Students show off their certificates received from completing a non-credit course. EDGAR ZAVALA/COURTESY
By: Brooke DellaRocco, Staff Writer
Manhattan College is now offering a variety of new non-credit programs through The School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Beginning this semester, these programs are open to both students and the general public in order to expand the professional reaches and connections of Manhattan College.
Non-credit programs allow all to explore new possibilities to prepare themselves for a career. Community members can earn certifications that are beneficial outside of the school but do not count as credit toward a degree at MC.
Edgar Zavala, director of the non-credit programs office, constructed a portfolio of non-credit program offerings by dividing them into three types of audiences: Professional Development, NYC is Your Classroom, and K-12 Programs.
Professional Development programs allow students to get involved with their interests and further their learning. With over 150 Professional Development programs and new programs being added every semester, there are many opportunities for every person.
Under the Professional Development category, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification is being launched after two years of development.
“In order to be more professional, they can be licensed and they can get their CFP and become a Certified Financial Planner. That gives them credibility and trust in people like you, like your parents and grandparents,” Zavala said.
Another certification recently launched under professional development programs is Intellectual Property. Intellectual Property surrounds the subject of developing materials, content and knowing how to protect your property from trademarks and copyrights. Developed by an adjunct in SCPS, Intellectual Property will further prepare students for work outside the classroom.
Tahiya Azad, an advertiser for non-credit programs spoke about the benefit of the certifications.
“Some people don’t like to take a degree for a long time. Four weeks is fine or two months, six months. So people are finding this helpful,” Azad said.
Zavala also talked about the third new program, consisting of nine courses all developed and taught in Spanish.
“I dare to say, we are one of the few, if not only, higher education institutions in the United States and probably even the tri-state area that actually offer non-credit courses in Spanish,” Zavala said.
SCPS is the only school in Manhattan College that has an associate’s degree program. This school houses Camino, an associate’s degree that targets Spanish speaking individuals, which allows for much of the Spanish speaking community to receive education that will open doors to more job opportunities in the future.
The NYC is Your Classroom program is set up similar to a summer camp. Students spend a week at MC, and travel all around NYC taking advantage of the local opportunities. Some examples of these programs in action include business and finance, where past students have ventured to the New York Stock Exchange. This program also extends to the performing arts where students have the opportunity to see their mentors working in the field of entertainment.
The program is also set to expand opportunities for students studying psychology beginning in the fall 2023.
The last bracket is K-12, a program designed to establish after school programs and summer camps directed and taught by trained students interested in working with children. Some topics of these camps involve engineering, entrepreneurship, and more.
Zavala also emphasized the importance of these programs to the community. “You as an individual towards your education have to continue updating yourself, learning new things and seeing what’s out there, “ Zavala said. “In a short time period, you get a lot of knowledge and new skills that you can apply immediately, to grow and to strengthen your current career.”
Steven Goss, dean of SCPS, talked about becoming a well-rounded individual through these programs.
“Students that are studying in different fields that are adjacent to the certifications…or additional credentials,” Goss said. “They could utilize those on their resume or even in real time in their careers if they’re working already in the field.”
These courses are designed to help individuals grow personally, professionally and independently in a way that makes a person a desirable candidate to hire. Hence, these opportunities serve over 2,000 students currently. All programs range from $200-$1,000, making it more affordable than the average class because of the lack of credit towards a degree but rather a professional certification.
K-12 Program Students help with homework in the Elementary School. EDGAR ZAVALA/COURTESY