What is Pathways for Adult Learners (PALS)
Pathways for Adult Learners provides:
- Individual support and guidance to meet the unique needs of older students from initial inquiry through the achievement of their educational goals
- A clearing house for information about the available pathways for students to prepare for a career
PALS exists for all older students (25 and up) interested in or enrolled at SUNY WCC. No registration required.
A Pathway
is a sequence of well-defined “steps” that lead you to your destination
A Guided Pathway
is an intentionally designed, clear, coherent and structured educational experience that seeks to guide each student efficiently from entry through attainment of high-quality credentials or degrees
Pathways to Success
Click to open the details
High School Equivalency Diploma
- Prepare for the New York State exam to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma for non-high school graduates.
- Earn the HSE Diploma only or apply it towards a certificate or degree.
Short-Term Credential
- Learn highly valuable skills to enter today’s workforce or advance in your career field.
- Typically, a few weeks long.
- Earn industry-recognized badges that can be stacked together and used alone or towards a certificate or degree.
Certificate Program
- May be credit or non-credit.
- Skills-oriented; a concentrated course of study.
- Typically, can be earned within one year of full-time study.
Degree
- Combines general education and required degree courses leading to a 2-year Associate degree.
- A.A.S. degrees prepare students for entry into the workforce.
- A.A. and A.S holders may transfer to a 4-year institution to earn a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Getting Started:
Click to open the details
Do You Have a High School Diploma/GED?
No: There are three options for earning your High School Equivalency (HSE) at SUNY WCC.
- The Workforce Development department offers full GED test preparation review for the HSE exam in Mount Vernon, www.sunywcc.edu/continuing- ed/high-school-equivalency
- The Westchester Educational Opportunity Center offers a free High School Equivalency (HSE) program designed to help eligible students take and pass the HSE test. Students are given instruction and academic support to improve their basic reading, writing, math, science and/or social studies skills, www.sunyweoc.com
- Earn college credits while obtaining your HSE diploma. Twenty-four credits can be applied to a certificate or degree at
www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/admissions-information/ged
Yes: You can begin your application at
What Options Are Available to Me?
Click to open the details
Credentials…can lead to a degree
100% Online (for credit)
- Medical Billing
- Medical Coding
- Cybersecurity
Non-Credit Workforce Development Courses
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Mixed Reality/Adobe Certification
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Certified Medical Assistant
Westchester Educational Opportunity Center, WEOC (non-credit)
- CNA/Home Health Aide
- Certified Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
NOTE: Students in non-credit Workforce Development and WEOC programs must apply for admission to the college using regular admission procedures.
Example 1:
Workforce Development
Non-Credit to Credit: Stackable Credentials
Start with a Credential…Earn a Degree!
Medical Billing Certificate, 24 credit hours plus Medical Coding Certificate, 13 credit hours = Health Information Technology AAS degree with an additional 26 credit hours
Certificates – for credit
- Addiction Counseling Certificate
- Business Technologies Certificate
- Computer Aided Drafting Certificate
- Computer Applications Specialist Certificate
- Computer Programming Certificate
- Community Health & Case Management Certificate
- Cybersecurity Certificate
- Digital Filmmaking Certificate
- Early Childhood Certificate
- Medical Billing Certificate
- Medical Coding Certificate
- Paralegal Certificate
- Paramedic Certificate
- Personal Training Certificate
- Professional Bookkeeper Certificate
- Teaching Assistant Certificate
- Web Development Certificate
Certificates: Non-Credit Options
Click to open the details
Professional Development Center (PDC)
- Training and certification options
- For a full list of options, click here:
https://www.sunywcc.edu/ continuing- ed/pdc/training- certification-programs
- Scholarships are available:
https://www.sunywcc.edu/continuing-ed/workforce- development-scholarships
Westchester Educational Opportunity Center (WEOC)
- Developmental, academic, and vocational programs
- Classes are tuition-free to students who meet the eligibility guidelines
- For a full list of options, click here:
WCC Educational Opportunity Center
TUITION-FREE NON-CREDIT CERTIFICATES
Click to open the details
- English for Speakers of Other Languages
- Certified Medical Assistant
- High School Equivalency
- College Connections
- OSHA
- Security Guard + Fire Guard Training
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- CDL – Commercial Driver License
- Direct Support Professional
- Certified Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Medical Billing and Coding
- Home Health Aide
- EKG/Phlebotomy
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Emergency Medical Technician
What Options Are Available?
Click to open the details
Degrees: Overview
Associate’s Degrees
AA/AS
- Parallels the first two years of coursework at an accredited 4-year institution and is transferable to a Bachelor’s degree program
AAS
- Prepares student for entry level positions
Certificate
- Typically takes about 1 year of full-time study
- Prepares for careers in skilled occupations
- Credit or Non-Credit
- Acquire skills for immediate employment
Credential
- Minimum of 9 credits
- Targeted for entry level or advancement skills
- May be credit or non-credit
What Options Are Available to Me? Degrees
Click to open the details
SUNY WCC offers 3 types of Associate degrees:
- Associate of Applied Science, AAS
- Associate of Arts, AA
- Associate of Science, AS
- Minimum 60 credit hours; typically 4 semesters of full-time study
What Other Options Are Available to Me?
Click to open the details
Training, College Prep, and Other Non-Credit Courses
Senior Audit
- For seniors (60 years of age or older)
- Audit credit courses on a space-available basis
- Fee; limit 2 courses per semester, with approval
- https://www.sunywcc.edu/continuing-ed/lifelong-learning-for-all-ages/mainstream-for-mature-adults/senioraudit
English for Speakers of Other Languages
Personal Enrichment Classes
- Leisure and Recreation
- Lifelong Learning
- Personal Development
Seasonal catalog available at: https://www.sunywcc.edu/continuing-ed/ce/
Did you know…?
Click to open the details
As a student, you have access to all the following:
- Academic Counseling
- Child Care
- Career Services
- Health Services
- Mental Health Counseling
- Disability Services
- Tutoring
- Transfer Services
- Student Government
- Student Support Services
- Community Resources
- Emergency Aid
- Food Pantry
- Laptop Loaner
- Veterans Resources
- Clubs and Organizations
- Athletics