Palm Beach State College (PBSC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Located in Palm Beach County in Southeast Florida, Palm Beach State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers over 100 programs of study that provide students the opportunity to earn vocational certificates, associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and diplomas. One may also earn continuing education credits via the Corporate and Continuing Education Program or obtain a University Transfer Degree. The school boasts four different locations with campuses in Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens and Lake Worth. Situated right on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Palm Beach County offers a plethora of activities for all age groups and there is something for everybody.

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Information Summary

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Overall Score (about)	Insufficient Data
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$4,244
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	23 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	N/A / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	31,816

Academics

Palm Beach State College offers a wide variety of certificates and degrees in order to serve the needs of it’s community. The school has it’s roots in community education; it only recently obtained approval from the Florida Board of Education to offer a bachelor’s degree. Formerly known as Palm Beach Community College, the school changed it’s name in 2010 to more accurately reflect the expanded educational opportunities available. PBSC offers a variety of classes both on campus and online so that students may tailor educational goals to individual needs.

Post Secondary Adult Education

Palm Beach State College offers nearly forty Post Secondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) programs in areas such as Dental Assisting, Cosmetology, Diesel Technology and Medical Assisting. These are non-credit classes that are recorded on an hourly basis and many of them are designed to meet state criteria for certification in the vocational professions. Some of these programs may be applied toward an associate’s degree as well if the student meets the criteria. Many of the programs, including the Cosmetology, Automotive Service Technology, Diesel Technology and Nail Tech programs do not even require a high school diploma for acceptance. This means that a broader array of people may seek to better themselves by training immediately for a profession.

Bachelor’s and Associate’s Degrees

Palm Beach State College was approved by the Florida Board of Education to offer a bachelor’s degree program to it’s curriculum in 2008, with the first degree being offered in 2009. In addition to a wide selection of associate’s degrees, students may now earn a Bachelor’s of Applied Science Degree. If an associate’s degree is desired, students may choose from an Associate of Arts (University Transfer) degree, Associate of Applied Arts degree, or Associate of Applied Science degree. All of the degree programs require several General Education classes so that students get a diverse, balanced education that prepares the student for a productive life in a global community.

Continuing Education

Palm Beach State College offers over sixty Corporate and Continuing Education courses that encourage employees and business owners to keep skills current, maintain state licensure; and learn new information that will improve performance in the work place.

Dual Enrollment

High School students in Palm Beach County may choose to enroll at Palm Beach State College in order to accelerate college educations. This is not a good choice for all students; it is a challenging task that requires managing both college courses and high school classes. For those who are capable, it is a fabulous way to gain free credits toward a degree. Students who are dually enrolled receive free books and tuition as the state of Florida provides this opportunity at no cost to the student.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Potential students who are unsure about career goals and requirements may elect to attend a free workshop that Palm Beach State College hosts. Advance registration is required and seating is limited but there are both day and evening classes available throughout the year. This is a great way for people to gain more information about the school and find out what it has to offer.

College Application

Those students who are seeking to take classes either for college credit or for a Post Secondary Adult Vocational Certificate will need to complete a college application and submit it along with the application fee. For programs that require a high school diploma, transcripts will be necessary. Placement tests are also required for all credit-seeking students as well. If the student has taken the ACT or SAT, those scores should be sent to Palm Beach State College’s Office of Admissions. If not, the school will administer a placement test prior to admission. Finally, Florida residents will need to complete a Florida Resident Affidavit in order to receive in-state tuition rates. Otherwise, the student will have to pay out-of-state tuition which is significantly higher.

Non-Credit Application

Students seeking to enroll in non-credit, continuing education or lifelong learning courses will need to complete the Non-Credit Application that is available on Palm Beach State College’s official website. The application is extremely simple and consists of basic personal information.

Financial Aid

Palm Beach County State College offers financial aid in the form of federally-funded grants and loans and also offers both need-based and a merit-based scholarships from several different sources. In order to be eligible for any form of financial aid, students must complete the Federal Application for Financial Aid for Students (FAFSA). This form is available online and should be completed as early as possible. Financial information for both the student and family is required to complete the form, so the student should have this information available prior to starting the application.

Students wishing to apply for a scholarship should be aware that there are requirements and deadlines. Students entering in the fall need to have a FAFSA completed by July 1st. Those wishing to attend the spring semester should submit the FAFSA no later than Nov. 1st and students wanting to start in the summer need to have the application submitted by April 1st. Students who miss the deadline will be ineligible for scholarships for that term.

Student Financial Aid Details

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Students

The student body at Palm Beach State College is unique and diverse. Because of the numerous types of degrees, certificates and courses that they offer, people from all walks of life attend classes at one of the four campuses. High school students get a chance to interact with business owners and older college students and campus life is rich and offers many opportunities to socialize and learn from other people.

Because of PBSC’s recent history as a community college, there are no Greek organizations available on campus but students have numerous opportunities to increase leadership skills and interact with other students via the performing arts centers and over twenty other organized clubs and organizations.

There is no student housing available on campus, but students wishing to move to the area to take advantage of an extremely affordable education in a relaxed, tropical atmosphere may simply contact the college or the local chamber of commerce for recommendations regarding trustworthy real estate agents and available local housing.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Palm Beach State College Panthers play in the Southern Conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Panthers play intercollegiate men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball and women’s volleyball and softball. The college offers scholarships to student athletes who excel in both sports and academics. The teams play at the Lake Worth Campus and their colors are green and gold. The college firmly believes that all athletes are students first and hold them to extremely high standards. They must carry at least twelve hours per semester and are required to maintain an annual GPA of 2.0 on order to participate in any sport.

Also, the school administers random drug tests on athletes on a monthly basis and take a very strict view on positive tests. One positive test will result in an immediate three-game suspension, mandatory counseling at the athlete’s expense and retesting in thirty to forty days. A second positive test will result in eviction from campus housing, forfeiture and repayment of any scholarship that was awarded and immediate dismissal from the team. Palm Beach State wants their students clean, healthy and happy and takes these measure for the safety and well-being of everybody.

Local Community

Palm Beach County is an eclectic mix of young and old and is home to many different cultures. Being located on the Atlantic Coast of Southeast Florida provides a unique environment for students to visit the beach year-round for picnics, waterskiing, jetskiing, or just lounging around getting a tan. The communities of Southeast Florida offer a wonderful mix of old and new stores and there are many places where one can just park and walk to many different restaurants, beaches and shops. No matter what kind of food a person may be looking for, a restaurant that serves it in an authentic manner is never far away.

Additional School Information

Palm Beach State College offers several services that enhance the college experience for their students. Each campus offers a beautiful wellness center that is available to all eligible students at no additional cost. PBSC believes that offering this opportunity to their students encourages physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being that benefits the student, the school and the community.

Palm Beach State also offers performing arts centers at three of their campuses. The Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center is located on the Belle Glade campus. On the Lake Worth Campuses, students can enjoy musical concerts and other shows at the Duncan Theatre and the Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens frequently hosts symphonies, plays, dance ensembles and a rich variety of other performing arts shows.

In addition to these social services, PBSC also offers student counseling, career advising and career centers on every campus to make sure that all students reach their educational goals.

Bibliography

Palm Beach State College. Palm Beach State College. 2011. Web. 15 April 2011.

Thompson, Kevin D. “Palm Beach State College Says Name Change is a Success.” The Palm Beach Post. 10 April 2011. Sun Sentinel. Web. 15 April 2011.

Palm Beach State College