Expanding the already robust certificates, diplomas and degrees offered by Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges, the colleges will offer 70 new programs in wide-ranging and in-demand careers for the 2019-20 academic year. The in-person and distance education opportunities include programs in STEM, hydroponic agriculture and substance abuse treatment.
“As the largest provider of higher education in Pennsylvania, our community colleges are critical to the Commonwealth’s continued workforce development and career readiness,” said Elizabeth A. Bolden, president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. “By regularly evaluating local needs and partnering with growing business to create new programs, our colleges are building pathways to in-demand careers that offer family-sustaining wages.”
The decision to create new programs at community colleges is a multi-step process that accounts for local labor market data; demand in high-priority occupations; student interest; equipment, facility and faculty needs; college strategic plans; and the needs of local employers. Many colleges consult with advisory councils comprised of employers in varying industries.
Ultimately, the decision to add new programs rests in the hands of the Board of Trustees at each individual community college. Because the course offerings are managed on a local level, community colleges are able to nimbly respond to needs of their local communities.
A full list of the new programs set to begin in the fall of 2019 or the spring of 2020 is below. For more information on a specific program, please contact the offering community college:
- Community College of Allegheny County | Plastics Manufacturing Technology | Certificate
- Community College of Allegheny County | Barber | Certificate (Pending Approval)
- Community College of Allegheny County | Supervision and Leadership | Certificate
- Community College of Beaver County | Chemistry | Degree
- Community College of Beaver County | Computer Science | Degree
- Community College of Beaver County | Construction Technology and Management | Certificate
- Community College of Beaver County | Meteorology | Degree
- Community College of Beaver County | Mathematics | Degree
- Community College of Beaver County | Physics | Degree
- Community College of Beaver County | Sociology | Degree
- Community College of Beaver County | Mascaro Construction High School Academy | Dual Enrollment
- Community College of Beaver County | STEM High School Academy (Coding Track) | Dual Enrollment
- Bucks County Community College | Medical Laboratory Technician | A.A.S.
- Bucks County Community College | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Certificate
- Bucks County Community College | Global Studies/World Languages | A.A.
- Bucks County Community College | Microsoft Office Technology & Customer Service Specialist | Non-Credit Certificate
- Bucks County Community College | Industrial Maintenance Training Program for Youth/Young Adults | Non-Credit Certificate
- Delaware County Community College| Forklift Yard Jockey | Certificate
- Delaware County Community College | Nursing | Accelerated A.A.S.N. to R.N .-B.S.N. with West Chester University
- HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College | English | A.A.
- HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College | Political Science | A.A.
- Lehigh Carbon Community College | Visual Media | A.S.
- Lehigh Carbon Community College | Health Care Office Coordinator | A.A.S.
- Luzerne County Community College | Social Media & Digital Marketing | Certificate
- Luzerne County Community College | Business Management | Diploma
- Luzerne County Community College | E-Sports Management | Certificate
- Montgomery County Community College | Tourism and Hospitality Management | A.A.S.
- Montgomery County Community College | Tourism and Hospitality Management | Certificate
- Montgomery County Community College | Physical Therapist Assistant | A.A.S.
- Montgomery County Community College | Pharmacy Technician | Certification
- Montgomery County Community College | Nurse Aide Training | Certification
- Montgomery County Community College | Medical Billing Specialist | Certification
- Northampton Community College | Psychology | A.A.
- Northampton Community College | English Proficiency | Specialized Diploma
- Northampton Community College | Public Health | Specialized Diploma
- Northampton Community College | Auto Service Consultant | Certificate
- Northampton Community College | Adventure Course Management | Specialized Diploma
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Engineering Technology | A.A.S.
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Sustainable Hydroponic Agriculture and Rural Entrepreneurship (SHARE) | Certificate
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Substance Abuse and Addiction Technician | Certificate
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Bookkeeping | Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Advanced Automotive Repair Professional | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Black Studies | A.A.
- Community College of Philadelphia | Business of Coaching | Non-Credit Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Business Leadership | A.A.S.
- Community College of Philadelphia | Business Leadership | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Coach-approach Style of Leadership| Non-Credit Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Coding | Non-Credit Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Computer Programming I – Application, Web and Database Development | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Computer Programming II – Algorithms and Computation | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Corporate Social Responsibility | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Digital Investigations | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Digital Marketing | Non-Credit Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Fashion Merchandising and Marketing | A.A.S.
- Community College of Philadelphia | Fashion Retail and Customer Service | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Fashion Retail Sales | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Mastering Video Marketing | Non-Credit Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Tourism and Hospitality Management | A.A.
- Community College of Philadelphia | Tourism and Hospitality Management | Proficiency Certificate
- Community College of Philadelphia | Web Development II – Cloud Computing | Proficiency Certificate
- Westmoreland County Community College | Plumbing| A.A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Plumbing| Certificate
- Westmoreland County Community College | Plumbing| Diploma
- Westmoreland County Community College | Computer Science| A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Health Science | A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Physics| A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Chemistry | A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Biology | A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Expanded Functions Dental Assisting| A.A.S.
- Westmoreland County Community College | Mathematics | A.S.