Florida SouthWestern State College

The mission of the Social and Human Services Program is to provide the highest quality education to future and current Human Service Professionals with a learning environment that supports the development of culturally competent, compassionate and accountable professionals. The Program prepares graduates who are dedicated to the autonomy, dignity, and diversity of the people they serve.

The Addiction Services College Credit Certificate (CCC) is a shorter program of study that consists of select courses from the Social and Human Services Associate in Science Program. The CCC is designed to prepare students for employment as addictions specialists, or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in the field of addictions.

The Human Services Generalist College Credit Certificate (CCC) is a shorter program of study that consists of select courses from the Social and Human Services Associate in Science Program. The CCC is designed to prepare students for work with diverse populations in a variety of human services environments, to provide a foundation for AA students who wish to pursue a higher degree in a related field, or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in the field of human services.

The mission of the Social and Human Services program is to provide the highest quality education to future and current Human Service Professionals by providing a learning environment that supports the development of culturally competent, compassionate and accountable professionals. Our program prepares graduates who are dedicated to the autonomy, dignity, and diversity of the people they serve.

Graduates of the Program are prepared to work under the supervision of social workers, psychologists, sociologists and other professionals. They may work at hospitals, mental health clinics, residential facilities or community service agencies, serving in many roles that make a positive impact in any community. Additionally, graduates can continue on to a bachelor degree program in human services, social work, psychology, gerontology or other related fields.

The mission of the Social and Human Services Program is to provide the highest quality education to future and current Human Service Professionals with a learning environment that supports the development of culturally competent, compassionate, and accountable professionals. The Program prepares graduates who are dedicated to the autonomy, dignity, and diversity of the people they serve.

This certificate program is part of the Crime Scene Technology AS degree program.

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment.

The College Credit Certificate (CCC) Crime Scene Technician program offers a sequence of courses that presents coherent and rigorous content needed to prepare students for employment in the field of criminalistics with a specialty in Crime Scene Technology. The student can serve in positions of Forensic Science Technician, Crime Scene Technician, Medical Examiner Investigator, Medical Investigator, Insurance Investigator, Legal Investigator, Forensic Paralegal, Crime Scene Investigator, and Laboratory Technician. Students can be employed by state attorneys' offices, public defender offices, medical examiner offices, law firms and private industry.

Students who complete the program will be able to locate, preserve, develop, collect, analyze, and present physical evidence relating to the scene of the crime. Students learn the necessary skills to accurately map out, collect and log evidence, develop and preserve fingerprints, write reports, and present courtroom testimony. Students are also prepared to use computerized fingerprint databases, 3D crime scene imaging technology, advanced photography, and laboratory analysis techniques. In addition to class and laboratory training, upon approval, internship opportunities are available that will allow the student to experience first-hand the job skills required in the field of crime scene investigation. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The graduate can be employed in positions such as Crime Scene Technician, Crime Scene Photographer, Fingerprint Examiner and Classification Specialist, Crime Scene Lab Assistant, and Crime Scene Unit Supervisor. Crime Scene Technologists are a employed by law enforcement agencies, state attorneys' offices, public defender offices, medical examiner offices, law firms, investigative agencies, and private industry.

The program is designed especially for students who have successfully completed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission Basic Recruit Academies for Law Enforcement Officer and/or Correctional Officers. Upon completion of program prerequisites, qualified students are eligible for 12 or more credit hours of core credit in the AS degree in Criminal Justice Technology.

This program does not prepare students for certification as correctional officers, law enforcement officers, correctional probation officers, auxiliary correctional officers, or auxiliary law enforcement officers, regardless of the amount of degree work completed. A student must successfully complete a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) Basic Recruit Program to become certified, pursuant to Chapter 943, Florida Statutes.

The program is designed especially for students who have successfully completed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission Basic Recruit Academies for Law Enforcement Officer and/or Correctional Officers. Upon completion of program prerequisites, qualified students are eligible for 12 or more credit hours of core credit in the AS degree in Criminal Justice Technology.

This program does not prepare students for certification as correctional officers, law enforcement officers, correctional probation officers, auxiliary correctional officers, or auxiliary law enforcement officers, regardless of the amount of degree work completed. A student must successfully complete a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) Basic Recruit Program to become certified, pursuant to Chapter 943, Florida Statutes.

The Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education prepares students for immediate employment educating children from birth through age eight years in a variety of settings, as well as transfer to specific Bachelor's Degree programs in the Florida College System. You will earn College Credit Certificates related to your program of study as you earn your AS.

The Emergency Medical Services Technology Program is designed to prepare the student to become a competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and/or Paramedic. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The Associate in Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services Technology consists of three sequential components. Successful completion of each component will fulfill requirements for the affiliated Florida State certification. Students looking to continue their education will be eligible for admission into the Florida SouthWestern State College Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Public Safety Administration.

The Emergency Medical Services Technology Program is designed to prepare the student to become a competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and/or Paramedic. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The EMS certificate programs (EMT and Paramedic) are limited admission, requiring completion of the Application for EMS Programs, and acceptance into the program by the College EMS department. The Associate in Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services Technology consists of three sequential components. Successful completion of each component will fulfill requirements for the affiliated Florida State certification. Students looking to continue their education will be eligible for admission into the Florida SouthWestern State College Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Public Safety Administration.

The Emergency Medical Services Technology Program is designed to prepare the student to become a competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and/or Paramedic. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The EMS certificate programs (EMT and Paramedic) are limited admission, requiring completion of the Application for EMS Programs, and acceptance into the program by the College EMS department. The Associate in Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services Technology consists of three sequential components. Successful completion of each component will fulfill requirements for the affiliated Florida State certification. Students looking to continue their education will be eligible for admission into the Florida SouthWestern State College Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Public Safety Administration.

This program will provide training for Southwest Florida firefighters in partnership with the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District Training Center. This program is designed to prepare students to be eligible to sit for the State of Florida Firefighter II Certification exam. Students must satisfy the requirements set forth in NFPA 1001 and Florida State Statute 69A-37. This is a 398-hour course that runs for 6 months. Classes are held in Naples on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturdays.

The Associate in Science degree in Fire Science Technology is designed to provide advanced educational opportunities for fire service personnel. Students gain both knowledge and experience useful to career advancement in the challenging field of fire service.

The program is designed both for students who have completed Florida firefighting minimum standards training, and those interested in expanding career opportunities in the field of fire science. Fire Science Technology courses are designed to fit into the work schedule of employed fire service personnel.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Paralegal Studies program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers as paralegals, title examiners or abstractors, or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in these occupations. The program also is approved by the American Bar Association.

The Associate in Science degree in Paralegal Studies is designed for students seeking a professional career in a law-related field. The program trains students in many diverse areas of law. Subjects include legal research and writing, real estate law, criminal law, family law, wills and trusts, torts, and litigation. Students are required to perform an internship in a local law office, prosecutor’s office, state attorney’s office, or similar.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Architectural Design and Construction Technology offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Architecture and Construction career field such as construction planners, contractors assistants, architectural assistants, construction engineering assistants, and other entry-level positions in residential and light commercial design, drafting, and job cost estimating. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

Students learn how to draw and properly develop a set of working drawings of architectural and structural frames for buildings and other structures. Program emphasis is on residential design and light commercial structures and the use of details, rough sketches, specifications, building codes, materials used in construction, and cost estimating all with a focus on sustainability. Students also create Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings using industry standard software such as Revit™.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Civil Engineering Technology offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers as surveyors, civil engineering technicians, surveyor helpers, and related positions in public, private, and governmental organizations. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The content includes but is not limited to surveying, highway design, soils and foundations, photogrammetry, asphalt design, drainage and geology, concrete design, orientation to utilities, structural design, estimating, drafting, legal and ethical considerations, employability skills, leadership and human relations skills, health and safety, and supportive general education. Technical report writing, record keeping and mathematical computations are important aspects of this occupation. Students perform manual and Computer-Aided surveying using advanced, industry-specific hardware and software, including GIS, while focusing on sustainability.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Civil Engineering Technology offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers as surveyors, civil engineering technicians, surveyor helpers, and related positions in public, private, and governmental organizations. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The content includes but is not limited to surveying, highway design, soils and foundations, photogrammetry, asphalt design, drainage and geology, concrete design, orientation to utilities, structural design, estimating, drafting, legal and ethical considerations, employability skills, leadership and human relations skills, health and safety, and supportive general education. Technical report writing, record keeping and mathematical computations are important aspects of this occupation. Students perform manual and Computer-Aided surveying using advanced, industry-specific hardware and software, including GIS, while focusing on sustainability.

This certificate program will prepare students for employment in the music and entertainment industry as technicians/specialists in music recording, audio hardware and software utilization, digital audio production, editing, and mastering. The program also provides supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in music, entertainment or related occupations. Graduates of this program can potentially obtain employment as recording technicians/engineers, sound technicians in live or studio positions, audio editors/designers in various music‐related fields. These could include broadcast media, motion picture trades and other multimedia‐based areas.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Digital Arts and Multimedia Production Program provides a pathway to the skills and training for professional work in the expanding digital content creation industry. The sequence of courses prepares students to communicate, produce and utilize industry standard training in the creation of digital and multimedia content.

Cardiovascular Technology is an exciting, rewarding, and relatively new field. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and advances in technology and the training of Cardiovascular Technologists have improved the lives of millions of patients. This has resulted in a high demand for our graduates to work in hospitals and cardiology practices. Florida has the 3rd highest employment level in the nation for Cardiovascular Technologists, and employment in the field is expected to grow by 14% from 2018 - 2028 in the United States - much faster than most other fields.

The Dental Hygiene program is designed to prepare the student to practice as a licensed dental hygienist. A graduate of the program is eligible to take the Dental Hygiene National Board, and, upon successful completion of that board, is eligible to take a state board to obtain a state license.

Health Information Technology professionals play a critical role in maintaining, collecting and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses and other health care providers rely on to deliver quality health care. They are experts in:

Managing access to patient health information and electronic health records
Establishing policies to protect patient health data and comply with federal, state and local regulations
Utilizing computer information systems
Coding the diagnosis and procedures for health care services provided to patients
Reviewing medical claims data and managing the revenue cycle.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 22 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages."

The Medical Information Coder/Biller College Credit Certificate (CCC) is part of the Health Information Technology AS degree. The program is designed to prepare students for employment in a variety of health care settings as entry level coder, medical record coder, coding technician, or coding clerks, or medical coder/billers. Medical information coder/biller professionals provide reliable and valid information for healthcare reimbursement and research.

The Certificate is comprised of courses that will provide coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Health Science career cluster. It provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, required of programs in the Health Science career cluster.

The Radiologic Technologist is an allied health professional who combines patient care skills with an in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and proficient utilization of medical imaging equipment. The technologist’s goal is to produce diagnostic images of the human body with minimum radiation exposure at a level of proficiency that will cause the least discomfort to the patient.

The Radiologic Technology Program is twenty-two months of full-time study. It includes classroom courses and extensive clinical laboratory experience in departments of radiology at participating clinical affiliates.

The Respiratory Care Program is designed to offer students the opportunity to obtain an Associate in Science Degree in Respiratory Care. Upon completion of the program, students will be registry-eligible Respiratory Therapists and will take the National Board for Respiratory Care Examinations. A graduate Respiratory Therapist is usually employed and licensed in the practice of Respiratory Care and has acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to administer respiratory therapy to patients of all ages with varied diseases and to patients in need of acute and critical care. Respiratory Therapists have the opportunity to learn and work in the acute care hospital setting, skilled nursing centers, rehabilitation, neo-natal intensive care, and home care environments. Because of the local need for graduates, scholarships are available through the College as well as through local hospitals. A freshman class begins each Fall semester. Currently, freshmen are accepted each year after June 1st. Class size is limited by the number of critical care units in the S.W. Florida clinical affiliates which are essential to the clinical education of Respiratory Care students.

The College Credit Certificate (CCC) Computer Programmer program prepares students for further education and careers in the Information Technology field. The content covers concepts necessary to analyze business situations and to design, develop and write computer programs; to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information; analyze problems using logic/analysis tools, code into computer language; test, monitor, debug, document and maintain computer programs.

This program is designed to help students obtain the skills needed to earn various industry-recognized certifications.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Computer Programming and Analysis offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers such as entry level programmers, programmer specialists, computer programmers, senior programmers, chief business programmers, programmer analysts, and information systems programmers in public, private, and governmental organizations. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The content prepares individuals to analyze business situations and to design, develop, and write computer programs; to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information; analyze problems using logic/analysis tools, code into computer language; test, monitor, debug, document and maintain computer programs. Students also apply computer languages such as Visual basic, C++, C#, HTML, and Java and perform data systems management and database management. Students are also prepared to earn relevant, recognized, industry certifications such as those offered by Microsoft and CompTIA.

The College Credit Certificate (CCC) Computer Programming Specialist program prepares students for further education and careers in the Information Technology field. The content covers concepts necessary to develop and write computer programs; code into computer language; test, monitor, debug, document, and maintain computer programs.

This program is designed to help students obtain the skills needed to earn various industry-recognized certifications.

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment.

The College Credit Certificate (CCC) Information Technology Support Specialist program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Information Technology field.

The content includes but is not limited to installation of information technology equipment, troubleshooting information technology equipment, and supporting information technology users.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Networking Systems Technology offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers such as cabling specialists, PC support technician, network control operators, data communications analysts, help desk specialists, network technicians, computer security specialists, network specialists, network managers, network systems analysts, network systems technicians, network troubleshooters, WAN/LAN managers, or systems administrators in public, private, and governmental organizations. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Networking Systems Technology offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers such as cabling specialists, PC support technician, network control operators, data communications analysts, help desk specialists, network technicians, computer security specialists, network specialists, network managers, network systems analysts, network systems technicians, network troubleshooters, WAN/LAN managers, or systems administrators in public, private, and governmental organizations. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The College Credit Certificate (CCC) in Network Security program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Information Technology field.

The content includes but is not limited to planning, installing, configuring, monitoring, troubleshooting and managing computer network security in a LAN/WAN environment. Students will be prepared to apply conceptual and theoretical knowledge to the workplace utilizing technical skills learned during the program.

The Associate in Science (AS) in Network Systems Technology offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers such as cabling specialists, PC support technician, network control operators, data communications analysts, help desk specialists, network technicians, computer security specialists, network specialists, network managers, network systems analysts, network systems technicians, network troubleshooters, WAN/LAN managers, or systems administrators in public, private, and governmental organizations. The program is designed for both full-time and part-time students.

The content includes but is not limited to planning, installing, configuring, monitoring, troubleshooting, and managing computer networks in a LAN/WAN environment. Students are prepared to apply conceptual and theoretical knowledge to the workplace utilizing technical skills learned during the program.

The College Credit Certificate (CCC) in Network Security program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Information Technology field.

The content includes but is not limited to planning, installing, configuring, monitoring, troubleshooting and managing computer network security in a LAN/WAN environment. Students will be prepared to apply conceptual and theoretical knowledge to the workplace utilizing technical skills learned during the program.