Within the next few months, officials at Northampton Community College expect to introduce five new career programs to meet the needs of local employers. All of the programs will be open to recent high school graduates as well as adults seeking to make a career change or advance existing careers.

The Emergency Services Administration program will offer an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. This career field is expected to see growth in coming years in response to federal regulations for emergency preparedness and homeland security.

Sports Medicine: Athletic Training will offer an Associate in Science degree that will prepare students to transfer to four-year athletic training programs such as East Stroudsburg, Temple, and West Chester Universities. Admissions to this program are selective due to the academic rigor of the coursework. The two-year program also prepares students to take the personal trainer exam.

The AAS degree in Construction Management was added in response to requests from construction firms in the Lehigh Valley, and will feature hands-on practicums as an integral part of the program. The degree will prepare students to become construction managers, administrators, or project managers within the industry. The median salary for this field in Pennsylvania is $35.43 per hour.

The Automation Control in Biomanufacturing specialized diploma focuses on the practical applications of electromechanical concepts and process control in the highly regulated production facilities of biomanufacturing and biopharmaceutical companies. The program is designed to provide the minimal skills and knowledge needed for quick entry into the field upon completion of the diploma.

The Aseptic Processing specialized diploma focuses on the skills needed in the aseptic (ultra-clean) production areas of biomanufacturing companies. Industry advisors helped to develop courses that will allow students to quickly gear up to full productivity within biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, which is a distinct advantage when competing for jobs within these expanding fields.

In addition to the new academic programs, beginning with fall semester 2008, NCC will become one of the first community colleges in the state to offer an AAS degree in criminal justice that students can complete entirely online. Criminal justice is one of the most popular majors at NCC.

NCC’s Board of Trustees will vote on the new programs at a meeting in early June. Individuals who are interested in enrolling for the fall semester should contact NCC’s Admissions Office at 610-861-5500. For more information on these and other programs, visit www.northampton.edu.