Classes Offered On Campus and Online

(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - April 20, 2012) - - - Whether you're looking to learn new skills or fine-tune your current ones, Columbia State Community College has something for everyone. Columbia State's Center for Economic and Workforce Development is offering a variety of classes on campus and online during the months of May and June.

Are you new to social media? Learn how to use Facebook in this introductory course that is geared to teach new and less experienced users of social media and social media networks how to establish a presence on Facebook. This one-day class takes place on Tuesday, May 8 and again Friday, June 8.

Learn the art of search engine optimization in this online course that is a bundle of three programs designed to help you jump-start your career in the fast-paced search engine industry, including Search Engine Optimization 101, Search Engine Optimization 201, and Web Site Copywriting 101. With a flexible start date in May, you can complete the 150-hour course at your own pace.

The CompTIA™ A+ program will prepare you for two CompTIA™ A+ certification exams, A+ Essentials and A+ Practical Application. Topics covered in this online program include motherboards memory, processors, video, storage media and devices, printers, operating systems, networking, security, and more. Gaining CompTIA™ A+ certification assures employers and computer owners that a PC repair technician has the requisite knowledge to build, upgrade, optimize, troubleshoot and repair personal computer systems. This 150-hour program has a flexible start date during the month of May.

Comp TIA TM Network+ certification training will teach you the fundamentals you need to obtain a CompTIA™ Network+ certification and start a career as a network technician. This online program will have you mastering basic networking concepts and learning about network design, security, routing and switching. You can start this class anytime during the month of June and work at your own pace.

Do you want to improve the performance of your organization and increase the development of your people at the same time? During the two-day workshop, The First Degree of Leadership: Building Accountability Within, you will learn about real solutions for real problems in the area of accountability. You will walk away with new insights on influencing others and building relationships, as well as your own ideas about growth as a leader. This 16-hour class will meet on Friday, May 11 and again on Friday, May 25.

Offered in conjunction with the Leadership Series, Motivating Others is a course in which students will learn how to create an environment that allows individuals and work groups to achieve their full potential. They will learn how to spark high levels of sustained energy in individuals and work groups and how to improve work group results by helping people sustain their motivation. Register now for the Friday, May 18 class.

Become skilled at writing grants with this online training program. You will learn the essentials of writing, researching, obtaining and maintaining grants. You'll learn how to format proposals, how to write effectively and how to get funded. Complete this 300-hour course at your own pace with a flexible start date in June.

You can learn payroll practice and management and train become a payroll specialist or update your skills. This online program will provide the training you need, and it will help prepare you for the Certified Payroll Professional test given by the American Payroll Association. This 80-hour program has a flexible start date during the month of May.

Learn world class customer service so you can provide excellent customer service every day. You'll learn the art of understanding customer needs, as well as our own, while staying motivated. Become a skilled listener and communicator so you can sound professional in person and on the phone, and learn how to provide excellent customer service to angry or hostile individuals. Register now for this Friday, May 25 class.

Become skilled in graphic design with this 200-hour online program that teaches students how to use Photoshop CS4, the gold standard for image creation and editing, as you get instruction from a Photoshop and graphic design expert with over 15 years of teaching experience. This is the ideal program if you're looking to turn your interest in art into an enjoyable and creative career. This program has a flexible start date during the month of May.

The travel agent online training program is a proven, successful method for motivated people to begin a travel career. This 200-hour online program will also help you prepare for The Travel Institute (formerly ICTA) TAP Certification. You'll learn the basic skills needed to operate a computer reservation system for airlines, travel agencies, cruise lines, hotels or home-based agent. This class has a flexible June start date.

Become a certified wedding planner after taking this 300-hour online program which will prepare you for a career in wedding planning by mastering the fundamentals of planning, orchestrating and delivering sensational weddings and parties. This program allows you to earn your certification as a professional wedding planner, and you'll have an opportunity to put your new skills to work in an optional internship. This program has a flexible start date during the month of May.

The Six Sigma Black Belt Online Training Program integrates Six Sigma with hands-on data analysis. The program material provides you with an in-depth look at the Six Sigma Black Belt problem-solving methodology, DMAIC: Define the problem, Measure key aspects, Analyze data, Improve the process, Control the future process. You'll also learn about deployment and project development approaches. This 200-hour program has a flexible start date during the month of May.

The Six Sigma Green Belt Online Training Program encompasses all aspects of running a Six Sigma Green Belt business, including management, service delivery, design, production, and customer satisfaction. Six Sigma is one of the highest standards for companies and individuals to achieve. This 80-hour interactive online program provides the training you need to master these highly valuable skills. This class will be offered during the month of June and you may select your start date.

The field of project management is growing exponentially and so is the demand for highly qualified project management professionals. Project managers are needed in all industries, from construction and manufacturing to aerospace and telecommunications. In this 40-hour online program, you'll master the skills you need to get started in project management or take your career to the next level. This course has a flexible June start so you can go at your own pace.

First Line Supervision participants will learn how to effectively make the transition to the role of supervisor, how to communicate more effectively and other skills that will prepare them for a supervisory position. This two-day class begins Friday, June 8 and continues Friday, June 15.

Leaders can set performance expectations by ensuring mutual understanding of performance expectations and by helping others identify performance expectations that align with an organization's goals. This class takes place Friday, June 15.

To register for these or any of Columbia State's other professional development or continuing education courses, go to http://registration.xenegrade.com/columbiastate. For additional information, including meeting times and course fees, please call (931) 540-2660.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

# # #