News

BRCC offers plenty of degree programs for in-demand jobs

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 12, 2024

With fall enrollment underway and classes starting Aug. 15, Blue Ridge Community College students have more program options than ever, providing learners of all ages a boost toward the workforce.

Blue Ridge’s newest programs include practical nursing, civil engineering technology, environmental engineering technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, elementary education residency, and medical office administration. The college will also offer respiratory therapy for the first time this fall in partnership with Southwestern Community College. Future students can visit www.blueridge.edu/admissions to begin the enrollment process.

“At Blue Ridge, we are dedicated to preparing students for rewarding careers in high-demand workforce sectors,” President Laura B. Leatherwood said. “Our most recent program additions allow students to choose from more strategic areas of study than ever before, ensuring the skills and knowledge necessary for success in a variety of professions.”

Blue Ridge carefully chooses new programs in high-wage high-demand sectors that support the needs of the local and regional economy. Before their approval by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and addition to the college’s curriculum, each proposed new program undergoes a rigorous feasibility study to ensure a robust demand for program graduates and a promising long-term career outlook.

For example, respiratory therapy employment is projected to grow 13 percent in the decade through 2032 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In response, Blue Ridge’s Transylvania County campus will offer a respiratory therapy program for the first time this fall in collaboration with Southwestern Community College. The program is quickly filling, and students should apply by July 30.

Also under the healthcare umbrella, practical nursing is forecast to experience a worker shortage of 50 percent by the year 2033 by the Program on Health Workforce Research and Policy at the Cecil G. Sheps Center. 

“The practical nursing program at Blue Ridge Community College allows entry-level nurses to enter the workforce sooner, helping to reduce the current and predicted staffing challenges in healthcare, especially in nursing,” said Heather Stewart, chair of  BRCC's allied health programs. “This entry-level nursing position also allows students to make a liveable wage while continuing to pursue other educational goals."

Importantly, the new one-year practical nursing program prepares students to take the next step into Blue Ridge’s popular two-year associate degree nursingprogram, which prepares students for highly-employable careers as registered nurses.

Similarly, North Carolina is the fourth largest employer of civil engineering technicians nationally according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates of Blue Ridge’s new civil engineering technology program will therefore be highly employable, qualified for technician-level jobs within both public and private engineering, construction and surveying agencies. 

With the goal of assisting K-12 education partners in solving the current teacher shortage crisis, Blue Ridge recently added the new elementary education residency program. April Wright, teacher preparation and licensure faculty member, explained that the new program is enrolling teaching residents that hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and who are currently employed with a local school system.

“Over a two year period, the courses will prepare teaching residents to obtain their North Carolina K-6 Educator’s license that will allow teachers to instruct in a kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth grade classroom,” Wright said.

In addition to Blue Ridge’s newest programs announced this past year, students can choose from more than 200 degree, diploma and certificate programs in 30 areas of study. Enrollment information is available at www.blueridge.edu/admissions, and assistance is available by emailing admissions@blueridge.edu or by calling the College’s One Stop Center at 828-694-1800 in Henderson County or 828-694-1900 in Transylvania County.