Ashworth College Offers Career-Specific Education With New Vocational High School Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Ashworth College, parent company for Ashworth High School, announced today the addition of vocational high school curricula to its roster of high school programs.

The vocational program at Ashworth High School (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu/programs/high-school) offers students the opportunity to match personal interests to a selection of career programs in one of three vocational tracks - computers, health care or skilled trades. Each track allows students to acquire career-relevant learning prior to entering the job market.

"Most everyone understands the importance of a high school diploma," said Dr. Milton Miller, Ed.D., Vice President of Education at Ashworth College. "However, not everyone chooses to immediately go on to college."

"There are many high school graduates out there who simply prefer to enter the workforce and start earning income," Dr. Miller added. "By providing students a practical, real-life education, Ashworth can help these students get a head start on their careers."

Vocational Career Tracks

Upon selecting a track, a student has the freedom to select two different career courses or to pair a career course with a business course.

"Through Ashworth High School's vocational career tracks, students can gain skills that are applicable across a variety of business types," said John Riser, Education Operations Director. "This educational experience will give many an advantage when looking for their first job."

Riser also points out that these courses are not merely overviews, but rather specialty concentrations.

"Our career programs are developed by working professionals, who are considered experts in their respective fields," he added. "Ashworth students are able to benefit from career-specific learning that is not always available in a traditional high school program."

Each of Ashworth High School's career tracks offer as many as ten career courses to choose from. Additionally, students also can choose from a list of six business courses. Available courses include:

-- Computers
-- Computer Programming with Visual Basic
-- Computer Network Security
-- Computer Network Technician
-- Graphic Design
-- PC Service and Repair -- A+
-- Web site Design
-- Health Care
-- Fitness and Exercise
-- Health Records Specialist
-- Massage Techniques
-- Medical and Dental Office Assisting
-- Medical Billing
-- Nutrition Specialist
-- Pharmacy Tech
-- Physical Therapy Aide
-- Skilled Trades
-- Auto Mechanics
-- Carpentry
-- Electrician
-- Gunsmithing
-- Heating and Air Conditioning
-- Home Inspection
-- Landscape Design
-- Locksmith
-- Motorcycle Repair
-- Plumbing
-- Business
-- Introduction to Financial Statements
-- Introduction to Sales
-- Online Business Management
-- Accounting
-- Computer Accounting
-- Small Business Management

About Ashworth College


Ashworth College, a leader in distance education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused High School and Career online diploma programs; undergraduate and graduate online certificate programs; and Associate, Bachelor's and Master's online degree programs that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a division of the US Department of Education. Ashworth High School is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu/programs/high-school

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

GSU offers scholarships for next generation of rehabilitation counselors

Georgia State University was recently awarded a $750,000 federal grant to train the next generation of vocational rehabilitation counselors, helping to reduce a nationwide shortage in the field.

The grant will pay the educational expenses for graduate students who, upon graduation, are willing to work for a publicly funded agency that assists individuals with disabilities in finding employment.

The funding will support nine full-time graduate students each year for five years who will study in the rehabilitation counseling program, provided by the College of Education’s Department of Counseling and Psychological Services. The scholarships will be awarded starting this fall through GSU’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Scholars Program.

“There is a chronic shortage as well as a huge number of professional rehabilitation counselors retiring; this will do something to address the national shortage,” said Professor Roger Weed, coordinator of the Rehabilitation Counseling Program.

A rehabilitation counselor assists individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal, career and independent living goals in the most integrated settings possible.

The grant was awarded to Georgia State’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, in collaboration with the College of Education. It is the second award to Georgia State, following a five year award given in 2004.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Scholars Program at Georgia State is more than just a scholarship, said Deon Locklin, director of the Public and Performance Management Group in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, who co-directs the program with Weed.

“Students are matched with practicing counselors who serve as mentors throughout their program of study,” Locklin said. “They have field experiences with actual rehabilitation clients. We assist with their placement as they near graduation. It’s a comprehensive program that reflects a strong partnership between the university and the public sector.”

The shortage of qualified rehabilitation counselors working in the public vocational rehabilitation sector has reached critical heights. In Georgia alone, 14 percent of counselor positions in the Department of Labor’s vocational rehabilitation program remain open, according to Locklin’s research. This need will be exacerbated as baby boomers age out and retire.

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must already be admitted to GSU’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling graduate program. For each full-time academic year funded by this scholarship, the scholar must work two years in this field. No more than four years will be required for a two-year master's program.

For more information about Georgia State’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling graduate program, visit http://education.gsu.edu/main/2506.htm. More information on the Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Scholars Program is available at http://www.ppmgsu.org/RSA-Scholars.html.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia