CLEARFIELD – Beginning this September, Penn State DuBois will offer several credit certificate program opportunities that also can lead toward a degree from Penn State University.
The three credit certificates offered are: children youth and family services (30 credits); chemical dependency prevention and counseling certificate (18 credits); and mechanical engineering technology certificate (15 credits). Certificate programs provide a sequence of college credit courses that are designed to enhance specific field skills through both classroom and hands-on instruction.
“The certificate in chemical dependency prevention and counseling is a perfect adjunct not only for health care and human-service counselors, but also for teachers and guidance counselors,” noted Diana Ricotta, assistant director of Continuing Education. “The 30-credit children, youth and family services certificate would initially increase the workforce marketability of a person wanting to enter that field, and it blends in to the Penn State DuBois associate degree in human development and family studies,” Ricotta said.
“For those interested in the growing engineering field here in central and western Pennsylvania, the mechanical engineering technology certificate would appeal to both the novice in the workforce as well as the veteran wishing to keep his or her skills up-to-date with technology,” Ricotta said. “Skills can be applied to both the manufacturing and energy industry sectors.”
Ricotta credits the cooperation of both the Clearfield CareerLink and the Clearfield Area School District in making the Clearfield/Penn State opportunities a reality. The courses are scheduled in the evenings, to accommodate non-traditional students, or adult learners, who also must balance a full-time job and possibly family obligations. All classes will be held at Clearfield Area High School. In anticipation of the interest from adult learners in the Clearfield area, Scott Yeager, Penn State DuBois adult student coordinator, will be available to talk to potential students at the Clearfield Career Link Center, 1125 Linden St., from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Tuesday. Yeager also can be reached by phone at 375-4759.
The fall semester runs from Sept. 5 through Dec. 21. Chemical Dependency Prevention and Counseling Certificate courses offered this fall include:
— Foundations of Guidance and Counseling Processes, Tuesdays from 5:50-8:30 p.m.
— Alcohol and Drug Education, Wednesdays from 5:50-8:30 p.m.
The Children Youth and Family Services certificate course offered this fall is:
— Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies, Wednesdays from 5:50-8:30 p.m.
Basic Mechanical Engineering Technology certificate courses offered include:
— Technical Drawing Fundamentals, Thursdays between Sept. 5 and Oct. 17, from 5:50-9:30 p.m.
— Introduction to Computer-Aided Drafting, Thursdays between Oct. 24 and Dec. 19, from 5:50-9:30 p.m.
— Engineering Technology Orientation, Tuesdays from 5:50-7:30 p.m.
In addition, English 015 Rhetoric and Composition will be offered from 5:50-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and can be applied to both the Children, Youth and Family Services and Basic Mechanical Engineering Technology certificates or used to meet a general education requirement by any Penn State student.