Two-year programs offered by junior and community colleges are quicker and less expensive than four-year programs. Contrary to popular belief, the path to advancement does not always travel through a bachelor or master’s degree program. Two-year associate degrees are more convenient because most offer part-time, evening, weekend, and online classes. This convenience provides advantages for those who have full-time jobs, especially adults with families.
Associate Healthcare Degrees: Two Year Continuing Education Programs
The following are a few of the many two-year associate degree programs in healthcare:
Dental Hygienist – normal duties include cleaning teeth and taking oral x-rays. They also provide patients with education about oral hygiene and perform routine dental tasks such as applying fluoride or sealants. Dental hygienists work closely alongside dentists, utilizing dental instruments and technology. Careers for dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations.
Physical Therapist Assistant – are in the top ten fastest growing careers in the health care industry. They work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist to treat patients. The majority of employment opportunities for physical therapist assistants are in physical therapist’s offices or hospitals.
Occupational Therapy Assistant – work under the direction of licensed occupational therapists, providing rehabilitation services to a variety of patients. Occupational therapy assistants often help those who have been injured learn how to perform daily tasks after they have lost motor skills or have developed disabilities.
Pharmacy Technicians - prepare prescriptions by retrieving, counting, pouring, weighing, measuring, and sometimes mixing medication. They prepare the prescription labels, select an appropriate prescription container and affix the prescription and auxiliary labels to the container. Pharmacy technicians typically work the same hours as pharmacists.
Technical College Degrees: Adult Education Programs
The following are two-year programs which focus on the principles and theories of science, engineering, and mathematics. Prior to enrollment, ensure these adult education programs are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a minimum.
Environmental Engineering Technicians – work closely with environmental engineers and scientists in developing methods and devices used in the prevention, control, or remediation of environmental hazards. They inspect and maintain equipment related to air pollution and recycling. Some inspect water and wastewater treatment systems to ensure that pollution control requirements are met.
Wind Turbine Technicians – must be agile, safety conscious, and not be afraid of heights. This is because the place they work is 300 feet or 91.44 meters above the ground. However, the views are great. Wind turbine technician work is demanding and requires a thorough knowledge of hydraulics, electricity, and electronics.
Mechanical Engineering Technicians – help engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment. They may assist in product tests by, for example, setting up instrumentation for auto crash tests. During production planning, mechanical engineering technicians prepare layouts and drawings of an assembly process and of parts to be manufactured. They also estimate labor costs, equipment life, and plant space.
Service Industry Degrees: Careers with Associate Degrees
Service industry occupations provide services in such areas as food and beverage preparation, lodging, barbering and cosmetology, protection, and personal services. The following are a few examples of two-year programs leading to an associate degree.
Culinary - community colleges and culinary institutes offer culinary degrees which lead to becoming a chef or other food service managerial positions. The advantage of completing a culinary degree program is the ability to start right away in as a cook or chef, without having to spend time in a lower skilled position. Also, culinary degree holders typically begin their first job in better hotels and fine dining restaurants.
Fire Science – earning an associate’s degree in fire science improve an applicant's chances for a job as a fire fighter. A number of colleges and universities offer courses leading to two-year degrees in fire engineering or fire science. These programs focus on firefighting equipment and techniques, building construction, emergency medical technology, and public relations.
These programs are only a sampling of two-year programs which lead to earning a degree offering increased opportunities for quicker advancement in most career fields. Additional programs include automotive technology, air traffic control, construction technology, restaurant management, and administrative assistant.
Community colleges play an important role in the U.S. educational system. They have existed for more than a hundred years and offer a wide variety of educational opportunities for all adults. For anyone interested in career advancement through continuing education, there are more than 1,000 community and junior colleges in the United States.
David R. Wetzel - Dr. David Wetzel's experience includes more than 25 years in continuing, adult, and teacher education.
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