Associate in Science - General Electrician

at Foothill College USA

Spanish is the language of the majority of Western hemisphere countries and is also the fastest growing language in California. For those planning to work in the health industry, education, law or public service, knowledge of Spanish is an invaluable asset. A degree in Spanish is an excellent way to expand career opportunities.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The student will be able to communicate with native speakers of Spanish, using the appropriate language for any given situation.
• The student will, by presenting research, demonstrate knowledge of Hispanic society, culture, and politics.

The Communication Studies department offers a wide variety of courses and special programs to meet the needs of our students. Whether you aspire to become a communication specialist, enhance your marketability in the workplace, or improve your people skills, our faculty and advisers can help you identify the right program to meet your needs. Coursework involves collaboration, presentation, listening, cross-cultural understanding, rhetorical analysis, argumentation, and professional communication. The program includes application of these foundational principles in a collaborative and supportive environment.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers rated oral communication as the highest among attributes necessary in achieving professional success. More and more businesses and occupations prefer to hire employees who possess strong communication skills. When evaluating applicants, four-year universities look favorably upon students with strong backgrounds in communication. Effective communication skills assist in individual development and enhancement of human relations.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify patterns of communication in a variety of contexts.
• Students will be able to utilize appropriate methods of communication in critical thinking and/or communication situations.

This program prepares students to design, administer, maintain and troubleshoot networks of all sizes. Skills gained include specification preparation, network management, network design, equipment and system sales and software development. Laboratory courses provide students with hands-on experience to demonstrate the principles of Enterprise Networking. Courses provide learning opportunities for students new to the field, as well as those who are experienced professionals. Specialized courses are also available to help the student prepare for certification exams, including: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional - Data Center Virtualization, and the Certified Wireless Administrator (CWNA).

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The student will be able to design a network infrastructure to support specific user and business requirements.
• The student will be able to design, implement and maintain appropriate security services for network systems.
• The student will be able to select the components to create a virtual infrastructure.
• The student will be able to optimize the performance, reliability and availability of network services.

The Business Administration program has a dual mission (transfer and workforce) in providing students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to prepare for transfer to four-year institutions and to pursue a career or to develop their own businesses.

Students are provided the courses necessary to pursue studies in specialized business fields such as accounting, finance, advertising, marketing, management, banking, and business information systems. All students expecting to work in private or profit organizations or government are strongly urged to include business principles and other business specialized courses as electives.

Additionally, the department offers coursework and activities for increased professional proficiency, career changes, or new employment challenges, as well as for small business development. The Business department's small business entrepreneurship program is currently in redesign mode and will be refocused on the development of curriculum, activities, and community partnerships with the objective to address the "skills gap." Our initial emphasis will be on skill areas in leadership, communication, collaboration, project management, and innovation.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate appropriate use of business terms and concepts across a standard breadth of business functions (R&D, Mfg, Sales, Mktg, Ops, IT, Acctg, Finance, etc.).
• Students will demonstrate appropriate use of analytical frameworks, methods, and skills in response to business questions, cases, and projects.

The History department offers courses that explore political, economic, social, and cultural themes of the past with a strong emphasis on global understanding and multicultural contributions. Courses cover the geographical globe from Eastern/Western Europe to Asia and the Americas.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify connections between specific people, groups, events and ideas and larger historical themes, developments and topics.
• Students will be able to critically analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources and draw valid historical interpretations from them.

Accounting is the language of business. Accountants measure business activities, process that data into reports and communicate the results to decision-makers. The accounting curriculum focuses on preparing students to transfer to four-year institutions, sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and seek employment. Areas of study include accounting for decision making, accounting for internal and external use, financial statement analysis, review of financial accounting standards, payroll and business taxes, individual and advanced taxation, computerized accounting software, auditing and forensic accounting, governmental and not-for-profit accounting and ethics in accounting.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to explain accounting terminology, concepts, principles, and frameworks.
• Students will be able to perform accounting-related calculations and demonstrate the ability to use methods and/or procedures to solve accounting problems.

Foothill College's Music Technology Program (MTEC) offers cutting-edge curriculum, instruction, and hands-on training in the areas of digital media content creation based on real-world industry standards. MTEC is an innovative educational program that integrates art and music with science and technology using a vocational strategy that enables students to realize a competitive advantage in an ever-evolving, digital-centric socioeconomic era. In addition to preparing students to pursue baccalaureate degrees at four-year institutions, the Foothill College MTEC program prepares students for diverse, productive careers in digital media content creation for music, technology, liberal and audio-visual arts, and communications.

The MTEC curriculum offers students the option to design their course of study to meet their needs. To augment their core courses, students may choose elective courses from music or related fields like media studies, photography, graphic design, and computer science. Because all these fields are very closely related, students can focus on areas that reflect their individual interests and goals. All musical styles and genres are supported and welcomed. Our goal is to give students the opportunity to succeed based on their talent, interest and hard work.

Program Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the MTEC program will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency with various aspects of digital media content creation, including the use of hardware, software, digital asset management practices and other areas identified by the program's Board of Advisors.
• Apply concepts from audio engineering, acoustics, sound synthesis, music theory, computer literacy and team collaboration in practical situations to optimize digital media production workflows.
• Demonstrate proficiency with audio-video equipment including live content acquisition, microphones, video cameras, sound reinforcement, post-production editing, mixing, mastering, metering, and system troubleshooting.
• Evaluate merits of professional media productions with an understanding of technical and aesthetic considerations appropriate for various genres.
• Distinguish between related career paths associated with the discipline of Music Technology including digital media content creation, technical support, marketing, entrepreneurship and business administrative positions.

The Sheet Metal trade is unique as it is one of the few crafts that starts with raw material, creates a component and installs and maintains the product. Using a combination of mathematics, layout tools, hammers, drills, plasma and laser beam cutting systems, computers, cutting, forming, seaming or welding machines, workers manipulate the material into the product desired. The maintenance sector includes preventive maintenance, repair, testing, balancing and sometimes certification of the installed systems. Items commonly fabricated and installed include HVAC systems, metal roofs, kitchen hoods, various flashings, gutters, decorative architectural features and many other items made of a variety of metals. It is an interesting and evolving field with exciting growth potential. The apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn program involving paid "full time" work and related classes.

Test, Adjust and Balancing (TAB) Technician is a registered apprenticeship program offered in partnership with Sheet Metal Local 104 and Bay Area Training Fund. This 5-year apprenticeship program provides students with 216 hours per year of day or evening class instruction and paid on-the-job training with a sheet metal contractor. This is a "green" construction field that is growing due to the need for indoor air quality and energy efficiency compliance. The type of work performed can range from pressure testing, adjusting and balancing of duct systems for energy efficiency to commissioning and completing documentation of HVAC systems in residential and commercial buildings. The work condition ranges from light physical activity to maneuvering into limited access areas with tools and equipment. Good communication skills are needed to interact with clients. Technicians are held to a code of conduct to assure quality measurements. The program offers a solid career opportunity with livable wages along with retirement and health benefits and provides highly trained and skilled workforce for students/apprentices in the HVAC industry. Per California Code of Regulations, this program is limited to students admitted to the Sheet Metal Local 104 & Bay Area Industry Training Fund's Test, Adjust, and Balancing (TAB) Technician Program.

The Air Conditioning Mechanic program is offered in partnership with Sheet Metal Local 104 and Bay Area Training Fund. This 5-year apprenticeship program provides students with in-class instruction and paid on-the-job training with a sheet metal contractor, in the service sector of the sheet metal and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The students will perform scheduled maintenance and troubleshoot system problems while dealing directly with a variety of customers. The students utilize understanding of refrigerant, electronic and pneumatic controls, filtration and duct systems to maintain safe and efficient system performance. Mechanics use test equipment to verify conditions, research manufacturer's data, and then adjust, repair and replace components as needed. Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Service Mechanics work on residential, light commercial and more often, complex commercial systems. Upgrade training is common in this occupation as more advanced and "greener" equipment is produced. Per California Code of Regulations, this program is limited to students admitted to the Sheet Metal Local 104 & Bay Area Industry Training Fund's Air Conditioning Mechanic Program.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students are prepared with the skills and expertise to detail, fabricate and install a variety of sheet metal products in compliance with applicable standards and codes, aiming for optimum environmental and energy efficiency. These highly demanded skills are acquired through on-the-job training and lead to employment in the construction industry. After five years of classroom and work experience students are recognized as journeypersons within the sheet metal industry.

Mathematics and related subjects play important dual roles in our culture. On the one hand, mathematics is a study in its own right; on the other hand it is an indispensable tool for expressing and understanding ideas in the sciences, engineering, and an increasing number of other fields.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The student will be able to clearly communicate mathematical ideas through graphs, tables of data, equations and verbal descriptions.
• The student will be able to construct appropriate mathematical models of natural phenomena, develop those models with appropriate mathematical techniques and interpret results of those models.

The major in Biological Sciences is primarily intended for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree. This major prepares students for careers in the health professions, teaching, forestry, agriculture, environmental protection and conservation, wildlife biology, biotechnology, basic research and many other fields.

Students with an interest in biology who do not intend to transfer to a four-year institution and earn a bachelor's degree are encouraged to look into some of the other programs offered by the Biological and Health Sciences Division, which are: dental assisting, dental hygiene, diagnostic medical sonography (ultrasound), environmental horticulture, paramedic, pharmacy technician, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, veterinary technology and/or veterinary assistant.

The department also offers a Certificate of Achievement in Bio-Health Diversity and Inclusion Leadership. Medical schools, healthcare employers, and biological research organizations specifically seek out candidates with an understanding of how issues of diversity impact their work. These organizations and employers understand that attending to diversity is critical for patient health and for excellence in research. This certificate provides a pathway for biology and health science students to gain certification in diversity, equity, inclusion, and service in their fields, such that students are more competitive for transfer and job applications. In earning the certificate, students will complete their major biology courses for their field alongside at least one service-learning course focusing on service in bio/health fields.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• The biology majors sequence prepares students to use the scientific method to formulate questions, design experiments to test hypotheses, interpret experimental results to draw conclusions, communicate results both orally and in writing, and critically evaluate the use of the scientific method from published sources.
• The biology majors sequence prepares students to apply evolutionary theory at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels to explain the unity and diversity of living things.