Trades - Construction, Manufacturing & Engineering:
Certificates & Degrees
Students can earn a Certificate of Completion or an Associate Degree at a community college. Earning a certificate or degree after high school can help students earn higher wages and advance their careers more rapidly than just on-the-job training.
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Certificates of Completion & Associate of Applied Science degrees: Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs that prepare students to enter directly into the workforce after completion.
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Associate of Arts, Oregon Transfer: Prepares students to transfer into a Bachelor's degree program at a university to advance their education and training.
Community colleges provide high quality, low cost education that helps students enter into the workforce in a short amount of time.
Central Oregon Community College
Programs
Manufacturing & Machining
Manufacturing Machining Technician, Associate of Applied Science (AAS):
Prepares students to apply basic utilization skills for the identification and resolution of production problems in the manufacture of products. The program includes instruction in machine operations, production line operations, utilization improvements, physical controls, automation, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), manufacturing planning, quality control, and informational infrastructure.
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Manufacturing CNC Machine Operator, One-Year Certificate of Completion:
Incorporates introductory manufacturing processes to provide hands-on experiences emphasizing computer numerical control (CNC) setup, operation, and code modification. The certificate skill sets align with industry-recognized proficiencies that qualify a graduate to apply for entry-level positions as a computer-controlled machine tools operator or CNC setup technician.
Welding
Associate of Applied Science, Welding:
Emphasis is on structural welds that include multiple positions and pipe. Students will weld overhead, vertical, and cylindrical pipe. All welding methods are used. Students also use destructive testing methods of welds. Along with welding, the degree allows electives that can be taken in the machine shop. Students can take manual or computer numerical control (CNC) classes in machining
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Welding, One-Year Certificate of Completion:
Emphasizes shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, oxyacetylene welding and cutting, and basic fabrication.
Computer Aided Drafting
Prepares students for entry-level employment in the drafting field. Students prepare for advanced CAD applications through an introductory set of CAD-based curriculum. Students will gain experience using dedicated architectural, civil, and mechanical software. The program also integrates focused computer information systems skills in networking, web development, and hardware. These courses provide a foundation for design, software use, and computer management.
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Associate of Applied Science and One Year Certificate of Completion options
Design
Design courses prepare students to work in a product design profession. Examine manufacturing technologies, materials, fabrication processes, sustainable design, user experience (UX), and design successes and failures. Preparation for safely operating and maintaining a product workshop: workflow plans for product fabrication, branding, packaging, and presentation. Learn techniques to create 3D models, technical drawings, product renderings, and 3D prints using industry-standard design software. Learn how to generate computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) files for production, analyze design and material data to determine machine tooling and machining speeds and feeds and safely operate CNC routers, laser engravers, and 3D printers. One-Year Certificate of Completion in development.
Engineering
Engineering Emphasis, Associate of Science:
Provides core science, engineering, and general education courses needed for most engineering majors. Students earning an engineering degree choose from among the many branches of engineering available, such as civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, and energy systems engineering. Prepares students to transfer to a Bachelor's degree program in Engineering at a university.
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Geographic Information Systems & Geospatial Science
Geographic information systems (GIS):
GIS encompasses the studies of geography, cartography (mapping), and computer science. With training in computer mapping and an emphasis on analyzing information, students learn how to capture, interpret and display geographic data from the world around them. Graduates work in natural resources, environmental science, federal/state/local governments, planning, utilities, real estate, education, retail, businesses, banking, insurance, and web mapping. Careers typically include positions such as GIS technician, analyst, project manager, computer programmer, database administrator, systems administrator, cartographer, applications developer, and related managerial and administrative roles. Associate of Applied Science & One Year Certificate of Completion
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Geospatial Science Associate of Science degree:
Designed for students interested in completing the first two years of coursework before transferring to a baccalaureate program in geography, geographic information systems (GIS), geospatial science, geomatics, or similar program. It is specifically aligned with the fully online Bachelor of Science in Geography and Geospatial Science degree at Oregon State University.
Transfer Degrees
Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree:
Designed to prepare students to transfer to a Bachelor's degree program. Allows students to transfer to an Oregon public university having met all lower-division general education requirements. With appropriate planning, all lower-division major requirements may also be met. Students work closely with an advisor to prepare an academic plan that aligns with their transfer goals.
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Real Estate
Interested in becoming a Realtor?
COCC Center for Business, Industry, and Professional Development offers a Real Estate Broker Exam Prep Course. This course is approved by the State of Oregon Real Estate Agency (OREA) and meets the 150 hour education requirement to become a licensed real estate broker in Oregon. To become a licensed realtor in Oregon, you must be at least 18 years of age; have a high school diploma or GED; pass a background check; complete the prep course, and pass the OREA exam. This is a non-credit course and not eligible for financial aid.
Oregon Bachelor & Graduate Degree Programs
Students earn a Bachelor's Degree or Graduate degree at a college or university. Admission into any Bachelor's or graduate degree program requires a selective admissions application. It is important for students to research admissions requirements because they vary by school, program, and degree.
Bachelor's degree programs: Students may choose to begin their undergraduate education at a community college to take advantage of the benefits that community colleges have to offer: lower tuition, Oregon Promise grant eligibility, small class sizes, and open admission. Students can then transfer into a Bachelor degree program.
Graduate programs: Students interested in advancing their education can continue onto graduate school. Admissions requirements may include: Bachelor's degree, pre-requisite courses, competitive GPAs, test scores, work experience, community involvement, and more. Most graduate programs require a Bachelor's degree before admissions; however, some programs offer accelerated admissions allowing students to enter into the graduate program before they complete their Bachelor's degree (this allows students to complete their Bachelor's degree while they are in the graduate program).
Academic advisors will help students develop an academic plan to reach their degree, transfer, and graduate school goals. Additionally, students interested in graduate school should review program websites and attend informational sessions to learn more about admissions requirements to help plan their undergraduate course of study.
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Note: The programs listed below do not represent a comprehensive list of all Oregon programs. Private universities are not included below. Check college & university websites for accurate and updated information.
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Architecture
Architects plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property. They develop final construction plans that include aesthetic models of the structure or details for its construction. They prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools. They prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
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Bachelor's degree programs: Prepares students for admission into a graduate architecture degree program. Student can earn their professional license upon completion of a Master's program in Architecture. Bachelor's degree graduates not pursuing a graduate degree often take jobs as design staff, draftspersons, and marketing support in architecture firms, while others have been hired as project managers in construction and engineering firms, space designers for major retailers, and apparel companies, graphic designers, and more.
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University of Oregon: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Historic Preservation
Graduate degree programs: Students graduating with a Master of Architecture typically become licensed architects. Other career paths include urban planning, urban design, project management, architectural design, retail design, exhibition design, graphic design, public interest design, and more. Master's programs are typically 2 years if student has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and 3 years if their undergraduate degree is not in Architecture.
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University of Oregon: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Historic Preservation
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Engineering
Engineers are involved in the design, evaluation, development, testing, modification, inspection and maintaining of a wide range of products, structures and systems. This may include materials and process recommendations, oversight of manufacturing and construction processes, failure analysis and investigation, consultancy services, and teaching engineering to students and trainees. There are many specializations in the field of engineering with Bachelor degree and graduate school options.
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Architectural Engineering: Application of engineering fundamentals to the design of buildings and building systems. Learning outcomes include: aesthetic building design; energy-efficiency design; and electrical, lighting, mechanical, and structural systems. Learn the skills to collaborate with architects, urban planners, and civil engineers.
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Civil Engineering: Involved in the design, construction, maintenance and inspection of large civil infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, bridges, tunnels and dams. Work on both public and private projects, civil engineers traditionally work in sub-disciplines such as environmental engineering, structural engineering or surveying. Examples of projects: design infrastructure and geotechnical systems, design practices that keep the public safe from seismic and other natural disasters, develop methods for protecting our environment, and design processes to clean drinking and waste water.
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Ecological & Environmental Engineering: Emphasize ecological diversity, resilience, and adaptation to maintain sustainability as humans interact with the natural world (includes chemistry, biology, physics, statistics, environmental science, microbiology and core engineering courses). Projects may include restoring rivers and wetlands, improving agricultural water quality, rehabilitating abandoned mines, addressing climate change, designing sustainable industrial and agricultural systems, recharging aquifers, treating tap water and wastewater, managing stormwater, and protecting surface and groundwater sources.
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Electrical Engineering: Work on the design, testing, manufacture, construction, control, monitoring and inspection of electrical and electronic devices, components, machines and systems (ranging in size from the smallest microchips to large transmission and power generation systems.) Includes everything from broadcast engineering to electromagnetic devices, computer systems, telecommunications and more. Graduates may be employed by research and development laboratories, electronic equipment manufacturers, public utilities, government agencies, medical laboratories and hospitals, electronic equipment distributors, and semiconductor companies, among others.
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Geotechnical Engineering: or Engineering Geology Civil engineering specialty that focuses on the engineering behaviour of earth materials. Uses the principles and knowledge of soil and rock mechanics, geology, geophysics, hydrology and more. Apply geological information to engineering problems, including soil mechanics, rock mechanics, construction materials, groundwater and construction, instrumentation, exploration, terrain models, and landslide analysis.
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Industrial Engineering: Design and optimize facilities, equipment, organizational systems, and energy systems for manufacturing, materials processing and other industrial applications. Combines engineering principles and business management to improve productivity, product quality and important processes within businesses and organizations (such as product safety management, supply chain management and sales engineering). Difference between mechanical and industrial engineering.
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Manufacturing Engineering Technology: (What do they do?) Responsible for the production of a variety of consumer and industrial goods from planes to clothes to medical equipment. Use computer aided equipment and other planning tools to assess manufacturing processes: ways to reduce cost, increase productivity, innovate equipment, and improve quality for a variety of consumer and industrial goods. Work with robots, industrial scale computers, cutting-edge labs, computer-based engineering design programs, manufacturing tools, and advanced hardware technology. Difference between manufacturing vs mechanical engineering.
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Mechanical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering Technology: Involved in the design, manufacture, inspection and maintenance of machinery, equipment and components such as vehicles, engines, aerospace products, weapon systems, robotics, turbines, irrigation, air conditioning & refrigeration systems, construction and farm machinery, as well as a wide range of tools, devices, and household appliances. Also associated with the management of control systems and instruments for measuring the performance and status of machinery. Difference between manufacturing vs mechanical engineering.
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Renewable Energy Engineering: Work on the production of energy from renewable or sustainable sources, such as wind, solar and hydro or marine power. Research and develop new machinery and equipment, production processes and ways to minimize impact on the environment. Includes specializations in energy storage, biofuels and biomass, electrochemical systems, energy efficient building, fuel cell systems, geothermal energy, hydro power systems, photovoltaic systems, and wind power systems.
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Related Fields:
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Nuclear Engineering
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Computer & Robotics Engineering
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Chemical Engineering
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Marine Engineering
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Materials Science & Engineering: Research in nanomaterials, semiconductor materials, biomaterials, composites, metallurgy, welding, micro-joining, manufacturing, computational modeling, and materials synthesis, post-treatment, and characterization.
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Energy Systems Engineering: Combines engineering fundamentals with energy-focused technical courses and business management classes. Strong foundation in the core principles of mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering. Includes courses in energy consumption, distribution, storage, conversion, policy, and business management. Oregon State University - Cascades
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Wood Science & Engineering: Multidisciplinary program focused on the science, technology, engineering and business practices that help society sustainably meet our needs for renewable materials, and help ensure the global competitiveness of American business. Oregon State University
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Explore degree options:
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Oregon Institute of Technology: Click on Engineering
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Oregon State University - Cascades: Engineering Science & Energy Systems Engineering
Product Design
Outdoor Products: Interdisciplinary degree in which students study design, engineering, natural resources, outdoor recreation, sustainability, and business. Study the full life cycle of an outdoor product: concept creation and design, commercialization & manufacturing, resource management and sustainability. Oregon State University-Cascades
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Product Design: Solve real-world design challenges and create products that are useful, energy-efficient, ergonomically appropriate, cost-effective and socially responsible. Students in the product design major develop the knowledge, skills, and methods essential to becoming a professional designer with courses in product design, art, and art and technology. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Product Design and Masters in Sports Product Design: University of Oregon
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Design & Innovation Management: Focuses on the intersection of design and business, bringing together analytic and creative problem-solving skills through a human-centered design lens. Students study and apply tools and organizing frameworks from multiple disciplines including design thinking, project management, marketing principles, ethics, sustainability and social responsibility. Graduates work in a variety of sectors including: design consultancies, user-experience and social-innovation analysis, nonprofits, startup companies, educational institutions, government research agencies, entrepreneurship in green industry and social ventures, and graduate studies in design, social sciences, engineering, management. Oregon State University
Geomatics & Geospatial Science
Geomatics professionals use an integrated approach to measuring, analyzing and managing spatial data, employing high-tech equipment like Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), digital photogrammetry, digital total stations, satellite and terrestrial remote sensing to create a detailed but understandable picture of the Earth's natural and constructed features. Develop the skills to be a land surveyor or certified geographic information systems professionals.
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Construction Engineering Management & Operations Management
Construction Engineering Management:
Combines technical knowledge with leadership skills. Construction engineering managers, bring building projects to life, from homes to commercial buildings, roads to bridges and more. Learn the skills to be a versatile problem-solver, ensuring that projects are completed safely, on time, and within budget. Gain the engineering knowledge and communication skills to successfully manage the work of a diverse team of engineers, architects, contractors, work crews and building owners. Many career opportunities available, including coordinating construction jobs, surveying job sites, addressing environmental concerns, or ensuring compliance with local building codes. Oregon State University
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Operations Management:
Coordinate equipment, materials, human capital and information across businesses to profitably meet or exceed customer expectations. Blend the art of management with applied science through creativity, people skills, rational analysis and application of technology.prepares individuals for careers in many fields including production planning, inventory control, industrial engineering, production supervision and quality control. Graduates typically work in manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, production control, finance, and quality assurance departments. Oregon Institute of Technology
Supply Chain & Logistics Management
Supply Chain & Logistics Management:
Trade, manufacturing, sourcing, global production — every consumer item from a toothbrush to a telephone — has a complex story of parts and pieces that brought the functioning item to the consumer. Supply chain and logistics managers have the knowledge to optimize how all these parts come together to be available to the consumer. Train to be operations and procurement managers for companies and government agencies within manufacturing and service sectors around the globe. Oregon State University
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Global Supply Chain Management:
Global supply chain management is one of the job market’s fastest-growing sectors. Acquire the technical skill and strategic savvy you need to procure resources, distribute products, and perform supply chain management on a global scale. Career opportunities include: supply chain analysis, project management, global logistics, Transportation logistics, sales, supply chain consulting, procurement analysis, and purchasing. Portland State University
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Urban Planning
Urban & Public Affairs:
Multidisciplinary Bachelor's degree that combines urban design and planning, crime prevention, public administration, civic engagement, public health, economics, and global studies. Excellent preparation for applying to graduate school (law, education, public health, business, urban affairs, and urban/regional planning), working in government agencies, and employment with nonprofit organizations that promote urban development, civic engagement, economic opportunity, racial justice, environmental health, transportation, and many other issues. Portland State University