Career and Technical Education

Career Education curricula prepare students for careers in occupations related to business, education, health, industry, office technology, or public service. The curricula are developed with the assistance of advisory committees representing business and industry and based on survey information identifying area personnel needs. Both certificate and degree programs are offered. Most certificate programs require one year of study; degree programs require two. Note: Due to their specialized technical nature, some courses are offered each semester and some are not; students beginning in the spring semester may not be able to carry a full load of courses.

The overall objective of career-oriented education is to contribute to the scientific, technical, industrial, business, and economic welfare of southern Illinois through the provision of low-cost, current, college-level technical training geared to the citizens of the College district.

The career curricula are technical in nature and lie in the post-high school area. They differ in content and purpose not only from those of the trade school but also from those of the engineering college. All have in common the following purposes and characteristics:

The purpose is to prepare students for employment in high-skill career fields.

There are hands-on learning experiences provided for the student to gain perspective about their future occupation.
Methods of instruction are relatively direct with a strong emphasis on learning specific skills. Ordinarily, a high proportion of the work is done during the hours of instruction. Individualized instructional materials provide opportunities for home study and independent progress. Many curricula articulate to baccalaureate degree-granting institutions, and many individual courses are transferable. A majority of curricula have programs of study with well-defined entry and exit points.

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