Sinclair Community College is offering two new associate degree programs and 12 certificate programs this school year. Demand from students and the local job market inspired Sinclair to create several new programs for industries including agriculture, healthcare, retail, tech, and culinary arts.
Seven new short-term certificates, five one year certificates and two associate of applied science degree programs have been added to Sinclair’s ever expanding course catalog. In addition to several entry level certificates, Sinclair now offers CPA exam eligibility courses for accounting and business components, and a Paralegal Postbaccalaureate certificate.
Sinclair has seen a high demand from students for an agriculture program. Veterinarian Technology department chair Carolyn Reno worked on meeting this demand by helping to develop curriculum for 4 agriculture focused certificate programs.
New to the list are certificates for large animal care and handling, agricultural equipment operator, and large animal sciences. These are in addition to the existing UAS precision agriculture short-term certificate.
“That’s where agriculture’s going, knowing where to put your fertilizer and where your crop will do best. We’re looking for precise growing methods” said Carolyn Reno. “We’re offering a college education in agriculture, not just what someone might learn on a farm.”
An associate’s degree for agriculture is in the works with plans of being made available within the next two years. The degree will encompass the agriculture certificates to give students tools needed to be well rounded in precision agriculture, and a chance to transfer to a four-year degree.
Sinclair’s new associate of applied science degrees include public health and applied psychology. The Applied Psychology program is meant to fill the Dayton area’s high demand for skilled researchers and behavior analysts. The applied degree is transfer friendly, especially to Wright State and OSU.
“Wright Patterson (air force base) is the second biggest researcher of human factor technology in the country,” said Mary Wells, the chair of Sinclair’s psychology department. “They also need people who have a knowledge of middle eastern culture”, said Wells.
Several local businesses such as Procter and Gamble are in need of psychology researchers, assistant researchers, and behavior analysts who have associate degrees, and start those positions at $17 to $18 an hour. The associate of applied science degree is more focused on psychology and less on electives than the associate of arts degree.
Anyone interested in these programs should speak with their academic advisor. Stay tuned to The Clarion newspaper for information about new or upcoming opportunities at Sinclair.
Will Drewing
Managing Editor