Guided Pathways

Guided Pathways

In Fall 2015, PCCC embarked on a new initiative, Guided Pathways to Success.

Guided Pathways is national movement that engages colleges in the systematic redesign of their academic programs and support services to provide students with clear roadmaps and support from entry to completion. Pathways refers to broad categories of majors that are accompanied by targeted support services and interventions to keep students on track toward graduation, transfer and/or attainment of career credentials. 
(Source: Completion by Design, 2016)

The goal at PCCC is to address issues affecting student retention and completion through enhanced support services and advisement, and innovative classroom instruction.

The implementation of Guided Pathways is directed by the Four Pillars:

Clarify the Path – Create clear curricular pathways to employment and further education.

  • Simplify students’ choices with program maps developed by faculty that outline a clear pathway to completion
  • Begin with the end in mind. Assist students in identifying and planning career and transfer goals

Enter the Path – Help students choose and enter their pathway.

  • Redesign the College Success course to help students explore academic and career options
  • Implement accelerated remediation to ensure students succeed in college-level courses as soon as possible.
  • Develop multiple measures to assess students’ needs

Stay on the Path – Help students stay on their path.

  • Support students through ongoing, proactive advising (see page 10 on Advisement). Faculty and Professional staff:
    • Help students explore transfer and career opportunities
    • Assist students with developing an academic plan to map out current and future semesters
    • Monitor students’ progress
    • Develop systems/procedures to identify students at-risk, and intervene with necessary support when they go off-track
  • Embed academic and non-academic supports throughout programs to promote student learning and persistence
  • Provide targeted, contextualized extracurricular programming
  • Utilization of technological tools for students to easily track their progress

Ensure Learning – Ensure that learning is happening with intentional outcomes.

  • Establish program-level learning outcomes aligned with the requirements of transfer and career opportunities
  • Integrate group projects, internships, and other applied learning experiences to enhance instruction and student success in courses across programs of study
  • Support effective teaching practices throughout the pathways
  • Develop faculty-led enhancement of teaching practices

PCCC Pathways
The academic programs at PCCC are grouped in Pathways, based on similarity of courses and career outcomes. Changing majors within a given pathway facilitates a seamless transfer of core courses, and a minimum of unused credits. PCCC majors have been grouped into the following seven pathways:

Business and Culinary Arts

Accounting AAS, Career Certificate
Business Administration: Accounting/Management/Marketing AS
Business Administration: Management Information Systems AS
Supply Chain Management AAS
Hospitality Career Certificate
Hospitality Management AAS
Culinary Arts AAS, Career Certificate, Certificate of Achievement
Pastry and Baking Arts AAS
Baking Career Certificate, Certificate of Achievement

 

Education and Public Safety Studies

Liberal Arts: Early Childhood Education Option AA
Liberal Arts: Teacher Education Option AA, AAS, Career Certificate
Child Development Associate Certificate of Achievement
Infant and Toddler Certificate of Achievement
Liberal Arts: Criminal Justice Option AA, AAS, Career Certificate
Criminal Justice Studies Certificate of Achievement
Public Safety Telecommunications Certificate of Achievement
Emergency Management Career Certificate
Fire Science Technology AAS
Fire Science Management Career Certificate
Fire Science Operations Career Certificate
Homeland Security AS, Career Certificate

 

Health Science

Community Health Navigator Career of Achievement
Health Science AS
Medical Assistant Career Certificate
Nurse Education AAS
Nursing - LPN Mobility Program AAS
Radiography AAS
Medical Coding Career Certificate
Medical Informatics AS
Public Health AS
Surgical Technology AAS

 

Humanities, Media Studies & Performing Arts Pathway

English AA
English: Digital Media and Journalism Option AA
Applied Writing and Copy Editing Career Certificate
Music Technology AAS
Liberal Arts: Musical Studies Option AA
Liberal Arts: Studio Arts Option AA
Studio Arts AFA
Liberal Arts: Theater Option AA
Liberal Arts: Communication Option AA
Digital Media Production & Distribution AAS
Video Production Career Certificate
Basic Video Production Certificate of Achievement
Graphic Design and Digital Media AAS
Graphic Design Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement

 

STEM

Computer Science AS

Computer Information Technology:
Network Admin. Option
Technical Support Option
Web & Mobile Development Option

AAS
Information Technology Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement
Network Administration Certificate of Achievement
Web & Mobile Development Certificate of Achievement
Cyber Security & Computer Forensics Career Certificate
Liberal Arts: Biology Option AS
Liberal Arts: Mathematics Option AS
Liberal Arts: Nutrition Option AS
Liberal Arts: Physical Science AS
Environmental Sustainability AS
Exercise Science AS
Fitness Specialist Career Certificate
Engineering Science AS
Electronic Engineering Technology AAS
AutoCAD Drafting Certificate of Achievement
Automation Control Certificate of Achievement

 

Social and Behavioral Sciences and Human Services

Liberal Arts: Generalist Humanities Option AA
Liberal Arts: Psychology Option AA
Liberal Arts: Sociology Option AA
General Studies Career Certificate
Human Services: Pre-Social Work & Counseling AS
Human Services Specialist Career Certificate
Alcohol & Drug Cert. Domains Certificate of Achievement

 

Technical Studies

Automotive Technology AAS, Career Certificate
Technical Studies AAS
Plumbing Technology Certificate of Achievement
Welding Certificate of Achievement

 

Targeted support services and holistic advisement has been established for various special populations, which include:

  • Students who have food insecurities
  • Students who identify as LGBTQIA
  • Formerly incarcerated students
  • Students who identify as men of color

 

Degrees & Certificates
Course Descriptions