Courses in College

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.

Students wishing to pursue higher education will now have another, more convenient option, thanks to a new alliance announced by New York community colleges. The new distance learning alliance involves six New York community colleges that will come together to offer 100-percent online degree programs in a wide range of fields. The alliance may be just the beginning of a larger movement to make prospective students aware of their distance options available through local community colleges across the state.

Online Alliance Expands Degree Choices

The Corning Leader reports that the State University of New York (SUNY) has announced an alliance of online learning that will provide 34 different associate degree programs through six different state community colleges. The new alliance, dubbed the Online Western New York Learning Alliance (OWL), includes Corning, Erie, Finger Lakes, Genesee, Jamestown, and Monroe Community Colleges.

Students will be able to complete the new degree programs completely online, eliminating time and location constraints they might have battled in the past. The movement, according to Democrat and Chronicle, is to better compete with for-profit schools that offer online programs for a higher price and often of lesser quality. The alliance provides a greater presence for online education through community colleges in the area, with the hope of attracting more students and increasing college completion rates overall.

“We have created this alliance so that [students] can be better informed about what we have,” Terry

Online education is becoming a prevalent option at institutions of higher education. More and more community colleges are offering students both on-site and online course choices to accommodate students’ busy schedules and geographical challenges. While online education might sound like a convenient option at first glance, this style of learning is not right for every student. Check out the pros and cons of online education before deciding whether distance learning will be the best fit for you.

Types of Online Education

Online education does not fit a single mold; there are many different models of distance learning utilized by community colleges today. Some of the various type of online education, listed at Campus Explore, include:

Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning is a style that allows students to work at their own pace. Its primary popularity lies in its extreme flexibility; students do not have to follow a set schedule for lectures, homework assignments or other coursework. Material is generally distributed online and often includes audio or visual aids to bring the material to life. Students often have opportunities to interact with other students online, and assignments are typically delivered through an electronic bulletin board or similar format.

Synchronous Learning

Synchronous learning involves set times for class work, whether through physical classrooms, online chat rooms or video conferencing. Students have less flexibility with this type of learning environment, but they do have more opportunity for interaction with professors and other students. This type of learning may also

Community colleges offer a plethora of program options today, ensuring everyone who enrolls in one of these two-year schools can embark on the career of their dreams. For some, community college is a stepping stone into higher education that allows them to transfer to a college or university and pursue a four-year degree. For others, community college is the whole ball of wax – the training necessary to launch an exciting career path. For those who fall into the latter category, here is a list of 10 exciting fields you can enter with only a two-year degree under your belt.

Hospitality Manager

Hospitality managers can work anywhere there is a restaurant, hotel, or cruise ship – which means just about anywhere in the world. While many work their way up the hospitality hierarchy without formal training, an associate degree and on-the-job experience will get you where you want to go much faster. According to a report by Fox Business, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates the average salary for a food-service manager to be $46,320, while a hotel manager averages $45,800 annually.

Graphic Designer

Let your creativity shine with a position as a graphic designer. This professional works with a wide range of mediums, from print publications to film and the web. Graphic designers consider the vision of each individual client while weighing the needs of the target market to create messages that are attractive and effective. A two-year degree program is