Careers From Trade Schools

As most people know, there are few things more important that a high quality education. Knowledge is power and if one truly puts their mind and efforts into something, then anything can be achieved. It is common for those wishing to further their education to think that their only option is to attend a traditional style academic university, however, there are also trade schools available which offer a great educational alternative for those who may not prefer the traditional academic environment.

Planning one's career can often be can be both daunting and intimidating. Attending a career center will offer education and training that is both accelerated and focused according to whatever the special skill studied may be. There are many kinds of these types of career institutions. The most popular ones include automotive, music production, welding and metal work, and art institutions, just to name a few. In the traditional liberal arts educational environment there are many prerequisite course requirements such as math, science, history, and literature. In the trade school environment there are far less of these non-related foundational requirements. This makes for a learning environment that is more focused on particular skills rather than providing a general academic education with broader concentrations. In these career building institutions, the students are able to be constantly stimulated and engaged through hands-on experience.

To obtain a certification or degree from career building centers it usually takes anywhere from a few weeks to two years which is far less time than the traditionally required four to six year liberal arts degree. Another factor which makes trade schools so appealing is that most of the institutions offer job placement programs. Upon obtaining certification, students are able to be placed in the particular career field which caters to their new certified skill. Immediate employment is crucial upon graduating from any school. With today's struggling economy, many liberal arts students are struggling to find jobs in their field and for this reason many people, even college graduates, are making the decision to attend a career school in order to be able to get a job in their desired field.

Trade schools are usually privately owned and operate as a for profit business. Tuition is often higher than that of a typical state run university although the education is more exciting and accelerated. Certification can be obtained in less time, making it quicker and less stressful to find a job in the desired field. Although tuition costs can be higher, there is financial aid and scholarships available for those who qualify. Repaying student loans is less of a burden since skill-based jobs are easier to obtain. Trade schools are a great way to kick start a lifelong career. Many of the jobs available through these institutions also offer benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. When making the decision to further one's education, it is essential to consider going to a career institution, especially during times of economic hardship.

Career Education Programs

Over the decades, the advancements in various sectors led to the evolution of specialized branches of studies. Today, a variety of career education programs are run by universities, catering to the growing needs of industries and business. These programs produce professionals in almost all areas of expertise. They provide opportunities for students to choose career-related coursework and workplace experiences that provide them with experience to advance their careers.

Students are more likely to succeed when they see a purpose to their studies. A career education program help to improve student motivation and academic performance, and helps them choose careers that they are interested in.

Major domains of these career education programs at different universities are art and design, business, culinary, education, engineering, health and medical, law and criminal justice and computer science. Art and design offers programs of different duration in advertising and commercial design, animation fashion design, film and video, game art design, graphic design, interior design, photography, music and video.

Business programs are available in construction management, supply chain management, forensic accounting and project management. Culinary programs are available in baking and pastry, catering, chef training, culinary arts and restaurant management. There are also specialized programs in curriculum designing, early childhood education, educational administration, special education and teaching. Engineering programs include electrical, mechanical, electronics, environmental, manufacturing and computer engineering.

The health and medical programs cover counseling, care and management. Law and criminal justice programs offer courses in court reporting, criminal justice forensics, law enforcement and legal services. Programs in sciences include aviation science, veterinary science, science and biotechnology. These programs are in coherence with the job market. Modifications as per the ever-changing job market are also incorporated in these programs.

Further career education can be pursued through either regular classrooms or distance education. Many universities provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships or loans.

Life Centered Career Education

Life centered career education address the needs of students with learning disabilities, students with mild mental disabilities and students at risk. The curriculum includes various training programs that provide education and training to develop skills useful to this challenged segment of society. These programs teach students to function independently and productively as family members and citizens. The process of learning incorporates training in liaison with family members or available friends.

The first step in the training process is to assess individuals and determine whether such training would be beneficial to them. For this purpose, there are various verbal and non-verbal tests.

On the basis of these assessments and certain observations, a student is accepted in the correct type of training program. The present level of competencies is determined and an individual educational program (IEP) is prepared with a set of objectives. This plan is a program of education for the particular student. Systematic instructional content is prepared and elaborated into a curriculum in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Life centered career education allows society to address the needs of the physically or mentally challenged segment of population. The main components of this training are daily living skills, personal-social skills, occupational guidance and preparation.

The curriculum focuses on reaching the goals with a lot of flexibility provided to the trainer and the student.

Daily living skills segments teach students to manage day-to-day tasks such as personal activities, food preparation, household management and personal finance management. ""Personal social skills"" segments focus on relations with other people. These enhance the self-confidence of the student and hence improve his decision-making skills. Lastly, a very important part of the training is to find a suitable job for the candidates. Life centered career education addresses this concern by training students and providing occupational guidance according to the specific competency skills.

Assessment is a very important part of life centered career education. It includes various assessment devices along with the requirements for testing. Overall, life centered career education opens up opportunities for growth and personal satisfaction to the people who participate in these programs.