Oakton to offer five new certificate programs this fall

Whether you're just starting college and plan to transfer to a four-year college or university, or are looking to learn new skills to advance your career, there's a place for you at Oakton Community College.

Oakton is excited to increase the number of face-to-face courses available this fall, while taking precautions to keep you safe on campus. There are still plenty of online options available, allowing you to learn in the way that best prepares you to succeed.

Oakton is here to support you with free tutoring, transfer advising and career coaching.

Additionally, enrolled students will be able to apply for financial assistance through Oakton CARES, which includes additional federal funding to help students financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For information, visit www.oakton.edu/newsevents/news/alerts/COVID19/CARES.php.

Oakton offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs, including five new innovative certificates starting this fall, including:

• Advanced CNC Machinist Certificate (26-semester credit hours): This program is designed for students who want to expand their manufacturing knowledge beyond machine operation, setup and programming. Students will learn about industrial drafting and design, robotics and programmable logic controllers.

• Digital Audio Content Creation Certificate (18-semester credit hours): Learn to produce high-quality audio content like podcasts, voice-overs, sound design and livestreamed events. Students will learn to write and edit scripts, set up and record audio, add music and sound, edit audio programming and publish digital audio content to the web.

• Digital Video Content Creation Certificate (18-semester credit hours): Create video content for social media marketing, web videos, commercials and video podcasts. Students will develop skills in writing, storyboarding, camera setup and operation, cinematography, film language, video editing, publishing video content on the web, and adding animated titles and graphics to videos.

• Mental Health and Crisis Response for Public Safety Certificate (pending state approval, 13-semester credit hours): This program offers education and workplace training for sworn police officers and other law enforcement individuals. Students will learn how public safety and community public health partners collaborate to support people with substance use or mental health disorders.

• Forensics Certificate (18-semester credit hours): Learn the methods and importance of a proper crime scene response in a criminal investigation. Topics include techniques for collecting and preserving evidence at crime scenes. This certificate can also be applied toward the college's Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice degree program.

• Import/Export Specialist Certificate (12-semester credit hours): Examine the regulations associated with trade compliance, required documentation related to preparing for global import/export processes, and strategies about logistics planning and payment terms. This certificate will prepare students for various careers, including trade analyst, customs analyst, customs consultant, trade coordinator and compliance specialist.

Fall credit courses start Monday, Aug. 23. Enroll now by visiting oakton.edu/enroll.

For information, contact the Enrollment Center at enrollmentcenter@oakton.edu or (847) 635-1700.