Pre-Trades and Technology

Ontario College Certificate (1 Year - 2 Semesters) (4005)

About the Program

The Pre-Trades and Technology program is offered as a preparatory or foundation year for trades, technician and technology programs. The program provides an opportunity for career exploration and for building solid foundation skills required to be successful in trades and technology programs. The program is designed for:

Secondary school graduates or mature applicants who do not have the secondary school courses required for admission into a technician/technology diploma program.
Applicants who meet the admission requirements for a technology program, but would like to explore a variety of vocations prior to choosing a focused area of interest, and at the same time improve their foundation skills in mathematics, physics, computers and English.
Female applicants who wish to explore careers in trades and technology.

Program of Study

Semester 1
CMM149 - 3	Practical Communications I
DRF120 - 2	Drafting and Blueprint Reading Basics
ELR130 - 3	Electrical Fundamentals
ENV102 - 3	Industrial Health and Safety
HDG122 - 3	Personal and Academic Success Strategies
MOT100 - 3	Introduction to Motive Power
MTH160 - 3	Pre-Technology Mathematics I

Semester 2
CTT134 - 2	Introduction to Computers
CTT140 - 3	Construction Basics
MCH140 - 4	Machine Shop Fundamentals
MTH161 - 3	Pre-Technology Mathematics II
PHY117 - 3	Concepts of Technical Physics
PLM100 - 3	Introduction to Plumbing
WLD121 - 2	Welding

Quick Fact:

Take this one year certificate program and learn trades and technology hands-on.

Career Paths

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce predicts that Ontario will face a shortage of about 100,000 skilled trade workers, due to retirement. As a graduate of the Pre-Trades and Technology Certificate program, you may move on to college post-secondary technology programs, apprenticeships, and/or the workplace. This certificate program may lead you to other college programs in the skilled trades such as:

Aircraft Structural Repair
Mechanical Engineering Technician and/or Technology
Mechanical Techniques - Millwright or Machine Shop
Motive Power Technician - Advanced Repair
Motive Power Fundamentals - Automotive Repair or Heavy Equipment & Truck Repair
Marine and Small Powered Equipment Mechanic
Metal Fabrication Technician or Welding Techniques
Electrical Engineering Technician and/or Technology
Renewable Energy and Green Construction Techniques
Construction Carpentry Techniques
Home Inspection Technician
Ironworker and Rodworker (Apprenticeship)
Plumber and Steamfitter (Apprenticeship)
Automotive Service Technician (Apprenticeship)
Truck & Coach Technician (Apprenticeship)
Heavy Equipment Technician (Apprenticeship)
Marine and Small Engines Mechanic (Apprenticeship)
Construction & Maintenance and Industrial Electrician (Apprenticeship)
Millwright (Apprenticeship)

Minimum Academic Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma or mature student status.

Other Information

For more information contact Program Coordinator Howard Gray at 705.759.2554 ext 2530 or email howard.gray@saultcollege.ca

Course Descriptions

Semester 1

Practical Communications I (CMM149) (3 credits)
This course helps students develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills required for various apprenticeship and certificate programs. Practical program-related assignments assist students to acquire the essential skills for their field. As well, students prepare current job-search documents. The principles of writing are taught through the writing process.

Drafting and Blueprint Reading Basics (DRF120) (2 credits)
The tradesperson is often required to receive and transfer technical information. Drawings, free hand sketches, schematics and flow diagrams are forms of this information transfer. This introductory course will expose the student to these methods of information transfer by drawing objects using standard drafting techniques, making complete neat free hand sketches and extracting information from various construction drawings.

Electrical Fundamentals (ELR130) (3 credits)
This course introduces students to electrical fundamentals. Safety issues, provincial and national codes relating to electrical installations and characteristics or electric circuits will be introduced. Students will participate in hands-on practical activities.

Industrial Health and Safety (ENV102) (3 credits)
This is an introductory course for all those interested in industrial practices from the standpoint of industrial hygiene and industrial health and safety. Students will become familiar with pertinent legislation, industry and workers rights and responsibilities, recognition, evaluation and control methods and safe working practices.

Personal and Academic Success Strategies (HDG122) (3 credits)
This course will prepare the student for the rigors of academic life and enable the student to develop a personal profile for college and career success. The main focus of this course will include accepting personal responsibility, discovering self-motivation, mastering self-management, employing interdependence, gaining self-awareness, adopting lifelong learning and developing emotional intelligence. In addition, the student will develop and produce a 'Personal Profile' that will identify his/her personal learning style, communication style, and personality style to enable the student to achieve success in learning about, understanding, and choosing the courses and careers that will lead to personal and professional satisfaction.

Introduction to Motive Power (MOT100) (3 credits)
Students will learn about Motive Power trades including Automotive, Heavy Equipment/ Truck Coach and Marine and Small Engines. The course will provide students with hands-on practical experience in these trades. They will cover basic fundamentals of these trades.

Pre-Technology Mathematics I (MTH160) (3 credits)
This first level mathematics course for the pre-technology program begins with a review of fundamental concepts including arithmetic operations and concepts in measurement. This is followed by modelling linear, quadratic, and exponential relationships. Problems involving these relationships are then solved using formulas.

Semester 2

Introduction to Computers (CTT134) (2 credits)
This course introduces students to computer concepts and PC software applications. Practical skills in the use of Windows, e-mail, the Internet, word processors and spreadsheets will be developed.

Construction Basics (CTT140) (3 credits)
This course will familiarize students with construction basics. Students will learn to use a variety of basic hand and power tools used in the construction industry. Students will participate in hands-on practical activities.

Machine Shop Fundamentals (MCH140) (4 credits)
This course will allow the student to develop the skills required to operate the various machines and equipment necessary to work safely and productively in a machining, manufacturing and maintenance setting with a focus on building parts or making repairs in industry. Special attention will be placed on accurate measurement and inspection.

Pre-Technology Mathematics II (MTH161) (3 credits)
This course is a continuation of MTH160-3 (from Semester One) for pre-technology students. Topics of study include geometry and trigonometric functions. A treatment of trigonometry of right and oblique triangles with applications is included. This course also includes an introduction to statistics.

Concepts of Technical Physics (PHY117) (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the concepts of physics related to trades and technology fields of study. Students will participate in lectures, class demonstrations and laboratory work. Lab exercises will develop and reinforce the concepts learned in the course. Students will also develop an appreciation for physics as a science and its broad impact on the world as we know it.

Introduction to Plumbing (PLM100) (3 credits)
Students will gain basic knowledge about plumbing. They will have the opportunity to practice safe handling and proper use of hand and power tools. They will practice performing various basic plumbing skills.

Welding (WLD121) (2 credits)
A trades curriculum that has been designed to provide students with a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on skill in relation to the safe use and operation of both OFG/SMA welding, cutting and heating equipment.


Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology	705.759.2554 1.800.461.2260
443 Northern Ave.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada P6A 5L3	www.saultcollege.ca