Staff Reports | Community Updates
As the most affordable and accessible higher education institution in the Valley, the 10-college system at the Maricopa County Community Colleges offers over 600 certificates and degrees, including 11 bachelor’s degrees, addressing Arizona’s workforce needs in critical, emerging, and high-growth industries.
Here is a rundown of a few future-ready career paths students can pursue this semester.
•Social Media Influencers – Studies show that 57% of Gen Z aspire to become influencers. To help get budding content creators started, Maricopa Community Colleges offers a Certificate in Completion in Social Media Marketing at eight colleges, including Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC), Estrella Mountain Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College (MCC), Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), Phoenix College, Scottsdale Community College (SCC), and South Mountain Community College (SMCC). Full-time students can complete the certificate in one academic year, while part-time students can finish it in three semesters.
•Entrepreneurs – Research from ZenBusiness found that 75% of Gen Z want to launch their own business, and 93% have already taken at least one step toward business ownership. Maricopa Community Colleges has added two business-focused bachelor’s degrees, in accounting at PVCC and management at SCC, to its lineup of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Management programs.
•Trades industries – Considered the “toolbelt generation,” more Gen Zers are choosing careers in trade industries than pursuing a traditional four-year degree pathway. With a direct path to high-demand,high-wage employment, Maricopa Community Colleges offers career and technical education in automotive, CNC machining, construction trades, healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing, computer and information technology, and more. Through Fast Track Certificates, Fast Track Microcredential Pathways, and Clock Hour programs, learners acquire career-relevant hands-on skills, enabling them to enter the workforce in as little as six weeks to six months.
Emerging tech industry careers
•AI Specialist – The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, transforming the workforce and creating new careers. In-demand sectors, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, finance, healthcare, and IT, are looking to hire highly qualified graduates with degrees in AI and Machine Learning. According to the World Economic Forum, AI-driven roles are predicted to experience a global growth of 40%, with 1 million new jobs expected to be created over the next few years. AI specialists will design, develop, and train machines to solve complex problems and perform advanced tasks. The competitive salary for an AI specialist is over $135,000 per year. As the first community college system in the nation to offer an associate degree in AI and Machine Learning, CGCC is now the third community college to offer a bachelor’s degree.
Fastest growing fields in demand
•Nurse Practitioners – Today, nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the U.S., with nearly 4.7 million registered nurses. Advanced practice registered nurses’ jobs are expected to grow 40% this decade, with about 32,000 openings for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. Across its 10 colleges, Maricopa Community Colleges educates roughly one-third of Arizona’s nurses, producing the highest number in the state. Maricopa Community Colleges offers several pathways for aspiring nurses to enter the field, including a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of •Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) program at GateWay Community College.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians – Last year, 4.2 million shelter animals found loving homes across the U.S. With the rise of pet adoptions, owners rely on veterinary services for annual wellness checks, dental needs, and emergency care. Veterinary technologist and technician careers are projected to grow 19% during the decade, with about 15,400 openings each year. These professionals support veterinarians and can perform complex tasks, such as administering medications and vaccinations, taking X-rays, administering anesthesia, assisting during surgeries, and providing dental care. The median annual salary for veterinary technologists and technicians is $45,980. Interested students can earn an associate of applied science in Veterinary Technology at MCC.
•Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors – With a growing shortage of addiction counselors on the rise, SMCC’s bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science recently received approval from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners for the Licensed Addiction Counselor Technician (LACT). With an entry-level LACT credential, in Arizona, professionals can work under the supervision of a licensed addiction counselor in developing essential hands-on experience and skills to support individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders. This degree and license serve as a pathway to advanced credentials. With an estimated 48,900 job openings for substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors projected each year, employment is expected to grow by 19% from 2023 to 2033.
