Course Description

Program Description This two-year Ontario College Diploma program delivered in a compressed format over 45 weeks prepares students for employment in the construction industry in both the hands-on skills sector and the knowledge and management areas. The goal of the program is to provide students with a foundation of knowledge and skills upon which they can build a lifelong career in any position in the building industry. All practical classes are taught in the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence (ACCE) facility. ACCE is fully outfitted with up-to-date equipment and tools allowing Algonquin to teach both traditional, as well as advanced technology used in today`s construction industry. This program is delivered over three consecutive levels. In Level 01, students learn the basics of drafting, geometric designs and construction of roofs and arches, computer applications, construction safety and building structures. These courses all have a significant hands-on component and are supplemented with training in manual drafting, mathematics and begin building a strong foundation of essential skills that employers are looking for from their employees in the areas of communications and computer applications as they relate to the construction industry. In Level 02, students cover AutoCAD, plan reading and material estimating, communications, the application of the principles of building science, production of scaled models of wood-framed structures, and the selection and application of exterior residential finishes. In Level 03, students address applied mechanics, building layout, advanced AutoCAD, the construction of interior finishing systems, steel framing, insulated concrete foundations, deck and porch construction and construction from a historical perspective. Upon completion of this hands-on program, graduates are equipped with skills that may earn them employment locally, nationally or internationally. This program offers one cooperative education (Co-op) Work Term(s) option. Qualified students with a minimum GPA of 3.6, have the opportunity to apply for paid co-op employment to gain valuable work experience and networks within industry.

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