Diploma in Personal and Developmental Support Services

at Sault College - Ste. Marie Campus Canada

Want to contribute to conserving and protecting our natural environment? Are you interested in learning how natural ecosystems function and interact? Do you want a rewarding career carrying out work leading to the sustainability of natural resources?
If you answered yes, this is the program for you. Our team of experienced Natural Environment faculty can teach you the skills you`ll need to gain meaningful employment in the rapidly expanding environmental sector.

Students will study the natural environment and learn to understand how ecosystem components interact together. You`ll be taught how to identify organisms including birds, fish, mammals, insects, fungi, plants and trees. The physical parts of ecosystems are critically important to their function, so emphasis will be placed on understanding the climatic and geological forces that have shaped the land. Courses in forest soils and aquatic resources will provide students with knowledge of these processes.

The focus of this program will be on teaching field skills and techniques which are essential for the inventory, evaluation and monitoring of natural communities. Practical field training will be provided to teach navigating in wild areas using compasses and GPS, and using canoes, motorized boats, ATV`s and snowmobiles for back country transportation. You`ll also learn the latest techniques to monitor and measure natural resources.

The location of Sault College makes it ideal for this program. The rugged natural wilderness of the Algoma Highlands and Lake Superior provide unlimited opportunities for outdoor activity. While classroom lectures and labs provide the theoretical background for the program, much of your time will be spent outside doing hands on applications of what you`ve learned. A critical appreciation of ecosystem function within urban environments will also develop, as students learn of the capacity of the natural environment to solve common urban issues.

Numerous Natural Resource agencies make Sault Ste. Marie their home (e.g., Ontario Forest Research Institute, Great Lakes Forest Research Centre, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Sea Lamprey Control Centre, and Invasive Species Centre). The city is also touted as the renewable energy capital of Canada. With the opportunity to visit a variety of local sites, students learn how natural resources are assessed and utilized to provide clean energy. At the core of these projects are the natural heritage assessments and ongoing monitoring that contribute to long term sustainability. Students will apply a variety of technologies in this important effort to mitigate climate change, yet ensure an energy rich society.

Graduates of this 2 year program are encouraged to continue their studies in the Natural Environment Technologist program though a technician diploma may be awarded after 4 semesters. Students may have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects. Please see the `Applied Research Centre` section for more information relating to the Sault College Applied Research Centre.

Co-operative Education (Co-op)
Co-operative Education (Co-op) provides opportunities for you to learn beyond your classroom as you integrate relevant work
experiences into your academic studies. Co-op also lets you further develop life and employment skills while earning money.
You can also get a better idea of the career options available to you and build your network of contacts for future employment. Many employers prefer hiring co-op grads because of the applied learning they receive. We will prepare you for your summer work term and employment upon graduation.

Goals of Co-operative Education:

• Provide opportunities for students to learn and apply job search skills.
• Enable students to develop a network of employer contacts.
• Expose students to the realities of the workplace in their chosen field.
• Provide quality work experience where students can apply their knowledge and skills.
• Assist employers by providing well-trained, enthusiastic Co-op students.

You’re good at connecting people and creating a buzz. This is what makes public relations your calling! The Sault College Public Relations and Event Management Program is unique in Ontario and will have employers eager to hire you as a professional with two in-demand skill sets.

During this in-class and experiential two-semester PR program you’ll learn successful public relations strategies, dynamic presentation skills, strategic communication techniques and in-depth training in media relations.

Plus through engaging event planning courses, gain expert instruction in online event planning, and fundraising for corporate and non-profit sectors.

There’s no doubt you’ll make waves in this field! As you earn your public relations diploma, gain real event management and PR experience through organizing events and executing campaigns for real clients – this is not your typical public relations college in Ontario. This program also includes a four-week Field Placement opportunity that enables students to apply their knowledge and skills with a local organization.

Sault College and Humber College are partnering to offer an innovative opportunity for post-secondary learners. Beginning September 2021, the Colleges will co-deliver the Bachelor of Engineering - Mechatronics, allowing students to study at either Sault College – Sault Ste. Marie Campus or Humber’s North Campus. This collaboration strengthens opportunities for learners, particularly those in the North, to study in exciting and emerging fields while living closer to home.

The Bachelor of Engineering – Mechatronics discipline gives you hands-on experience with industry-standard advanced technology. You can choose from focused study in either robotics or embedded systems.  During the course of  the program, students will solve real industry and community problems and gain knowledge and skills in mechanical, electrical, electronics and computer engineering. Students use emerging and cutting edge  technologies in robotics, control, electronics, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), motors, mechanical components, digital and analog circuits, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), machine learning, modeling, simulation, embedded systems, and advanced manufacturing. Each of these themes provides theoretical knowledge alongside hands-on training to complement a systems-thinking approach to solving real world problems. 

In addition, this program provides an opportunity to work on industry-led projects through multidisciplinary capstone projects as well as applied research opportunities. Through these experiences, students apply the theoretical knowledge gained during their education to solve real industry problems, while improving their professional skills such as teamwork, communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

The Sault College Mobile Application Design program prepares you for the evolving and in-demand fields of mobile design development and web application development.

As a mobile application designer in the program, you’ll build native applications for mobile devices, cross-platform web applications for all devices and create web and mobile-based solutions using the most current technologies.

Courses are taught by industry experts and cover topic such as:

• Responsive web design
• User experience (UX) design
• User interface (UI) design
• Mobile application design and development
• Cross-platform web applications for all devices
• Business skills

Your path is unique. And we have options for that! The Mobile Application Design Program is a one-year post-diploma program gives you flexibility and strengthens your marketability in the workforce.

Ranked Number One by students in the province!
The Police Foundations program (PFP) has been rated number one in the province for the past three years in a row by students that are highly satisfied with their program of study.

Graduate with two diplomas and a University degree!
By enrolling in this program followed by attending our nearby partner University, Lake Superior State University, you can graduate with both a College diploma and a University degree in three years, or you can graduate with two College diplomas and a University degree in 4 years, saving anywhere from $27,500 to $38,000 in educational costs.

The only program in North America partnered with Crime Stoppers for patrol experience!
Through the College`s close relationship with the police, the crime rate has decreased significantly in the area patrolled, in large part due to our students` presence.Crime Stoppers` new headquarters will be re-located to the new police resource centre on Gore Street. You can apply your learning and gain experience soon after enrolling in our college program.

Successful graduation from either diploma in our Justice Studies program area will exempt students from taking the security guard and private investigator training sanctioned by the ministry.

We are one of only a few colleges with this accreditation.
Small class size! - Our low student to professor ratio provides excellence in education by giving one-on-one attention, teaching and guiding not often found in larger centres.

Are you interested in progressing to university? The General Arts and Science UniversityTransfer diploma gives you the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subject areas such as communications, social sciences, humanities, the arts or math and science at a postsecondary level, and discover what it is that interests you. The UniversityTransfer diploma program also provides you with an excellent foundation for a university education, another diploma program or a career that requires wide-ranging and flexible, transferable skills, which meet the needs of many employers. This program can be taken full or part time allowing you flexibility in your studies.

The Personal Support Worker Program at Sault College will prepare you for the various challenges and experiences that are part of the expanding health care setting. The faculty and staff at Sault College are ready to assist you in preparation to become a successful graduate in this growing and exciting environment.

The Personal Support Worker Program is based upon various components: the client, health, caring, holistic wellness, and support work. These components will prepare you for the role of assisting clients and families to achieve and maintain optimal health. To reflect these beliefs, Sault College has developed a holistic and evidence based program that incorporates the required knowledge, theory, values, and hands on skills to be successful within the various settings of healthcare. When you have completed the Personal Support Worker program at Sault College, you will be able to work with clients across the lifespan in settings such as long term care facilities, hospitals, private agencies, retirement homes, home care settings, boards of education (special needs children), palliative care settings, senior citizen recreation centres, respite settings, and group homes.
This program will provide you with a lifelong and rewarding career in healthcare. Some students choose to use it as a foundation to further their learning.

The focus of the Business - Accounting program is to prepare you for the important role of a successful and in-demand operational management accountant. The Sault College Accounting program is part of the well-established School of Business and provides in-depth application of traditional and computerized accounting concepts that are continually called upon in any industry or organization. Well-respected faculty with both accounting designations and years of experience in the accounting profession, deliver engaging lectures that have been highly rated by students and graduates of the program, sharing the knowledge you need to learn in ways that make sense to you. The program is continually changing to be responsive to industry needs and to meet the demands of the students seeking career opportunities and advancement in a business environment, while adhering to the well-regarded Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities standards for Accounting. If you graduate from our 2-year Business - Accounting diploma program, you can seek to pursue further study at local and regional Universities including Algoma University, Laurentian University and Lake Superior State University (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan).

As a student in the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant Diploma program, you will gain hands on experience to help prepare you to work in both fields of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist and/or a Physiotherapist. In addition you will:

• Learn to assist individuals regain or maintain independent function and mobility
• Participate in introductory fieldwork activities beginning in the first semester and gain valuable training from experienced clinicians in the workplace
• Experience student centred learning in active classrooms and small labs with individualized attention
• Have the opportunity to transfer to other Universities to pursue a degree

This 2 year program structure provides a balanced schedule strongly emphasizing art creations and production. Initial semesters pay special attention to traditional arts, in recognition of traditional art skills as a foundation for digital art skills. Each semester has at least one class outside art production, covering other areas crucial to a game artists development. By the final semester, studio style digital art production is heavily emphasized in preparation for the students entering the workforce. Students may have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects. Please see the `Applied Research Centre` section for more information relating to the Sault College Applied Research Centre.