Careers: Bartending

After they scrape together the necessary cash to pay tuition fees, community college students find that their financial obligations are far from over. The rising costs of textbooks and other necessary supplies have put more than one college student into a deep financial hole, forcing some to choose between their necessary resources and rent for the month.

To help students plan more efficiently for the cost of textbooks each semester, a new law has been put in place to require college professors to disclose the precise costs of textbooks before a student commits to their classes, according to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Lower Prices

In addition to helping students plan for the cost of higher education more accurately, the new law will also increase awareness and competition in the textbook market, lowering the cost of textbooks overall.

This is good news to students who may spend hundreds of dollars every semester to stock their dormitory bookshelves with the necessary supplies. A report in the Washington Post two years ago estimated that some college students pay between $700 and $1,100 each year on textbooks. Between 1986 and 2004, the price of a college textbook tripled, with an annual increase of around 6% each year – nearly double the rate of inflation.

"It's really hard just paying for tuition alone," Annaiis Wilkinson told the Washington Post. The 19-year-old Trinity Washington University student paid about $500 in textbooks each semester just

Criminal justice is a broad field that encompasses a number of in-demand jobs. Whether you want to become a uniformed police officer, investigator or another professional in criminal justice, the job begins with the right training to land an entry position. Many community colleges are now offering a variety of criminal justice programs to help individuals launch their careers in this exciting, rewarding field.

What is Criminal Justice?

According to World Wide Learn, criminal justice is a "social science that attempts to identify and explain the patterns of criminal behavior and to analyze society's ability to control crime and delinquency." Criminal justice encompasses many fields of study, including psychology, law, and public administration. A degree in criminal justice prepares graduates for a variety of careers in law enforcement and crime prevention.

As the world's population continues to increase, there will be a steadily increasing demand for individuals to work in criminal justice. The Criminal Justice USA states, "As Americans grow to become more security and safety conscious, the demand for law enforcement units and corrections units will increase, especially in areas of high population density." Communities will always need law enforcement officials, and larger populations will exhibit a greater demand in this area.

Whether you are a high school graduate in search of a career path or a seasoned professional looking for a recession-proof industry, criminal justice might be the right choice for you.

This video offers an overview of the

If you have a gift for summing up life in a single snapshot, a career in photography might be the perfect choice for you. This career takes talent and skill – but fortunately it doesn't have to take years of college to land your dream job.

Today, many community colleges are offering photography programs that can be completed in just two years or less, saving you both time and money on your college experience. Peruse these options for photography training programs and get ready to launch a creative career in a field you love.

Photography Careers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Photographers produce and preserve images that paint a picture, tell a story or record an event." Photographers work in a wide range of venues, from photojournalists who get the pictures of the big stories of the day to fine arts photographers that create photographic masterpieces with their own unique flair. You might find photographers in the field of science, snapping pictures of procedures and medical records. Photographers also produce images for catalogues, technical manuals and even commemorative events like graduations and weddings.

A photographer must be creative, but knowledge of technology and photography equipment is also essential. While you might bring raw talent to your craft, you need technical skills to translate that talent to a published image. This is where community college training is paramount to a successful career in photography.

The BLS also predicts that competition for positions in

Most business owners understand that top-notch employee training offers the necessary edge in a competitive market. However, finding the time, money, and resources for such training is often out of the grasp of many small companies today.

The good news is that you can get your employees the training they need – sometimes at no cost to you! Community colleges have risen to the call of training the workforce in a variety of skills and industries.

Brush Up on Technical Skills at Brookdale

For business owners who want to help their staff refine their computer skills, Brookdale Community College in New Jersey has an affordable solution. The college is offering a variety of course options, beginning now and running through the end of the year, according to a report in Asbury Park Press. The program is funded by a state Department of Labor and Business industry grant, so employees can reap the benefits of the additional training at no cost to them.

According to Brookdale Community College, classes offered can benefit employees in the following ways:

• Help them achieve greater accuracy in technical jobs
• Help them manage staff and workloads more efficiently
• Show them how to develop business and serve current customers better

Classes include instruction in MS Excel, MS Word, and the basics of navigating Windows. Employers can also find training options in math and measurement, communications, and English as a second language. Courses are offered at the six different Brookdale campuses, or