Catalog - Tech Prep 

Tech Prep is a bold educational initiative designed to prepare a highly qualified technical workforce. The changing workplace provides opportunity but also demands new skills in communication, computation, problem solving and critical thinking. Individuals must understand the culture of the workplace and be able to contribute positively to the company's success. Tech Prep addresses these workplace demands by integrating college preparatory coursework with a rigorous concentration of technical education.

Tech Prep requires the partnership of technical and academic educators, educators and business representatives, and secondary and postsecondary educators. Together meeting the challenge of preparing students for the future.

Tech Prep Sequence of Courses

A Tech Prep sequence of courses consists of program specific core of academic and technical courses taught at a minimum during the two years of secondary school preceding graduation and at least:

• two years of postsecondary education in a nonduplicative course of study leading to an associate of applied science degree or two-year certificate in a specific career field, or
• two years of an apprenticeship following high school.

The two sequences must include integrated academic and technical content, workplace skills, and instruction delivered both at the worksite and in the school/college setting. Programs may begin as early as the 9th grade and may also articulate from a community college to a four-year baccalaureate degree.

Tech Prep Occupation

A Tech Prep Occupation meets all the following criteria:

• an associate of applied science degree, two-year certificate or a two-year apprenticehsip (following high school completion) is the predominant method of entering the occupation,
• the occupation has opportunities for above-average entry wages and career advancement,
• the occupation requires advanced technical skills, and
• the occupation requires multifaceted problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Tech Prep Dual Enrollment Credit

High school students may be eligible to earn high school credit AND college credit at the same time. Credit for the course(s) is placed on the student's high school transcript. Concurrently, credit is placed on an official DACC transcript. Junior and Senior level high school students are targeted for the program. This eliminates unnecessary duplication of efforts and allows the student to complete the Associate of Applied Science degree in a shorter time span. Contact the DACC Tech Prep office at 443.8582 for further information.

Tech Prep Programs

DACC courses of study currently designed for the Tech Prep Career Path are:

• Accounting
• Accounting Office Personnel
• Administrative Professional
• Agribusiness
• Application Development
• Commercial Floriculture
• Computer Communications & Networks (CISCO)
• Criminal Justice:
  • Law Enforcement Option
  • Corrections - Correctional Officer/Youth Supervisor Option
  • Corrections - Parole Officer Option
• Education:
  • Child Care (Early Childhood Education)
  • Paraprofessional (Grades K-12)
  • Paraprofessional (Early Childhood Education)
• Electronic Technology
• Fire Science
• Golf Course Management
• Health Information Technology
• Industrial Maintenance
• Landscape Design/Construction
• Manufacturing Engineering Technology
• Manufacturing Engineering Technology - CAD Option
• Marketing
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Office Personnel
• Nursing
• Radiologic Technology
• Respiratory Care
• Software Specialist

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