DC now offering more than 450 pathway options

Durham College has more than 450 pathway opportunities in place with universities in Ontario, Canada and around the world, including Ireland and Australia, for the 2013-2014 academic year. These agreements, both formal and informal, enable qualified graduates of one-, two- and three-year Durham College programs to enter numerous undergraduate degree programs with advanced standing and complete their degree requirements in as little as two years.

This includes more than 30 pathways in place with its campus partner, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), allowing students to broaden their post-secondary experience in a variety of areas including media and arts, business, health, justice, science, technology and general arts and science.

In addition, the college offers 19 graduate certificate and eight fast-track programs to university and college graduates wanting to pursue further education.

“Being a participant of the Communication Bridge program between Durham College and UOIT was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” said Miranda Roach, a 2011 Durham College Journalism – Print and Broadcast program graduate. “Not only did it allow me to earn an undergraduate degree within two years, it also enhanced my skillset and critical thinking abilities. I excelled throughout my courses as a result of my initial completion of a diploma in journalism.”

Designed so students can apply their credits earned at Durham College toward a university degree, pathway programs allow students to leverage their existing college education to earn additional credentials – in some cases toward a year of study or more at university – so they can continue their post-secondary journey and further their future employment opportunities.

“Faculty and staff were more than accommodating, making the transition to a new learning environment comfortable and welcoming,” added Roach. “Completing both programs also broadened opportunities for my career path. I am a different person as a result of continuing my education and I’m also a proud graduate who was grateful for this opportunity because my success matters.”

In Ontario, new data from the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer indicates that students who transfer among Ontario’s 44 publicly funded college and universities save an average of $11,000 in tuition plus more than a year of full-time study (business students). This combination of reduced costs and the opportunity to explore more than one post-secondary path creates an ideal scenario for students in terms of their ability to access both the hands-on applied learning and theory that comes from a combined college and university post-secondary experience and gain the skills, training and knowledge required to meet the demands of today’s employers.

“At Durham College the student experience comes first and as part of that commitment the college is dedicated to offering students access to as many post-secondary opportunities as possible,” said Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic, Durham College. “This includes a strong emphasis on pathways from both college to university and university to college, the opportunity to graduate with both a diploma and a degree in less than the traditional amount of time and significant cost savings.”