| In the first half of the twentieth century, there was a | | | | no relevance to their eventual goals. While many |
| distinct divide between people who attended four year | | | | college students thrive on elective courses, Career |
| colleges or universities and those who went into | | | | College students appreciate not having to spend time |
| specific careers that required technical skills. The latter | | | | and money on what they believe are "pointless" |
| individuals usually attended what were called trade | | | | classes to fulfill a requirement. |
| schools or entered apprenticeship programs to learn a | | | | Many career colleges also offer four year programs |
| trade. In the past several decades, however, a hybrid | | | | for students who want to advance their careers by |
| form of education has become increasingly popular | | | | getting a Bachelor's degree in order to improve their |
| that combines the practical application of a trade | | | | resume or pursue a promotion. The flexibility of the |
| school with the broader education of a more traditional | | | | program's offerings is another appealing aspect of |
| university. This newer, more modern form of education | | | | career colleges. Many students begin working in their |
| is the career college. | | | | chosen field upon receiving their Associate's degree, |
| Career colleges offer a balance of core courses such | | | | and work toward their Bachelor's degree in the |
| as English, math and the sciences, but focus more | | | | evenings or through an online or distance learning |
| thoroughly on the components needed to enter the | | | | program. |
| workforce prepared to pursue a specific career path. | | | | Career colleges offer a wide range of programs to |
| Most career colleges are tightly focused on their | | | | suit almost every interest. Most are technology |
| students' desire to get an education that is extremely | | | | oriented or focus on a particular field such as |
| hands-on and technically oriented. | | | | healthcare. Some of the most popular include: health |
| An increase in the need for technically trained, college | | | | & information sciences, paralegal studies, medical |
| educated employees is the largest driving force behind | | | | transcription, information technologies, medical assistant, |
| the increase in career colleges. Employers want | | | | radiology, business administration, administrative |
| students who are intelligent and able to think on their | | | | assistant, veterinary technology, medical coding & |
| feet, so they have looked in the past for college | | | | billing, pharmacy technology, healthcare reimbursement, |
| educated students. However, the advent of computer | | | | criminal justice, management information systems, and |
| technology, medical, and scientific technology meant | | | | human resource management |
| that they then had to start from scratch in training their | | | | These are just a few of the many career college |
| new employees. On the other hand, apprenticeship | | | | offerings. If you feel that a career college may be the |
| programs meant they were trying to train individuals | | | | right path for you, do some online research and visit |
| right out of high school who often didn't have the | | | | several schools that offer courses that interest you. |
| science, math or other knowledge needed to succeed. | | | | The best way to discover if a program is right for you |
| Career college graduates offer employers a balance | | | | is to meet the instructors and get a feel for the |
| that's hard to find anywhere else. | | | | learning environment. |
| For students, career colleges offer a variety of career | | | | You should also make sure that the school is |
| options at a reasonable cost. Many career colleges | | | | accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies |
| offer associates degrees that can be earned in two | | | | recognized for overseeing the quality of technical and |
| years rather than four, putting them into the work | | | | career schools in the United States. The U.S. |
| force with two years less tuition they have to pay. | | | | Department of Education has a list of several |
| They also find they are more motivated when they | | | | appropriate agencies that they approve. Their website |
| aren't wasting their study time on coursework that has | | | | is a great place to start your research. |