Academics
Mountain Empire Community College recognizes the unique and varied needs of a diverse community and strives to meet those needs by offering educational opportunities at a number of levels. Many of the programs don’t require a high school education but there are some that do so students should work closely with the school to ensure that they meet the requirements to enroll in their program of interest.
Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees offer students the opportunity to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at MECC. Students take all of the core classes that they would normally take in their freshman and sophomore years and then transfer to a four-year university in order to complete the baccalaureate degree. This allows students to save money on tuition and housing and remain close to home.
Students who wish to acquire technical skills in order to start a new career that offers a professional environment and better pay may earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. There are nearly 30 areas of study in this program including police science, accounting, criminal justice and forestry science. There is a funeral science program that allows students to study general requirement courses while pursuing an Associates of Applied Science in Funeral Science through distance education courses offered by John Tyler Community College.
Certificates are a wonderful option for people who either want to specialize in a specific area of their careers or begin learning skills that they may utilize in order to pursue a higher degree.
Career studies are designed to meet occupational or adult interest requirements such as continuing education requirements or other education required for professional certification.
The dual enrollment program allows local high school students to pursue college credits while still attending high school. It’s actually possible to have earned an associate’s degree upon graduating from high school. Students must be at least 14 to register unless there is a special exception made. High school students also need permission both from their high school and their parents.
Finally, Mountain Empire Community College understands that some people want to pursue a higher education but can’t attend traditional classroom courses. To meet this growing need, there are distance learning programs that can be taken online or via DVD.
