Fun & Elective Classes

Community colleges offer a gamut of fun and interesting classes, and we give ideas that may strike inspiration for your elective choices. Learn homesteading skills, study paranormal investigating, or earn a scuba diving certificate all at a community college near you. This sections identifies some of the fun non-credit courses available at your local campus.

View the most popular articles in Fun & Elective Classes:

Careers: Maritime Careers

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Careers: Maritime Careers
Explore the captivating world of seamanship jobs and maritime careers. From becoming a deck officer and mastering navigation skills to overseeing ship operations, discover the rewarding and adventurous opportunities available in the marine industry. Learn about the essential role of ship crews and explore the path to a successful career at sea through comprehensive maritime training.

With a versatile curriculum that adapts to changing economic forces, community colleges offer engaging and interesting academic pathways. If the sea has always called to you, consider pursuing a degree in sailing and seamanship. Students interested in learning to sail and operate a boat for entertainment, or students interested in professionally pursuing sailing as a career pathway, can take advantage of an array of opportunities at community colleges across the country.

Sailing Towards a Degree in Orange Coast Community College

Students attending Orange Coast Community College (OCC) in Newport Beach, California, can dive into the adventures of the open sea in the unique School of Sailing and Seamanship program. At OCC, students can pursue courses in sailing for entertainment and fun or to become prepared for career pathways and jobs. With classes ranging from youth sailing to adult certification, OCC tries to meet the needs and interests of a diverse student audience. Elective courses in sailing include classes such as Basic Cruising, Yacht Keeping and Maintenance, Introduction to Sailing, Introduction to Keel Boats, and many others.

For individuals interested in a professional sailing pathway, OCC offers a variety of degree and certification programs. Specifically, OCC students can enroll in the Professional Mariner Program, US Sailing Certification Program, and US Coast Guard Captain’s Licensing Program, alongside many other professional options.

Students enrolled in the Professional Mariner Program will engage in courses such as Boat Handling Basic Skills, Marine Safety Training, Navigation for Deckhands,

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Foreign Language Courses & Careers

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Foreign Language Courses & Careers
Learn about the foreign language courses and career opportunities offered by community colleges.

As a rising number of careers now prefer, and often require, the ability to speak multiple languages, more community colleges are integrating career-based language programs for students. These programs are designed to teach students the necessary skills and abilities to communicate and compete in the global workforce after graduation.

Community Colleges: Foreign Language Programs and Career Preparation

The Focus of Foreign Language Studies

Foreign language studies incorporate a variety of elements, skills, and disciplines of various modes of communication. As Yakima Valley Community College, located in Washington, supports, “all courses emphasize oral language acquisition. The primary goals are to have students speak and understand the spoken language.”

Most community colleges, such as Yakima, additionally include courses in conversational practices, as well as a diverse mix of academic classes with various focus topics. In addition to teaching students the language, Yakima also teaches students about a language’s cultural history and social background. As students embark on the cultural studies of their language, opportunities for internships, studying abroad, and other interactive programs are highly rated and recommended.

Durham Technical Community College

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Durham Technical Community College is another institution providing students with extensive foreign language courses to provide support for potential careers. Durham offers courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Arapahoe Community College

Arapahoe Community College, located in Littleton Colorado, is one of the many community

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Choosing Electives for a Rounded Education

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Choosing Electives for a Rounded Education
Learn how choosing electives can be enjoyable and professionally beneficial.

Whether you have already decided on a career path, or if you’re looking to broaden your horizons, community colleges offer a wide variety of elective courses that can expand your personal and professional networks, while also leading to a fulfilling educational experience.

The Personal Benefits of Elective Courses

While every degree program has specific requirements, electives allow students to test the waters outside their main area of focus. By exploring elective options, you may gain a new perspective on your professional calling. Regardless of whether or not your electives lead you to a new career, or simply add to your community college experience, electives allow potential job-seeking candidates when applying for work. In fact, employers seek candidates who have well-rounded backgrounds. Showing a diverse academic background, along with your career focus, demonstrates that you are versatile and enjoy learning.

The Academic Benefits of Elective Courses

While electives often provide students with new opportunities and fulfilling educational experience, studies are also revealing that electives actually promote better thinking and learning. For example, in considering art electives, “more and more business leaders are realizing that arts education helps to prepare young people for the workplace, acknowledging that arts education develops collaborative skills, technological competencies, flexible thinking, and an appreciation for diversity,” according to Bernard Cesarone. Studies show that the study and practice of art allow students to foster better critical thinking skills, while building values that connect to fellow colleagues and peers, leading to a better-rounded employee or student.

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Earn Your Scuba Diving Certification at Your Local Community College
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Dive into the world of scuba diving with exhilarating community college courses! Discover how students and community members alike can embark on an exciting journey to earn their scuba certification through top-notch programs designed for adventure seekers.
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Courses in College

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