Brazosport College Workforce Programs

These career oriented programs are designed to meet the basic requirements for those students who wish to enter the semi-professional aspects of business, engineering, or industry, that do not require four years of college preparation. These programs may also be used to further the vocational and technical skills of those already employed. The curricula are not planned with transfer as the desired objective; however, some courses in the various curricula are accepted by senior colleges should a student desire to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a later time.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree is awarded to students who complete an approved two-year program. To be eligible for the degree, a student must maintain satisfactory grades in all laboratory and class subjects and be at college level in reading, writing, and mathematics. Certificates are given in those programs of less than two years. The certificate represents mastery of entry-level job skills.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Brazosport College offers courses in Cooperative Education, which may be taken by students in occupational areas.

Cooperative Education is a program in which students are employed off-campus on paid training assignments that are related as closely as possible to the course of study and individual interest. Many jobs performed by cooperative students afford them the opportunity to observe a range of vocations and professions actually being performed and to gain a more realistic understanding of the tasks involved, the conditions under which they work, and the kinds of rewards obtained in a variety of occupations. Cooperative Education can provide a superior opportunity for students to develop realistic social attitudes.

Students who desire to participate in the Cooperative Education program should contact the division chair for the program area of their choice. At this time, students will be interviewed to determine where their employment interests lie and to acquaint them with job opportunities in their major field of study.

There are 15 different major occupational-technical programs with cooperative education plans offered at Brazosport College: Automotive Technology, Chemical Technology, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Drafting, Early Childhood Development, Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, Industrial and Commercial Construction, Industrial and Commercial Electricity, Industrial and Commercial Pipefitting, Instrumentation Technology, Machine Technology/ Millwright, Office Administration, Safety, Health, and Environmental Management, and Welding Technology.

After acceptance into a cooperative education program, the student must be accepted by a cooperating employer. The choosing of an employer is most important. Once a student has accepted employment with a company, the student will be encouraged to continue with that company during the training period.

All placement or approval of cooperative training stations is arranged through the coordinator for the major area of study. It should be understood that the college cannot guarantee employment to the co-op student, as it is the employer who actually provides the work experience.

A member of the co-op staff will visit with students and employers to counsel with both parties and make necessary observations of progress and performance.

While financial reasons are secondary to the educational benefits to be derived from the job, the salary earned is important to most people and is often the enabling device to make further education possible.

Students desiring further information should contact their advisors.

ARTICULATED TECHNICAL CREDIT AT BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE

The articulated technical credit program offers students the opportunity to receive college credit for some of the high school courses they take in certain technical fields. The college offers this credit in programs which have developed a statewide plan for curriculum alignment or when there is a formal partnership agreement between the high school and the college to coordinate teaching. This is necessary to assure that students receive the information and skills needed to satisfy the learning objectives for both a high school and a college course. This assures that students are properly prepared to move directly into more advanced college work. Depending on the program and the way its curriculum is presented in high school and in college, some agreements provide for credit to be granted for blocks of high school courses. In those cases, credit is granted only if all the courses in a defined block are completed and you meet the other requirements for articulated technical credit.

If your high school has an articulated technical credit agreement with Brazosport College that includes a course or courses you took in high school (or offers courses eligible for statewide articulation), you will be able to receive college credit subject to the following conditions:

•    You made a grade of B or better (80 or higher) in the high school course.

•    You meet the entrance requirements for Brazosport College and any additional requirements the program may have.

•    You enroll in the same technical program at Brazosport College as evidenced by your declared major and the selection of courses in the program’s degree or certificate plan within fifteen months after graduating from high school.

•    You successfully complete six hours at Brazosport College for credit that applies to the degree or certificate program.

•    You apply for the credit within 28 months of your graduation from high school by presentation of your high school transcript to the registrar along with your written request that the credit be awarded.

In a few cases, the high school course is taught by a Brazosport College instructor. In those cases, the student receives credit simultaneously (dual credit) toward both high school and college program completion.

Articulated technical credit is available only in technical workforce education programs offering AAS degrees and certificates. The following programs have articulated technical credit agreements with some area high schools: automotive technology, chemical technology, drafting, early childhood development, office administration, and welding. See your Brazosport College counselor to see if any of your high school courses in these areas of study qualify for college credit.

National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)

Brazosport College is recognized as an accredited training unit by the National Center for Construction Education and Research and Merit Shop Training, Inc., the education arm of Associated Builders and Contractors, Texas Gulf Coast Chapter. Many of the courses offered in the construction crafts incorporate NCCER curriculum. These courses are noted in the course descriptions section of the catalog with the notation “NCCER credit available.”

Students who take these courses may ask to have their specific skill attainments reported to NCCER’s Automated National Registry as evidence to potential employers of the skills they have acquired. Before any student’s work is reported to the Automated National Registry, the student must sign a Registration and Release form to be kept on file by the college. Without this form, the college is prohibited from reporting a student’s records to third parties.