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Ministry-approved title: Emergency Services Fundamentals
Entrance Award Available
The Emergency Services Fundamentals (EMSF) program, which is unique to Durham College, provides students with the foundational skills required for many emergency service and health science careers. This pathway program focuses on communications, math, science and other relevant topics that prepare students for further studies in related fields such as Paramedic, Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training, Police Foundations, Protection, Security and Investigation, 911 Emergency and Call Centre Communications, or Practical Nursing. EMSF also helps students become familiar with college life and the workload required for success in their destination program.
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The two-semester EMSF program is designed for students interested in exploring post-secondary options in emergency services or preparing for a specific emergency services or health science diploma. To help students develop a strong academic foundation for success in a related college program, the curriculum includes:
In preparation for a post-secondary diploma program in a related field, students may also complete:
Please note: Admission to other programs is not guaranteed.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Students in this program are eligible to apply for The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary. Available to students in any program, with preference to those entering preparatory programs, The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary will be awarded to up to 10 students annually and will help students cover tuition in their chosen program as well as in any continued studies at DC for up to four years. Recipients of The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary will also have the opportunity to participate in mentorship programs at the college.
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School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
EMSF students often have opportunities to volunteer during practical evaluations in the paramedic program. Students may act as patients or bystanders in various scenarios giving them insight into the paramedic program, as well as participate in their Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Event. There are also various opportunities to volunteer with our local Paramedic Services during their specialized training sessions.
Qualified graduates can go on to take Durham College’s 911 Emergency and Call Centre Communications; Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training; Paramedic; Police Foundations; Protection, Security and Investigation or an allied health science program.
Through the EMSF program, you may also acquire:
Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions.
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Internet connection
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.
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