Delaware Tech announces new programs for jobs

New programs for new careers are the focus of an information session being offered by Delaware Technical & Community College in Georgetown. Free and open to the public, the college will host two sessions on Wednesday, June 22, in the Carter Partnership Center, Room 540. Potential students of all ages are being invited to attend in the morning from 10 to 11 a.m. or in the evening from 6 to 7 p.m. Attendees will be able to speak to faculty who are knowledgeable in the fields represented.

“With the difficult economy and people experiencing downsizing and unemployment, the college knows that jobs are of utmost importance. The six new programs being offered at the Jack F. Owens Campus will provide students with an education that will connect them to Delaware jobs within exciting fields,” representatives said.

Delaware has been identified as one of the top 10 states with the fastest growing solar industry. Renewable Energy — Solar is an associate degree program designed to give students the skills and knowledge to sell and install photovoltaic and solar thermal hot water systems, as well as perform site design. Opportunities will be available to work at commercial and residential sites and in the office estimating, assembling and building systems.

Students can prepare for a green economy and contribute to a healthier environment as a student in the Energy Management associate degree program. Coursework will include residential and commercial energy use and analysis, energy efficiency and investment, and alternative energy technologies.

Opportunities for employment range from facility manager to energy auditor with companies as diverse as engineering firms, public and private utilities, and energy and equipment companies. An area also related to a healthier environment is the environmental science program, which focuses on water quality.

The protection of information networks is the focus of the Information Security associate degree program. There is a growing need to secure cyberspace infrastructure, and individuals with strong analytical skills and a sense of ethics are prefect candidates for this career. Employment in the network security field is expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years. Graduates will be well-prepared to protect personal and networked computing devices.

Food-borne diseases and threats to food safety constitute a growing public health problem. The Food Safety associate degree program addresses the need for trained professionals who can ensure that the food supply is safe for consumption. Students will obtain a scientific understanding of the food people eat and how it’s made, preserved, processed, packaged and distributed. Successful graduates of this program are in demand for a wide variety of job opportunities.

A love of working with numbers and a desire to share that love with middle-school or secondary-level students is the pre-requisite for pursuing an associate degree in Middle & Secondary Mathematics Education. Delaware is facing a shortage of these teaching professionals, and students in the program will be on the way to a successful career. Graduates of the math education programs will be accepted as juniors at a sister institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Special scholarships are available through the state’s higher education office.

The Direct Support Professional Certificate program is designed for individuals already working within the developmental disabilities community or who are interested in the profession. Students can gain knowledge and learn or strengthen skills that can be applied in residential programs, day programs or a combination of appropriate services. Studies show that new job openings will be available in this field and employers are strongly urging certification, representatives said.

At the information session, individuals who want to prepare for high-demand positions or learn new skills and upgrade technical expertise will have the opportunity to obtain information and ask questions about each of the career fields.

For more information, visit Delaware Tech’s Web site at www.dtcc.edu/connect or call Delaware Tech in Georgetown at (302) 855-5951.