Length: 22 credits
Purpose: According to VEC labor market information, the manufacturing industry accounts for approximately 20% of employment in the region served by Patrick & Henry Community College. Through its work with employers on Business and Industry Leadership Teams (BILTs), P&HCC’s division of Workforce, Economic, and Community Development has identified a core set of knowledge, skills, and abilities required across the advanced manufacturing industry sector, including safety, applied mathematics, quality, processes, basic maintenance and machine operation (mechatronics), computer technology, and career intelligence. In addition, employers have identified the need for internship or apprenticeship opportunities to provide hands-on, workplace experiences for students. The career studies certificate presented below provides instruction for these core skills, as well as internship opportunities. In addition to the career studies certificate, students will have an opportunity to earn the Certified Production Technician (CPT) national industry certification from the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC). This career studies certificate will allow P&HCC to not only produce an advanced manufacturing workforce with strong general manufacturing skills, but also to quickly add on courses to develop training for specific industries. For example, the proposed career studies certificate stacks fully into the Center for Advanced Film Manufacturing (CAFM) program developed in partnership with Eastman so students completing the advanced manufacturing technician certificate will only need to take two advanced film specific courses to complete the CAFM program. The proposed career studies certificate is also fully stackable to the Associate degree in General Engineering Technologies, becoming another step on the advanced manufacturing/engineering technologies career pathway.
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