With the dawn of a new year, many working professionals plan to learn new skills for their current job or may be considering an entirely new career. Taking a single class or attaining industry-recognized certification can lead to increased job responsibilities and salary, as well as greater career satisfaction.

Scottsdale Community College (SCC) offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs that provide real-world instruction that can be immediately applied in the workplace. Many instructors have worked in their fields for years and have extensive industry contacts for internships, placement, and more. At only $85 per credit hour, tuition is very low, and class sizes are small, ensuring students receive individualized attention.

Workforce Development Training
SCC has provided hands-on career and technical education (CTE) programs for more than 50 years. Faculty and staff regularly meet with Scottsdale-area employers to ensure that the occupational programs being offered match up with local workforce requirements, for today and in the future. In addition, college administrators work with local employers to develop custom training programs for their unique requirements. Examples of SCC CTE programs include:

Data Analytics
As the use of information technology permeates just about every occupation these days, being able to analyze and manage data is critical. The Data Analytics certificate of completion program at SCC has become very popular among non-IT professionals for this reason. The field of accounting, for example, is evolving whereby the ability to process, analyze and present large data sets may be helpful. Having formal training in data analytics can make the accounting professional even more valuable to their employer.

SCC’s Data Analytics program focuses on the techniques and computer software used in industry to extract data from various data sources, model and integrate that data, and then visualize this data for business decision-making and intelligence gathering. In addition, SCC’s Computer Information Systems department offers 26 certificate and micro-certificate programs that provide the hands-on skills instruction in IT needed by local businesses, and many have a short duration of completion.

Community Health Worker
Recognizing the growing need for care coordination and patient navigation across a complex healthcare system, SCC offers a Community Health Worker certificate of completion program. The 15-credit program is designed for individuals new to the healthcare field and those already in the healthcare field who wish to grow their capacity to support community-oriented health systems.

A community health worker is a liaison who helps patients access community services specific to their needs. They also support medical providers by creating community outreach programs designed to promote, maintain, and improve the health of patients through social support and individual counseling. Community health workers play an important role in addressing the social and behavioral determinants of health within their communities by building trust and relationships and enhancing community between patients and healthcare providers.

Between 2020 and 2030, job opportunities for community health workers are projected to increase by 28% in Arizona, according to O*net, which is significantly higher and more than double the projected increase nationwide. Students who complete this program will be prepared for employment in a variety of health industries, including public health, ambulatory clinics, hospitals, insurance companies, and a variety of local, municipal and nonprofit agencies that serve the community, especially in roles focused on community-based care coordination or patient navigation.

Large healthcare providers have taken interest, and Mercy Care, for example, is offering ten $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing the Community Health Worker program at SCC in the Spring 2022 semester.

Securities Industry Essentials
SCC offers many specialized business programs, such as Securities Industry Essentials, Enrolled Agent, Entrepreneurial Studies, and Real Estate: Pre-license, along with the more traditional areas of study like management, accounting, and marketing.

The certificate of completion in Securities Industry Essentials builds the industry knowledge and skills for individuals to prepare for careers in financial services. In partnership with local financial service providers, the program introduces students new to or interested in financial services to the fundamental concepts of capital markets, types of products and their risks, trading, customer accounts, prohibited activities, and regulatory agencies and their functions.

Students with experience in the field who complete this certificate can pursue employment in a variety of security industry jobs. This area of study also helps to prepare students for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®), and a shorter SIE Exam Prep course is also available.

Opportunities for High School Students
In addition to CTE programs for working professionals, SCC provides extensive educational opportunities for high school juniors and seniors. Students can start earning college credit while still in high school. Credits easily transfer to many top universities, including all Arizona state universities. Students benefit by saving time and money, reducing course duplication, and developing early occupational skills.

The Achieving a College Education (ACE) Program is a two-year mentoring and college-prep program for those who will be first-generation college students. Through the Dual Enrollment Program, juniors and seniors can take courses that earn high school and college credits at the same time. The Concurrent Enrollment program allows students to take college courses while attending high school.

Spring Semester
For those wishing to invest in their careers in 2022, consider taking a class at SCC. That one step can open the door to so many possibilities in the New Year and beyond.

SCC’s Spring semester starts January 15, with flexible start dates for many classes throughout the entire semester. For more information, call 480-423-6700 or visit scottsdalecc.edu/future-students.