February 24, 2009

Information technology (IT) students looking to become the next Larry Page, Sergey Brin or Mark Zuckerberg will now have a chance to take their computer skills to the next level, thanks to two agreements between Durham College and Trent University.

The first is a renewal of a previous agreement between the college’s Computer Systems Technology (formerly known as Computer Science Technology) program and Trent. The second is a new agreement involving Durham College’s Computer Programmer Analyst program.

Both agreements will enable students to obtain a three-year advanced college diploma and a four-year university degree in as little as five years with students who have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (75 per cent) receiving advanced standing in Trent’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Honours) – Computing and Information Systems degree program.

“These agreements represent significant new pathways for college students to advance their post-secondary education and are a true reflection of Durham College’s commitment to ensuring that the student experience comes first,” said Judy Spring, dean of the Durham College School of Business, IT & Management. “We realize that many of our students recognize the advantages that come with earning both a diploma and a degree and we’re pleased to create these new opportunities to make that goal as seamless as possible.”

Advanced standing for the programs is equivalent to two full years of study and graduates of the Computer Systems Technology program will be given the opportunity to pursue a Computer Science specialization, while graduates of the Computer Programmer Analyst program will be able to choose Computer Science or Software Engineering specializations.

The BSc program teaches students to design, implement and integrate software applications for any number of hardware devices, from supercomputers to game boards. Students use the latest theories, methodologies and techniques to ensure that applications are correct, well-written and reliable. Graduates go on to pursue careers as website developers, network managers, software engineers, database administrators and more.

“Over the years, the articulation agreements with our educational partner at Durham College have provided the Department of Computing & Information Systems at Trent University with a wellspring of motivated students,” said Brian G. Patrick, chair of the Department of Computing & Information Systems at Trent. “With our new programs and specializations in place, we look forward to continuing and strengthening this mutually beneficial relationship. It is indeed a win-win-win situation for our students, our faculty and our university.

Computer Systems Technology students are trained to plan, implement and analyze IT solutions based on operating systems, networking technologies and computer programming languages. They go on to careers in network and computer system administration and as network security analysts, data centre administrators and network support technologists.

The Computer Programmer Analyst program offers detailed study of current and emerging information technologies, systems methodologies and application programming, all built upon a solid foundation of business expertise. Graduates go on to pursue careers in database development/support, software support, application development, systems analyst/design, user support, Internet development, e-commerce and more.

The agreements are the latest in a series between Durham College and Trent that reflect the college’s commitment to deliver effective and seamless pathways into, during and beyond college. Additional agreements exist between the college’s Environmental Technology program and Trent’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Studies program and the college’s General Arts and Science program, which allow students to transfer credits toward Trent’s Bachelor of Arts degree program.

Both agreements are effective immediately with the first intake of students expected in September 2009. Students who take advantage of these unique opportunities will be able to continue their studies at Trent’s main campus in Peterborough, Ontario where the full Computing and Information Systems curriculum is offered.

To learn more, students can visit the School of Business, IT & Management’s office located in Room C223 of the Gordon Willey building at Durham College’s Oshawa campus. For information on additional agreement opportunities available through the college, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/EN/main/current_students/transferguide.php.