Courses in College

The West Coast is an area filled with fertile land perfect for wineries, which is why the winemaking industry has become big business for western farmers. Many community colleges are acknowledging the success of the wine-making industry by offering degree and certification programs for aspiring winemakers. While one Washington college has been duly noted for its contribution to winemaking in the area, it is not the only school to offer the necessary training for employment in this lucrative industry.

Winemaking 101

According to the Huffington Post, Washington has the second-highest number of wineries than any other state in the nation. It also ranks third in overall wine production. With this distinction, it makes sense that one of the biggest winemaking degrees in the country would also be located at a community college in Washington. However, Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, Washington, isn’t the only school to capitalize on the need for trained workers in the wine industry. Other schools in the state, as well as in Oregon, have also provided training programs for local wineries.

The art of winemaking is a complex one that begins with planting the grapes and ends with marketing the finished product. Throughout the experience, training is required for grape growing and winemaking, also referred to as enology. Once the wine is ready, workers in the industry must learn wine tasting and marketing products to the hospitality industry. While the work was often passed down through generations of families,

Looking for a new career but don’t have the time for re-training? Think again. Community colleges across the country offer fully online degree and certification programs that allow you to hone your skills or train for a whole new profession right from home. These online programs are flexible without sacrificing quality training you need to move ahead in the professional world. Whether your interests lean toward education, law enforcement, business or manufacturing, check out these online degree programs that could launch you on a whole new career path.

Forensic Studies

Hudson Valley Community College offers an online degree program in forensic studies for those who want to learn the finer points of this area of criminal justice. The program is available fully online and is designed specifically for students interested in transferring to a four-year program after earning an associate degree. The school has arranged for a seamless transfer process with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, one of the top institutions for forensic science training in the country. Coursework will include interesting subjects like biology, criminal investigation, and forensic evidence.

Teaching Assistant

Another online option at Hudson Valley is training toward certification as a teaching assistant in New York. The 18-hour course is available fully online, in the classroom, or as a hybrid program combining both online and classroom learning. The program is focused on training educators

Do you have a creative spirit waiting to be unleashed on the world? Then put your talents to lucrative use with a degree from your local community college. With many artistic degree programs waiting for you, get ready to explore the many avenues you can pursue with your ability. These 10 community college degree programs represent just a smattering of the many possibilities waiting for students who want to let their artistic side shine.

Photography

Document your world in photos with a photography degree from the community college of your choice. Many schools across the country offer degrees in photography, including coursework in studio photography, black-and-white photos, and digital color techniques. Many will include photography history and theory classes to round out your studies. This degree can launch a career in your own studio or work on staff as a photographer with a larger company.

Jewelry and Crafts

Create beautiful accessories to match any style and mood with a degree program in jewelry and crafts. El Camino Community College in California is just one of the schools that offer a degree program in jewelry making and design. This program teaches students to work with gems and precious metals to express their own artistic style. Coursework might include stone cutting and polishing, metal finishing, enameling, and gemology. Students may also delve into basic design concepts and guidelines for establishing their own personal style.

Theatre Arts

William Shakespeare once said, "all the world’s a stage, and all

Community colleges have become the go-to place for professional training of all kinds, but the benefits of these local schools extend far beyond the professional realm. Many adults head to community college to hone a craft, discover a hobby, or learn something new. Whether your interests lie in writing, gardening, or arts and crafts, a class at community college may be the perfect way to take your interest to the next level. Even if you want to delve into a subject you have never explored, a community college course may open the door to a new field of interest. Check out these non-credit courses community colleges offer to help adults in the community find new interests, hobbies, and activities.

Grow Native Plants

Carroll Community College in Maryland offers a non-credit course that teaches students to grow native plants in the area right in their own backyards. According to the Eldersburg Patch, the class is taught by a licensed landscape professional. It includes the benefits of growing native plants, identifying species, and properly caring for native vegetation. The course also teaches students how to incorporate native plants into their backyard landscape for an eye-pleasing look both homeowners and neighbors will love. Finally, students will learn how to select plants attracting natural wildlife to their property.

This video explains what's involved with cultivating native plants.

Whip Up a New Dish

Remedial education is a core component of community colleges today, as more students enter the world of higher education unprepared for the rigors of a college-level curriculum. However, remedial education has been linked to a low completion rate at some schools, where hours of class time in unrelated, remedial courses interfere with a student’s ability to earn a degree in a reasonable amount of time. With many factors weighing on a college’s ability to offer efficient remedial education, some schools are taking innovative approaches to the idea of preparing students for the rigors of higher education.

This video looks at the issue of remedial courses in community college.

The Prevalence of Remedial Education

An article at the Hartford Courant suggests that too many incoming freshmen are getting placed in remedial classes before they can take actual college coursework. The Courant reports that as many as 60 percent of all students entering community college must take at least one refresher course in math or English. What is even more unsettling is that only about one-quarter of these students go on to actually complete their degree program.

The publication also cites statistics from the Community College Research Center that show one-third of these students could pass a regular college course with a grade of a “B” or better, even without the remedial coursework under their belts. These numbers certainly seem to suggest that students are getting placed in remedial classes more often than is necessary.