Enrolling Now, Rewarding Careers Ahead [Sponsored]

College of the Desert: Enrolling Now, Rewarding Careers Ahead [Sponsored]

It’s enrollment season at College of the Desert (the College)! The College offers a variety of courses to meet the diverse needs of the Coachella Valley, including Career Education and certificate programs that combine rigorous academic study with workforce skills. Students can take the first steps toward fulfilling professions by enrolling in the Summer/Fall semester. Registration is now open.

The College’s lineup of Career Education programs is designed with business and industry standards in mind. Taught by experts in the field, students gain intensive hands-on training that prepares them for real-world experiences. Summer/Fall Semester offerings include coursework in the following fields:

• Public Service
• Information Technology
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Energy, Construction and Utilities

Public Service Academies at College of the Desert equip the next generation of police officers, EMTs and firefighters. Students learn key information in the classroom and immediately apply emergency skills in live exercises. Instructors are well-rounded professionals, from public defenders to active firefighters. Local recruiters often hire directly from these programs — one day a student is a recruit paying their way, and the next, they’re enrolled in the professional academy.

Information Technology programs at the College train students to solve tomorrow’s computing challenges. Focused on Information Technology and Cybersecurity, the wide-ranging curriculum dives deep into computer hardware, software and networking. Students can take what they learn and apply it directly in local business or transfer their skills to a four-year university.

As a top travel destination, the Coachella Valley always needs qualified chefs, golf service workers, hotel managers and more. The College’s Hospitality and Tourism programs are tailored to the desert’s thriving tourism economy. According to Visit Greater Palm Springs’ 2022 Economic Impact Report, tourists in Greater Palm Springs drove a total of $8.7 billion in economic impact. The local travel industry generated 49,137 jobs in 2022. College of the Desert students can find many opportunities in this booming industry.

The energy, construction, and utilities industries are also flourishing in the Valley. The College offers a series of Career Education and certificates centered on these fields, including Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Commercial Gas Heating, Residential Solar Installation and Building Inspection Technology. Students learn vital skills for the community in these programs, making them indispensable employees.

College of the Desert offers scholarship opportunities to all students, no matter if they are on track to transfer to a four-year university or are learning critical vocational skills in a Career Education or certificate program. Up to $10,000 in funding per student is available. Students must complete a COD Scholarship Application through the AwardSpring platform. The application cycle closes on May 1.

The College’s commitment to advancing college affordability starts with the plEDGE program. Coachella Valley high school graduates can apply for the offering, which provides two full years of free tuition and fees. Students must complete their plEDGE summer engagement requirement, enroll full-time during the Fall and Spring semesters, and maintain specific high school requirements.

Whether they’re motivated to protect public safety or want to tackle complex data and computing problems, there’s a career path waiting for students at College of the Desert. The College is ready to support the whole student, including financially, academically and socially.

Learn more about COD’s Career Education opportunities at https://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/