U.S. community colleges offer a wide range of courses and certificate programs to cater to diverse educational and career goals. As I researched this article, I was impressed by the wealth of large and small programs our community colleges offer. I also understand the intricate process each college requires to provide a course. No esoteric or useless courses or certificates exist in a community college catalog. Furthermore, community college instructors are specialists. These experienced, credentialled adjunct faculty have state-of-the-art knowledge of their subject. And they are eager to share it with you. So, whether you are in your 50s and have been laid off after working for the same company for 20 years or are a young person exploring your options after graduating from high school, review all the possibilities your community college offers.
“Workforce development and economic development are inextricably linked,” Wallace said. “If we are going to be successful in expanding the economy of our region and raising per capita income levels of our residents, we will have to be extremely good at leveraging the education-to-earnings pipeline. Employers must be involved in all facets of their prospective employees’ educational journey.” Source: Community College Daily
Why attend a community college?
Some attend community college to obtain a two-year degree before transferring to a four-year college. There are several reasons for this. The first is the cost savings. Community colleges typically have much lower tuition and fees than four-year institutions, allowing students to save money in their first two years of education.
Community colleges often have smaller class sizes, providing a more supportive learning environment and more personalized attention from instructors. This is important when students need remedial work in a subject area.
Freshman courses at four-year colleges often have hundreds of students in them. At the same time, community colleges often have around 30 students per class. For students new to higher education, this leaves more room for interaction with professors and deeper engagement. Source: College Consensus
Community colleges offer various course schedules, including evening and weekend classes. This can be helpful for students who are juggling work or family responsibilities.
Community colleges generally have less stringent admission policies, making it easier for students who may still need to meet the academic requirements for direct entry into a four-year institution.
Attending a community college allows students to explore different academic interests and complete general education requirements before committing to a specific major at a four-year college.
Many students prefer to attend a local community college initially to stay closer to home and their familiar support systems before transferring to a four-year institution.
Finally, many community colleges have transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities, facilitating the transfer process.
This video offers five reasons why you should attend community college.
Certificate Programs
Here's a list of some commonly available certificates and courses, with each one linked to a specific course offered at a community college:
- Business Administration Certificate
- Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
- Early Childhood Education Certificate
- Culinary Arts Certificate
- Automotive Technology Certificate
- Cybersecurity Certificate
- Paralegal Studies Certificate
- Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree
- Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree
- Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree
- Nursing (RN) Program
- Computer Programming Certificate
- Welding Technology Certificate
- Criminal Justice Degree
- Fire Science Degree
- Hospitality Management Certificate
- Accounting Degree
- Marketing Certificate
- Graphic Design Certificate
- Dental Assisting Certificate
Career education certificates put you on a quicker path to a better future. Source: California Community Colleges
Typical Courses
In addition to the certificates and degrees offered, most community colleges provide various academic courses across multiple disciplines. Here are some of the standard courses available at many community colleges. The links will take you to different community college websites so that you can experience virtually what these colleges offer.
- English Composition I & II
- College Algebra
- Introduction to Psychology
- Principles of Biology
- Introduction to Sociology
- Public Speaking
- Principles of Accounting I & II
- Introduction to Business
- Introduction to Computer Science
- American History I & II
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II
- Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- Fundamentals of Nursing
- Culinary Basics
- Automotive Electrical Systems
- Welding Processes
- Digital Photography
- Web Development Fundamentals
- Networking Essentials
These courses cover a broad spectrum of core subjects such as English, math, sciences, social sciences, business, computer science, healthcare, skilled trades, and more. These are commonly required or elective options found across community colleges' various associate degree and certificate programs.
This video looks at the advantages of job training and learning a trade.
Next steps?
What are the next steps? Decide which programs interest you. Read the course descriptions and see what's involved. Then chat online, email, or, better yet, visit your community college and ask many questions. Be prepared for these experienced professionals to open your eyes to other possibilities based on their knowledge of skills that are currently in demand. Finally, don't be ashamed to take entry-level courses if you have not been in a classroom for a long time. Learning efficiently is essential for academic success. Figuring out how you learn is part of learning efficiently.
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