March

March 16, 2016 | Volume 24, Number 3

The Tri-Valley has a Wealth of Adult Education Opportunities

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

One of the best ways to enhance your career possibilities is through education. Learning new skills and the recognition that comes with that attainment is a way to demonstrate your abilities and potential to employers. The Tri-Valley is known as a center of commerce and innovation, but it is also a great location for adult education, vocational training, and career development. Here is a directory of the local options for becoming a lifelong learner.

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
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(800) GGU-4YOU
www.ggu.edu

Since 1901, Golden Gate University has helped adults achieve their professional goals by providing undergraduate and graduate education in accounting, law, taxation, business and related areas. The university's main campus is located in San Francisco with additional teaching sites in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Seattle. In addition to evening and weekend classes, most courses and degrees are offered entirely online. Since more than 80 percent of the university's 5,000 students attend part-time, classes are offered on campus or online, with programs in the afternoons, evenings, and even on weekends. GGU also offers a range of scholarships and grants for undergraduate or graduate students, both on need- and merit-based bases.

Certificates, undergraduate degrees, and master's degrees are available in fields including accounting; business and management; finance; financial planning; general studies; human resources; international business; IT management; law; marketing and public relations; operations management; project management; psychology; public administration; supply chain management; and taxation.

John F. Kennedy University
100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4817
(800) 557-1384
www.jfku.edu

John F. Kennedy University is a fully accredited, nonprofit university offering innovative and nationally recognized programs that will help students realize personal and professional growth. The school's Continuing Education department provides professional development and personal enrichment programs, with an emphasis on the fields of psychology, law, and health care. CE offers a variety of certificate programs and courses for psychologists, mental health professionals, registered nurses and attorneys who seek to acquire or maintain licensure, expand their knowledge, increase their proficiency, or specialize in a particular area of expertise in their respective fields. Taught by expert scholar-practitioners at campuses in Pleasant Hill, Berkeley, and San Jose - as well as online - courses integrate theory and practice that can be immediately applied.

JFK University also offers certificate programs in select clinical subject areas. Current topics of study include: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eating Disorders, Expressive Arts Therapy, Deep Imagination, and Treatment Strategies for Returning Troops.

University of Phoenix
2481 Constitution Drive
Livermore, CA 94551
(925) 273-8100
www.phoenix.edu

Founded in 1976, University of Phoenix seeks to provide access to higher education opportunities that enable students to develop knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their professional goals, improve the performance of their organizations, and provide leadership and service to their communities. The school enrolls over 250,000 students at over 190 campuses and learning centers across the country, also offering degree programs globally online.

At the school's Livermore Learning Center - one of three Bay Area University of Phoenix locations - students can earn a number of both undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. As a school that focuses largely on adult learners, University of Phoenix courses and degree programs have been designed to accommodate working professionals with features like evening classes, flexible scheduling, and continuous enrollment.

University of San Francisco, Pleasanton Campus
6120 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 150
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 867-2711
www.usfca.edu/pleasanton

For over 30 years, University of San Francisco's Pleasanton campus has served the East Bay and Tri-Valley, a region that sits at the center of the world's fifth largest economy and one of the strongest economic sectors. USF offers programs designed to serve those who have a passion for justice and are interested in creating a more humane and just world. Undergraduates may undertake a course of study leading to a BS in management while graduate students may pursue a master of science in nursing or a single or multiple subject teaching credential with an MA in teaching.

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
3000 Campus Hill Drive
Livermore, CA 94551-7623
(925) 424-1000
www.laspositascollege.edu
www.clpccd.org

Las Positas College, the area's community college, was founded in 1963 as an extension center of Chabot College and has since developed into a fully accredited, comprehensive institution. Currently, almost 8,500 day and evening students are enrolled at the college's 147-acre campus.

Las Positas offers curriculum for students seeking career preparation, transfer to a four-year college or university, or personal enrichment. The College provides university transfer classes, retraining classes for those in need of employment or career advancement, a first-time educational opportunity for many adults, enrichment classes for those seeking a broader perspective, and career and technical training for those entering the technical and paraprofessional work force. Las Positas College excels in helping students transfer to the University of California system, the California State University system, and other four-year institutions.

Students who come to the College can choose any of 24 Occupational Associate Degrees, 17 Transfer Associate Degrees, and 44 Certificate Programs. In addition, the College offers community education courses geared toward personal development and cultural enrichment.

Academic rigor is maintained in a friendly, personal atmosphere. Las Positas College faculty and staff are distinguished by their energy, creativity, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of the students they serve.

Las Positas College is a learning-centered institution focused on excellence and student success, and is fully committed to supporting all Tri-Valley residents in their quest for education and advancement.

The campus is accessible from BART and Interstate 580. Students can take buses from the Pleasanton-Dublin BART station and from many locations in Livermore and Pleasanton. The College is proud of its exceptional safety record, which has made it one of the safest colleges in the Bay Area, and its commitment to sustainability, including LEED facilities, recycling and paper reduction practices, and photovoltaic parking structures generating one megawatt of energy.

LPC, along with Chabot College in Hayward, is part of the Chabot Las Positas Community College District. The District operates an OSHA Training Center and offers custom training programs through its Corporate Services Division at its headquarters in Dublin. Information about Corporate Services is available at www.tdsolutions.org.

St. Mary's College of California
1928 Saint Mary's Road
Moraga, CA 94575
(925) 631-4000
www.stmarys-ca.edu

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary's is a Catholic liberal arts college located in the East Bay community of Moraga, about 20 miles northwest of Hacienda, which is committed to social justice, respect for all persons, and the power of education to transform lives. The College enrolls more than 4, 000 undergraduate and graduate students in a rigorous educational program that engages the intellect and spirit, and awakens a desire to change society.

Guided by the Christian Brothers, the Catholic Church's oldest order dedicated exclusively to teaching, Saint Mary's programs span many disciplines and areas of academic interest, serving a wide range of students, from traditional undergraduates to international students to working professionals.

At the heart of the undergraduate program is Collegiate Seminar, in which undergraduates read and discuss great works and learn how to listen. Saint Mary's offers graduate programs in education, business, leadership, fine arts in creative writing and dance, and kinesiology, as well as teaching and administrative credentials and two Bachelor completion programs in leadership & organizational studies as well as another in the arts, designed for current or retired professional dancers.

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 Continuing Education
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542
(800) 730-2784
www.ce.csueastbay.edu

California State University, East Bay Continuing Education provides professional development training and education to Bay Area professionals and beyond. Offering more than 35 degree and certificate programs in a variety of industries and fields, you can explore areas including Art and Design, Behavioral and Health Sciences, Business and Management, Education, Engineering and Project Management, Hospitality, Legal Studies, Medical and Healthcare, Social Work, Specialized Training, and Test Preparation.

CSU East Bay Continuing Education programs emphasize quality of instruction and a personal touch. Programs are taught by industry-experienced and academically acclaimed instructors. Smaller class sizes and instructor-to-student ratio allow for more personal instruction, mentoring, and coaching.

Ranked as a "Best in the West" college by the Princeton Review for nine consecutive years, Cal State East Bay is a vital member of the regional community. As an extension of the University, Continuing Education aims to expand the reach of its rich educational resources to adult learners. Serving both locally and abroad, CSUEB Continuing Education meets the academic, professional, creative, and lifelong learning goals of its diverse community. Through collaboration with community, business, government, and constituents, the organization offers programs that expand student access and meet the University's high standards of scholarship.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, Cal State East Bay Continuing Education adapts its programs and services to a diverse and highly complex global marketplace, focusing on real-world takeaways and meeting regional needs.

As a result, CSUEB's programs are highly regarded in the marketplace and make it easy for graduates to attain their professional goals. Many of the programs incorporate internship opportunities and career assistance, enabling students to expand their professional goals and build more than just one career path.

Students can customize their education to fit their schedules with programs offered at a variety of times and formats including online and at three convenient campus locations in Hayward, Oakland, and Concord.

Pleasanton Unified School District Adult Education
4665 Bernal Avenue
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 462-5500
www.pleasantonusd.net (click on Educational Services, then on Adult Education)

Thanks to funding from recent state legislation, the City of Pleasanton has re-launched its Adult Education program. While a full slate of classes is anticipated in the future, the curriculum now consists of beginning and intermediate courses in English as a Second Language (ESL). Gradual expansion into other areas, including high school completion courses, is slated for coming semesters.

UC Berkeley Extension
1995 University Avenue, Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 642-4111
extension.berkeley.edu

Founded in 1891, UC Berkeley Extension is the continuing education branch of the University of California, Berkeley. The organization offers more than 2,000 courses each year, including online courses, along with more than 75 professional certificates and specialized programs of study. Enrollment in 2011-12 was over 35,000.

To help working adults and full-time students reach their goals, Extension offers hundreds of courses every term. Beginning nearly every week of the year, daytime, evening and weekend courses are held at locations in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Belmont. For even greater convenience, many of our courses, professional certificates and specialized programs of study are also available online.

UC Berkeley Extension's courses, professional certificates, and specialized programs of study cover topics in nine major areas, including art and design; behavioral health sciences; business; construction and environmental management; education; humanities; sciences, mathematics, and biotechnology; technology and information management; and writing, editing, and technical communication. For information on specific programs, access the school's web site at the address above.

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