College rolls out new empheses, certificate

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Mid-Plains Community College has added several new emphases and a certificate to its program offerings.

Earning an emphasis along with a degree can enhance ones overall associate degree because there is a concentration of coursework in a particular area of study. While adding an emphasis is not a requirement, it adds value to an individual's skills, knowledge and experience.

MPCC's new emphases in Events Management, Nonprofit Management, and Sports and Recreation Management can now be earned with an Associate of Applied Science in Business degree. Additionally, a Hydro Electrical Mechanical Emphasis has been added to the Associate of Applied Science in Electro-Mechanical Degree and a Pre-Athletic Training and Exercise Science Emphasis is now an option with an Associate of Science degree.

Students who earn an AAS Business degree with an Event Management Emphasis will have the entry level skills needed for employment within the hospitality industry. This emphasis is designed to give students the skills to successfully plan, market, and execute special events. Attention will also be given to laws and risk management as they pertain to providing safe, effective, and productive events for fairs, weddings, banquets, conferences, trainings, fundraisers, festivals and other events.

The Nonprofit Management emphasis is designed to train nonprofit leaders, board members, volunteers, social entrepreneurs, and those interested in social services. Coursework covers topics unique to operating and expanding a nonprofit organization as well as legal compliance and capacity building for social service organizations. Students who earn an AAS Business degree with a Nonprofit Management Emphasis will have the entry level skills needed for employment in a nonprofit organization.

While sports managers need general business skills, they also need sports management specific skills. MPCC's AAS Business degree with a Sports and Recreation Emphasis is designed to give students the skills to manage, market, and execute sports related events and activities. Sports managers operate in a variety of employment settings including college sports, professional sports, community sports, sports marketing, sporting goods stores, civic centers, and nonprofits such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Youth Camps. Students who earn an AAS Business degree with a Sports and Recreation Emphasis will have the entry level skills to successfully plan, market, and execute sporting events on a community level and work in the sports and recreation industry.

Another option for those interested in careers in the sports field is a new Pre-Athletic Training and Exercise Science Emphasis available with an Associate of Science degree. The pre-athletic training and exercise science courses taken for this emphasis are designed for students wishing to work in an exercise, sports medicine or athletic training field. Employment opportunities exist in areas of rehabilitation, athletics and personal training.

The curriculum is transfer-oriented to fulfill the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. Completion of an Associate of Science degree will allow the student to sit for the American College of Sports Medicine's Health/Fitness Instructor Certification. Completing the first year of the athletic training curriculum will allow the student to transfer to an Athletic Training Education Program.

Students who earn an AAS Degree with a Hydro Electrical Mechanical Emphasis will gain the necessary skills to work at a Hydro Electrical power plant. Energy producers in our state are looking for employees who have knowledge in mechanical skills; electrical skills; electronics; hydraulics; welding; motor control; machining skills; computer skills; print and plan readers; programmable control instrumentation and process control.

In addition to the new emphases, a new certificate in Medical Coding and Billing will now be an option. Similar to MPCC's Medical Transcriptionist Certificate, the 18-credit-hour Medical Billing and Coding Certificate meets the needs of employees in the medical billing and coding field by developing specific skills to assure job entry competency.

MPCC's Fall Term begins Monday, Aug. 27. Course schedules are available at North Platte Community College's North and South Campuses and McCook Community College, as well as the MPCC extended campuses at Broken Bow, Imperial, Ogallala and Valentine. The schedule can also be viewed on the MPCC website at www.mpcc.edu.

Students may register through the first week of the class that is being offered. It is strongly recommended that students wishing to register make an advising appointment by calling (308) 535-3774 in North Platte or (308) 345-8102 in McCook.

MPCC offers numerous scholarships, grants and loans available to all qualified students and financial situations. For more information, contact Juanita Czarnick in North Platte at (308) 535-3708 or Dale Brown in McCook at (308) 345-8112.