Mohawk College and McMaster University Launch Affiliated Certificate Programs

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Hamilton, Ont. (PRWEB) June 20, 2012

Mohawk College and McMaster University have entered into another partnership initiative, further solidifying the corporate bond between the two educational institutions.

The new partnership initiative gives students studying within the Social Sciences faculty the opportunity to earn an affiliated certificate. The intent behind this new initiative is to offer students an academic experience that provides them with both theoretical and practical knowledge. “This will accrue significant value for the students as it will provide them with the skill sets that will be attractive to recruiting employers and will open up many more career possibilities,” says Jim Vanderveken, Dean of Mohawk College’s Faculty of interdisciplinary Studies.

The certificates courses will be held at McMaster University and exclusively offered to students enrolled in a Social Sciences degree program. The distinguishing feature is that the courses will be taught by Mohawk College professors, who are greatly acknowledged for their industry expertise. Upon completing all of the required courses, students will receive a degree from McMaster University and an affiliated certificate from Mohawk College.

Mohawk and McMaster have previously geared their partnership towards program and course offerings. Currently, Mohawk students can opt for a Collaborative Degree in various programs, such as Medical Radiation Sciences, Nursing programs, or a number of Technology programs, including Civil or Energy Engineering.

However, this is the first time in southern-Ontario that applied certification programs will be offered in conjunction with Social Sciences degree programs. Typically, university programs are more theory-based, whereas college offerings, such as apprenticeship programs and trade courses, offer hands-on, practical knowledge. “[C]ollege and university were seen as two separate worlds,” says Charlotte Yates, Dean of McMaster’s Faculty of Social Sciences, “and what we wanted to do was bridge that because this is very much for me about building pathways for students.”

There are already two affiliated certificate options being offered for the Fall 2012-Winter 2013 academic year: Business Studies; and Certificate in Leadership and Management in the Not-for-Profit Sector. An additional certificate option in Autism and Behavioural Studies is currently under development.

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