Guiding Students Into Career Pathways

MTC’s Schools of Study and program pathways guide students toward in-demand careers with solid earning potentials necessary to provide for their families and livelihoods.

For the month of August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported almost 153,000 South Carolinians were unemployed. For that same month, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce reported 120,395 open jobs. To connect unemployed people to jobs, the missing pieces often involve training and education.

“Every day, MTC faculty ensure our students are learning the critical skills in high demand by our local employers,” said MTC Provost Dr. Barrie Kirk. “Beginning with the end in mind, we have streamlined more than 150 programs to focus on creating clear career pathways in our eight Schools of Study.”

MTC’s new Schools of Study are squarely aligned with the core industries that drive our local economy.

The School of Advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades sets individuals up for high-tech careers in everything from the automotive industry, to construction, to electrical and electronics, to graphic design, to heating ventilation and air conditioning, to mechatronics, precision machining, and welding.

The School of Science, Information Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) is all about what the name says, with natural, physical, and chemical sciences; more than a dozen computer and information technology programs including new Cybersecurity certificates; multiple programs in Architectural, Chemical, Civil, Computer and Electrical engineering technologies; and mathematics.

In the School of Business, students can learn about accounting, project management, marketing, and administration. Because MTC is located in the state capital, many of the available jobs are with state government and with those operating public-private partnerships. And MTC also attracts a strong subset of entrepreneurs with plans of starting their own businesses.

Students in the School of English and Humanities apply communication, research and analysis skills to many different high demand careers. English, History and Writing graduates work in public relations, media, communications, publishing, government and teaching.

During a pandemic, the importance of programs in the college’s School of Health Care cannot be understated.

“The demand has only intensified in recent months as employers need respiratory therapists and nurses, surgical technicians, paramedics, sonographers, and patient care technicians,” said Kirk.

Whether students enter the workforce immediately after graduation or go on to obtain advanced degrees, they can find those options within any of MTC’s Schools of Study. MTC’s additional Schools of Study include Education and Public Service, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

“Leaders at Midlands Technical College recognize that workforce development is critical to South Carolina and the Midlands like never before,” said Rhames. “MTC will continue to answer the call and graduate skilled workers who will become high-paid and highly valued employees and professionals.”