Courses in College
Be inspired by the gamut of community college courses, from the arts to technical training. This section will cover everything from remedial classes to continuing education. Community colleges offer courses for youth and teens, individuals looking for a new hobby or skill, or those behind bars looking for a second chance.
View the most popular articles in Courses in College:
- How to Take Online Community College Classes for Free
- Mastering Math: A Guide to Passing Your Community College Math Requirements
- Studying Ghosts: Paranormal Investigation Courses at Community College
- Are Online Courses Better Than Traditional Classroom Courses?
- 10 Fun Non-Credit Courses Offered by Community Colleges
We look at the increase in online course offerings at community colleges across the country, and why this option is becoming more popular with some students.
Community colleges strive to operate as institutions of higher education that meet the needs of many today. Convenience and flexibility are the mantra of these schools that host adult students with a wide range of family and professional responsibilities. To achieve those goals, many community colleges across the country are increasing their selection of online and hybrid courses, allowing many busy students to get in at least a portion of their study time from the comfort of home. As the demand for online coursework continues to grow, community colleges grapple with how to provide ultimate flexibility to students without sacrificing instructional quality or completion rates to give students the education options they are asking for.
The Growth of Online Options
Online courses have been increasing at community colleges nationwide since 2005, according to a recent report at Santa Ynez Valley News. The publication cites a report, titled, “Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States, 2011,” which showed that 32 percent more students took an online course during fall 2011 term. That means more than 6.7 million community college students took advantage of online opportunities during that semester alone.
The number marks a significant increase in online courses from the same semester in 2008, when just 4.6 million students at community colleges took an online course. The 2008 numbers were a 17-percent increase from 2007, suggesting an uptick in the demand for online courses overall. In fact, the Marin Independent Journal states that online courses have increased
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We examine how many community colleges are tackling the issue of remedial math to get students the help they need without compromising completion rates, as many remedial courses tend to do.
As community colleges across the United States strive to improve dismal completion rates, one factor stands out as a stark obstacle for degree-seeking students – remedial math. Many students find they need remedial math classes after taking placement tests for community college. However, semesters of remedial math prove to be costly and time-consuming for those students. Sadly, many community college careers both start and end with remedial math. Fortunately, schools across the country are devising new systems to give students the math instruction they need without jeopardizing their ability to earn the degree they want.
New Math Pathways Match Instruction to Needs
In California, community colleges are trying a whole new approach to remedial math classes. Instead of requiring students to take courses in subjects they may never need or use, math classes are customized to a student’s specific major and area of interest. For example, aspiring engineers may need remedial algebra if they are to properly prepare for the math required in their degree program. However, English or history majors might be just as well suited to a class in statistics that teaches basic math concepts quickly and effectively.
According to a report in the Sacramento Bee, at least 16 community colleges across the state have adopted this approach to remedial math – so far with great success. The publication reports that students in the new pathways program are completing math classes at a rate two to four times higher than traditional curriculum. Similar models are
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We’ll look at a new program offered by Jackson Community College, as well as other programs around the country, that allow prison inmates to take community college courses to prepare for life after incarceration.
Community college has offered opportunities to many students throughout their history. In recent years, those opportunities have been extended to incarcerated populations, offering inmates the skills and training they need to find productive lives after prison. By bringing education to those who are currently in the prison system, the hope is that once they leave the system, they will never return. Does higher education in prison work as intended? Read on about the efforts by some colleges to transform incarcerated individuals for the better.
New College Program in Mississippi Aimed at Correctional Facility
A handful of inmates at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan are getting a new lease on life. Fifteen of the prisoners at this institution are enrolled in a pilot program featuring college courses from Jackson Community College. The inmates are enrolled in four rounds of courses from the school, according to a report at mLive. Classes include a computer course, which is available through a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The rest of the classes are paid for by the inmates themselves. Some are using money they saved prior to incarceration, while others are relying on friends and family to foot the bill until they are released and able to begin earning their own living. Most prisoners are ineligible for financial aid from the government, and even those that have some eligibility have little chance of receiving financial assistance from Uncle Sam while they are still incarcerated.
Course options include
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Consider some of the most popular online options at community colleges today that allow students to earn two-year degrees right from the comfort of home.
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 to manage a diverse body of students in the classroom, with the option to
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Are you looking to learn and have fun at the same time? Be inspired by 10 interesting non-credit courses offered by community colleges that adults can take for personal enrichment and fun.
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 new hobby or simply 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 before, a community college course may open the door to a whole new field of interest. Check out these non-credit courses offered by community colleges 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 to the area right in their own backyards. According to the Eldersburg Patch, the class is taught by a licensed landscape professional and includes the benefits of growing native plants, how to identify plant species and properly care 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 are sure to love. Finally, students will learn how to select plants that will attract natural wildlife right to their property.
Whip Up a New Dish
Cooking classes abound at community college, whether you are an aspiring chef or simply a
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