March

March 21, 2006 | Volume 14, Number 3

Tri-Valley Education Programs

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Tri-Valley Offers a Broad Variety of Continuing Education Classes, Programs

Whether you're looking for an undergraduate or advanced degree, a professional certification, or simply an opportunity to brush up on some new skills, the Tri-Valley and East Bay provide a host of educational options. Here's our directory of what's currently being offered in the area.

Universities

The Bay Area is home to some of the greatest institutions of higher learning in the world. One of the benefits of being in the Tri-Valley is the ability to take advantage of the reach of many of these that offer special opportunities for educational excellence.

Golden Gate University - Walnut Creek
One Ygnacio Center 2nd Floor Annex, Suite 20
1990 N. California Boulevard
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 296-0900
www.ggu.edu

Golden Gate University's Walnut Creek location has served the East Bay's working adults for over 20 years. GGU offers night and weekend classes there that meet once each week for 10 weeks, facilitating fast degree completion with five terms offered each year. They even offer a Saturday MBA program which lets students complete an MBA through classes that are scheduled only on Saturdays.

Undergraduate degrees offered in Walnut Creek include a bachelor's degree in Management and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with optional concentrations in Computer Information Systems, Finance, or Human Resource Management. Graduate degrees include MBAs with optional concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Operations and Supply Chain Management, as well as a master's in Finance with a concentration in General Finance.

GGU also offers specialized corporate non-credit or certificate training in most business related subjects.

John F. Kennedy University
100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4817
(800) 696-5358
www.jfku.edu

JFK University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as a number of certificate and career development programs. Their Pleasant Hill campus includes the school's administrative offices, two libraries, and classrooms for its five schools: the School of Holistic Studies, the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, the School of Law, the School of Education and Liberal Arts, and the School of Management.

Business-related programs at the Pleasant Hill campus include B.S. completion Business Administration, B.S. Legal Studies, Master of Business Administration, M.A. Career Development, Certificates in General Management, Organizational Leadership, Paralegal, and Post-Master's Career Development.

The school also offers a number of counseling and human awareness-related degrees through its School of Holistic Studies, as well as Master's and doctorate programs through its Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Aspiring attorneys can earn their JD degrees at the university's law school. JFK's School of Education and Liberal Arts offers teaching credentials.

The university also provides the services of its Career Development Center to students, alumni, staff, and the public. Offerings include career counseling, career management, job search assistance, resume and interview preparation, and career interest self-assessment. Once a month, the Career Development Center also offers free 15-minute consultations with career counselors to the general public. Call or e-mail the center for an appointment.

University of Phoenix - Tri-Valley Learning Center
7901 Stoneridge Drive
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(877) 4-STUDENT
www.phoenix.edu

University of Phoenix - Livermore Learning Center
2481 Constitution Drive
Livermore, CA 94551
(877) 4-STUDENT
www.phoenix.edu

The University of Phoenix, founded in 1976, is a nationwide university whose goal is to provide high-quality education to working, adult students. They provide general education and professional programs that work to advance their students' personal and professional goals.

To that end, University of Phoenix classes are taught with an emphasis on how to apply theoretical, academic knowledge to real-world situations. Students work in teams, similar to how they would work together in a business. Curricula are updated regularly to reflect the current needs of both industry and students. The school hires instructors who not only hold masters or doctoral degrees but who are also professionally active in the fields in which they teach, which means that their knowledge is leavened by real-life experience.

University of Phoenix offers a number of degree programs offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and even doctorates in many fields. They also offer a large variety of certificate programs aimed at teaching new applications and techniques for immediate use in the marketplace. The list of certificates on offer is long and includes Accounting, Call Center Management, Certified Purchasing Manager, Cisco Certified Network Associate, Corporate Training, a Financial Planning Professional Education Program, Human Resource Management, Microsoft-Certified Systems Administration, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Paralegal certification, and Project Management.

University of Phoenix Learning Centers are also in Concord, Fremont, Novato, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.

University of San Francisco - San Ramon Regional Campus
One Annabel Lane, Suite 115
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 867-2711
www.usfca.edu/hac

One of the most highly regarded schools in the Bay Area, the University of San Francisco also has a presence in the Tri-Valley with their College of Professional Studies. Based in the same Jesuit tradition as USF's primary campus, the College of Professional Studies works on imparting both the professional skills and knowledge that are important in the workplace and the perspective it takes to be a community leader.

The organization's programs, which are taught in San Ramon, vary. Spring 2006-2007 undergraduate program offerings are Informational Systems and Organizational Behavior, with a graduate program in Project Management being offered at the same time. Undergraduate programs beginning this fall include American Studies, Applied Economics, Organizational Behavior, and Public Administration (either alone or with an emphasis in either Law Enforcement Leadership or Nonprofit Administration). Graduate programs beginning this fall include Information Security and Assurance and Organization Development.

Colleges

The college system is well represented in the Tri-Valley with many offerings available to employees and residents. Nearby facilities offer a wide-ranging curriculum for educational enrichment.

Las Positas College
3033 Collier Canyon Road
Livermore, CA 94551-9797
(925) 424-1000
www.laspositascollege.edu

Las Positas College, part of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, offers a range of studies, from Associate's degrees to certificate programs, specialized career education programs, and even general community education courses. Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees are offered in subjects including Administration of Justice, Automotive Electronics Technology, Accounting, Business, Business Administration, Marketing, Computer Information Systems, Occupational Safety and Health, and Viticulture. The school also offers a number of two-year programs designed for students to transfer to four-year institutions upon completion.

Las Positas College's Certificate Programs offer another path to educational attainment. Many Certificate programs can be completed in one year in daytime classes, while others are designed for a longer period in evening classes. Available programs include the following: Auto Service Technician, Admin Assistant, Business Entrepreneurship, Business Workforce Proficiency, Retail Management, Marketing, Supervisory Management, Computer Application Software, Cisco Network Associate, Cisco Network Professional, Computer Network Technician, Computer Network Administration (Microsoft), Computer Programming, Computer Programming for the Web, Design Technology, Electronics Telecommunications Systems, Fire Service Technology, Horticulture, Interior Design, Laser Technology, Mass Communications: Journalism, Occupational Safety and Health, Photography, Physical Education: Sports Medicine, Vacuum Technology, Visual Communications, Viticulture, Enology, and Welding Technology.

For those looking to pick up additional skills in a less formal environment, the school's Community Education department offers classes taught by certified college faculty or other experts but do not require admission to the college as a regular student or involve exams or grades. Community Education class categories include: Art, Business, Careers and Training, Computers, Financial Planning, Languages, Photography and Film, Science, and Writing.

The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District also provides corporate training through Training and Development Solutions, the district's corporate services division.

Saint Mary's College of California
1928 Saint Mary's Road
Moraga, CA 94575
(925) 631-4900, (866) 306-0395
www.stmarys-ca.edu

The beautiful Moraga campus of St. Mary's College of California offers several programs which are scheduled, located, and even priced for the convenience of the working adult student.

Their School of Extended Education offers two programs, a Master of Arts in Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP). The Leadership program is designed to teach professionals the skills they need to guide organizations to successful futures, taking an interdisciplinary approach to creating and implementing sustainable change in service to an organization's overall mission. This is achieved through training in creative and collaborative problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication and facilitation skills, values based policy making, and team building.

The more specialized LEAP program is exclusively for professional dancers and former dancers who are interested in receiving a comprehensive liberal arts education. The program allows completion of a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Performing Arts in three to four years of part-time study.

Extended and Adult Education

Whether a University Extension course or Adult Education, several institutions offer instruction on a wide variety of topics. Through these courses, participants can gain relevant skills and knowledge from a selection of stellar educators.

California State University, East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542
(510) 885-3605
www.csueastbay.edu

With over 12,000 students enrolled last fall, Cal State East Bay (formerly Cal State Hayward) is one of the largest educational institutions in the area. Cal State East Bay offers over 100 fields of study at their two campuses in Hayward and Concord, as well as a professional center in downtown Oakland.

As part of the 42 undergraduate and 31 graduate degrees offered by the school, three master's degree programs have particular relevance to working professionals:

Master of Science in Education, Option in Online Teaching and Learning - This program, offered completely online, is designed to meet the needs of university and college faculty, K-12 teachers, corporate and military trainers, educational administrators, curriculum designers, technical support staff and others who design, implement and teach online courses.

Master of Science in Engineering Management - This interdisciplinary program offers a curriculum that blends qualitative management and quantitative industrial engineering with courses offered in engineering, business, computer science and statistics.

Transnational Executive MBA (TEMBA) - The TEMBA program combines a challenging global business education with real-world experience. A convenient once-a-month class format is designed to meet the needs of busy mid-level and senior professionals.

In addition, Cal State East Bay's Continuing Education division offers more than 50 certificate and degree programs for continued professional development in a variety of fields. Programs currently available include Bioscience, Biomedical Quality Systems, Human Resource Management, International Business, Nonprofit Management, Payroll Practice and Management, Supply Management, Java Programming, Linux/Unix Administration, .NET Programming, a number of Microsoft certifications, Video Game Design and Development, Online Teaching and Learning, Engineering Management, Quality Management, Six Sigma Training, Travel Agent, Wedding Consultant, Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC), Paralegal Studies, Medical Assistant Administration, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, EKG Technician, Construction Management, Facilities Management, HVAC Technician, Art Museum/Gallery Studies, AutoCAD 2005, Digital Arts, Multimedia Design, and more.

Pleasanton Unified School District - Amador Valley Adult & Community Education
215 Abbie Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 426-4280
www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/EducationalServices/AdultEducation/

The Pleasanton Schools offer a number of classes through a special department, Amador Valley Adult and Community Education. This group offers over 150 classes every semester on subjects including career technical education, health and safety, and computer software as well as personal enrichment classes like cooking, wine appreciation, money management, and conversational foreign languages. Career-oriented classes currently offered include accounting, notary public training, medical assistant training, and human resources management.

U.C. Berkeley Extension Administrative Office
1995 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-7000
(510) 642-4111
www.unex.berkeley.edu

U.C. Berkeley Extension offers an enormous number of classes and certificate programs and, with over 35,000 enrollments each year, adult students from throughout the Bay Area have been eager to participate. Courses are usually offered in Berkeley, Redwood City, and San Francisco, but customized on-site training and online classes are available as well.

Programs of study include Art & Design, Behavioral & Health Sciences, Bioinformatics, Business & Management, Biotechnology, Computer Technology and Information Management, Engineering, Environmental Management, Interior Design & Interior Architecture, Writing, Editing, and Technical Communication, and more.

Individual certificate programs are offered in 27 different categories, including areas such as Business Administration, Finance, Online Marketing, and Technical Communication. These programs enable students to acquire a substantial level of expertise in a given subject and require a minimum of 210 hours of coursework. UC Berkeley Extension also offers professional sequences which focus on one area of specialization and require at least 90 hours of coursework. Examples of areas in which professional sequences are offered include Analog Design, Biotechnology Business & Marketing, Editing, Integrated Marketing Communications, Java Programming, Software Project Management, Systems Analysis, and Telecommunications Fundamentals.

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