This week I am back to school. Maybe I am a little bit crazy, but I need to do something to change my life and I decided to study again. I am not sure if I’ve mentioned before, but back in 2006 I was taking another undergraduate program at Ryerson University in Toronto. The reason for this is that my employer was paying all the tuition fees and hey, why not right? However, it did not last long enough. I did not even take the final exam from the first subject 
Yeah, I dropped the course. You may be thinking why… Well, I already have a degree in computer science and can you imagine what I was taking? Yes, another degree in… computer science!. The course still exists and it is called Information Technology Management. Very good course, I’d say.
Now, after not doing a lot in terms of career development I decided that it is time again and here I am! I am studying for two different certificates in two different universities. One certificate in e-learning at the University of Toronto and another certificate in Non profit and voluntary sector management at Ryerson University. Well, that’s what I’d like to do and I am very happy. What I’d like to share with you today was the process involved, maybe this is something that you also would like to pursue in the future right?
My focus today is at the University of Toronto though. In terms of requirements, it depends of the institution that you’re applying. At the University of Toronto, after visiting the website, I found the course that I was interested: E-learning certificate. I am taking now the Foundations of Project Management (something that I like a lot). The process was pretty simple. There is no pre-requisite and I just filled up the forms. It was asked me things like name, address, SIN (Social Insurance Number), e-mail and method of payment. Actually The fee is $645 dollars.
After completing the form and submitted, I received an e-mail from the University of Toronto with the pertaining information that I would need. The day the class starts, ends, the instructor, how to get to the building and the required books. In addition to this, also an username and password to use at what they call Blackboard. At the Blackboard, we have some links with the pertaining information about the course, announcements from the instructor, calendar, we can download documents, a forum for the students, etc.
Textbooks are required for this course and I had to buy. The Foundations of Project Management requires two books. You can buy these books at the University of Toronto bookstore:
- Information Technology Project Management 6e, by Kathy Schwalbe ($100.15)
- A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge fourth edition ($71.80)
I had the first class last Tuesday and the class is full, maybe with 40 students. The time is from 6pm to 9pm once a week. The instructor uses a projector with power point slides, he is well known and very smart guy. Other than that, maybe you know that I have lots of material to study right? What I want to mention is that passing on this course does not mean that I am a Project Manager. This course is only part of a certificate that I am taking and if you’d like to become a Project Manager, you should take the PMI Certification.
In the future I will talk about the other certificate that I am taking at Ryerson: Non profit and voluntary sector management.
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