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March 2004 — Vol. 82, No. 2

Pathways to engineering and technology education

 

Companies with employees who want to upgrade their engineering skills or pursue an engineering-related degree should look into the College of Technology Pathway Programs offered through Connecticut community colleges.

The “college” is a curriculum that lets a student begin engineering or technology studies at one of the state’s 12 community colleges and then transfer, without any loss of credits, to a four-year program at Central Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Hartford, the University of New Haven or Charter Oak State College.

Begun in 1995, the program creates “a seamless pathway, with no barriers, for students transitioning from a two-year college to a four-year program,” says Karen Wosczyna-Birch, the College of Technology state coordinator. “In the past, four-year colleges and universities often didn’t accept all of the credits from a two-year school.”

The College of Technology has a lot of adult learners (the average age is 29 or 30), many of whom are already working while going to school at the same time, Wosczyna-Birch says. “In many cases, it’s the only way they can do it. The community colleges are close to home, offer night classes, and are less expensive than a four-year school. So it’s a more affordable way for students to get a degree.”

Two study “pathways” are available: Engineering Science and Technological Studies.

“The Technological Studies Pathway is closely aligned with employers,” says Wosczyna-Birch. “We can tailor classes to an employer’s needs.” For example, they’ve created a certificate program (granting credits toward a degree) and a degree program in industrial electronics for a group of manufacturers in northwestern Connecticut. Programs have also been developed for Northeast Utilities and for plastics companies.

The College of Technology has also worked with CBIA on National Science Foundation grant-funded programs, including an externship program for technology educators.

If you would like to discuss having courses designed for your employees, send an e-mail to Karen Wosczyna-Birch or call her at 860-677-8966. “We can be very responsive in a very short time frame,” she promises.

Click here for more information about the pathway programs. For a list of Connecticut colleges and universities offering engineering-related degrees, visit the academic field of study database on the Department of Higher Education’s Web site.

 

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