Monroe County Community College has launched 10 new academic programs -- six degree programs and four certificate programs -- in areas including construction management/virtual design, data analytics, digital media, emergency medical technology, health sciences, mechatronics and paralegal.
The programs are enrolling for this Fall Semester, which begins Aug. 21.
"Ensuring that we continue to innovate and maintain relevant academic programming is a key objective of MCCC's strategic plan," said MCCC President Dr. Kojo A. Quartey. "I am pleased to announce that following a comprehensive assessment of our academic programming offerings, we have implemented an extensive array of in-demand academic programming designed to specifically meet the needs of regional employers and our students."
The new associate degree programs include Data Analytics, Digital Media Marketing and Communications, Health Sciences, Health Sciences-Psychology Track, Health Sciences-Sociology Track and Paralegal.
The new certificate programs are Construction Management Technology-Virtual Design and Construction, Digital Media Marketing and Communication, Emergency Medical Technician and Mechatronics.
Below are detailed descriptions of all the new programs. Labor market data is provided by Lightcast, which MCCC uses for academic program review and evaluation, as well as for program descriptions in its annual college catalog.
The Construction Management Technology-Virtual Design and Construction certificate program seamlessly blends online and face-to-face learning, preparing students to utilize a unique combination of traditional and cutting-edge approaches to construction and building information modeling, which is the holistic process of creating and managing information for a built asset. It is tailored for success in construction and project management while pioneering innovative practices through a flexible course delivery system. There are about 22,000 people employed in this field in Michigan, which is up by 12 percent since 2021. The field is expected to grow by 4 percent through 2028, and there are about 1,000 job openings annually.
Data Analytics is an associate of applied science degree program designed to provide practical and theoretical preparation for positions in business analytics or data science. The Data Analytics program provides two tracks – business analytics and data science – based upon the student’s interest. Employment in the data analytics field in Michigan is expected to grow by 7 percent by 2028. There are more than 30,000 individuals employed in this field in Michigan and nearly 1,900 job postings annually. Employment in the field grew by 10.5 percent statewide from 2021-24. It is expected to grow by another 7 percent by 2028.
The Digital Media Marketing and Communications associate of applied science degree program enables students to obtain a broad introduction to the concepts and techniques used in this field, and graduates may work in areas such as public relations, advertising, marketing communications, digital marketing or social media influencing. Students can also opt to earn a Digital Media Marketing and Communication certificate either on its own or as they work toward the associate degree. Nearly 70,000 individuals work in this field in Michigan, and there are more than 2,000 job postings annually; employment in the field grew by 8.6 percent statewide from 2021-24 and is expected to grow by another 5.6 percent by 2028.
The Emergency Medical Technician certificate program (pending state approval) is designed to prepare students to provide competent medical care and transportation for patients in emergency situations through learning in classroom, laboratory and clinical environments. After completing the certificate requirements, students will be eligible to take the national examination to become certified in emergency medicine and eligible for licensing in many states, including Michigan and Ohio. There are about 46,000 EMT-related jobs in Michigan and 260 annual job postings. Employment opportunities grew by 4 percent from 2021-24 and are expected to grow by another 3.7 percent by 2028.
Three new degrees in Health Sciences are now available. The Health Sciences associate of applied science degree program provides students with a foundation in basic and health-related sciences through a diversified curriculum, allowing them to explore courses unique to health-related disciplines. The curriculum provides a flexible means to explore health content areas of interest and is useful to students working toward acceptance into a limited enrollment program at MCCC, such as nursing or respiratory therapy. The degree may also serve as a foundation for transfer to a college or university offering a bachelor’s degree in the applied health sciences area. The Health Sciences-Psychology Track transfer pathway and Health Sciences-Sociology Track transfer pathway are associate of science degrees designed for students who plan on transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in one of those areas.
Mechatronics Technician is a certificate program that prepares students for entry-level employment in careers as technicians in automation maintenance, mechatronics, research and development, and testing. This field grew by 1.2 percent from 2021-24, and the job market will remain stable through 2028. There are about 800 individuals employed in this field in Michigan and 70 openings annually.
The Paralegal associate of applied science degree program is designed to prepare students to become competent and ethical professional paralegals working in the delivery of legal services. Career opportunities include entry-level employment as a paralegal, legal assistant, document control specialist, compliance specialist, legal transcriptionist, legal researcher, law librarian or claims examiner/adjuster. There are about 500 job postings annually for paralegal-related positions in Michigan, and more than 10,000 people are employed in the field. Employment grew by 3 percent in the state from 2021-24 and is expected to grow by 1.6 percent between 2024-2028.
For more information on any of the new programs or to enroll, please contact the Office of Admissions at (734) 384-4104 or admissions@monroecc.edu.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich lives in the community by providing opportunity through student-focused, affordable, quality higher education and other learning experiences. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave., Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.
