TCC’s speciality programs prepare students for job market
by Chris Taylor, editor in chief

    (Part one in a five-part series on TCC specialty programs)

    A quick trip down any major street will surely bring a glut of “help wanted” signs.

    A quick look at the classified ads also will show an enormous number of businesses looking for employees.

    A need for employees is bad news for companies, but good news for students and potential students.

    TCC offers many different specialty programs on all four campuses that help students learn a valuable skill or trade and almost immediately jump into the job scene.

    Dr. Faye Murphy, director of program development, said one-third of all TCC students are enrolled in specialty programs.

    “Eighty percent of all jobs don’t require a bachelor’s degree, but 80 percent of those jobs do require training beyond high school,” she said.

    TCC offers one Associate in Art degree and about 50 Associate in Applied Science degrees.

    “Many students who enroll in the specialty programs are older people looking to obtain skills that will allow them to further their careers or change to a new career,” she said.

    The programs cover subjects such as radio broadcasting to nursing to law enforcement. No matter what the student’s interest, TCC probably has a program for it.

    Most programs offer certificates of completion, and some offer two-year degrees.

    These programs are essential because graduates usually join the work force.

    Current estimates suggest that Texas will have only 210,000 more college students by 2015. This is less than half of the estimated 500,000 needed to keep the state’s work force competitive.

    The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, business groups and Gov. Rick Perry have expressed the need to enroll more Texans in college, especially as the state’s demographics shift.

    By 2015, Texas is expected to have 335,000 more residents between the ages of 15-34.

    These statistics predict 66,000 more students in the Metroplex area alone. Several thousand of these students will attend TCC.

    Many of those students will choose to attend TCC because of these specialty programs.

    Murphy explained that the average student in a specialty program is older and looking to become technologically prepared

“They are looking to upgrade their skills or need formal training,” she said.

    Murphy believes that career changes are the wave of the future in the ever-changing world.

    “Students can leave TCC, get a good job and get on a career track. I’m disappointed that more people don’t choose to do it. It is possible,” she said.

    Each campus has programs that are unique to only that campus.

A student interested in becoming a fireman would have to go to NW Campus.

    Many students leave these programs and go on to a job almost immediately upon completion.

    “These programs are for the masses in the work world,” she said.
Many of the programs boast high job-placement percentages. Also, many of the programs are in fields in high demand such as the computer industry, medical fields and mental health area.

    Those who complete a certificate or degree at TCC can enjoy a job placement rate that exceeds 92 percent, the district average for all programs.

    The programs can be found in any course catalog. The catalog will also tell a potential student which programs are exclusive to which campus.

    The TCC specialty programs, like other TCC courses, are also affordable. Most students can get a career in the field of their choice within a semester to two years. And they can do it without breaking their bank.

    Applications for enrollment in the specialty programs may be obtained from the office of admissions or the campus registrar’s office.

    All materials required for entrance to TCC must be on file in the admissions office.