Mountain Empire Community College recognizes the unique and varied needs of a diverse community and strives to meet those needs by offering educational opportunities at a number of levels. Many of the programs don’t require a high school education but there are some that do so students should work closely with the school to ensure that they meet the requirements to enroll in their program of interest.
Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees offer students the opportunity to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at MECC. Students take all of the core classes that they would normally take in their freshman and sophomore years and then transfer to a four-year university in order to complete the baccalaureate degree. This allows students to save money on tuition and housing and remain close to home.
Students who wish to acquire technical skills in order to start a new career that offers a professional environment and better pay may earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. There are nearly 30 areas of study in this program including police science, accounting, criminal justice and forestry science. There is a funeral science program that allows students to study general requirement courses while pursuing an Associates of Applied Science in Funeral Science through distance education courses offered by John Tyler Community College.
Certificates are a wonderful option for people who either want to specialize in a specific area of their careers or begin learning skills that they may utilize in order to pursue a higher degree.
Career studies are designed to meet occupational or adult interest requirements such as continuing education requirements or other education required for professional certification.
The dual enrollment program allows local high school students to pursue college credits while still attending high school. It’s actually possible to have earned an associate’s degree upon graduating from high school. Students must be at least 14 to register unless there is a special exception made. High school students also need permission both from their high school and their parents.
Finally, Mountain Empire Community College understands that some people want to pursue a higher education but can’t attend traditional classroom courses. To meet this growing need, there are distance learning programs that can be taken online or via DVD.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Mountain Empire Community College.
Mountain Empire Community College has an open enrollment policy and all students that seek to gain an education are welcome to enroll. There are many types of students that are eligible for enrollment because the college offers a variety of programs to meet the diverse needs of its community. Students eligible for enrollment include:
high school graduates
transfer students
students attending other accredited colleges or universities
people without a high school diploma that are over 18 and can benefit from an education
current high school students who are at least 14 that have permission from their high school and their parents
students below 14 that apply for special consideration
Some programs require a high school diploma prior to acceptance. Students should check with Mountain Empire Community College to determine what is required by the program that they wish to enroll in. If students don’t meet the criteria for a particular program, the college offers opportunities to obtain the prerequisites. There are even high school equivalency classes.
Financial Aid
There are numerous forms of financial aid available to MECC students including scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. In order to be eligible for financial aid students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid which is available online starting in January. Financial information for both the student and family is required so students should have this information readily available prior to completing the form.
In addition to federal assistance, there is also state and local aid available. Some of these include the following:
Mountain Empire Community College doesn’t offer an intercollegiate athletic program but there are a number of intramural sports including basketball, flag football and volleyball. There are also numerous hiking, running and climbing opportunities due to the mountains surrounding the school. There are also caving and rafting opportunities available within a reasonable distance.
Bibliography
Mountain Empire Community College. Mountain Empire Community College. 2011. Web. 31 July 2011.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Mountain Empire Community College?
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Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
p. 276-523-2400
w. www.mecc.edu