College Offers More Than Just Degrees

Anybody who wants a diploma, career certification, or a college degree should not look any further than Florida State College at Jacksonville. The college has divided itself into three programs: the community education division, a division that contains a number of different programs that are geared to specific educational needs; the career education division, a division that certifies students for specific careers; and the degree education division.

The three divisions exist so that the college can be more responsive to individuals.

President Steven Wallace said, "We want students to have as many options as possible."

The degree education division, Florida State College, is geared to degree seeking students. This includes all of the associate and bachelor degree programs that are being offered at the college. The students that apply for this division must have a high school diploma or its equivalent to be able to attend classes.

The career education division, Florida Coast Career Tech, is geared toward people who want high wage employment. These people usually need a certificate or license to be able to get a high paying job.

Students will be able to work on getting their license or certificate at Florida Coast Career Tech. After they complete their course of study they are required to take a test. Once they pass their test they become certified through the college.

Students who complete this program will receive a certificate granted by "Florida Coast Career Tech, a division of Florida State College at Jacksonville."

The community education division is geared to a variety of different people looking for different things. This division includes a number of programs that meet students' needs: Pathways Academy, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Independent Living for Adult Blind, Adults with Disabilities, Community Music School, The GED Academy, and much more.

Pathways Academy is for students who want to get their high school diploma. English for Speakers of Other Languages is for non-native speakers who want to be educated about the English language. These programs of study are for personal enrichment. They are not credited courses.

The college is not required by law to have a community education division. The college has this division because it recognizes the need for it in the community.

A student can start at the community level and work their way up the career ladder.

For example, a student could get a GED at the college, and later if he or she chose nursing as a career path, then the student could start off by becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant then a Licensed Practical Nurse with a certification from the Florida Coast Career Tech division. If the student decided they wanted to go a step further, then they could also receive associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing with the Florida State College division.

Wallace said, "It gives students an 'earn while they learn' opportunity."

There are many programs of study that overlap at Florida State College at Jacksonville, so students can change their minds and continue to further their education without needing to leave the college.