Unique programs to advance your career
Finding a rewarding career that pays the bills is a challenge. Finding a reasonable path to achieve that career goal can be just as daunting. The first step to achieving a lucrative career will almost certainly involve getting more education.
With 130 programs of study and more than 49,000 students attending classes, Palm Beach State College provides several unique and exciting programs that lay the groundwork for a fulfilling career, as well as the credentials that lead to job advancement. These programs include associate and bachelor’s degrees as well as college-level certificates.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology focuses on the intersection of biology and technology, leading to an array of new products that are designed to enrich lives and make us healthier. From improved vaccine production to hardier crops, biotechnology is everywhere, which makes it a promising career for new graduates.
Florida, in particular, has firmly established itself as a hub for the life sciences, and local companies are on the cutting edge and growing fast. Examples include Akron Biotech expanding to a 14,000-square-foot facility, BioTools developing revolutionary instrumentation, and The Scripps Research Institute and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience conducting biomedical research in new disease treatments.
Palm Beach State College offers an Associate in Science degree in Biotechnology and two college credit certificates that help set students on the path to a career in the biotech industry.
The A.S. degree is designed for students who are seeking employment as biotechnology research technicians, biological technicians, cell culture technicians or biotechnology manufacturing technicians. The certificate programs help employees in the biotech field who need more hands-on laboratory experience to advance their careers.
The programs also include a four-month biotech internship that provides training in real-world industry or research environments.
Continued growth in medical research is expected to increase demand for biological technicians, and the average annual wage was $43,800 in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
The demand for skilled film and television professionals has risen dramatically throughout the South, as producers are drawn to the region’s diverse locations, good tax incentives and temperate climate. Florida lawmakers have also recently announced plans to create a fund to finance the production of motion pictures, TV shows and novellas to continue building the industry.
To help students break into the film business, Palm Beach State College offers an Associate in Science degree in Motion Picture Production Technology, with concentration options in production, digital animation and the recording arts. Students also have a choice of college credit certificates in these disciplines, plus directing and producing as well as cinematography.
In all programs, students work alongside professionals, use state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and learn to put together a creative project from the ground up. Through student projects and internships in the local and regional film industry, students gain real-world experience that often leads to jobs.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Information in all forms—whether financial transactions, company data or web content—must be captured, organized, stored, protected and delivered. It’s no wonder that information technology professionals are among the highest paid and enjoy one of the fastest growing and most stable careers in the U.S.
At Palm Beach State College, the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Information Management offers three concentrations: database administration, security and network assurance, and project management. First, students go through a core curriculum that encompasses computer systems design, programming, law and ethics, finance, business writing and other essential topics. In the concentration area courses, students gain the targeted expertise needed in today’s management-level IT positions. The key admission requirement for this twoyear bachelor’s degree is a two-year associate degree. PBSC offers three computer science associate degrees covering network administration, programming and internet services.
Computer and information systems manager jobs are projected to grow 12 percent by 2026, faster than average for all occupations, and the median wage was $139,220 in 2017.
ELECTRICAL POWER TECHNOLOGY
Preparing graduates for careers in power generation, aerospace, electrical or mechanical engineering, and hydraulic and pneumatic technology, the Associate in Science degree in Electrical Power Technology lays the foundation for a fulfilling future.
The two-year program focuses on applied learning, using the latest equipment and lab activities to teach the knowledge and skills that employers value.
Palm Beach State College assists students with internships and job placement in technician positions in power generation, wind farm control centers, solar power plants, smart grid and remote control systems operations, helicopter, jet and rocket manufacturing and more.
The A.S. degree in Electrical Power Technology is the first step to a high-demand career, which will be bolstered as students continue their education. Associate degrees transfer to Palm Beach State’s Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision and Management. In addition, courses from the Electrical Power Technology program may transfer to bachelor’s programs at other colleges and universities.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for electrical engineers was $97,970 in 2017.
RESPIRATORY CARE
As in many health care professions, the aging population is expected to drive the need for respiratory therapists, who serve patients with breathing problems, such as asthma, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This career field, which requires an associate degree, is expected to grow 23 percent by 2026, and in 2017, a respiratory therapist took home an average salary of $59,710.
PBSC’s Associate in Science degree in Respiratory Care is recognized by the American Medical Association and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.
Graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care exam to become a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and typically have high employment success.
OPHTHALMIC MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Palm Beach State College is one of a select group of higher education institutions to offer an Associate in Science degree in Ophthalmic Medical Technology. An ophthalmic medical technologist assists eye physicians and surgeons in the evaluation of vision and treatment of patients with eye disorders. Without highly trained technologists, ophthalmologists can’t do their job as effectively or help as many patients.
Students train at PBSC’s state-of-the-art facility, featuring a fully equipped examination room, laboratory and surgical suite, under the direction of a board-certified ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. They also gain practical experience in local ophthalmic practices, surgical centers and clinics.
PBSC’s program is one of only four nationwide to be accredited for Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist training, the highest level designated by the International Council of Accreditation for Allied Ophthalmic Education Programs. Graduates are eligible to sit for the exam to become a COMT, which commands an average salary of $60,200.
With the lowest tuition rate in the state and small classes taught by a qualified and committed faculty, Palm Beach State College provides the education and skills needed to start or advance a lucrative and satisfying career. Learn more at www.palmbeachstate.edu.