Hidden Gems 2021 - 2022
In college, there are the classes you have to take.
But sometimes, there are classes you want to take.
Take a look at some classes we like to call "Hidden Gems." These are lesser known or unique classes that offer students a course off the beaten path. Many of these classes are electives so you might be able to fit them into your program of study.
Every other week throughout the year, we will feature a new "gem" on the website homepage. Keep an eye out for these special
classes! And if you have an idea or a class you'd like to see featured, let us know
by emailing the CCAC Marketing Department.
Are you looking for a big-picture understanding of the world—and for a peek at your
place in Western Pennsylvania in particular? Would you like a deeper understanding
of the environmental problems facing this region that impact your future? Do you want
to help solve these problems?
In this course, you will learn how human activity is affecting the Earth, and how you can join with others to make the world more sustainable. If we’re going to fix these problems, then we need you! It’s going to take everyone, from all academic areas of interest and backgrounds, working together, to make this a better place.
Environmental issues touch every part of your existence, from where you live, to what you eat, to how you spend your days. This class will give you specific knowledge that will benefit you and your loved ones now and throughout your life!
If we’re ever going to be the just, inclusive and vibrant society we truly want and
deserve to be, we need to make ethics a priority.
This course focuses on the study of right and wrong in the context of the police, the courts and corrections. But along the way, you will be laying the foundation for becoming an ethical professional in any field.
One highlight of the course is learning about ethical heroes. These are women and men who displayed compelling courage in the moral choices they made.
Another highlight is the wealth of real-world examples, case studies and practical scenarios that will prepare you to confront—with integrity—the ethical challenges you’re sure to encounter.
Whether you are interested in being a member of a choir or band, CCAC has something
for you!
Students in College Choir 1 and Instrumental/Vocal Ensemble 1 rehearse and perform a variety of music in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Open to all students, these courses provide opportunities to collaborate with others while developing and refining music performance skills—culminating in a public performance at the end of the semester.
Whether you are a seasoned performer or musical novice, you are welcome to be a part of bringing live music to CCAC.
Follow the links below to find out more and register:
MUS 109 - College Choir 1 >>>
MUS 126 - lnstrumental/Vocal Ensemble >>>
This course provides an overview of personal health and wellness. Active learning
experiences encourage the exploration of personal wellness and lifestyle concepts.
Topics include, but are not limited to: fitness, nutrition, sexuality, smoking, alcohol
and substance abuse, stress, and emotional wellness. Participation in class activities
assists the formulation of an individualized wellness plan.
Health is not defined simply as the absence of disease, but as a high level of wellness of the entire individual. The interrelatedness of the dimensions of health—including physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual and environmental—draws the student into the understanding that health is about choices, decisions and relationships.
This course offers you the opportunity to evaluate your own health lifestyle using knowledge from nationally renowned experts from various fields of medicine and health. You are encouraged to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills—along with new knowledge—to make the decisions and modifications necessary to improve your lifestyle behaviors.
View available sections of HPE 171 - Personal and Community Health and Wellness >>>
The goal of this course is for you to develop a personal program of stress management
based on the latest research.
Yes, there are effective, proven steps that you can take to ease your stress, protect your brain, and improve your mood.
Learn techniques for promoting physical, mental and emotional wellness, and incorporate them into your daily routine to reap the rewards!
Are you curious about the ways in which people live their lives? Then this course
is for you!
Not only will you be introduced to some fascinating and different cultures, but through comparison, you will get to reflect on your own culture and make more sense of your own life. As one of the best disciplines for perceiving the world through the eyes of others, cultural anthropology fosters cultural understanding and appreciation.
What could be more needed today? Is it any wonder that major players in the global economy are interested in hiring individuals with a background in cultural anthropology?
Why is Pittsburgh the “City of Steel”? Why were the three rivers so important that
they were a contributing factor in the French and Indian War? Why is Andy Warhol's
Campbell's Soup Can so iconic? Why is the city central in the movement for the rights
of labor? And why is there an army of Steelers fans across the world?
If you'd like to discover the answers to these questions and so many more, register now for HIS 222 - Pittsburgh: Past, Present and Future.
This course is a survey of Pittsburgh’s role in the Colonial frontier, the westward movement, the development of the Ohio River Valley and the Industrial Revolution, as well as its role in developing solutions to contemporary urban problems. You will learn about the people and events that have shaped the city over time to understand how the rich history of Pittsburgh surrounds and influences us today.
The course features zero-cost course materials, which are available to students in electronic format.
Maybe you’ve always felt drawn to working with infants and toddlers, even been a nanny
or considered working for a Head Start program or childcare center. If you feel empathy
for young children and a desire to be a part of their healthy growth and development,
this course may be right for you.
In ECD 209, you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work with children ages birth through 8 years old by encouraging healthy interactions, activities and development to help build their resilience, the ability to face adversity. By analyzing a wide variety of case studies, you will gain understanding of best practices for fostering the mental health and well-being of young children within the context of their family and community. Unique to this course is work focused on supporting the caregivers, not just the children. This empowers caregivers to better support the children, creating stronger foundations.
Time spent in the classroom is complemented by weekly field observations in infant/toddler and/or early childhood programs.
ECD 209 - Introduction to Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health >>>
As an aspiring health care professional, you can get your career off to a strong start
by mastering medical terminology. Think of this course as the main building block
for your future success in the field. Understanding medical terminology will help
you with all of your advanced studies as well.
In addition, you will be introduced to a wide variety of common medical procedures and diagnostic tests performed by health care providers every day. What’s more, you will learn how to convert complex medical terms and reports to lay terms.
Do you have an idea for a business? Turn it into reality!
This course will walk you through the steps.
After creating your entrepreneurial assessment report, you’ll prepare a plan, analyze the challenges and take a problem-solving approach to address any barriers.
You will also become aware of funding sources and other helpful resources, acquire techniques for successful networking, incorporate strategies to keep your business running profitably, and learn the essentials of recordkeeping.
Your Passion + This Course = A Successful Launch of Your Business
Did you skip physics in high school, but are curious about how the world works? If so, this course was created just for you. And it includes spending time in a lab, where you’ll get hands-on experience exploring
the concepts being discussed in class.
Why is the sky blue? As a matter of fact, why does a rainbow have seven colors? How is an image in a mirror produced? What does lightning have in common with hair on a dry winter day?
For answers to these questions—and questions about more everyday physical phenomena—register for this course. Who knows, you may just become a physics enthusiast as you actively investigate the fascinating science all around you!
Did you know that college does a mind and body good?
Research has shown that people who have attended college are healthier than those who haven’t. Not only that, college graduates live about 10 years longer than those without a high school diploma.
Interested in more fact-based findings?
This course focuses on the relationship between stress and health. You will learn about new research that shows how you can use gratitude, humor, pets and spirituality to help you cope. What’s more, you will discover how your attitudes, beliefs, self-confidence and personality affect your overall health—and investigate the role that social support, positive emotions and relationships play.
Unhealthy lifestyles are harder to change than they are to prevent, so act now. Learn to think like a health psychologist and make optimal health and well-being your goal!
English 105, Creative Writing, is an invitation to people who feel they have not had
a chance to tell their stories. The invitation is to write, to express what has been
silenced.
This class is an invitation to people who scribble the first paragraphs of stories on their coffee breaks, who hide notebook-paper poems under the bed, in a drawer, or in an unnamed file on their computer desktop.
Writing is not an empty exercise. When we write down our own stories, we are developing our inner voice, shaping and training our imaginations. When we read our work aloud, we are no longer hiding. We are letting the world hear our natural rhythms of speech.
In this class, we will study the foundational aspects of writing poetry and prose. We will study contemporary poetry, fiction and nonfiction from a selection of diverse authors—from Porsha O. to Amy Tan to Jamaica Kincaid. We will write based on assigned prompts and prompts we create as a class. Students will have a chance to revise and trade work with peers. We will also discuss the basics of performance and publishing.
This is a specialized course purposely designed for students earning an associate
degree in one of the health fields. The emphasis is on the practical math used in
calculating dosages, flow rates of IV infusions and other related computations.
Students report that this course was a great help to them in passing the nursing exam. Others have said they wished they had taken it prior to studying chemistry or physics.
Have you ever studied American history from “the bottom up”? This course offers you
the chance to view the history of the United States through the lens of working people
who labored to build this country—all while engaging in a struggle for social and
economic justice.
In HIS 151, History of American Labor, the worker takes center stage against the backdrop of a timeline marking the major historical milestones from 1877 to the present. Learn about paid and unpaid labor, the birth of organized labor, the fight for the eight-hour workday and minimum wage, and the evolution of the union movement during the 20th century to the present day.
Through a variety of primary sources and other instructional materials, the voices of working people speak loud and clear to provide you with thought-provoking new perspectives about work, workers, and those who built America.
In this course dedicated to field research, you will explore the natural history and
biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands firsthand. As you retrace the steps of Charles
Darwin, you will learn about the unique indigenous wildlife of the islands as well
as the evolutionary and biogeographic forces that have shaped this extraordinary ecosystem.
Imagine spending nine exciting days on the islands, investigating a variety of terrestrial and marine habitats and studying animals and plants in the wild, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions, sea turtles, reef sharks, and a variety of bird species, as well as visiting an active volcano, conservation facilities and nature preserves, and evolutionary research stations.
And, just like other great explorers before you, you’ll have a chance to practice techniques for directly observing animal behavior, including keeping a written journal of your observations, just as Darwin himself did when he explored these islands in 1835.
Join Professor Adam W. Davis for a life-changing experience!
Discrimination takes many forms. Unfair treatment based on gender, race, religion,
color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, looks, economics, speech patterns,
disability—and the numerous other categories into which we divide human beings—takes
its toll on people’s mental health and their ability to be successful and contribute
to the common good.
In this course, you will examine discrimination, bias and prejudice. You may be surprised to learn that discriminatory practices harm the United States as a world leader and as an economic power. Yes, discrimination costs our country’s economy—to the tune of $16 trillion over the past 20 years, according to a recent study by U.S. banking giant Citigroup.
There are ways to combat such ill treatment, move America toward true equality, and transform our nation into one where everyone feels valued, appreciated and welcomed. Come and be part of the solution!
ETH 207 - Separate and Unequal: The Continuing Story of Discrimination in America
CCAC’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician and Mechatronics apprenticeships are jobs
that enable you to “earn while you learn.” These Pennsylvania-registered programs
include classroom time, online learning modules, and on-the-job training assignments.
For the Industrial Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship, the total learning experience consists of 3,000 hours—264 hours of coursework and 2,736 hours of on-the-job training, generally scheduled over an 18-month period.
The Mechatronics apprenticeship includes 510 hours of coursework and 6,000 hours of on-the-job training over a three-year period.
Both apprenticeships offer the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council Certified Production Technician course, with the opportunity to earn a national- and industry-recognized credential.
If you are looking for a high-paying career, contact Sylvia Elsayed at selsayed@ccac.edu or 412.788.7507.
Industrial Manufacturing Technician and Mechatronics Apprenticeship Programs >
Is a career in court reporting or captioning right for you? This free introductory
course will answer that question.
In Project Steno’s Basic Training course, you will learn the rudiments of machine shorthand theory. That’s the keyboard system used by professional court reporters and captioners to capture high-speed speech verbatim using a Stenograph machine.
In just six class sessions, plus practice at home, you’ll become familiar with the steno keyboard and learn to write simple words in machine shorthand. By taking this hands-on course, you will find out if a career in court reporting or captioning appeals to you and whether you have the aptitude for it.
The course will run for three weeks on Monday evenings from 7–9 and on Saturday mornings from 10–noon on the following dates: Nov. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20.
In just two days, you can earn your ServSafe® certification—the industry standard in food safety training administered by the U.S.
National Restaurant Association. Upon successful completion of this course, you will
be awarded the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certificate.
Certified restaurant and food service managers are in demand. The law requires restaurants to have someone who is ServSafe® certified on the premises during their hours of operation. CCAC’s training meets all the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Food Employee Certification Act.
Your training will cover the following essential topics:
· How to purchase, safely handle and safely store food
· How to safely prepare food
· Foodborne microorganisms and allergens
· Personal hygiene
· How to manage pests
· How to clean and sanitize your facility
In this course, you will read short stories and novels within the science fiction
genre. The readings are drawn from various eras and subgenres and include works of
historically excluded authors.
Science fiction has made it possible for us to imagine what the world would be like if we created a civilization without bigotry or warfare.
In fact, works of science fiction enable us to hold a mirror up to ourselves so we can see our world as it truly is. What other form of literature could be more pertinent to the present?
This is your chance to get acquainted with the genre that anticipated 3D holograms, smart homes and self-driving cars. Are you curious to discover what writers of science fiction might be foreseeing now?
Buckle up for what could be the adventure of a lifetime as you journey into the future while reflecting on the here and now.
Project Management Boot Camp is a learning community that is designed for experienced
adults working in a project management role who desire the PMP® Certification for
career advancement and the opportunity to increase their compensation substantially.
The size of the group is usually small, so the participants and instructor have many opportunities to interact.
Topics covered include communication, cost management, human resources, integration, procurement, quality, risk, scope, time management, and new in 2021—an Agile approach.
Invest in your future. Enroll today!
From the wise words of artist Lauryn Hill, “Hip Hop isn’t just music, it is also a spiritual movement of the blacks! You can’t
just call Hip Hop a trend!”
In this course, you will examine all things Hip Hop, including its origins, its impact on society, and how it transformed into a lifestyle. Hip Hop is a way of life and a form of communication and empowerment in African American culture. Not only has it impacted the music industry, but it also offers insight into how many individuals view all matters related to them.
If this sounds like something you would like to dive deeper into, don’t hesitate to sign up for this course because you are definitely in for a treat!
At CCAC, you can get your Pennsylvania Class A CDL license in eight weeks.
The classroom portion of the course will prepare you to take your CDL Class A permit tests (general knowledge A, general knowledge B, and air brake) and provide you with a working knowledge of log books/hours of service and Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations. You will also learn about career opportunities in the transportation industry. Spoiler alert: On any given day, there are as many as 70,000 driver jobs available nationwide.
The lab portion is 80 hours of hands-on training—two students to a truck, one instructor. This arrangement will give each of you 40 hours of individualized behind-the-wheel instruction. The skills you acquire to pass the CDL Class A driver's test will be your ticket to obtain entry-level employment as a Class A or B CDL driver. After two years on the job, you can potentially make yearly salaries of $60,000 to $70,000.
Hundreds of commercial driving jobs are available in this area for local (home every day), regional (gone one or two nights a week) and over-the-road (nationwide) drivers. Students who successfully complete the program are often offered a job even before they have passed their CDL test—and you could be one of them.
Learn new music and revisit old favorites as you study the cultural and historical
contexts that gave rise to various musical styles.
In this course, you will explore a wide variety of musical genres that serve as the soundtrack for America, including folk, blues, ragtime, jazz, rock, country, hip-hop and show tunes.
While sharpening your listening skills and becoming a more informed consumer of music, you will hear wonderful stories about the crooners and rappers, the folkies and rockers who, through their creativity and artistic drive, have made their own original contributions to this universal language.
The opportunity to survey the rich terrain of American popular music awaits you. Tune in now! Register for MUS 160 - American Popular Music.
CCAC’s Basic Training Course for Home Health Aides is FREE to those who qualify!
There are two parts to the course:
- Complete a self-learning module online, which is conveniently self-paced. (If you do not have a computer, CCAC can provide you with a laptop to use during this portion of the course—let the college know when you register.)
- In a lab setting, you will spend a total of 20 hours learning from either an RN or an LPN how to bathe clients, use mechanical lifts, and assist individuals with other daily living skills.
Once you earn your certificate of completion, you will be ready to enter the health care field as a home health aide. Home health aides are in great demand, especially by baby boomers who want to remain in their own homes as they age. In fact, job opportunities are projected to increase by approximately 34% between 2019 and 2029, more than eight times the expected growth for all occupations.
Have you ever wondered why people get ill? How should they be cared for when they
do? Did you know that there are people in other countries whose ideas about health,
illness and health care are different from ours?
Not all Americans experience the same level of health care. In this course, you will learn about factors, such as poverty, that play a role in determining who gets ill. You’ll explore how the health care industry operates, the role of alternative therapies, and what it’s like to be a health care professional.
You will also be introduced to some key criteria for evaluating health care systems so that you’ll be in a position to compare. Rounding out your studies will be an opportunity to delve into some ethical dilemmas—rationing resources, for example. In the end, you will leave this course with a global perspective. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself questioning some of the views you grew up with about health and illness!
CCAC’s Emergency Medical Technician program will prepare you with the knowledge and
skills you will need to deliver basic level emergency care in pre-hospital settings.
What’s more, this course
is aligned with the National EMS Education Standards for EMT as approved by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health.
Specifically, you will learn how to provide emergency care for cardiac arrest, how to respond to both medical and trauma emergencies, how to assess a patient, and how to administer oxygen and appropriate medications—all while gaining familiarity with emergency medical services operations.
This course combines classroom sessions with skill demonstration and practice in a lab. A clinical rotation in a hospital or other approved facility will top off your training.
The rich variety of women’s writing is yours to sample in this smorgasbord of essays,
diaries, autobiographies, short stories, novels, plays and poetry.
The struggles of women writers to get their voices heard and their perspectives recognized will be the guiding principle of this course.
As you explore women writers and their literature, you will learn how cultural, historical and socio-economic forces held them in check in predominantly patriarchal societies. You will also become familiar with the intellectual heritage they have bequeathed to you, and how existential and physical encounters for the right to be seen, heard and respected as women and writers were not received from men—but taken.
Don’t miss this opportunity to develop your critical reading, thinking and writing skills by identifying and explicating the major themes developed by women writers and how they contributed to the women’s movement of the 21st century!
According to HealthIT.gov, health information technology (Health IT) makes it possible for health care providers
to better manage patient care through secure use and sharing of health information.
Health IT includes the use of electronic health records instead of paper medical records
to maintain people's health information.
CCAC’s engaging 20-week Health IT Basic Training Course will provide you with basic skills and broad exposure to medical terminology and health care statistics. It will equip you with an entry-level Health IT skill set or increase your skill set and pave the way for upward mobility. A Course Certificate will be issued to graduates.
Beginning Sept. 13, 2021, and ending Feb. 7, 2022, classes will meet on Monday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. via Zoom, with online coursework to be completed during the week. The course costs $1,849. Payment plans are available.
Graduates of the program are finding job opportunities with hospitals, physician practices, health insurers and software/hardware vendors. In addition, Kane Regional Centers, PAREACH (Pennsylvania’s Regional Extension Center for Health IT), Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative (PRHI) and Excela Health System have requested graduates’ resumes.
Contact Jodi Campano at jcampano@ccac.edu for more information.
In this course, you will study the basics of money management.
For starters, you will identify your sources of income and your key expenditures, and then construct a personal budget to help you achieve your financial goals.
You will learn about the whys and wherefores of taxes, the smart use of debit and credit cards, and the ins and outs of borrowing money. You will explore the pluses and minuses of home ownership versus renting as well as the upsides and downsides of purchasing a vehicle versus leasing one. And to round things out, you will investigate insurance coverage for you (and your family), your home, and your auto.
Since the future is now, you will look into options for retirement planning, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Notably, you will acquire insight into the time value of money and how you can make your money work for you 24/7/365.
An exceptional opportunity to create and execute a plan for your financial future under the skillful guidance of an experienced MBA awaits you!
Do you want to learn how to interpret or create what poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge
called “the best words in the best order”? Poetry is, at its core, a way to navigate
our relationships with each other and ourselves. This course will introduce you to
both classic and contemporary poems, teaching you the “language” of poetry. You’ll
use this knowledge to write effectively about individual poems and the interplay of
sensory images.
Memorizing poetry will enable you to appreciate sound, rhythm, and rhyme, while crafting some poetry of your own will lead to an understanding of the creative process.
Because there is power in poetry, people have been writing poetry since the dawn of time. CCAC invites you to see for yourself and tap into this power—so seize the moment, register for this class, and make your life extraordinary!
Selling is an honorable profession—and the engine of any economic system. In fact,
1 in 2 people have a sales-related job as many companies feel that selling is everyone’s
responsibility.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 13.7 million people are in sales-related jobs in the United States and that in 2019, the median pay for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives was $63,000 per year.
Exposure to the selling process benefits everyone, whether you are an account manager, sales representative or sales engineer.
In this course, you will be introduced to the selling process of prospecting, overcoming objections and closing the sale. You will then be given an opportunity to apply that process to a product or service of your choice—all while perfecting your communication skills, the essential trait of a successful sales professional.
Are you interested in exploring issues surrounding all genders, with a specific focus
on women?
Are you eager to make connections between what you learn in the classroom and what you experience in your personal life?
Are you seeking to discover new insights on social justice and learn how to improve your life and the lives of others?
If so, then this course is the right choice for you to explore the field of women’s studies from historical, social, cultural, economic and biological perspectives.
Are you interested in exploring the history of women in society, with a special emphasis
on the United States? Then this course is for you!
Women's history tells the story of our nation's past from a wider perspective. It doesn’t rewrite history—rather, it expands the focus of history to include the activities and contributions of women from all walks of life, from different eras and different backgrounds.
While surveying society’s definition of the nature and role of women, the actual conditions of women, and the feminist response to intellectual, social and political issues, this course details how women have played a vital role in human civilization.
According to Professor Allison Caveglia Barash, who created the class about 10 years
ago, the idea for the course came from student questions about the authenticity of
movie character portrayals in feature films—questions like “Have you seen ‘A Beautiful
Mind’? Is that really how schizophrenia is?”
In this course, you will watch several movies during the semester and then compare the symptoms you see in these movies to the diagnostic criteria in the textbook, “Essentials of Understanding Abnormal Behavior.”
The class is very student-driven, with discussions revolving around student questions and interests. One assignment involves students writing a paper to recommend a film, and Professor Barash selects one of those films for the class to watch at the end of the semester.
Student feedback has been positive. In fact, some even say it was their favorite class ever!
Want to create and then navigate your own academic and career path while at CCAC?
College Seminar is a first-year experience course designed to help guide you along your academic path at CCAC and toward your career goals. During the course, you will determine your ideal career and link it to an academic plan. An integral part of this process is creating a repertoire of resources to help you along the way. You will apply skills and gain insights around grit, goal setting, time management, professional communication and financial literacy, all while familiarizing yourself with the various technology tools CCAC has to offer. As a bonus, you can expect to build lasting relationships with faculty members, mentors, other students and the college overall.
By completing College Seminar, you will be taking the first steps toward achieving your desired goals at CCAC and beyond. Remember, at CCAC, our goal is your success!
It’s healthy and normal to have questions about your body, relationships, sex and
feelings. This course is a reliable source of clear, factual information.
Learn about sexual and reproductive anatomy, hormones and sexuality, the similarities and differences between female and male sexual responses, sexually transmitted infections and sexually related diseases, birth control, pregnancy and childbirth, sexual orientation, and love and relationships.
Many people find it easier to have sex than to talk about it. By completing this course, you will equip yourself to enjoy the many benefits of open communication, and the insights you gain into human sexuality will help you feel comfortable about yourself and your own sexuality.
BIO 120 – Human Reproduction and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
This course will help you develop an understanding of the economic, environmental,
and equity (social justice) aspects of sustainability issues surrounding air quality,
water availability, food and agriculture, energy, and shelter. You will learn to incorporate
tangible (economic) and intangible (environmental, equity) costs into the decision-making
process.
In addition, you will learn to evaluate the positive and negative trade-offs that
sustainability solutions have—as well as take into account the challenges population
growth introduces for resolving sustainability concerns. In doing so, you will sharpen
your ability to make connections between your life and surroundings and matters of
global environmental importance. Simply put, you will learn to think globally and
act locally!
This course is part of CCAC’s Polymer Technology Certificate program, which provides
training for employment in the expanding plastics manufacturing industry. MEC 115
will give you a hands-on overview of everything related to plastics—from making samples
in the lab, to injection molding and blow molding materials, to breaking down waste
for recycling. By the end of this course, you will not only know how to pronounce
substances like polyethylene terephthalate, but you’ll know how to make and process
them into everyday objects. You’ll also fabricate keychains and bottles, which make
perfect gifts for friends and family!
The Polymer Technology Certificate program is housed at West Hills Center in Oakdale. You can complete the program in just two semesters—only five classes for a total of 16 credits—and earn a National Association of Manufacturers endorsed credential that can greatly enhance your employability. After graduation, you can enter the workforce, or you can apply your credits toward an Associate of Science in Mechatronics Technology for additional career development.
This course introduces concepts related to the planning and operation of events within
the hospitality industry, including conventions, trade shows, professional meetings
and foodservice events. Emphasis is placed on methods of marketing, selling, organizing
and producing conventions, events and trade shows that will increase financial and
environmental value. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding
of management principles for multi-function, multi-day conferences and events.
Hospitality is one of the most stable industries today and is one of the most ideal providers of lasting and solid careers. Enroll now!
Hospitality Degree + Experience = Great Opportunities
In this course, you will learn how to write for various forms of media, including
award-winning newspapers like The Voice, the official student newspaper of CCAC. The
Voice is entirely led and staffed by students, who do all the writing, editing, researching
and page design. As you acquire the fundamentals of news reporting in class, why not
put your talents to work at The Voice? This experience will provide you with a rich
opportunity to develop transferable skills—from writing and editing to teamwork and
meeting deadlines—all while being part of a high-quality, high-integrity organization
that produces an exceptional product. Along the way, you will become familiar with
Associated Press style, the standard reference against which all news writing is measured.
If you’ve ever wondered about the mysteries of the universe, then this course is for
you. It is taught by Professor Patrick Huth, who worked for NASA and the Office of
Naval Research before coming to CCAC. As someone who has been interested in astronomy
since he was young, Professor Huth will fuel your curiosity about the cosmos. Expect
to hear about major scientific updates and recent discoveries—and to explore the evidence
for the possibility of life in the universe.
Now you, too, can develop a cosmic perspective, just like the astronauts. Ready for liftoff? The countdown to launch begins when you click the link below and register.
Are you interested in becoming a software developer? If so, start with this beginner-level
course. Then continue your software development studies with CIT 130 (intermediate)
and cap it off with CIT 244 (advanced).
Java is the most commonly used programming language in the world. More than three billion devices run on it. It’s simple, easy to read like English, and favored by employers. Java is everywhere—and is used for everything—from web development to game development to software engineering. Java is also the technology that powers Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system.
Knowing how to code in Java can help you find the job of your dreams, including working in big enterprise server side apps, blockchain, big data, AI or machine learning.
Do you find past civilizations fascinating? Ever wonder who built the pyramids around
the world and how? Intrigued by ancient hieroglyphic texts? Do you ponder the meaning
of ancient artwork and paintings? Or are you curious about how anthropologists and
archaeologists carry out their research?
There are abundant claims about these very topics presented to us in our everyday lives through TV shows, magazine covers and the news. Often, it can be a challenge to separate the facts from fiction.
This course is taught by a linguistic anthropologist who, for 20 years, has conducted fieldwork in Mexico. Let this practicing scientist be your guide as you explore the marvels and discover the ingenuity of ancient and past civilizations, while also learning how to critically analyze topics of controversy in these areas.
This course will help you realize your creativity. By learning the fundamental principles
that underlie modern music technology, you will gain the background to effectively
apply this technology, whether you are performing, composing, teaching, analyzing,
or engaging in any other musical activity. You will work with hardware and software
as you delve into these principles, covering the essentials of sound, audio, MIDI,
computer notation and computer-assisted instruction. And while discovering and sharing
new ways of creating and recording music, you will acquire the key tools every modern
musician needs to succeed. Expect to be inspired by your classmates—and by the sound
of your own creativity!
Are you a movie buff? Do you want to take your love of cinema to the next level? Then
ENG 120 - The Art of Film is for you! The knowledge you acquire in this course will
enrich your movie-watching experiences throughout your life. As you learn about formal
elements like cinematography, editing and sound, you will pick up the vocabulary of
film and make the transition from movie fan to film connoisseur. Studying movies actually
increases the ways you can enjoy them. And because the study of film is the study
of humanity, you will gain insights into the world of human experience and emotion.
When considering one of the most important decisions you will make in your life, be
purposeful! Understand yourself and what motivates you. Explore what careers would
be a good fit for your unique interests and talents. The goal of this course is to
assist you in making an informed decision about your career path—and to develop the
skills that are needed to get hired!
Respiratory therapists are essential members of the health care team. In this course,
you will learn about the role you will play in treating patients who have trouble
breathing, thereby saving and improving the quality of their lives. Case scenarios
will challenge you to use critical thinking to solve problems like the ones you will
encounter during actual patient care. And by becoming aware of the latest advances
in this dynamic field, you will be well on your way to preparing yourself to succeed
in today’s health care environment.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere...whatever affects one directly,
affects all indirectly.” —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
What were racial conditions like in the United States prior to 1960? Specifically, what was it like to be a Black citizen living in Pittsburgh at the time? Can you identify two groups that participated in the Pittsburgh Civil Rights Movement and name their leaders? What techniques were used by these groups to achieve equality? Which businesses and government agencies were targeted by the movement and why? How did the movement impact the areas of employment, education and public accommodations? Learn all this and more as you discover how ordinary Pittsburghers stepped up to root out injustice, knowing that “whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
ETH 220 - History of the Pittsburgh Civil Rights Movement >>>
What was Africa like before European colonization? How did the Atlantic slave trade
develop and shape the lives and economies of Africans and Europeans? Trace the African
American experience as you follow the journey of African Americans from their origins
in Africa, through slavery in the Western Hemisphere, and their struggle for freedom
in the United States, with a focus on the Civil War, Emancipation and the period of
Reconstruction.
HIS 220 - Historical Archeology
This course is designed as an introduction to the basic techniques, methods and theories of historic archeology. Emphasis is placed on topics from 18th and 19th century North America that provide insights into employing material objects as data for analysis of the past. The methodology of historical research, archaeological excavation and the description and analysis of historical materials are examined.
This course introduces students to the profession of court reporting. Topics include
the history of court reporting, educational requirements, the duties and responsibilities
of court reporters, professional organizations, certifications testing and career
options in the fields of Judicial, Freelance, Closed Captioning and Computer Aided
Realtime Translation (CART).
Speakers include practicing court reporters from local firms and courts. A field trip to a closed captioning agency is offered. This course is open to any student with an interest in the court reporting profession.