Parents often want to know: What kinds of careers can a community college prepare my child for?
At Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), which has six campuses across Wayne County, the answer covers a broad range of high-demand fields.
“We prepare students for a plethora of programs,” says CharMaine Hines, Ed.D., Vice Chancellor, Academic Accountability and Policy. “Regionally and nationally, there are shortages in certain fields — health sciences, construction, electrical, welding, trades. We design our offerings to meet those needs.”
Career pathways at WCCCD’s six campuses
At the Downtown Campus, students train in the Cybersecurity Institute, learning skills such as ethical hacking — a role that can pay about $45 an hour. The Health Education and Wellness Center, also downtown, houses Detroit’s first physical therapy program and a functioning wellness facility where students work directly with community members.
The Northwest Campus features Michigan’s only accredited anesthesia technology program and one of the nation’s oldest pharmacy technology programs. “Our nursing programs have a 100% NCLEX pass rate,” Hines notes, referring to the national licensing exam.
The Eastern Campus focuses on construction, welding and robotics, including full-scale robotic cells used in automotive manufacturing.
The Downriver Campus hosts the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education, where students train as firefighters, EMTs and police officers.
Additional programs in business, facility maintenance, automotive technology, and CDL truck driving address regional hiring needs and provide competitive entry-level wages.
“Each of our campuses has state-of-the-art facilities and nationally accredited programs,” Hines says. “That’s how we meet the needs of both students and employers.”
- How can my teen explore different career interests at community college?
- How does community college provide a learning-centered environment?
This content is sponsored by Wayne County Community College District. Learn more about community college for your child at Metro Parent’s Community College Hub.
