Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog Mid-Year Supplement 
    
2019-2020 Catalog Mid-Year Supplement [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Professional Development Certificate


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Program Overview

The Professional Development Certificate provides an opportunity for Blue Ridge Community and Technical College students to enhance their learning experience by completing a series of educational courses in a specialized area.  Along with core courses, each certificate offers a balanced curriculum with coursework in communication, social and cultural awareness, and scientific and quantitative reasoning along with focused study in a particular content area.  The coursework is essential to prepare students seeking to expand their knowledge and competencies as they complete an associate’s degree and/or enter or advance in the workforce.  

The certificate is designed to be completed in one year of full-time enrollment at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. The specialized study is offered in the following areas: Communication Studies, General Education, Public Relations, and Social Sciences. The specific course requirements for each Professional Development Certificate Track are outlined below.

Program Outcomes

  • Apply critical thinking and mathematical skills to solve problems.
  • Compose coherent documents and oral presentations appropriate to a specific purpose and audience.
  • Utilize psychological or sociological principles to analyze personal, societal, and organizational issues.

Career Opportunities

Completion of the Professional Development Certificate demonstrates to employers and transfer institutions a student’s commitment to the acquisition of knowledge in both core subjects and a specialized content area.  This coursework is designed to enhance academic and professional competencies.

Curriculum for a Certificate in Professional Development


General Education Core 12
Specialty Track 18
Total Credit Hours Required 30

Specialty Tracks:


You must select ONE of the following specialty tracks:

Communication Studies Track


General Education Track


  •  Any credited course 100 level or above not taken elsewhere in the program

 

Subtotal Credit Hours Required 18

Social Science Track


Program Disclaimer


This curriculum includes a list of courses required for this program of study for this calendar year.  Your Academic Plan can be found on DegreeWorks once you become a degree-seeking student. 

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