Learn more about DCCCD’s career-building programs that
will put you on the fast track to success!
Smart Careers Start Here…….………………………………..……………..........2
Child Development……………………………………………..…………...............3
Automotive Technology………………………………………...............…............4-5
Aviation Technology………………………………………...………………............6-7
Commercial Music……………………………………………………….….............8-9
Computer-Aided Design and Drafting……………………………...……............10-11
Construction Management…………………………….………...........….............12
Digital Forensics………………………………………….…………...….........……13
Criminal Justice………………………………………………...………..................14-15
Electrical Technology…………………………………..………………..…............16
Emergency Medical Services…………………………..……………..…........…..17
Engineering……………………………………………..………………...................18-19
Food and Hospitality Institute…………………………...……….....................…20-21
Fashion Design……………………………………..…………………….….............22
Geographic Information Systems…………………..………………….…........…23
Green Building: Residential Building Performance Technology….…...........24
Interior Design………………………………………………………………..........…25
Interactive Simulation and Game Technology (Game Design)………............26-27
International Business and Trade………………………………………...............28-29
Logistics Technology………………………………………………….….........……30
Mechatronics Technology………………………………………………….........….31
Mortgage Banking……………………………………………………………...........32
Paralegal Studies……………………………………………………...…….........…33
Nursing………………………………………………………………….................….34-35
Substance Abuse Counseling and Social Work……………………...........…..36-37
Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management…………………………..............38-39
Veterinary Technology…………………………………………………….........…...40
Video Technology……………………………………………………………............41
Visual Communications Careers…………………………………………........….42
Welding Technology…………………………………………………………...........43
More Smart Career Options……………………………………………….........….44
Your career is more than a job. It’s who you are and what you do.
At DCCCD, you can reinvent yourself and your career in just two years…or less! Take
a peek at some lucrative new careers that are waiting just for you. We’re highlighting
29 of more than 100 one- and two-year degree and certificate programs offered by
DCCCD that can help you find a new career and some economic stability, too.
Check out the program profiles – including career field opportunities and potential
earnings data – and click on the links on our web site for even more information.
Whether you’re just getting started in the work world or even starting over,
DCCCD’s programs can put you on a fast track to a great new career.
Faculty members in our career and technical programs bring the “real world” into your
classroom – sharing their work experiences as well as their areas of expertise, plus
their talent for teaching – to ensure that the time and effort you invest with us pay off.
Spend your money wisely
Get the courses you need at a price you can afford. Take one credit class for $123.
Go to school full time (that’s 12 credit hours) for less than $500 a semester. Need
help with tuition and books? Check out our financial aid options – loans, scholarships,
grants, work study programs and more when you visit www.dcccd.edu/financialaid.
Take some tips from us about financial aid
Check on your financial aid options – ask whether you qualify for Pell Grants,
scholarships or loans. Ask about emergency loans, too.
Ask your employer whether your company has a plan to help pay your tuition through
a reimbursement program.
Research and apply for benefits that are available under the federal Workforce
Investment Act, which provides retraining and re-employment services for workers
who lost their jobs.
Submit your FAFSA form early. The annual application cycle begins every January 1.
Search the Internet for scholarships, too. You can find free scholarship searches
through DCCCD’s financial aid web pages at www.dcccd.edu/scholarships.
When you receive your financial aid award notification, read the entire document
very carefully and follow each step of the instructions completely.
Keep your college updated with your current address, e-mail address and other
contact information so that you don’t miss any important messages about your
financial aid.
Get started now
Here’s your chance! Take charge of your career and get the education you need –
fast! We’ll help you make it work. We offer classes during the day, at night, on
weekends and even online. And flex term classes begin monthly. Register now!
Fall 2009 classes start August 24.
Spring 2010 classes start January 19.
Get registration information at www.dcccd.edu See you soon!
2
Child Development
Child Development
Do you enjoy being around kids? Would you like to make a difference in children’s lives? A career in Child Development could
be just right for you – and it’s one of the fastest-growing job markets in the country! Courses in Child Development are useful
for anyone who works with or has close association with young children, including teachers, family day-home providers, Head
Start staff, parents and others. Our experienced faculty members present the variety of content, theory and practical knowledge
that you need to build a professional foundation for working with young children. Child Development programs are offered at
Brookhaven and Eastfield colleges.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
As communities increasingly demand high-quality child care programs, many programs offer job opportunities for working with
young children. Trained professionals are needed in day care centers, federal agencies, public and private schools, churches,
hospitals and programs sponsored by business and industry. Among the top 25 occupations in Texas that are adding jobs
which require work-related training, child care workers are ranked third, according to the Texas Workforce Commission’s
long-range projections through 2010. The report also lists child care workers and teacher assistants among the state’s top
25 occupations adding the most jobs and offering the most projected annual job openings.
According to America’s Career InfoNet, growth rates and median salary ranges in the child care field in Texas are:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Child care workers $7.44 $15,500 +30%
Education administrators/
Pre-school and child care $15.55 $32,300 +26%
Child Development Degree and Certificate Options
The Child Development Associate in Applied Sciences Degree at Brookhaven and Eastfield colleges provides
an in-depth of study of young children from birth to 12 years of age, over four semesters, or 64 to 72 credit
hours. Child Development degrees, certificates and awards require cooperative education, practicums and
internships that can be done at the student’s work site or in our lab facilities. Courses in this program are
offered both on campus and online.
Brookhaven and Eastfield offer five Child Development certificate programs that enable you
to specialize in areas including administration, infant-toddlers, early childhood training,
intervention specialist and school-age caregiver. These programs last three semesters,
including an internship in the respective specialty area.
Brookhaven and Eastfield offer a skills achievement award,
Child Development Associate, that provides 120 hours of
training required by the National Council of Early Childhood
Professional Recognition. After completion, you may pursue the
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. Also offered at both
colleges is the Pre-K to Grade 4 skills achievement award that
applies to the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in human sciences
or a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a
concentration in child and family studies/child
development to become an early childhood
teacher.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/childdev
3
Automotive Technology
If you are interested in a career as an automotive service technician, DCCCD
can provide the training you need. Today’s automobiles are equipped with
multiple computers and extensive electronics. Servicing vehicles equipped
with active suspension, satellite guidance systems and computer-controlled,
multi-valve engines requires highly specialized training.
Automotive Technology Degree, Certificate and Specialty Program Options
Do you want to develop a broad range of skills to prepare you for work as a service technician? Or
would you like to receive specialized training in engine repair or transmission service? DCCCD offers
a wide range of automotive associate degrees, certificates and specialty program options from which
you can choose.
Different options are offered at the three DCCCD colleges that have Automotive Technology departments:
Brookhaven, Cedar Valley and Eastfield each offers the Service Technician Associate in Applied
Sciences Degree. This two-year program prepares you for employment as an automotive technician.
It includes training in theory, diagnosis, and repair and maintenance of automobiles, with an emphasis
on operational theory, practical skills and accepted shop procedures. The associate degree programs
are nationally recognized and National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation – NATEF certified.
Graduates with the Service Technician AAS are eligible for factory-sponsored training from Audi,
BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Brookhaven, Cedar Valley and Eastfield each offers four fast-track certificate programs designed to
prepare you to work as an automotive service technician or to upgrade your skills for advancement.
Chassis Service Technician Certificate: a 15-credit-hour program covering automotive electrical,
brake, suspension and steering systems.
Electronics and Climate Controls Technician: a 17-to-18-
credit-hour program with courses in electrical systems,
lighting and accessories, heating and air conditioning, and
electronic controls.
Engine Repair and Performance Technician: a 26-to-28-credit-
hour program that includes training on engine removal and
installation, engine repair, electrical systems and engine
performance analysis.
Transmission Service Technician: a 17-to-18-credit-hour program
focusing on electrical systems, drive train and axles, and automatic
transmissions and transaxle.
Brookhaven, Cedar Valley and Eastfield each offers specialty
options in their Automotive Technology programs.
Brookhaven offers the Dealership-Sponsored Technician, Associate of Applied Sciences Degree
with the Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program and the General
Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP).
Ford’s ASSET program is a two-year apprenticeship program designed to prepare you to work as an
automotive service technician at a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership. The Dealership Sponsored
Technician Associate in Applied Sciences Degree curriculum was designed by Ford Motor Company
and Brookhaven College. ASSET students attend intensive 10-week sessions of classroom lecture and
laboratory exercises at Brookhaven College, followed by a 10-week cooperative work experience at
your sponsoring Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership. This process allows you to apply recent classroom
activities in a professional dealership environment. The total program lasts about 90 weeks; approximately
4 50 weeks are spent at Brookhaven College and 40 weeks at your sponsoring dealership.
General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program, ASEP, is a two-year appren-
ticeship program designed to prepare you to work as an automotive service technician at a
General Motors dealership. The Dealership Sponsored Technician Associate in Applied
Sciences Degree curriculum was designed by the General Motors Corporation and
Brookhaven College. ASEP students attend intensive 10-week sessions of classroom
lecture and laboratory exercises at Brookhaven College, followed by a 10-week cooperative
work experience at your sponsoring General Motors dealership. This process allows you
to apply recent classroom activities in a professional dealership environment. The total
program lasts about 90 weeks; approximately 50 weeks are spent at Brookhaven College
and 40 weeks at your sponsoring dealership.
Cedar Valley College offers Diesel/Heavy Equipment Certificate
Cedar Valley’s Diesel/Heavy Equipment Certificate is a three-semester, 30-credit-hour
program that will give you a solid foundation in the latest diesel technology and instruction
in the service and repair of vehicles and equipment you will encounter on the job. You will
study diesel maintenance and get hands-on training, as well as the latest diesel diagnostic
equipment. The diesel engine is the workhorse that powers our nation’s trucks and buses.
And, as freight transportation by truck increases, so will the demand for these vehicles and
the diesel mechanics who service them. We know employers prefer to hire people who have
completed formal training, so we provide you with access to area companies in alliance with
Cedar Valley.
Eastfield College
Eastfield offers the Toyota T-TEN and the Honda PACT training programs in conjunction
with the Service Technician associate degree. According to Toyota’s T-TEN Web site,
graduating from a manufacturer-approved program, such as Eastfield’s T-TEN, makes
you especially attractive to employers. The program provides classroom education and
in-dealership experience. It also allows you to start your career with important certifications
from Toyota and industry organizations such as ASE. T-TEN credentials help you get hired
and accelerate your career. Technicians begin their careers performing entry-level tasks,
such as basic maintenance, oil changes, safety inspections and minor repairs. After gaining
experience and earning ASE and manufacturer certifications, technicians are upgraded to
mid-level technicians with additional responsibilities and higher pay. Continuing education
and hands-on experience leads to master technician status. Manufacturers have minimum
time requirements to climb from entry-level to mid-level and then to master technician, but
advancement depends on the ambition and abilities of the technician. Technicians with a
solid educational background in a program such as T-TEN typically advance faster.
Honda’s Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) program is designed to put you
on the path to becoming a qualified professional automotive technician, with specialized
training that enables you to become a certified entry-level Honda and Acura technician.
You receive Honda factory certifications as you learn with the most advanced
automotive diagnostic equipment. Job placement is available for qualified
applicants. PACT students may also qualify for a National Science
Foundation Grant for up to $1,500 per semester.
Salaries and Potential Job Growth
Service technicians are in demand nationwide. Their skills are portable and can’t be
outsourced overseas. The average annual income for entry-level technicians is $28,000,
according to the National Automobile Dealers Association. Skilled, experienced technicians
earn an average of $66,000. Technician pay and benefits vary by market area and from
dealership to dealership. Many dealerships offer health insurance, 401(k) plans and other
benefits. According to America’s Career Infonet, job openings for service technicians and
mechanics in Texas will increase 18 percent through 2016.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/autotech 5
Aviation Technology
Aviation Technology
Have you always dreamed of
flying? Would you like to find
a practical and affordable way
to earn your pilot’s license? Salaries and Projected Job Growth
Would you like to turn your According to America’s Career Infonet, median Texas
salaries for careers in aviation are:
passion for aviation into a Job Annual Projected Job Growth
career in which you’ll love Salary Through 2016
going to work every day? Commercial pilot $62,000 +29%
Aviation is one of the most exciting career fields in today’s Airline pilot, co-pilot,
transportation industry, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex flight engineer $145,600 +27%
is recognized as one of the world’s leading aviation centers.
Mountain View College’s unique Aviation Technology
Aircraft Dispatcher
program provides training to meet the demand for The job of an aircraft dispatcher is an integral part of the
college-trained personnel in several specializations. overall flight operations of an airline. An individual in this
Courses are available both oncampus and online. position works with airline pilots and is responsible for
regulation compliance, weather analysis and loading
Professional Pilot procedures prior to takeoff. In this specialization, you
have the option to earn an associate degree, which can
The Professional Pilot specialization provides the flight be completed in approximately two years, or a certificate,
training and ground school instruction necessary to complete which can be competed in about one year.
the Private, Instrument, Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight
Instructor certificates. Entry into either program is based on Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) regulations and with instructor
Admission to this program is based on applicable Federal approval. When you complete the courses in your desired
program, instructors may recommend that you apply to
Aviation Administration regulations and on consultation with
take the FAA knowledge examination for Aircraft Dispatcher
and approval by an Aviation Technology instructor. Flight fees, and the practical examination for Aircraft Dispatcher.
simulator fees, and fees for pre- and post-flight briefings are
costs that you pay in addition to DCCCD tuition. To earn both the associate degree and the certificate, you
must successfully complete all required courses in the
Whether you want to earn an associate degree, decide to add Aircraft Dispatcher curriculum and all educational
an additional certificate or rating, or just want to learn to requirements stipulated by the state of Texas; you also
6 fly for fun – the Professional Pilot option is the right choice! must obtain the Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate from the FAA.
Salaries and Job Growth
According to the Airline Dispatchers Federation, dispatcher’s salaries vary greatly among
airlines; senior dispatchers at major airlines easily earn more than $100,000 annually.
Senior dispatchers at one major airline work four, 10-hour shifts a week and enjoy four
days off each week between these 40-hour, four-day weeks. On the other hand,
entry-level positions at smaller carriers start in the $20,000-per-year range and
feature eight-hour shifts, five days a week.
Graduates from dispatch schools will find a good job market, but realistically they should
not expect to be hired for that job by major airlines such as American, United or Delta.
However, a good basis for future employment at a major airline is a five-year stint with
one of the smaller carriers.
Airport Management
This option provides a general overview of administrative functions related to aviation
businesses. It combines aviation and business courses, stressing terminology and
management techniques and functions as they apply to the aviation industry.
After completing this program, you may qualify for support or training positions in airport
management or as staff members to operations superintendents or aviation authority
boards.
Fixed Base Operations include all kinds of aircraft support businesses located at airports.
Positions may be found in aircraft sales, aircraft services such as fueling and
maintenance, pilot training administration and flight crew support.
Salaries and Job Growth
America’s Career Infonet reports the following median wage, salary and job growth
statistics for jobs related to airport management in Texas.
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth
Through 2016
Airfield
operations specialist $17.36 $36,100 +29%
Aviation Technology Degree and
Certificate Programs
Because of the varied and interrelated aviation career options available, Mountain View’s
Aviation Technology program is designed to allow you to take a group of core courses
which include selected aviation, business, English, mathematics and human relations
classes; you then proceed with specialized courses in the specific career option you
wish to enter. Courses in the aviation program are offered both on campus and
online. The Associate in Applied Sciences Degree options are (1) Professional
Pilot; (2) Aircraft Dispatcher; and (3) Airport Management. A one-year certificate
program is available in Aircraft Dispatcher.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/aviation
7
Is music a huge part of your life? Do you dream
of performing, composing or arranging? Wouldn’t
you like to find a way to make a living doing what
you love?
Cedar Valley College offers a unique opportunity to turn your love of
music into a profitable career with its Commercial Music program. It’s a
great way to get a realistic view of the local performing and recording in-
dustries, associate with professional musicians and gain valuable working
knowledge — all at an affordable price.
Careers and salaries in the music industry vary widely according
to type and location.
Local Career Information
According to Roy Machado, president of Dallas Audio Post Group, skilled
freelance audio engineers in the Dallas area can earn between $75,000
and $80,000 a year. The best source of information on performing and
recording opportunities, salaries and work availability is to ask local
musicians and recording artists – expertise widely held by all of Cedar
Valley’s Commercial Music program faculty members.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career
Infonet, median salaries and projected career growth in Texas for
selected music industry occupations include:
Job Hourly Annual Projected Growth
Rate Salary Through 2016
Audio and video $14.62 $30,400 +32%
equipment technicians
Musicians
and singers $13.85 varies +10%
Sound engineering
technicians $17.87 $37,200 +20%
Commercial Music Degree and
Certificate Options
Cedar Valley College offers specialized study programs in
four Commercial Music program areas:
The Arranger/Composer/Copyist Associate in Applied
Sciences Degree teaches writing skills for arranging and
composing for small and large instrumental and vocal groups
8 over four semesters, or 61 to 65 credit hours.
The Music Retailing Associate in Applied Sciences Degree retrains music majors for the music industry job mar-
ket with courses in the business of music, salesmanship and small business management over four semesters or 60
to 64 credit hours. The training includes work experience coordinated through local merchants.
The Music Retailing Certificate is a two-semester, 22-credit-hour program that prepares music majors for the
music industry job market.
The Performing Musician Associate in Applied Sciences Degree prepares instrumentalists and vocalists
for performances in a variety of commercial genres, including jazz, rock, pop and country/western music over
four semesters, or 62 to 66 credit hours.
The Performing Musician Certificate, a two-semester program, prepares you for entry-level
positions as a live performer of jazz, rock, pop or country/western music.
Recording Technology is our most popular track, accounting for about 60 percent of the Commercial
Music program’s students.
The Recording Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree provides training in
console recording skills, mix down techniques, master tape production, studio techniques and session
procedures over four semesters, or 63 to 67 credit hours.
Cedar Valley offers Recording Technology Certificate programs with one- and two-year
options that focus solely on music and recording courses without the
core academic courses included in the associate degree.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/commercialmusic
9
Computer-Aided
Design and Drafting
Check out a career in computer-aided design and drafting. Get started in this dynamic
program at Eastfield or Mountain View colleges.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is used in product, architectural, graphic and engineering design, and in industries as varied as
aerospace engineering, landscape architecture and jewelry design. The need has never been greater for employees who have
computer-aided design skills. CAD helps designers prepare drawings, specifications, parts lists and other design-related
elements, using special graphics- and calculations-intensive computer programs.
When you train for a career in this constantly changing field, you learn to prepare technical drawings and plans used by produc-
tion and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products — such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery and
spacecraft — to structures such as houses, office buildings, and oil and gas pipelines. The computer drawings provide visual
guidelines; show the technical details of the products and structures; and specify dimensions, materials and procedures.
“CAD” originally stood for computer-aided drafting; since in its early days, it merely automated the manual drafting process. Now,
CAD usually means computer-aided design because most software includes 3-D modeling and computer-simulated operation of
the model. “CADD” incorporates both: computer-aided design and drafting.
10
CADD Careers
CADD software and technology are used extensively in the following businesses and industries: architecture;
biomechanical systems; building engineering; civil engineering and infrastructure such as roads, highways, railroads
and tunnels; construction; consumer goods; digital circuit design; electrical engineering; electronic and electrical
(ECAD) design; electronic design automation (EDA); factory and plant design and layout; fashion design, apparel
and textile CAD; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); industrial design; landscape architecture and
garden design; manufacturing process planning; mapping and surveying; mechanical engineering (MCAD);
power systems engineering; software applications; transportation engineering, from automotive to shipbuilding
to aerospace; water supply, storm drain, wastewater and sewer systems; and hydraulic engineering.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
CADD-related technology is critical to a number of high-demand careers. CADD-related occupations include the
following, with estimated job growth and median salaries in Texas, according to America’s Career Infonet:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Architects $30.91 $64,300 +18%
Architectural and civil drafters $19.93 $41,500 + 7%
Civil engineering technicians $15.75 $32,800 +11%
Civil engineers $36.68 $76,300 +22%
Electrical engineering technicians $26.00 $54,100 +14%
Electrical engineers $41.62 $86,600 +14%
Electronics engineers $40.44 $84,100 + 9%
Industrial engineering technicians $27.61 $57,400 +22 %
Industrial engineers $36.29 $75,500 +34 %
Landscape architects $27.47 $57,100 +18 %
Mechanical drafters $22.29 $46,400 +16 %
Mechanical engineers $38.17 $79,400 +18 %
Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Degree and Certificate Options
The Computer-Aided Design and Drafting program includes an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree and four
certificate options. Courses in this program are offered both on campus and online.
The Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Associate of Applied Sciences Degree is a two-year, 64-to-72-credit-
hour program that prepares you for employment in a wide range of industries as a CADD operator, printed circuit board
designer or technician. The program includes cooperative work experience so that you get on-the-job training while
you complete your studies.
The Computer-Aided Design Operator Certificate is a two-semester, 16-to-20 hour program that prepares you for
employment as a CADD operator using AutoCAD software to produce 2-D and 3-D CADD drawings.
The Architectural Drafting Certificate is a three-semester, 26-to-27-hour program in which you learn to use AutoCAD
software to create drawings to architectural specification and to identify construction methods and materials used in
building design.
The CAD/CAM-CNC Certificate program includes skills needed in the machining industry and for manufacturing
specialists who integrate CAD and CNC machines. You will learn the basics of CADD, how to set up and operate
mills and lathes, and program CNC. The program requires completion of 31 credit hours.
The Computer-Aided Design Advanced Operator Certificate prepares you to become certified as an advanced
CADD operator making 2-D and 3-D drawings using AutoCAD software. You will learn to customize AutoCAD and
gain additional skills in solid modeling and specific areas of CADD.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/CADD 11
Construction Management
Few careers provide an opportunity to leave a legacy. Construction Management
lets you say, “I built that!”
Construction managers and technologists work on all phases of the construction business, both public and private — from small
multifamily projects to the largest of skyscrapers and industrial projects, from rural highways to major interstates.
Construction managers work closely with owners, architects and engineers to keep projects within design constraints, on budget
and on schedule. Construction technologists use their high-demand, hands-on skills and technical knowledge to convert project
concepts and designs into reality.
North Lake College’s Construction Management program is one of only nine such programs at two-year institutions in the United
States accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). Our program is also the oldest and largest
accredited two-year program in the country. Our graduates are ready for direct entry into a competitive job market with skills
in planning, organizing, problem-solving/decision-making, communication, business practices and human relations.
Earn an associate degree in Construction Management to build a career as a:
Construction manager •
Cost estimator •
Field engineer •
Project planner and scheduler
Project finance manager •
Insurance representative •
Engineered materials representative
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, average salaries for related occupations in Texas are:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Construction manager $29.10 $60,500 +26%
Cost estimator $25.19 $52,400 +29%
Whatever the project may be, construction managers (CMs) keep the process on track and within budget.
Working closely with architects, engineers, owners and various contractors on a job, the construction
manager’s duties are varied, challenging and rewarding, both
emotionally and financially. Other career options include
estimating, field engineering, project scheduling and other
management positions, both at the general contractor level
and for specialty contractors such as mechanical, plumbing and
electrical contractors.The demand for all construction-related
jobs is expected to grow in Texas over the next decade at
a much higher rate than for the rest of the nation, up to
10 percent more in most cases.
Construction Management Degree
The Construction Management Associate in Applied Sciences
Degree is a four-semester, or 62-to-63-credit-hour program, that
is fully accredited by the American Council for Construction
Education. Additional educational opportunities allow graduates
to seek both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/constructionmgmt
12
Digital Forensics
Are you a problem-solver with a mind for details? A computer professional interested in improving your job skill level and
career security? A concerned citizen who just wants to protect your own computer files? A forward-thinker looking for a job in
government cybersecurity? Think Digital Forensics! It’s a fast track to a vital, high-paying and urgently needed career path.
What is digital forensics?
Also called computer forensics, the field includes: collecting and preserving legally admissible electronic evidence; recovering
lost data or critical digital information; and protecting networks or computer systems from security breaches.
What are its applications?
Fighting cybercrime through local, state and national law enforcement agencies
Tracking information trails for businesses from medical to financial institutions
Recovering data by businesses and information technology services
Protecting information vital to the success of any business
Proving that computer fraud was committed (producing evidence admissible in a court of law)
Proving that a cybercrime was not committed (producing evidence that proves someone is not guilty of wrongdoing)
Understanding computer security to prevent personal identity and information theft
Helping any business adhere to government standards and regulations
The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook lists computer support specialists and forensic
science technicians among the fastest-growing occupations that are projected to have the most job openings through
the year 2016 for job applicants with a minimum educational level of an associate degree.
Salaries and Projected Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, related occupations include the following average salaries in Texas:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth through 2016
Computer/Information Scientist/Research $44.88 $93,400 +22%
Computer Systems Analyst $34.07 $70,900 +36%
Network Administrator $29.37 $61,100 +33%
Network Systems Analyst $30.82 $64,100 +56%
Digital Forensics Degree and Certificate Options
Richland College’s Digital Forensics Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a five-semester program of 66 to 71 credit
hours, including tailored program tracks that allow you to specialize in three major digital forensics phases:
Acquisition: Saving the state of a digital system; Analysis: Using inculpatory evidence (supporting a given theory);
exculpatory evidence (contradicting a given theory) and evidence of tampering; or Presentation: Policy and law specific
to each setting. Courses in this program are offered both on campus and online.
The Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC), funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), allows
Richland to maintain up-to-date faculty training and curriculum to keep up with the ever-
changing cybersecurity industry. The CSEC includes the state of Oklahoma’s Career and
Technology Education System, four of its largest community colleges and the University
of Tulsa, which serves as the principal training provider for the two-year institutions it
mentors. Community colleges in Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee and Kansas
are members of the consortium.
Transfer Opportunity
Through Richland College, which is a regional representative of the
Cyber Security Education Consortium, you have an academic path that
feeds into the University of Tulsa’s Center for Information Security to
earn degrees from bachelor’s to doctoral levels, with opportunities for
scholarships.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/digitalforensics
13
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Have you always been interested in a law enforcement career, but you don’t know where to start? Are
you logical, rational and consistent in the way you approach things? Do you enjoy helping people?
Studying Criminal Justice at the Dallas County Community College District can prepare you for a variety of careers
limited only by your commitment and drive to succeed! A wide range of jobs is available, based on your skills, abilities
and education — from police officer to corrections officer, constable, FBI or CIA agent, drug enforcement officer or
U.S. marshal. Our programs give you valuable knowledge so that you can work effectively in corrections, probation,
government and private security settings. Practical courses include dealing with criminal behavior, methods of
criminology, public policy, interpersonal communication and ethical issues in criminal justice.
Sample Criminal Justice courses and electives include:
Community resources in corrections • Court systems and law
• Correctional systems and practicesFundamentals of criminalpractices
Crime in America • Criminal investigation • Juvenile justice system •
Legal aspects of law enforcement • Police systems and practices
Additional courses such as sociology, public speaking, speech communication, math, composition, computers, Spanish
and more will give you a well-rounded education.
The Criminal Justice program is offered at four of DCCCD’s seven colleges: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield and
Mountain View.
Career Opportunities
Based on the levels of education and experience you achieve throughout your career, you could pursue criminal
justice jobs at local and state levels which include: bailiff; border patrol and police; compliance officer; corrections
officer; court reporter or clerk; crime scene investigator; criminal justice instructor; criminologist; detective, collecting
evidence and gathering facts for criminal cases; forensic psychologist; paralegal; police detective; police officer;
probation officer; private investigator; sheriff or deputy sheriff; or state police officer, trooper or highway patrol
officer.
Careers with Federal Agencies
Federal agencies offer a wide variety of criminal justice-related career opportunities, including: Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); Department of Homeland Security;
Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI); Forest Service and the National Park Service; Marshals Service; National Security Agency
(NSA); and the Secret Service. Other federal agencies employ police and special agents with sworn arrest powers
and the authority to carry firearms. These agencies include the Postal Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
14
Salaries and Potential Job Growth
America’s Career Infonet lists median salaries and projected job growth in Texas for the following criminal justice-related jobs:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Compliance officers $24.80 $51,600 +13%
Correctional officers and jailers $13.73 $28,600 +28%
Criminal justice and law enforcement
teachers, post-secondary n/a $48,700 +35%
First-line supervisors and managers
of correctional officers $15.60 $32,400 +23%
Gaming surveillance officers and
gaming investigators $11.84 $24,600 n/a
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers $22.09 $45,900 +20%
Probation officers and correction
treatment specialists $15.08 $31,400 +21%
Security guards $10.11 $21,000 +27%
Criminal Justice Degree and Certificate Options
The Criminal Justice program includes an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences Degree, as well as three certificate programs.
Courses in this program are offered both on campus and online at Cedar Valley, Eastfield and Mountain View colleges.
The Criminal Justice Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences Degree is a five-semester, 63-to-71-credit-hour program
designed for those who have criminal justice backgrounds, as well as for recent high school graduates who are interested
in preparing for a career in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation, and parole or private security.
The 30-hour Criminal Justice Certificate is a three-semester program attached to the Associate in Applied Sciences Degree
in Criminal Justice which provides you with the skills and academic requirements necessary to qualify for a law enforcement
agency with a minimum of 30 semester hours. Also offered is the 45-hour Criminal Justice Certificate which prepares you
to qualify for a job with a law enforcement agency requiring a minimum of 45 semester hours.
The Basic Criminal Justice Certificate is a two-semester, 15-credit-hour program attached to the Associate Degree in
Criminal Justice and the transfer Field of Study degree in Criminal Justice. It is designed to give you exposure to the basic
elements of the criminal justice system before you transfer to a four-year university.
The state-certified Basic Peace Officer training programs offered at Cedar Valley and Eastfield colleges are licensed through
the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE).
Continuing Your Education in Criminal Justice – Associate in Arts Degree with a Field
of Study in Criminal Justice
Continuing your education in criminal justice or criminology can widen your opportunities in the job market and increase your
earning potential. The Associate in Arts Degree with a Field of Study in Criminal Justice is a 63-credit-hour program designed
for students who plan to major in criminal justice and transfer to a four-year college or university. This degree option is
available at Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield and Mountain View colleges.
Many four-year Texas public colleges and universities offer higher education degrees in criminal justice, including: Sam
Houston State University; Texas A&M University-Commerce; Texas Tech University; Texas State University; the University
of North Texas; the University of Texas at Arlington; and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/justice
15
Electrical Technology
Are you good with your hands and looking for a highly marketable job skill? Have you
always been fascinated with the way things work? Would you like a career path that can
put you in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth’s booming construction industry?
Courses in DCCCD’s Electrical Technology program, offered exclusively at
North Lake College, can help you:
• Train to be an apprentice electrician
• Prepare for licensing exams
• Upgrade your current job skills for career and salary promotions
All of our construction-related programs offer a unique educational enterprise between
North Lake College and the Construction Education Foundation of North Texas (CEF) at
the college’s West Campus, located at the DFW Education Center, 1401 N. Royal Lane,
inside the DFW Airport boundaries. Our 60,000-square-foot building houses classrooms and
laboratories that provide both management and skill-based education for the construction
industry. The facility has been recognized as an exemplary model throughout the United States
for providing construction-oriented college programs, and since it opened in September 2000,
has served more than 5,000 students.
The objective of this unique educational partnership between North Lake College and the construction
industry is to provide 1,300 construction companies in North Texas with trained people at all levels.
Course offerings include construction management, construction technology, masonry, plumbing,
commercial heating and air conditioning, and glazing.
Careers
Although salaries range greatly according to job title and size of the employing company, according to
America’s Career Infonet, these occupations include the following median salaries in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Electricians $18.36 $38,200 + 21%
Electrical and electronic
engineering technicians $26.00 $54,100 +14%
Electrical and electronic drafters $23.32 $48,500 +12%
Electrical and electronics
repairers-commercial and
industrial equipment $22.42 $46,600 +22%
Electrical Technology Degree and Certificate Options
The Electrical Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a 68-to-70-credit-
hour program over four semesters that prepares you for careers in electrical project
management; estimating electrical projects; electrical generating
plant operations; or as building and code compliance inspectors
or electrical contractors.
The two-semester, 34-to-36-credit-hour Electrical
Technology Certificate prepares you for employment
as an apprentice electrician; code compliance
inspector; electrical construction estimator; or
electrical project field supervisor.
16 Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/electricalTech
Emergency Medical Services
Are you interested in a rewarding, challenging and fast-paced medical field that will always have job openings?
One in which you truly can make a difference in people’s lives during their time of greatest need?
Can you think on your feet and make accurate decisions quickly? Are you good at talking to people, even in stressful situations?
Can you keep a level head under pressure? Then Brookhaven College’s Emergency Medical Services program could be for you.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries for EMTs in Texas are:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth
Through 2016
Emergency medical
technicians and paramedics $13.34 $27,740 +28%
EMS and Paramedic Degree and Certificate Options
The Paramedicine Associate in Applied Sciences Degree combines classroom teaching with supervised clinical
and field experience. When you successfully complete all required coursework, you will be eligible to take the
exam for registration as an emergency medical technician paramedic through the National Registry of Emergency
Medical Technicians (NREMT). When you successfully complete that exam, you then will be eligible to apply for
a license as an EMT-paramedic in the state of Texas.
If you are a nationally-certified EMT and also are enrolled at Brookhaven College, credit may be given for EMSP
1501 and 1160 using credit-by-exam. Completion time for the Paramedicine associate degree plan depends on
how many courses you take at one time and in what format.
EMT Basic Certificate
The EMT Basic Certificate takes approximately four months to complete. A variety of schedules are offered, including
shift-based, nighttime and fast track. Instruction includes basic life support, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR), automatic external defibrillation, physical assessment, bandaging and splinting, traction splinting, spinal
immobilization, airway management, oxygen therapy and other non-invasive procedures.
Paramedicine Certificate
The Paramedicine certificate takes approximately 10 months to complete and will prepare you to function in
an advanced life-support capacity with invasive skills such as: establishment of peripheral intravenous lines,
endotracheal intubation, drug administration by various routes, intraosseous infusions, electrocardiogram
(ECG) rhythm identification and 12-lead ECG interpretation, defibrillation and cardioversion, noninvasive
cardiac pacing and chest decompression.
Brookhaven College’s Workforce and Continuing Education Division also offers several noncredit emergency
medical skills certifications, as well as the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
exam, ACLS, PALS, HTLS and NRP certification courses. Advanced, basic life support and refresher
courses are available for EMTs.
El Centro College offers a Paramedic certificate program for college credit in cooperation with The
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. The Paramedic certificate program takes
approximately six and one-half months to complete (34 to 42 credit hours) and is designed to prepare you
to provide advanced pre-hospital care to emergency patients. Courses include classroom instruction,
hospital rotations with emphasis on emergency department experience and emergency ambulance
experience.
El Centro College and UT Southwestern also cooperatively offer an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
program for non-credit continuing education units.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/emsparamedic
17
Engineering
Have you always been fascinated with how things were designed or work in minute detail? Do you
enjoy the creative development of new ideas that enhance all of our lives, now and in the future?
Would you like to put your brain and hands to work in a career where every day presents a
new and interesting challenge?
Consider a rewarding career in Engineering, a field that involves the application of scientific and mathematical principles
to create, design, manufacture and operate new and innovative technology. Engineering also involves the enhancement
of existing economic structures, machines, processes and systems. In our increasingly technological society, a critical
need exists for technical professionals who can design new hardware and software systems, as well as solve difficult
problems in business and industrial settings.
Richland College offers an Associate in Sciences Degree program in engineering designed specifically to transfer to engineering
programs at the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of North Texas and Texas A&M
University (College Station). You can take your first two years of courses at Richland College, earn an associate degree, and
transfer your degree courses to one of these universities to earn a bachelor’s degree. “The first two years of courses are typically
the same for almost any engineering specialty, so many students take their first two years of classes at Richland and successfully
transfer to four-year colleges and universities,” says Gerald Suggs, associate dean of the Richland College engineering and
technology department. “Classes are smaller, so students can receive more personal attention and gain confidence as they
prepare to transition to other four-year degree programs,” adds Suggs.
Richland offers the following associate degrees in engineering that are designed to transfer:
Earn the Associate in Sciences Degree with an emphasis in Electronics Engineering and transfer 60 credit hours to
Texas A&M University (College Station) to complete the Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology; or
earn the Associate in Sciences Degree with an emphasis in Electrical Engineering and transfer to the University of Texas
at Dallas (UTD) as a junior to complete your Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Degree; or earn the Associate in
Sciences Degree with emphasis in Computer/Electrical Engineering and transfer to the University of North Texas (UNT)
as a junior to complete your Bachelor of Science in Computer or Electrical Engineering Degree; or earn the Associate in
Sciences Degree with an emphasis in Electrical Engineering and transfer to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
as a junior to complete your Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Degree.
Mentorships, scholarships and internships are available for each of these degree programs.
Engineering Careers
America’s Career Infonet and the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-
09 edition) give detailed information about the skills, abilities, work activities and recommended education for jobs in engineering
specialty fields, which may include: aerospace engineers; agricultural engineers; biomedical engineers; chemical engineers; civil
engineers; computer hardware engineers; electrical engineers; environmental engineers; health and safety engineers; industrial
engineers; marine engineers, materials engineers; mechanical engineers; mining and geological engineers; nuclear engineers;
and petroleum engineers.
According to America’s Career Infonet, these occupations include the following median salaries in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Aerospace engineers $45.33 $94,300 +18%
Architects $30.84 $64,100 +18%
Biomedical engineers $26.97 $56,100 +33%
Chemical engineers $40.89 $85,100 +14%
Civil engineers $36.86 $76,300 +22%
Electrical engineers $41.62 $86,600 +14%
Industrial engineers $36.29 $75,500 +34%
Mechanical engineers $38.17 $79,400 +18%
Nuclear engineers $44.88 $93,400 +11%
18
Engineering Technology
Richland’s Engineering Technology program, offered exclusively in the DCCCD at Richland College, offers a broad base of hands-on technical
skills that will prepare you to go directly to work in a number of challenging careers. These degrees are not typically designed to transfer to
four-year universities.
Engineering Technology Degree and Certificate Options
The Engineering Technology program includes associate degrees and certificates in the following four specializations:
Electronics Technology Specialization
• Engineering Technology – Electronics Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree
• Engineering Technology – Electronics Technology Certificate
Integrated Circuit Layout Specialization
• Engineering Technology – Integrated Circuit Layout Associate in Applied Sciences Degree
• Engineering Technology – Integrated Circuit Layout Certificate
Semiconductor Manufacturing Specialization
• Engineering Technology – Semiconductor Manufacturing (Equipment Technician) Associate in Applied Sciences Degree
• Engineering Technology – Semiconductor Manufacturing (Operator) Certificate
Computer-Aided Design Specialization
• Engineering Technology – Computer-Aided Design Associate in Applied Sciences Degree
• Engineering Technology – CAD/CAM Certificate (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing)
• Engineering Technology – Computer-Aided Design Skills Achievement Award
• Engineering Technology – Parametric Automated Design Skills Achievement Award
• Architectural Technology Skills Achievement Award
Engineering Technician Careers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering technicians use the principles and theories of science, engineering and math-
ematics to solve technical problems in research and development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance. Many
engineering technicians assist engineers and scientists, especially in research and development. Others work in quality control, inspecting
products and processes, conducting tests or collecting data. In manufacturing, they may assist in product design, development or production.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, these occupations include the following median salaries in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Wage Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Aerospace engineering technicians $31.57 $65,700 +15%
Architectural and civil drafters $19.93 $41,500 + 7%
Civil engineering technicians $15.75 $32,800 +11%
Electrical and electronic
engineering technicians $26.00 $54,100 +14%
Electro-mechanical technicians $22.14 $46,100 +12%
Environmental engineering technicians $16.46 $34,200 +22%
Industrial engineering technicians $27.61 $57,400 +22%
Mechanical drafters $22.29 $59,500 +16%
Get more info at www.dcccd.edu/engineeringTech
19
Food and Hospitality Institute
Are you creative in the kitchen? Do you love nourishing your friends and family by baking?
Do you dream of owning your own restaurant? Are you ready for a fast-paced, dynamic
job that’s in high demand in the Dallas area’s booming restaurant and hotel business?
The Food and Hospitality Institute, located at El Centro College in downtown Dallas, is the best deal in town if you want
a great hands-on education at a fraction of the cost of expensive culinary institutes.
Hard work? Of course. Rewarding? Just ask our many program graduates who work across the D-FW metroplex and
Texas in top hotels, restaurants, cafés and bakeries!
With the boom of restaurant, hotel and convention business in the area, you will find many job openings for top-quality
food service workers ... but there’s actually a shortage of workers who are truly qualified for those positions. What are
you waiting for? A hot job is looking for you!
Chefs genuinely enjoy preparing food and satisfying customers’ appetites. You need to be artistic, creative, detail-
oriented, flexible and organized. Good math skills, hand-eye coordination and a keen sense of smell and taste are
important. Successful chefs have a good sense of teamwork and the ability to remain in control during hectic times.
Chefs and cooks are on their feet for long periods and often work evenings, weekends and holidays. They need to be
able to function in close quarters during busy periods, lift heavy objects and work near hot ovens and grills. While the
kitchen staffs at hotels and restaurants can expect evening and weekend shifts, institutional cooks are more likely to
have conventional work schedules. Seasonal work often is required for those who work as a cook in a school or
at a resort.
20
Job Locations
Food service plays a major role in work at:
• Hotels • Restaurants •
Resorts •
Cruise ships and railway lines •
Cafés and bistros
• Bakeries and pastry shops •
Catering businesses •
Magazine test kitchens
• Public and private schools, from elementary to university levels •
Grocery and specialty food stores
• Institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
Salaries vary widely according to the type and size of the food service operation. A large metropolitan area such as the D-FW
metroplex offers more career possibilities than average, with higher salary ranges.
America’s Career Infonet reports the following median wage, salary and job growth statistics for food and hospitality
jobs in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Institutional cooks $8.79 $18,300 +22%
Bakers $9.46 $19,700 +20%
Cooks, restaurants $8.92 $18,600 +34%
Chefs and head cooks $17.28 $35,900 +22%
Professional Associations
Chefs, including sous-chefs, executive chefs and pastry chefs, may be members of the American Culinary Federation Inc.
(ACF). Students enrolled in culinary training programs may join the ACF as junior members. After graduation, students are
advanced to active membership when they are hired as chefs. ACF is the premier professional chefs’ organization in North
America, with more than 230 chapters and 19,000 members nationwide.
Food and Hospitality Degree and Certificate Programs
Our three program paths feature a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on participation and work-related experience
designed to prepare you for three different food service careers:
Bakery/Pastry will prepare you to work in bakeries, pastry shops, hotels, country clubs and in-store bakeries.
The Bakery/Pastry Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a 61-to-70-hour program of study over five semesters.
A Bakery/Pastry Certificate may be earned with 39 to 42 credit hours over four semesters. All credits earned in the
certificate program may be applied toward the associate degree in bakery/pastry.
Culinary Arts will help you develop the skills necessary to work in a variety of culinary-related positions. The Culinary
Arts Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a 63-to-70-hour program of study over five semesters. The Basic Culinary Skills
Certificate includes 21 credit hours of specialized courses over three semesters. Credits earned in the certificate program
may be applied toward the Associate in Culinary Arts Degree.
Food and Hospitality Service will train you to work in a wide variety of food service positions, from a small coffee
shop to a large hotel. The Food and Hospitality Service Associate of Applied Sciences Degree encompasses 63 to 70 credit
hours of study over five semesters. The Certified Food and Hospitality Manager Certificate is a 27-hour program of study
over three semesters. The credit earned in the certificate program may be applied toward the associate degree in food and
hospitality service or the associate degree in culinary arts. The Food and Hospitality Service Certificate is a 38-to-42-credit-
hour program of study over three semesters. Credits earned in this certificate program may be applied to the associate in
food and hospitality service degree.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/food
21
Fashion Design
Do you love clothes? Are your friends always asking you for fashion advice? Do you enjoy staying ahead of the hottest
fashion trends? Have you always dreamed of designing your own clothing line or starting your own business? Turn your
passion into reality and make fashion design a career!
You don’t need to look any further than El Centro College’s program in fashion design, a dynamic, hands-on program that will
take you as far as you want to go with your career and design goals. We offer a top-notch education that stresses the essential
skills every fashion designer should have: sewing, pattern making and designing – but at a fraction of the cost of high-priced
design schools and art institutes.
With its huge apparel industry, Dallas is an ideal place for students to hone their skills and gain valuable work experience in the
fashion industry. Our program graduates, who work and design all over the world, will tell you emphatically that the skills they
learned at El Centro are head-and-shoulders above the competition’s.
Careers in Fashion Design
Our Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing programs work in tandem to provide students with a solid background in:
• Computer-aided design software •
Fashion design of original garments •
Marketing •
Merchandising
• Pattern making •Product development •
Sewing skills •
Sketching •
Textiles
Apparel designers research new style trends and develop marketable designs for the ready-to-wear fashion industry.
Pattern makers create industrial paper patterns from sketches or original garments for use in the mass production of clothing.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, these occupations include the following median salaries across the nation
and job growth in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Art directors $34.77 $72,300 +13%
Fashion and apparel
patternmakers $17.18 $35,700 - 29%
Fashion designers $30.20 $62,800 + 8%
Tailors, dressmakers and
custom sewers $11.58 $24,100 +17%
Fashion Design Degree and Certificate Options
The Fashion Design program, located exclusively in the Dallas County Community College District at El Centro College in
downtown Dallas, includes three associate degrees and a certificate with the following specializations:
The Apparel Design Associate in Applied Sciences Degree, a four-semester,
72-credit-hour program, prepares you for a career in women’s or children’s wear
design.
The Fashion Design Associate in Applied Sciences Degree (Program Core
Curriculum) takes you through 35 credit hours of fashion and academic core
courses after which you can select a specialty in apparel design or pattern
design to complete your associate degree.
The Pattern Design Associate in Applied Sciences Degree prepares you to
convert fashion sketches into an industrial paper pattern used in the mass
production of clothing. The program includes 65 to 66 credit hours of courses
over four semesters.
The Theatrical Costume Design Certificate is a four-semester, 41-credit-hour
program that prepares you for a job in a theatrical costume workshop.
22 Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/fashion
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Would you like to develop high-tech skills that virtually will guarantee your job success? Get in on an emerging technology that’s
expanding at an exponential pace? Learn to integrate highly-sophisticated digital information with problem-solving and analytical
skills that will make you indispensable in a wide range of professions? Then check out the GIS program at Brookhaven College!
Geographic information systems (GIS) is one of three major components in a rapidly emerging industry that also includes global
positioning satellite (GPS) technology and remote sensing (RS) technology. GIS technology uses specialized computer systems
to obtain geographic data and integrate it into intelligent “super” maps. The data can then be used to create endless “what if”
scenarios, providing a powerful tool for applications, including:
• Cartography (map making) • Emergency management • Environmental sciences and security
• Forest and range management • Homeland security • Medicine and health care
• Real estate development and appraisal • Social services • Transportation
• Urban planning and development • Water resources
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, median salaries and projected job growth in Texas for jobs using GIS technology include:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Architectural and civil drafters $19.93 $41,500 +7%
Cartographers and photogrammetrists $28.78 $59,900 +26%
Civil engineering technicians $15.75 $32,800 +11%
Civil engineers $36.68 $76,300 +22%
Conservation scientists $21.12 $43,900 +19%
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians $26.00 $54,100 +14%
Electrical engineers $41.62 $86,600 +14%
Electrical and electronics repairers
(transportation equipment) $21.24 $44,200 +8%
Industrial engineering technicians $27.61 $57,400 +22%
Industrial engineers $36.29 $75,500 +34%
Mechanical engineers $38.17 $79,400 +18%
Production, planning and expediting clerks $17.76 $36,900 +17%
Surveying and mapping technicians $14.02 $29,200 +22%
Surveyors $25.89 $53,900 +25%
Transportation, storage and distribution managers $34.54 $71,800 +18%
Urban and regional planners $24.42 $50,800 +22%
Geographic Information Systems Technology Degree
and Certificate Options
Brookhaven College offers a GIS Technology - Systems Specialist
Associate in Applied Sciences Degree, a five-semester course of
study for 68 to 72 college credit hours. Courses in this program are
offered both on campus and online.
Brookhaven also offers a GIS Technology - Systems Technician
certificate, which is a Level II certificate program (43 to 67
credit hours required) that includes courses in survey mapping,
three-dimensional analysis, GIS application and cartography.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/gis
23
Green Building: Residential Building Performance Technology
Whether you are planning new construction or retrofitting existing buildings with more energy-efficient systems, the Residential Building Performance
Technology program at Cedar Valley College can lay a solid, green foundation for your career, your own home or your business.
According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for a huge percentage of our economic and environmental resources.
If you are interested in finding out more about conserving energy, reducing waste and being more environmentally responsible in the building and
remodeling industry, we can provide you with the knowledge that will allow you to be part of the solution, not the problem.The program offers an
associate degree and two certificates. After the first seven consecutive courses, you can take the nationally-recognized Home Energy Rater
System (HERS) certification, which is a home energy analysis index administered by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET),
based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code.
After the second year in the program, you can take the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system certification exam
for the design and construction of high-performance green homes, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Green Building Careers
Our certificates and degree give you the skills you need to advance in your career or to enter a new field as a: HERS rater; ENERGY STAR rater;
LEED rater; zero energy building consultant; building performance specialist; energy code enforcement official; building envelope thermographer;
certified mold inspector; or home energy auditor.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
America’s Career Infonet and the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-09 edition) give
detailed information about the skills, abilities, work activities and recommended education for jobs in fields using residential building performance
technology, which may include:
Construction managers
Cost estimators
First-line supervisors or managers of construction trades
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic and installer
According to America’s Career Infonet, median salaries in Texas for jobs related to green building include:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Construction and building inspectors $19.88 $41,400 +22%
Construction managers $29.10 $60,500 +26%
Cost estimators $25.19 $52,400 +29%
First-line supervisors or managers, construction trades $23.30 $48,500 +22%
Residential Building Performance Technology Degree and Certificate Options
The Residential Building Performance Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a four-semester, 61-to-64-credit-hour program that
prepares you to use diagnostic tools to identify home energy use deficiencies and make recommendations and verify the improvement. Emphasis
is on site location and preservation; neighborhood sustainability; conservation of non-renewable resources; waste management; water quality; and
indoor air quality. You will learn how to make sound economic recommendations that combine building technologies, energy loads and onsite
power generation to meet the qualifications of a net-zero energy home. Courses in this program are offered exclusively online.
Rater Certificate
The Rater Certificate, a two-semester, 21-credit-hour program, prepares you for careers as residential energy conservation code officials, home
energy raters and residential green raters and verifiers. The program uses a systems approach to evaluate and score a home’s health, safety,
comfort, durability, environmental quality and energy efficiency.
Specialist Certificate
The Specialist Certificate is a four-semester, 51-to-53-credit-hour program that prepares you for a career as a consultant using a variety of
diagnostic tools. Emphasis is on making sound economic recommendations that combine building technologies, energy loads and onsite
power generation to meet the qualifications of a net-zero energy home.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/greenBuilding
24
Interior Design
InteriorDesign
Are you creative and artistic? Do you always have new ideas about how to improve your
surroundings? Do you enjoy working with others to solve problems and overcome challenges?
Consider a career in Interior Design, a program offered only at El Centro College.
What exactly is interior design? Simply put, it’s the trade of planning the layout and furnishings for an architectural interior. More
than just decorators, designers draw from a number of disciplines – including architecture, product design and environmental
psychology – to plan both the function and look of almost every type of building. Designers need to understand interior construc-
tion, equipment, materials, furniture and building codes, and they may choose to concentrate on residential or commercial design.
El Centro’s location in downtown Dallas places students at the edge of a booming design district with incredible opportunities for
hands-on learning, student internships and immediate employment after graduation. We offer a two-year associate degree, with
a 27-hour advanced technical certificate, for a comprehensive three-year training program that will prepare you to enter the
fast-paced and challenging career of interior design.
Our program has been accredited continuously since 1970 by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), the accrediting
body for interior design in higher education in the U.S. and Canada. Students follow a rigorous, strict and sequential progression
of coursework which increases with difficulty during the six-semester program.
Your training in interior design will prepare you to work as a design assistant with the potential to realize full professional status
and independent practice. Licensure as an interior designer with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners requires a
combination of both education and practical experience, plus passing a formal examination administered by the National
Council for Interior Design Qualifying Exam (NCIDQ).
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, these occupations include the following median salaries in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Art directors $32.35 $67,300 + 13%
Interior designers $18.36 $38,200 + 24%
Set and exhibit designers $17.78 $37,000 + 29%
Salaries vary widely based on the size and scope of the
business, as well as your accumulated experience
and qualifications.
Interior Design Degree and Certificate Options
El Centro’s Interior Design program includes a two-year
Associate in Applied Sciences Degree, as well as an additional
27-hour advanced technical certificate, for a comprehensive
three-year educational track into a challenging and fast-paced
career. This complete three-year program is accredited by the
Council for Interior Design Accreditation, formerly the Foundation
for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER).
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/interiordesign
25
Interactive Simulation and
Game Technology (Game Design)
Do you love to play video games? Would you like to find a job where you can use
your artistic, creative and technical skills? If so, check out the Interactive
Simulation and Game Technology program at Richland College.
Our goal is to provide a rigorous educational program that’s relevant to today’s job market.
It’s a three-pronged approach which combines a solid art and design background with cutting-edge
programming and animation techniques, adding the interpersonal skills you will need to succeed in
a teamwork job environment for:
Video and computer game design
Medical and scientific simulation
Industrial animation, particularly in the aeronautic and transportation industries
Engineering
Education and government
Television and film
Job Opportunities
The Dallas area has been a hotbed for computer game development since the late 1980s. It was the
birthplace of the first-person shooter genre; Wolfenstein 3-D, Doom and Quake all were created by
Mesquite-based id software. id software is just one of 80 game development companies in Texas.
The industry provides more than 2,000 full-time jobs in the state, according to the Texas Film
Commission, which details the computer and game industry. See a history of games created
in Texas from 1980 to 2006 on its gameography list.
Game Design Companies in the D/FW Metroplex
Barking Lizards Technologies in Richardson
Ensemble Studios in Dallas
Gearbox Software in Plano
id software in Mesquite
Mumbo Jumbo in Dallas
Nerve Software in Richardson
Paradigm Entertainment in Carrollton
Terminal Reality in Lewisville
3D Realms in Garland
Janimation in Dallas
26
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
America’s Career Infonet lists median salaries and projected job growth in Texas for these related occupations:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Computer programmers $34.97 $72,700 +1%
Multimedia artists and animators $22.92 $47,700 +31%
Web developers (computer specialists) $34.17 $71,000 +21%
America’s Career Infonet and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics give detailed
information about the skills, abilities, work activities and recommended education for:
Artists and related workers
Graphic designers
Motion picture and video industries
Multimedia artists and animators
Interactive Simulation and Game Technology (Game Design) Associate Degree
The associate degree program is designed to prepare you for a career in the electronic game industry or
other fields that use interactive simulations such as entertainment, communications and education.
In addition to specializations in art and programming, the associate degree includes a core of courses
designed for transfer to a four-year university. Courses in this program are offered both on campus
and online.
The program offers three specialization tracks:
Art and Animation – This track focuses on building a strong artistic base to launch your art and animation
skills before you ever touch the computer, as well as an introduction to the basics of animation. You will
use the latest sophisticated software as your artistic tools, including Softimage XSI, Maya and 3DS Max.
You will learn:
• Traditional drawing skills, including color, anatomy, perspective and life drawing
• • •
Lighting, shading and texture Conceptual design 2-D and 3-D character modeling
• • •
Animation basics Character development Writing and storytelling
Programming – Programming is the process that brings your great ideas to life, and this track focuses
not only on the solid computer skills that lead to the game engine pipeline but also exposes you to the
team-oriented atmosphere that you will be working in. You will learn top-level programming skills in
Microsoft XNA, Unreal Tournament C++and C#, which you will need in a competitive workplace, plus
the leadership and people skills to be successful in a collaborative work environment. Level design includes:
• Foundations of math and physics • Game engines and programming tools • Game code
• Video graphics and special effects • Digital sound • Scripting languages • Object-oriented
programming (OOP) • User interface • Framework coding • Development environments
• Player interfaces • Project development
Educational Game Design – This track focuses on applying interactive simulation technology to develop
educational software for schools and businesses, where digital games and simulations can be used to
make learning engaging, interactive and self-directed.
The Educational Game Design specialization is applicable for:
• Game designers and programmers who are creating educational games or instructional software
• Teachers who are interested in innovative learning technologies for the classroom and as ongoing
professional development
• Educational personnel who want to learn more about using digital games and animation technology
as learning tools
• Marketing professionals who want to create promotional learning materials for a company’s
products or services
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/gaming
27
International Business and Trade
Are you a global thinker who would love to find a challenging career with travel opportunities?
Do you enjoy navigating the intricacies of other cultures and languages? Are you ready to develop
skills that will allow you to be a real player in an international business environment that needs
more and more qualified workers every year?
Richland College’s program in International Business and Trade is unique in the DCCCD and the only community college
program of its kind in North Texas – as well as one of only four in Texas. By cashing in on our reputation for academic
excellence, combined with hands-on experience, you will develop highly marketable skills that will make you a sought-after
job candidate in the heart of a booming international market.
Banking and trade finance, business law, global logistics, international marketing, intercultural management, e-commerce and
Web design all are part of our comprehensive curriculum – and you can add certificates to specialize in additional areas such
as imports/exports and foreign language. Combine a practical education with our opportunities for internships, program content
guided by industry leaders, and access to area job listings, and you will be working in the career of your dreams in short order.
According to the Dallas Office of Economic Development, the Dallas metroplex – the ninth largest city in the nation -- is home
to more than 2,250 global companies. The region’s foreign trade has more than tripled in the last decade, and total import
and export trade between the Dallas area and the world approached $60 billion in 2006. With DFW International Airport, the
third-busiest passenger airport in the world in terms of daily operations, Dallas is a city that desperately needs goal-oriented
workers with expertise in international business practices.
Careers
Earning our associate degree or one of our certificates in International Business and Trade can provide you with a diverse set of
highly marketable skills, whether you’re just starting out on your career path or ensuring your employability in your current job.
Job titles and salaries range widely according to the size of a company and your education. Salaries also vary widely by industry.
An entrepreneur just starting out may earn little or nothing during the first year of business, while representatives for defense,
maritime shipping, construction or oilfield equipment earn top salaries in this diverse career field.
Although official certification is not required for most jobs, NASBITE I International, administers a widely-recognized Certified
Global Business Professional (CGBP) credential.
Marketable Skills for a Wide Range of Businesses
Those who can benefit from an education in international business and trade include current or potential: brokers and traders
with international business; documentation clerks; entrepreneurs; international agents; managers of firms with export potential;
product managers; and transportation managers.
International Business Career Options
The majority of jobs in international business involves sales and marketing, whether you are a salaried employee, contractual
consultant or entrepreneur. Competing in the international business arena requires a unique set of skills. An International
Business and Trade degree will introduce you to vital topics that include cultural differences, trade regulations, language
barriers and business etiquette. By the end of the program, you will be leaps and bounds ahead of graduates who have not
been exposed to a globally-focused curriculum.
What Jobs Can I Do with an International Business and Trade Degree?
How will your training translate into concrete jobs in international business? The possibilities of using your educational skills
are as extensive as today’s global business market. Examples include: cultural advisor; general business manager; global
distribution manager; import compliance specialist; international economist; international sales representative;
international marketing manager; international trade manager; or international trade specialist.
28
Federal Agencies with International Business Opportunities
The Foreign Service, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, places people in overseas posts in 67 countries around the
world. Foreign Service personnel provide advice on export markets, carry out trade promotions, conduct market research and
provide representation to foreign governments on behalf of U.S. companies.
The International Trade Administration provides assistance and advice to exporters in the U.S. and offers job opportunities in
international banking. The defining purpose of the ITA is to help create economic opportunity for American workers and
businesses, including educating companies on how to tailor their activities to the specific market with respect to their
products, financing, marketing, assembly and logistics.
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s ITA, with offices located
throughout the country and around the world, covering 96 percent of U.S. export markets. Its Web-based services are
provided through the U.S. government’s export portal, export.gov. Services include market research, trade events and
advocacy through every step of the export process.
Export.gov is the U.S. government’s export portal and main online resource for exporting clients, and it is managed by the
U.S. Department of commerce’s ITA. Export.gov brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist
American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and to succeed in today’s global marketplace;
you also can locate the U.S. Export Assistance Center nearest you.
International Business and Trade Degree and Certificate Options
Most students in International Business and Trade focus on careers in international marketing, export or import management,
international transportation and logistics, import-export trading or various international business support services.
Our students have the opportunity to participate in activities related to the Export Assistance Center of the U. S.
Department of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank through the Dallas Regional Chamber of
Commerce, the International Trade Center, Small Business Development Centers, the Dallas
Council on World Affairs, the North Texas Customs Brokers and Foreign Freight Forwarders
Association, Women in International Trade of Texas and other international organizations.
The International Business and Trade program has won one World Trade Week education
award from the International Trade Association of Dallas/Fort Worth. We offer an associate
degree program, two certificates and a skills achievement award in foreign languages.
Courses in this program are offered both on campus and online.
The International Business and Trade Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a 66 to 70
credit-hour program over five semesters. This program also is a World Trade Week
education award winner, recognized by the International Trade Association
of Dallas/Forth Worth.
The International Business and Trade Certificate and the
Import-Export Certificate are designed to expedite your entrance
into the international arena. The Import/Export Certificate is offered
concurrently through Richland’s Continuing Education Division.
The International Business and Trade Skills Achievement
Award is a 14-hour certification which provides specific skills in
language training in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian,
Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Vietnamese.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/IBT
29
Logistics Technology
Logistics Technology
Chances are, you know what logistics technology is ... but you may not know
it by its name. Logistics technology involves managing the flow of materials,
transforming them into finished goods and delivering those goods to the
buyer — critical processes in today’s economy.
Why are the best-known retail giants so successful? They understand how to run
logistics operations in which each part of the supply chain performs smoothly, getting
products where they need to go. Transportation by plane, train, truck and rail;
globalization; supply chain management; and new computer-based tracking
technologies all are part of the world of the logistics professional.
One program specialization, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), applies to products
the same electronic identification method used in toll tags and smart cards. RFID
technology is applied to products and packages to track inventory time and speed so
that vendors can tell exactly where goods are located, whether they are in the
warehouse or in the supply chain.
The DFW metroplex is one of the largest points of distribution and logistics in the United
States. North Lake and Brookhaven colleges’ specialized courses in warehouse, traffic,
transportation management, storage and distribution, and inventory control give you a
competitive edge in this booming job market. Courses from North Lake’s logistics
program also are offered at Cedar Valley College.
Careers in Logistics Technology include:
• RFID technician/manager • Transportation, storage and distribution manager
• Production, planning and expediting clerk • Shipping, receiving and traffic clerk
• Operating research analyst • Cargo and freight agent • Industrial engineer
• Industrial truck and tractor operator
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, growth rates and salary ranges in the logistics
technology field in Texas are:
Job Hourly Annual Projected Growth
Rate Salary Through 2016
Shipping, receiving and traffic clerk $11.86 $24,700 +16%
Industrial truck and tractor operator $11.47 $23,900 +9%
Cargo and freight agent $16.29 $33,900 +26%
Production, planning, expediting clerk $17.76 $36,900 +17%
Transportation, storage and
distribution manager $34.54 $71,800 +18%
Industrial engineer $36.29 $75,500 +34%
Logistics Technology Degree and Certificate Options
Developed by industry professionals, the Logistics Technology curriculum can be
completed in five semesters (68 hours) for an Associate in Applied Sciences (A.A.S.)
Degree at Brookhaven or North Lake colleges. In cooperation with North Lake College,
Cedar Valley College offers all logistics program courses in the degree plan online.
Online courses also are available at North Lake.
North Lake College also offers two certificates:
The Logistics Technology Certificate is a three-semester, 37-credit-hour program with
training in warehouse, traffic and transportation management, storage and distribution,
and inventory control.
The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Certificate is a three-semester, 46-credit-hour
program with skills training in the latest RFID theories, applications and equipment to
prepare you for immediate employment as a RFID technician/manager. The program
specialties include warehouse, inventory control, traffic and transportation management,
and storage and distribution.
30 Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/logistics
Mechatronics Technology
Mechatronics is a relatively new engineering discipline that integrates mechanical with electrical, hydraulics,
pneumatics, electronics and computer controls to assist in the manufacture of industrial products and processes
with minimal human intervention. This field includes robotics, but typically not the humanoid type.
Mechatronics frees people from routine tasks and allows them to focus on solving problems, fixing
equipment breakdowns or changing processes for optimal operation. Technicians who have
training in industrial automation and mechatronics will be able to take advantage of new
developments in the industry and realize their potential to grow as technological changes affect
the global economy. This program is offered exclusively at Eastfield College.
A mechatronics degree prepares you for a wide range of job opportunities in the DFW metroplex in industrial maintenance
across many sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, energy generation and power distribution, health care, military
service, government and education. Careers include working for manufacturing, utility, telecommunication or electrical
energy generation companies.
Salaries and Potential Job Growth
Salaries in this field vary widely, depending on the size and scope of a business, as well as your accumulated experience and
qualifications. According to Chuck Dale, mechatronics program director at Eastfield, starting salaries in the DFW area range
from $42,000 to $46,000, but, says Dale, salaries for those who are willing to relocate to other areas of the country can be
considerably higher.
According to America’s Career Infonet, median Texas salaries and projected growth for jobs related to the area
of mechatronics include:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth
Through 2016
Electrical and electronic engineering technician $26.00 $54,100 +14%
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse,
substation and relay $26.91 $56,000 +1%
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial
and industrial equipment $22.42 $46,600 +22%
Electrical power-line installers and repairers $19.87 $41,300 +20%
Power plant operators $25.80 $53,700 +14%
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment
operators $17.18 $35,700 +17%
Signal and track switch repairers $25.31 $52,600 -7%
Mechatronics Technology Degree and Certificate Options
The Electronics/Computer Technology–Industrial Automation and Mechatronics
Technology Associate Degree is a four-semester, 61-to-66-credit-hour program that
includes courses in AC and DC circuits, automated manufacturing, hydraulics, pneumatics,
PLCs, solid state devices, electronic test equipment, solid state circuits, industrial automation
and digital systems.
The Electronics/Computer Technology–Industrial Automation and Mechatronics Technology
Certificate is a two-semester, 16-credit-hour program. Courses taken in the certificate program
may be applied toward the mechatronics associate degree.
Get more info at www.dcccd.edu/electronicsRelated. 31
Mortgage Banking
Are you drawn to the orderly world of numbers but still want a career that involves people?
Do you enjoy problem-solving, analyzing information and working as part of a cooperative team?
Whether you’re a new college student looking for an interesting and challenging career path or a mortgage broker or loan officer
who needs to earn or renew your license, North Lake College’s Mortgage Banking program will give you the edge that you need
to succeed in this competitive but rewarding field.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Voyages for in-demand occupations includes financial services as one of the highest
growth industries projected to employ Americans through the year 2010.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, related occupations include the following average salaries in Texas:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Financial managers $47.56 $98,900 +19%
Loan officers $27.57 $57,300 +21%
Real estate sales agents $15.73 $32,700 +12%
Real estate brokers $40.07 $83,300 +8%
Mortgage Banking Degree and Certificate Options
The Mortgage Banking Associate in Applied Sciences Degree provides in-depth training in the field of mortgage banking over
four semesters, or 60 to 69 credit hours. Specific technical skills include instruction in how to originate, process and manage
mortgage loans. Other relevant areas include real estate, planning and organization, problem solving and decision making,
communication, accounting and business skills.
The Mortgage Banking Designate Certificate is a three-semester award comprising 35 to 41 credit hours.
The Mortgage Banking Intern Skills Achievement Award, which requires 15 credit hours or five courses, provides
you with the skills and knowledge to obtain an entry-level position.
Continuing Education Courses
For busy professionals who want course knowledge without the pressure
of earning grades, North Lake also offers Mortgage Banking classes as
concurrent Continuing Education classes. Call 972-273-3386 for more
information.
Online Courses = Convenience for Busy Professionals
Too busy to attend class on campus? All Mortgage Banking courses are
offered online at some point during the academic year. You can earn
your entire degree or certificate online!
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/mortgage
32
Paralegal Studies
Are you a detail-oriented, responsible person who gets satisfaction from completing precise
research? Would you like to train for an in-demand job with high responsibility that also pays
well? Are you fascinated by the law but aren’t sure yet whether you want to go to law school?
Consider Paralegal Studies at El Centro College, the only program of its kind in the Dallas County Community College
District and one of only 10 paralegal programs in the state of Texas approved by the American Bar Association – and
the only ABA-approved program located in north central Texas.
Becoming a paralegal (formerly called legal assistant) qualifies you to handle many routine assignments for attorneys.
It also is an excellent way to determine whether you have a serious interest in law and to build an excellent foundation
for law school. Advancement opportunities vary, depending on your level of continued education, and include
managerial and other law-related positions with law firms or corporate legal departments.
If you have been considering becoming a paralegal and have compared the field to other training programs, you will
find that El Centro’s program is not only widely respected in the legal community of northeast Texas, but also is an
incredible bargain for its high quality and modest tuition.
El Centro College’s urban setting, with its ethnically diverse student body, provides an excellent location for paralegal
students – giving them convenient access to the Records Building, George Allen Civil Courthouse, Frank Crowley Criminal
Courthouse and Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse, as well as proximity to a large number of law firms located downtown.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2008-09 reports that employment in the paralegal
field is projected to grow much faster than average as employers try to reduce costs by hiring paralegals to perform tasks
once done by lawyers. Approximately seven out of 10 paralegals work for law firms; others work for corporate legal depart-
ments and government agencies. Competition for jobs should continue; experienced, formally trained paralegals should have
the best employment opportunities. Demand for paralegals also is expected to grow as an expanding population increasingly
requires legal services, especially in areas such as intellectual property, health care, international law, elder issues, criminal
law and environmental law. The growth of prepaid legal plans also should contribute to the demand for legal services.
Private law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals, but a growing array of other organizations, such
as corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, and banks, also hire paralegals.
Corporations in particular are expected to increase their in-house legal departments to cut costs. In part because of the range
of tasks they can perform, paralegals also are increasingly employed in small- and medium-sized establishments of all types.
According to America’s Career Infonet, median salaries and projected job growth for paralegals
in Texas are:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Paralegal $21.80 $45,300 +30%
Paralegal Associate Degree
The Paralegal Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a
63-credit-hour, four-semester course of study designed to
prepare you to function as a technically qualified and valuable
assistant to attorneys. The program does not qualify graduates
to take a state Bar exam, represent clients in court or give
legal advice.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/paralegal
33
Nursing
Nursing
Are you interested in a career in the booming field of health care? Do you enjoy working with people?
Do you want a career with variety? Are you ready for a job with high responsibility? Would you like
a financially secure career that’s rewarding both to you and the people you will help? You may be
ready for a career in the nursing profession!
Some aspects of the nursing profession remain constant: A commitment to helping people heal in a caring, competent and
professional manner. The ability to make quick, information-based decisions. A combination of using scientific knowledge
with the desire to help people stay healthy and get well.
But other things change: Technological advances. Ethical and legal questions which drive changing laws that govern health
care. The demand for nurses has even changed — it’s higher than ever before!
Training and work for nurses is mentally challenging and physically demanding. But the registered and vocational nurses who
have trained in our programs also will tell you that they have incredibly rewarding jobs.
If you would like to learn the high-level technical skills, along with the critical thinking and decision-making skills necessary
to provide competent care in today’s rapidly changing world of nursing, DCCCD’s nursing programs are for you!
Job Opportunities for Nurses
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, job opportunities for
RNs in all specialties are expected to be excellent. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow much faster than
average through 2016 — 27 percent or more. In fact, RNs are projected to create the second-largest number of new jobs
among all occupations.
Most nurses work in hospitals as staff nurses. Head nurses or nurse supervisors direct nursing
activities; other nurses may be employed in outpatient care centers, doctors’ offices, emergency
medical centers or nursing homes. Many job opportunities also are available in home health care;
public health care settings such as government agencies, schools and retirement communities;
and occupational health or industrial settings.
Advanced career opportunities for nurses with additional education include nurse practitioners,
clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse-midwives. Job
openings are expected to increase in outpatient facilities such as same-day surgery, rehabilitation
and chemotherapy. As the first wave of baby boomers becomes senior citizens, nursing care for
older people also will see a huge area of growth and job expansion.
Salaries and Potential Job Growth
Salaries for nursing professionals vary widely based not only on education and qualifications,
but also on the type and size of employment facility. About three out of five nursing jobs are
in hospitals, either in inpatient or outpatient departments.
According to America’s Career Infonet, registered nurses in Texas earned an average
of $28.00 per hour in 2007, with a median annual salary of $58,200. About 40 percent
of nurses have had at least some college experience, and 58 percent hold a bachelor’s
degree or higher. Registered nurses (RNs) in the top 90 percent of their earning bracket
make an average of $80,300 annually. The demand for registered nurses in Texas is
expected to increase 38 percent through 2016.
Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LVNs) in Texas earned a median annual wage
of $36,800 in Texas in 2007, or $17.69 an hour. These nurses in the top 90
percent of their salary bracket earn $49,400 a year.
34
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Degree and Certificate Programs
The Associate Degree Nursing program is a full-time program comprising lecture, skills lab and clinical
experience, with rotations involving both day and evening hours. You begin your hospital rotations
the first semester after admission to the program and rotate through metroplex hospitals, participating
in a wide variety of procedures. Nursing education includes classroom instruction and supervised
clinical experience in hospitals and other health facilities. You take courses involving anatomy,
physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences.
Coursework also includes liberal arts classes.
Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry,
maternity and surgery. It may also include clinical experience in nursing homes, public health
departments, home health agencies and ambulatory clinics. Graduates are eligible to take the
National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, commonly referred to as the
NCLEX-RN. The program is accredited by the Texas Board of Nursing and the National League
for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
Two DCCCD colleges offer Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs. Each program has its own
application and admissions process and timeline.
Brookhaven College offers a Nursing Associate in Applied Sciences Degree in an accelerated
16-month, 72-credit-hour program. You attend the program, including summers, with no breaks.
Brookhaven has an extension campus at Mountain View College; you can attend all ADN
courses at Mountain View but will receive your degree from Brookhaven.
Beginning Fall Semester 2009, Brookhaven will offer an International Nursing Bridge Program,
a Continuing Education Certificate program designed to prepare internationally-educated nurses
for licensure as registered nurses in the United States. You must be a legal resident of the U.S. to
enroll in this program. The program includes review of nursing knowledge and skills as preparation
for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, as well as assistance in the transition to nursing practice in the
U.S. through coursework in oral communication skills and cultural competence.
El Centro College offers a Nursing Associate in Applied Sciences Degree in a two-year, 70-credit-hour
program. North Lake College serves as a satellite campus for El Centro’s ADN program. You can
attend all ADN classes at North Lake but will receive your degree from El Centro College. Online
courses are available at El Centro College.
LVN-RN Advanced Placement “Bridge” Program
A licensed vocational nurse (LVN) may complete the Associate Degree Nursing program through the
LVN to RN Advanced Placement (“Bridge”) program at El Centro College. Admission to this program
is open to applicants who have not previously been enrolled in an Associate Degree Nursing program,
although an applicant may petition the dean for admission consideration.
Perioperative Nursing Enhanced Skills Certificate
El Centro College’s Perioperative Nurse Internship program offers registered nurses and graduate
nurses the opportunity to acquire additional theory and skills required for patient care in the surgical
setting. Upon successful completion of this two-semester, 13-credit-hour program, nurses receive
the Perioperative Nursing Enhanced Skills certificate.
Vocational Nursing
El Centro College offers a Vocational Nursing certificate. The Vocational Nursing program is a
12-month, 54-credit-hour curriculum, which leads to a certificate of completion. Vocational Nursing
courses are completed in two 16-week academic semesters and two 5-week summer semesters.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/nursing
35
Substance Abuse Counseling Social Work
Substance Abuse Counseling &&Social Work
Would you like a career where you can truly make a difference in people’s lives? Are you a good listener who
wants to help people in crisis redirect their lives? Do you have personal or family experience that motivates
you to understand the roots of addictive behavior and learn ways to create positive change?
Consider the related programs of Substance Abuse Counseling and Social Work, both offered with a variety of degree and
certificate options for college credit at Eastfield College.
Our programs not only give you the qualifications to enter many social services-related jobs or to concentrate on a specific
certification, but also a solid academic background that can carry your college transfer plans through a bachelor’s degree
and beyond.
Careers in social services are challenging but incredibly rewarding, and our dual program emphasis in Substance Abuse
Counseling and Social Work not only ensures that you will learn the theory and psychology of your future career, but also
the intangible relationship skills that will set you apart from your peers in the workplace.
Time and time again, our graduates comment that the education they received in our certificate or associate programs rivals
bachelor’s and master’s programs where they transferred. That’s the kind of professional testimony that has given Eastfield’s
Substance Abuse Counseling and Social Work programs an excellent reputation both locally and nationally.
Because the skills sets and qualifications for both programs are closely related and integrated, Social Work and Substance
Abuse Counseling are offered with integral class components and with many of the same faculty members. Please see an
academic advisor who can help you decide on the career path that will best fit your personal and professional goals, plus
the emphasis programs that will best support those goals.
Salaries and Potential Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, occupations include the following median salaries in Texas:
Job Title Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job Growth Through 2016
Social and human services assistants $12.80 $26,600 +34%
Social workers $22.02 $45,800 +18%
Substance abuse and
behavioral disorder counselor $17.10 $35,600 +34%
36
Substance Abuse Counseling Degree
and Certificate Options
Our Substance Abuse Counseling Associate in
Applied Sciences Degree is designed to prepare you
to become qualified and competent so that you can enter
the field of human services and provide specialized
services to individuals and their families experiencing the
affects of substance abuse. The four-semester, 61-to-63
credit-hour program provides graduates with the necessary
education requirements for testing and licensure as a
Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC).
After finishing required classroom instruction, you gain work
experience as a counselor intern (CI). Cooperative work
experience provides a structured, supervised practicum in
off-campus laboratory sites approved by the program.
Courses in this program are offered on campus and online.
The Mental Health/Substance Abuse Prevention Certificate
is an 18-hour program that provides cross-training for helping
professionals in social service agencies and faith-based
communities; it focuses on co-occurring disorders.
The Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate is a 33-hour program which provides cross-training for helping interdisciplinary
professionals such as bachelor’s- and master’s-level social workers, counselors, psychologists, nurses and criminal justice
workers, among others. It also trains you for employment as a counselor intern. You are required to complete a 336-hour
practicum at an approved agency before you apply for Counselor Intern status with the Texas Department of Health and
Human Services.
Our Integral Program with Social Work Gives You Twice the Skills Set
Our programs of Substance Abuse Counseling and Social Work are closely integrated, and they share a program coordinator,
many faculty members and several common courses. Please check with a career counselor or one of our faculty members to
find the career path that will best fit your educational goals.
Social Work Degree and Certificate Options
Our Social Work Associate – Generalist Associate in Applied Sciences Degree program prepares you for entry-level
employment in public and private social service agencies. The four-semester, 61-to-63 credit-hour program is designed to
equip you with the skills, knowledge, values and sensitivity to serve effectively in a variety of community settings.
You have the option to select courses that will prepare you to work either in general social services or in specialized
social services for chemical abuse or the aging.
Gerontology Certificate
Our country’s aging population is one of its most important demographic trends; the over 60 age group is growing more rapidly
than any other major population group. Job opportunities are booming for those who have a background in gerontology
(the study of aging) and who can provide skilled care and services to older adults. The study of gerontology also complements
a variety of existing degree and certificate programs; nearly every service-oriented discipline has a branch devoted to aging.
This two-semester, 24-credit-hour certificate provides specific skills and knowledge to be able to work effectively with older adults.
Human Services Certificate
Associate degree majors in Social Work and Substance Abuse Counseling can obtain cross-training in the delivery of human
services to aging clients with this 34-credit-hour certificate. You choose a concentration in either Substance Abuse Counseling
or Social Work courses.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/subAbuseCounseling
37
Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management
Are you an outgoing person who enjoys working with a wide variety of people and personalities?
Do you love to travel and see new places? Are you an organized and detail-oriented person who
loves to make things happen?
Richland College’s Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management (TEMM) program, unique within the Dallas County
Community College District, offers a dynamic, hands-on education in this exciting career field.
Our program is taught by working industry professionals who are passionate about their jobs both in and out of the
classroom. Your future career will get a jump-start with the wealth of networking opportunities you will gain in the
exciting travel and hospitality hub that is the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
Careers
The Travel and Tourism industry offers a wide variety of careers in which agents price or cost products, sell experiences,
coordinate logistics, process reservations, provide customer service and more. Positions include: account assistant
or executive; airline sales manager; car rental fleet manager; costing coordinator; cruise coordinator; cruise sales
representative; group tour coordinator; marketing manager; public relations director; rental agent; reservation agent;
sales agent; tour guide director; or travel agency manager.
Meeting and Event Management includes career opportunities for managers who ensure that meetings and events,
from small to large, are productive and successful. Ideally, they are organized individuals who are creative and
detail-oriented and who have excellent communication skills.
Job titles may include: account executive; administrative assistant; conference director; corporate meeting director; event
planner or manager; meeting manager; meeting planner or senior meeting planner; or special events coordinator.
Exposition, Exhibition and Trade Show Management includes planning events that bring buyers and sellers together.
Jobs may include: conference coordinator or associate conference coordinator; marketing coordinator; operations
coordinator or associate operations coordinator; sales administrator, show director or manager; or trade show assistant.
The Hospitality industry consists of two service sectors, hotels and lodging,
plus restaurant and food service. If you enjoy meeting a wide variety of different
people and working in an environment that is different every day, you are an
ideal candidate for this booming industry. Job titles may include: catering
manager; convention services manager; front office manager; general or
assistant manager; or sales and marketing manager.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Voyages for in-demand
occupations lists the hospitality industry as one of the
nation’s top job markets for employment through the
year 2016. The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and
Training Administration lists the hospitality industry as a high-
growth sector, with accommodation and food services making up
about 8.1 percent of employment in this country. Overall job
openings are expected to grow 18 percent through 2012, adding
more than 1.6 million new jobs.
38
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
America’s Career Infonet and the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
(2008-2009 edition) report the following median salaries and projected job growth in Texas for jobs related to the travel
and meeting management field:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Food service managers $23.21 $48,300 +17%
Hotel, motel and resort desk clerks $8.12 $16,900 +19%
Lodging managers $23.70 $49,300 +13%
Meeting and convention planners $20.92 $43,500 +19%
Travel agents $14.42 $30,000 - 9%
Professional positions vary significantly, based on your level of experience, region of the country and size of
the hiring organization.
Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management Degree and Certificate Programs
The Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management program includes an associate degree
with three specialization options – Meeting and Event Management; Exposition and
Trade Show Management; and Travel Agency Operations and Tourism.
Two specialized certificate programs also are available. Courses in
this program are offered both on campus and online.
The Travel, Exposition and Meeting Management Associate of
Applied Sciences Degree is a five-semester, 62-to-71 credit-hour program that
includes specialization for convention/meeting planners, exposition/trade show planners or travel
agency operations. In addition to specific technical skills, you will learn principles of management,
applied mathematics, reading, writing and verbal communications skills.
The three-semester, 32-to-35 credit-hour Certificate in Meetings provides you with the
skills you need to work in the meeting planning industry.
The Certificate in Tourism and Destination Management is a 32-hour
program that focuses on the tourism industry and the role of the
destination management company, including knowledge of attractions,
accommodations, transportation options, government regulation
and supplier contacts.
Richland College’s Continuing Education Division
offers two accelerated certificates in its Travel and
Meeting Planning Program, including:
the Travel, Tourism and Management Certificate
and the Meeting and Event Management Certificate.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/travel
39
Veterinary Technology
Do you love caring for animals? Would you like to find a way to turn your interests into a career path that’s growing
by leaps and bounds? Think about training to be a veterinary technician!
The Veterinary Technology program, unique to Cedar Valley College, offers both a campus-based program and distance-education program so
that you can complete your degree or certificate the way that’s most convenient for you. Our accreditation ensures that you will be eligible for
credentialing, no matter where you work as a veterinary technician.
Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) since 1978, our program also is accredited by the American Animal Hospital
Association (AAHA), which partners with Cedar Valley College to offer the distance-education component of our Vet Tech program.
What Does a Veterinary Technician Do?
Technologists and technicians usually begin work as trainees in positions under the direct supervision of a veterinarian to:
• Answer client concerns either by phone or in person
• Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines
• Help prepare animals for surgery, monitor anesthetics and assist in surgery
• Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals
• Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases
• Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
Because pet owners are increasingly willing to pay for advanced medical care for their animals and because many types of veterinary care are
expanding, all careers in veterinary medicine are growing rapidly. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) projects that the number of jobs available
for veterinary technicians will grow by an astronomical 31 percent through the year 2014. According to DOL, job prospects are best for technicians
who graduate from programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), such as Cedar Valley’s.
According to America’s Career Infonet, median salaries and projected job growth for some vet-tech-related occupations in Texas are:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Veterinary technologists and technicians $11.61 $24,100 +41%
Veterinary assistants and laboratory
animal caretakers $9.26 $19,300 +22%
Veterinarians $35.64 $74,100 +30%
Veterinary Technology Degree and Certificate Programs
Campus Program
Cedar Valley College offers an on-campus Veterinary Technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).
The associate degree program consists of a 72-credit-hour course of study. Program graduates are eligible to take the Texas Examination for
Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT) and the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Both exams are required for registration
in the state of Texas, and the VTNE is required for credentialing as a technician by several other states.
The two Veterinary Assistant certificates offered through our campus-based program, with a specialization in
either large or small animals, each comprise 20 credit hours of study, with 10 hours in general education
courses and 10 hours within the major area of study.
Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP)
The Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP), jointly developed and offered by
Cedar Valley College and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), enrolled its first students in
September 1998. The DEVTP program became accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA) in 2001 and is one of only nine distance veterinary technology education programs in the country
to earn this distinction. The program enrolls more than 700 students per semester from across the country
and abroad through courses offered three times a year, during the fall, spring and summer semesters.
The distance-education program offers the associate degree and two different certificate options, granted
jointly by Cedar Valley College and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA):
• The Veterinary Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a 72-credit-hour program of study.
• The Veterinary Assistant Certificate can be completed in three semesters and includes courses in
general hospital and clinic information.
• The Veterinary Receptionist’s Certificate can be completed in one to two years and includes courses
in examination procedures and clinical techniques, pharmacy, surgical preparation, animal nursing,
radiology and ultrasound, laboratory procedures and three general education courses.
40 Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/vettech
Video Technology
Have you always dreamed of standing behind the camera, but you don’t know
where to begin? Do you have an eye for capturing a story on film? Would you
like to train to be a professional in the dynamic, creative and demanding
world of video technology?
Skilled video technicians are in high demand in the video production, television broadcast and
film industries.
North Lake College’s unique program in Video Technology trains you to become part of this
growing and exciting career field.
Our two-year associate degree program provides a comprehensive foundation for anyone who
is interested in entering the video production or television broadcast arena, including:
• Mastering equipment used in the video and film industries
• The complete production process, from concept to script to production and post-production
• Television production
• Nonlinear video editing
• Computer graphics, including 3-D modeling and rendering
• Scriptwriting
• Business aspects of the video industry
• Animation, 3-D and visual effects
• Broadcast engineering
• Lighting
• Digital and multitrack audio
• Radio and TV broadcasting
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
According to America’s Career Infonet, average salaries for related occupations in Texas were:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Audio and video
equipment technicians $14.62 $30,400 +32%
Camera operators:
TV, video and motion picture $14.01 $29,100 +15%
Multimedia artists
and animators $22.92 $47,700 +31%
Video Technology Degree and Certificate Options
The Video Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree prepares
you for entry-level or advanced employment in the video industry in
four semesters, or 66 to 70 credit hours. The program provides you
with a comprehensive foundation in the complete production
process, from concept to script to production and post-production.
Video Technology – Animation and Visual
Effects Certificate
Get the technical knowledge and hands-on skills for entry-level
employment in the field of animation and special effects in three semesters, or 28 to
29 credit hours. You will learn computer-based animation and visual effects for film,
video and interactive multimedia production.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/videotech. 41
Visual Communications Careers
Design is everywhere you look: logos, Web sites, business cards, advertisements, brochures,
billboards, product packaging, posters, magazines, books, newspapers, greeting cards, playbills,
matchbooks... the list is virtually endless.
Is “visual communications” just a fancy way of saying “graphic design?” Not really. The old-guard
field of graphic design focused on translating the conceptual to the visual using a variety of two-
dimensional media. The emphasis was placed on creating the form of the message with color,
shape, texture and type and the use of photos, illustrations and more.
Visual communications includes other types of communication beyond the traditional print medium
of the old graphic design industry. One example is the design of interactive computer presentations
that integrate video, animation, sound, stored images and text.
Based on its problem-solving nature, visual communications incorporates the rationale
behind choosing the message plus the medium. It provides the “why” of the message,
in addition to the “how,” for an intended audience and a specific purpose. In other words,
it provides the form of graphic design as well as the function based on why a particular
medium (printed material, Web site or other) best suits a particular message.
You will find many different jobs and job titles in this field, depending on your particular interest,
skills sets and continued education, including:
• Advertising artist or copywriter • Animator • Artist • Graphic designer
• Desktop publisher • Digital photographer • Illustrator • Layout artist
• Multimedia specialist • Print specialist • Public relations specialist
• Web designer • Web developer • Webmaster or Web administrator
Salaries and Projected Growth
Job openings requiring Web development and design skills are expanding exponentially, and the technology
that is used changes almost weekly. The number of all Internet-related jobs is expected to grow much faster
than the average for all occupations in the next decade as more and more companies use the Internet
to do business. Emerging technologies lead to more jobs each year. According to America’s Career Infonet,
related occupations include the following average salaries in Texas:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Growth Through 2016
Artists and related workers,
including advertising,
graphic design and illustration $15.85 $33,000 +14%
Graphic designers $18.59 $38,700 +15%
Multimedia artists and animators $22.92 $47,700 +31%
Public relations specialists $23.23 $48,300 +22%
Web developers (computer specialists) $34.17 $71,700 +21%
Visual Communications Degree and Certificate Options
Brookhaven College’s Visual Communications Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a
five-semester program of 66 credit hours, including tailored program tracks that allow you to
specialize in one of these areas:
Communication Design – graphic and Web design, advertising art, desktop publishing
and print production;
Creative Web Design – Web design and design for applications in e-commerce;
Multimedia Communications – concept and design for multimedia presentations; or Visual
Journalism – writing and design for newspaper and magazine content, newsletters and Web pages.
The program includes three to six credit hours of internship at an area business or the campus design studio.
The one-year Visual Communications Certificate provides basic knowledge about the visual
communications industry. The primary objective of the curriculum is to familiarize you with concepts,
skills, tools and computer software used in visual communications fields.
The Visual Communications Enhanced Skills Certificate attached to the Visual Communications associate
degree provides high school graduates in a Tech Prep program with the opportunity to acquire advanced
skills required by the industry. This certificate is primarily for students who begin our program during their
junior and senior years in high school through an affiliated Tech Prep high school.
Courses in this program are offered on campus and online.
42 Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/visualcom
Welding Technology
Do you like the challenge of figuring out how to make things that work correctly? Are you creative
enough to think outside the box when it comes to problem-solving? Are you good with your hands
and adventurous enough to make a few sparks fly?
Welding is both a technical skill and a creative art that has as many applications as you can imagine – and probably more.
Our Welding Technology program can help you train for immediate work in construction or metal work, or it could light the fire
under a creative streak you might not even know you have.
In the Welding Technology program, offered exclusively in the DCCCD at Mountain View College, about half of our students
take welding for business, while the other half comes to learn how to make metal art or specific home projects.
Learn the basic processes of oxyacetylene and arc welding, plus specialized applications and support areas that include:
• Metallurgy • Tooling • Drafting • Pattern layout • Characteristics of materials
Whether you take just one welding course or earn a two-year associate degree, you will build a foundation of solid techniques
that also will fire up your ability to create with metal. Our instructors will work with you to develop the projects that are already
in your head or your garage.
Salaries and Projected Job Growth
Welding skills comprise a critical skill set of many jobs, from industrial applications to construction to metal artistry. Salaries
vary widely, based on the size of the company and its geographic location, as well as the experience level and certifications
of the worker.
America’s Career Infonet and the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
(2008-09 edition) give detailed information about the skills, abilities, work activities and recommended education for jobs in
fields using welding skills. According to America’s Career Infonet, median salaries and projected job growth for welding jobs
in Texas include:
Job Hourly Rate Annual Salary Projected Job GrowthThrough 2016
Craft artists, including welding $10.38 $21,600 +28%
Metal casters and pourers $15.80 $32,900 +12%
Tool and die makers $19.23 $40,000 +18%
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers $14.71 $30,600 +25%
Check out late-night talk show host Jay Leno’s endorsement of welding as a career on Youtube, Jay Leno Promotes Welding.
Welding Technology Degree and Certificate Options
The Welding Technology program for college credit includes the following associate degree and certificate:
The Welding Technology Associate in Applied Sciences Degree is a four-semester, 66-to-69 credit-hour program that
prepares you for entry-level welding jobs as well as welding inspection. You will receive instruction in the basic processes
of oxyacetylene and arc welding, plus many specialized welding applications to fit your needs, as well as instruction
in related support areas such as metallurgy, tooling, drafting, pattern layout and characteristics of materials.
The Welding Technology Certificate, a two-semester, 16-hour program, is designed to qualify you
on either plate or pipe in accordance to American Welding Society (AWS) or American Petroleum
Institute (API) welding procedures for:
Arc (SMAW) • Gas
• Shielded Metal(GMAW) processes Tungsten Arc (GTAW)
• Gas Metal Arc
The Welding Technology Certificate may be completed for college credit hours
or continuing education units (CEUs).
Courses in the Welding program are offered both on campus and online.
Get more info at: www.dcccd.edu/welding
43
More Smart Career Options
The technical programs highlighted in this Nursing (Registered Nurse, Associate Degree Nursing) It makes sense to begin your bachelor’s degree
Paralegal studies with two years at a DCCCD campus and
publication are only a few of the more than then transfer to a university to complete your
Paramedic
100 two-year degrees and one-year certificates Patient Care Technician junior and senior years. More than 75 percent of
offered by the Dallas County Community Plumbing and Pipefitting Construction our students are enrolled in academic transfer
College District. Below is a list of the many Radiologic Sciences courses. DCCCD has transfer agreements with
Real Estate many major universities, including the University
career and technical programs offered
Residential Building PerformanceTechnology of North Texas, Southern Methodist University,
by DCCCD: Respiratory Care the University of Texas at Arlington, the
Semiconductor Manufacturing
University of Texas at Dallas, Baylor University,
Accounting Small Business Academy
Social Work Stephen F. Austin State University, the University
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC) of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University
Associate Degree Nursing (Registered Nurse) Substance Abuse Counseling
Surgical Technologist and dozens more.
Auto Body Technology
Automotive Technology Travel, Exposition & Meeting Management
Veterinary Technology DCCCD courses that transfer include:
Auto Tech/Diesel & Heavy Equipment Accounting
Aviation Technology Video Technology
Advertising
Biotechnology Visual Communications (Graphic Design)
Agriculture
Business Administration Vocational Nursing
Anthropology
Business Office Systems and Support Welding Technology Architecture
Child Development Wireless Communication Technician Art
Commercial Music Astronomy
Computer-Aided Design & Drafting Biology
Computer Graphics In addition to many DCCCD programs that lead Business
Computer Information Technology to college degrees or certificates, our colleges Chemistry
Conflict Management Chinese
also offer a wide variety of non-college-credit, Communication
Construction Management
Construction Technology continuing education courses and programs. Computer Science
Criminal Justice Many of these offerings are workforce Dance
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Pre-Dental
education programs that provide skills Drama
Digital Forensics
Digital Imaging Technology
certification. Here is a sample of our Earth Science
Echocardiology Technology continuing education areas: Ecology
Educational Personnel Economics
Engineering
Electrical Technology Allied Health, featuring a wide variety of English
Electronic Commerce health occupation programs that include Finance
Electronic Telecommunications Pharmacy Technician, EKG Technician French
Electronics/Computer Technology and Home Health Care & Hospice Aide, Geography
Electronics Technology among many others Geology
Emergency Medical Services Art, featuring Children’s Art, Dance, Drama, German
Engine Technology Sewing, Radio/TV Broadcasting and Music, Government
Engineering Technology and many others Graphic Arts
Environmental Sciences Technology Automotive Technology Greek
Fashion Design History
Business and Management
Fire Protection Technology Human Development
Computer Training
Fire Science Humanities
Truck Driver Training
Food & Hospitality Institute Interior Design
Corporate Services/Customized
Geographic Information Systems Technology Japanese
Business Solutions and Training
Health Information Management Journalism
Event Planning
Hospitality Management Latin
Fashion Design
Interactive Simulation and Game Technology Pre-Law
Food Service Library Science
Interior Design
Green/Ecology Training and Certification Management
International Business & Trade
GED and TAKS Preparation Marketing
Internet Development Technologies
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Mathematics
Invasive Cardiovascular Technology
International Business and Trade Pre-Med
Logistics Technology
Language Instruction Music
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Manufacturing and Machining Nursing
Management
Marketing Careers Project Management Nutrition
Mechatronics Protective Services Philosophy
Medical Assisting Real Estate Photography
Sports and Fitness Physical Education
Medical Front Office Specialist
Alternative Teacher Certification Training Physics
Medical Laboratory Technology
Welding Psychology
Medical Staff Services Radio/TV/Film
Medical Transcription And many other general training
classes, including Defensive Religion
Mortgage Banking Sociology
Multimedia Technology Driving, Dog Obedience and
Spanish
44 Nanotechnology Retirement Planning
Speech