, repair and overhaul of industrial machinery.

Successful completion of this program will enable you to:

• Work safely while performing maintenance functions in manufacturing or processing environments.
• Select, align and install a variety of mechanical power transmission components.
• Build pneumatic and hydraulic circuits following a schematic.
• Use precision measuring tools.
• Troubleshoot equipment and operate common machine tools (drills, mills, lathes and grinders) to repair or remake machine components.
• Inspect and repair centrifugal pumps and valves.
• Plan and safely perform rigging and hoisting operations.
• Join metals using oxy-acetylene and electric arc welding techniques.
• Read and interpret mechanical, electrical and fluid power prints and schematics.
• Use applied math to perform a variety of trade-related calculations.
• Design and interpret a conventional electrical relay ladder logic control diagram at a beginner’s proficiency level.
• Design and interpret a programmable logic control diagram using offline programming techniques at a beginner’s proficiency level.
• Explain the operation of AC/DC motor control systems.
• Wire up and test elementary circuits using the various devices described above.

Students wishing to challenge apprenticeship exemption exams are required to pay an examination fee.

Co-operative education (co-op)

The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it. Students will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first year and entrance is competitive. Qualifying students will be eligible to complete a four-month, paid work term.

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.

The Hospitality industry is growing fast - so fast that the industry is bracing for significant labour shortages. Thousands of jobs will be available across Canada for people with the right education, skills and attitude. From the front desk at a hotel or resort, to a food and beverage service position at a restaurant or club, or customer service positions in a wide variety of businesses, there will be many outstanding opportunities. If you enjoy travel, meeting new people, and have a passion for being a part of an industry that makes people happy, Hospitality Skills is a great place to start.

The Hospitality Skills program will provide you with an introduction to hotel, restaurant and tourism operations and the knowledge and expertise required for an entry-level position in the hospitality field. You will have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications related to food and beverage service and safe food handling.

You will learn how to

• Provide hospitality service in a professional manner in order to increase customer satisfaction
• Identify and describe the various sectors of the Canadian tourism industry
• Use basic calculations to assist with daily functions of a hospitality operation
• Assist in development and implementation of a hospitality operation’s marketing plan and materials
• Follow all relevant health and safety legislation and regulations
• Plan and implement personal and professional development strategies related to the hospitality industry
• Support daily functions of a hospitality operation using current technologies and computer applications
• Perform duties of an entry-level accommodation operations team member
• Explain theories of food and beverage service and perform basic service tasks

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. 

Qualified graduates of the Hospitality Skills certificate program may have the opportunity to continue their studies by completing a second year to obtain their diploma in Hospitality - Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management.

Crane operators are highly trained specialists who are in equally high demand. This program is the only one of its kind offered in Ontario and is designed to help students pursuing a crane operation apprenticeship to stand out and get a head start in a competitive field. Using leading-edge training simulations, you will learn the tools of the trade, rigging and hoisting methods and essential safety measures that will help you play a key role on any construction site. Graduates will meet the Ministry of Labour’s Working at Heights training requirement.

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.

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)