Admissions

A credit course counts toward a credit certificate or college degree. Once you successfully complete a credit course, those credits can be applied toward a degree or certificate in that particular program of study (where applicable). At Cecil College, we offer associate degrees and credit certificates.

Most students taking credit courses are pursuing a college degree to work in a career which requires one, such as someone working toward an associate and or bachelor’s degree in engineering. Another example would be a student working toward a Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree so they can get a job as a PTA once they earn their degree and pass the PTA exam. Many of our students attend Cecil College to earn an associate degree or college credits and then transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree in their program of choice.

With some credit courses, you may be eligible to sit for an industry certification exam, such as a drone certification, or a computer certification such as Microsoft certification. With these courses, you do not need to complete the College degree or certificate to be eligible to sit for the industry certification exam.

Non-credit courses are often called continuing education courses. At Cecil College, the Continuing Education and Workforce Development division offers students non-credit learning opportunities. Students often take non-credit courses to gain job skills in a field that may not require a college degree or credit certificate. Some non-credit students seek to gain supplemental training to enhance workforce skills. Some students take non-credit courses for personal enrichment. Most non-credit courses are not credit-bearing and cannot supplement a college degree or credit certificate. However, some non-credit programs may award continuing education units, industry certifications, or continuing education certificates for job advancement or professional development. Students can earn nationally recognized designations and be eligible for licenses from programs such as HVAC/R, Welding, and CDL Training

An example of a non-credit program is the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) HVAC/R opportunity. Students will earn a Certificate of Completion for NCCER HVAC – Level 1, an NCCER wallet card, and have their credentials entered in the NCCER Registry. Students will also have the opportunity to take the nationally recognized EPA608 Certification exam. These non-credit, non-degree programs provide students with nationally recognized credentials that help them get a job with strong wages.

Some students are interested in upskilling, such as an employed student taking a computer course to increase their computer proficiency for a new position

Additionally, some students take courses for personal enrichment. The Lifelong Learning department, for example, offers courses in creative crafting, foreign languages, local history, holistic living, and Microsoft Word, among others.

Adult Basic Education classes help students prepare for GED® level classes. Students with a high school diploma can freshen up academic competencies and learn life skills in preparation for a job search or advanced schooling. English language learners can also improve their communication skills in our English for Speakers of Other Languages program.