New programs meet new demands
From Contact magazine, Winter 2014-15
Palm Beach State College has its ear to the ground. Listening to industry, researching trends and collecting student input are some of the ways that the College identifies programs needed for emerging workforce demands.
Recent additions to the College’s array of career programs include:
Homeland Security Specialist, a College Credit Certificate program focused on intelligence analysis, security management, and transportation and border security. Fifteen employees of the Transportation Security Administration based at Palm Beach International Airport graduated from the new program in 2014. Credits earned will transfer into the Emergency Management Associate in Science degree.
Digital Animation and Recording Arts, two new programs expanding the scope of the Motion Picture Production Technology A.S. degree. The Digital Animation program prepares students for entry-level positions in video game design and the television and film industries. The Recording Arts program teaches the latest technology that allows musicians to mix tracks and create recordings digitally. Both programs are offered as concentrations in the A.S. degree program or as individual College Credit Certificates.
Facilities Maintenance, a Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificate program addressing the need for building maintenance and repair workers. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts more than 125,000 new jobs in this field will be created by 2022. However, with the increasing complexity of building operations, it’s not enough to be a Jack- or Jill-of-all-trades. Instead, those with specialized training will have the competitive edge.
Security and Automation Systems Technician, a PSAV certificate program recommended by a local security contractor struggling to meet the growing demand for smart technologies that control building access and electrical consumption. His company had openings for 20 technicians but few qualified applicants. In the program, students learn how to install and repair the systems that keep homes and businesses secure and energy efficient.
For more information:
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Programs
