Online and Remote Learning

Fantasy and science fiction allow writers and readers to step outside familiar boundaries into imaginary worlds. In this workshop-style course, you'll learn the elements of both genres and get feedback from a community of writers as you craft the first draft of a new short story. You'll explore the foundations of world-building, plot, scene-setting, character development, and dialogue, as well as honing your critiquing skills. You'll also find out more about the business side of writing fantasy and science fiction. Create plot, narrative and characters that use elements of fantasy and Science Fiction. Learn some of the business aspect of fantasy and science fiction writing. Benefit from a critique of your manuscript.

Accident prevention should be a top priority for all organizations. Reducing accidents means fewer injuries and a boost to your reputation and employee morale. You incur fewer costs related to property damage, reduced productivity and legal liability. In this course, you'll learn the importance of approaching accident prevention systematically. Topics include occupational health and safety (OHS) programs, hazard identification, auditing tools, investigations and case studies. This online course has live webinars.  Understand the true cost of workplace accidents and how to prevent them. Investigate the direct and root causes of workplace accidents. Review the essential elements of an internal responsibility system. Understand the purpose of loss control and loss management programs. Implement an occupational health and safety (OHS) management system.

Want to jump-start your writing, sharpen your focus and create commercially viable work? This course explores a range of popular fiction genres - such as mystery, the thriller, horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy and young adult - and introduces you to a community of like-minded writers. You'll learn how to create strong plots, scenes with impact, three-dimensional characters and believable dialogue. You'll also examine the business of writing, including agents, publishers and the US and international markets. Apply concepts of plotting, pacing and characterization. Write the opening chapter of an original work of genre fiction. Produce a 25-word log line that sums up your project. Investigate the genre fiction marketplace.

This course gives you an overview of industry basics in the life sciences sector, with a focus on employment strategies, sector-related challenges, and innovation.  Learners gain valuable industry insights, networking skills, and confidence through tailored sessions focused on employment outreach, résumé and cover letter writing, and interview skills. The course also covers practical job search strategies—such as navigating the job market, identifying opportunities, and positioning your skills effectively—to support your successful entry or re-entry into the workforce. Students will receive one-on-one as well as group coaching as they create an individual employment plan and further their understanding of current employment trends.  Financial assistance may be available to eligible Ontario residents through the Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). Please email scs.learnerservices@utoronto.ca for details. Gain employment strategies to enter the Canadian life sciences sector. Develop an employment-focused network within your field of interest. Create an individual employment plan. Improve your résumé and interview skills.

Pharmaceutical and laboratory operations depend on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). This GMP/GLP course teaches you the regulations and expectations of Health Canada HPFBI GMP/GLP and US FDA GMP/GLP and how they apply to the manufacturing, distribution and importation of pharmaceutical, radiopharmaceutical, biological and veterinary drugs. You'll learn effective Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) writing and GMP auditing and get valuable insight from guest speakers who work within the pharmaceutical industry. Financial assistance may be available to eligible Ontario residents through the Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). Please email scs.learnerservices@utoronto.ca for details.   Ability to work in a GMP/GLP-compliant environment. Know the importance of good documentation practices and record-keeping. Understand the purpose and reasoning behind GMP/GLP regulations and their practical application through key quality systems. Understand the Qualyty Assurance-GMP-Quality Control relationship. Acquire essential skills for effective SOP writing and GMP auditing.

Advance your understanding of occupational health and safety (OHS) management and get the tools to develop and apply the right system for your organization. If you're a professional with responsibility for managing OHS, learn about legislative compliance, risk management, hazard recognition and control and due diligence. You'll analyze and discuss precedent-setting case law, scan contemporary systems and thoroughly review the amendments to Bill C-45 that established the crime of OHS Criminal Negligence in the Criminal Code. Apply and interpret federal and provincial occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation. Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices. Apply the principles and key requirements of an OHS management system. Review Bill C-45 (Section 217.1 of the Criminal Code) and know how to comply with it. Create a safety culture within an organization.

Memoir writing urges us to uncover the pattern and shape of our lives and tell our stories. Through intention, stillness, loving kindness (metta) and generative writing exercises, we can connect to the creative energy which is part of the Universe itself. We will look at how faith and philosophical traditions offer us essential strategies for fortifying the “inner citadel of our mind”; we learn precise and powerful ways to keep our “guardian spirit” “inviolate and free from harm” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations). From a space of equanimity, clear seeing and compassion, write your stories. Through careful reading, learn the toolbox of the writer's craft: description, dialogue, point-of-view, character, rhythm, and sound. We will practice sitting and walking meditation and cultivate fearlessness and kindness as we revisit our past. We listen deeply to ourselves and to each other. We will do plenty of timed writing exercises to connect to our emotional truth, and engage in writing workshops and book discussions. Emphasis will be put on workshopping, beginning something new, or revising a memoir you may be working on. This class is open to writers of all levels.   Meditation practices that will give you enhanced insight into the narratives that are unique to your own individual life. Awareness of how your own individual experience can become a universal message that is of interest to readers. Techniques to enhance your writing abilities, and deeper insight into your own dynamic story. Engage in generative writing exercises to connect to your authentic voice and story and the creative energy of the Universe itself. Work through the neurosis, cravings and fears that block your writing and experience joyful creativity. Engage in writing workshop and receive feedback and make progress on your story.

Building on your project management experience, this micro-course will help you develop the skills and competencies you need to establish, lead, and/or work within a Project Management Office (PMO). A PMO provides structure to centralize and standardize project management initiatives so your organization improve its project management maturity and can achieve its goals. You’ll learn about the different types of PMOs, how they create value, and how to select the right type of PMO to best support the unique needs of your organization to be successful. By the end of this learning experience, you’ll know how to create, grow, and sustain a PMO that delivers value to your organization, and how to navigate important risks and challenges. In addition, you’ll gain the ability to assess the maturity of an existing PMO, and how to align the PMO to organizational strategy. Within 4-6 weeks of successfully completing this course, you will receive your micro-credential indicating achievement of the outlined learning outcomes and competencies/skills. Micro-credentials are tamper proof, verifiable, blockchain-based and 100% digital. They can be shared on social media, including LinkedIn and Facebook, embedded in websites or downloaded as PDFs. For more information, please visit: https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/unique/micro-courses. By the end of this micro course, you'll be able to: Describe what a PMO is and does Assess the appropriate type of PMO for an organization Evaluate the considerations for creating a PMO Assess the maturity level of a PMO Design a PMO to add value to an organization Create a PMO execution plan Competencies developed and assessed in this course include: Assessing the type of PMO needed Writing a PMO business case Building and sustaining a PMO Assessing the maturity of a PMO Aligning the PMO with strategy

Building on the basics taught in 1344 Copywriting that Sells & 3681 Writing Digital Content, in this course you'll take your copywriting skills to the next level — with an emphasis advanced copywriting and content marketing writing strategies. Inspired by real-world examples used throughout the course, you'll learn techniques for writing such challenging projects as email campaigns, landing pages and sales pages, ecommerce websites, online ads (Facebook, Google, etc.), blogs, social media, and more. In addition, you'll walk away with the latest tricks-of-the-trade that top copywriters use to drive more traffic to websites, boost response rates on online ads, improve response and conversions on email campaigns, and more. Learn to brainstorm, outline, summarize, and edit using generative AI tools, while applying critical thinking skills to fact-check, customize, and improve the AI writing outputs. You'll hone your craft on practical assignments and receive feedback. This course is taught by an experienced copywriter. This course was formerly called Online & Social Media Copywriting. Take your current copywriting skills and knowledge to an advanced level. Build on your ability to strategize and write a range of promotional materials, from websites to Facebook ads to YouTube commercials. Master the latest best practices in strategizing and writing content (blogs, social media, etc.) that get results. While using AI tools (like ChatGPT, Jasper, and others) in your writing, develop your own unique voice.

This course introduces you to key concepts, strategies, and trends behind the extraordinary rise of ecommerce and its impact on both our professional and personal lives. Today, the “do-or-die” importance of ecommerce to modern-day business success and survival is indisputable. This course combines conceptual learning with case study presentations of real-world online businesses and discussions on ecommerce impacting “breaking news” stories.  A primary outcome of the course is the ability to research, strategize, and develop a preliminary business plan for an online business.   Understand the terminology, key trends, core sales, marketing & infrastructure needs of ecommerce Recognize the technical, strategic and operational demands of starting and running an online business Review the most common online business and sales models and understand how they can be used to create a successful omnichannel online business Develop a start-up strategy for an online business with consideration given to a target market, value proposition, market offering, and financial model Research, conceptualize, and develop a preliminary business plan for an online business