You’re ready to take the next step in your career, but you’re not sure where to begin. Do you need a certificate or continuing education degree for your next role? Or do you need to finish one you’ve already started? And what would that entail?
At Athens State University, we help adult learners re-enter their academic journey with programs, resources, and services to help advance their careers. And if you’re ready to take that next step, here are some ways our continuing education programs can help:
1. Select the best continuing education program for your goals.
One of the first steps for advancing your career is determining what you want to get your certificate or degree in. Fortunately, Athens State University provides plenty of options and a wide variety of programs to choose from.
With over 50 majors and 40 minors spanning across colleges of arts and sciences, business, and education, you’ll be able to find a course or curriculum that supports your career goals. And if you need help planning out your courses, we can help design a program of study that’s right for you.
2. Customize your curriculum and course load to fit your needs.
Built for adult learners and transfer students, our programs are designed to fit with your schedule and goals. We understand that our students are balancing a lot, most of whom are working full- or part-time jobs while completing their degrees. So we strive to make our programs as flexible and affordable as possible while still providing a quality education.
We offer courses that are available in-person, online, nights, and weekends, so you can adjust your program to work with your schedule. Because every situation is unique, we provide individual counseling to help you create a customized plan that fits your situation so you can graduate by your desired timeline and fully prepared for the next step in your career.
3. Get a more personalized education with smaller class sizes.
We have a 15:1 ratio of students to teachers, allowing you to get more one-on-one time with our faculty. This means more personalized guidance, attention, and discussion as you earn your degree with teachers who can provide advice and guidance throughout your academic journey.
With smaller class sizes, our professors are able to get to know you on a deeper level, taking time to understand your career aspirations and goals, then providing expert guidance to help you achieve them.
4. Transfer credits for courses you’ve already completed.
We share the same goal that you do: To help you earn your degree as quickly as possible so you can efficiently and effectively advance your career. That’s why we help students apply their existing knowledge and prior training toward their degrees with transferable credits.
Our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a process that evaluates your knowledge gained outside of the classroom and applies it to the coursework you need to complete your degree or certificate. So you can get closer to your degree just by having prior experience like:
- Previous or current employment
- Certifications
- Military training or service
- Civic activities
- Volunteer services
So all the work and experience you earned prior to attending Athens State University will get you that much closer to earning your degree or certification; and therefore, closer to advancing your career.
5. Stay on trach to graduate with support from our Student Success Center.
Our Student Success Center is a central hub of resources and services to help you make the most of your time at Athens State, providing access to academic degree advising, guidance, and student support.
As an undergrad, you also get a designated success coach who can help you navigate your academic journey and plan out a customized course plan that reflects your career goals and desired graduation timeline. Your success coach is available to help you consider your courses and options, plan your studies and classes, and act as a source of guidance and information throughout your time at Athens State. With their support, you’ll be able to graduate on time and ready for the next step in your career.
6. Further your career with help from our Career Development Center.
As you complete your continuing education degree or certificate, you’ll also have access to the Athens State Career Development Center. The Career Development Center provides career planning, development, and job-seeking strategies as well as networking opportunities so you can easily plan and prepare for the next phase of your career.
Some of the services include help with updating your resume and cover letters and honing your interview skills. The Career Development Center also provides opportunities to meet with hiring managers at career fairs, employer workshops, and campus recruiting events so you can get a head start on finding your next role.
As you can see, Athens State offers multiple ways to help adult learners like you advance their careers and stand out in a competitive job market. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, educator, or tech enthusiast, we offer a variety of continuing education programs and certificates to meet your needs so you can graduate on your timeline and on your terms.
