As the director of Web Communications at Hinds Community College, I learn more about the career and technical programs we offer at Hinds all the time and sometimes (most of the time) I could kick myself for not starting my education at a community college. There are so many programs for anyone interested in a career in technology and I wanted to share a few that I think are really cool.
Drawing building plans and details in the architectural industry is the first thing most people think of when they hear drafting, but there are so many more possibilities in drafting and design! 3D printing is an industry that will continue to take off in the future and people are needed to draw things to print. CNC machines used to cut metal parts use files created by draftsmen. Did you know that video games, movie environments, and other CG special effects start out in CAD most of the time? I've seen some great student work using game engines and 3D modeling software to create walk-throughs of buildings. There are many types of jobs for people with drafting skills and a lot of them are pretty awesome.
So the thought of drones can scare people, but the future possibilities are endless for all kinds of industries from the entertainment industry to agriculture. Our UAV graduates are real pilots. The word drone may be scary, but technologically and as a career, I can't think of much that rates higher on the cool Richter scale (that I just made up). The Hinds program is one of the first of its kind, one of only a few in the country, and the only one of its kind in Mississippi.
If you've ever thought of creating your own app, start learning how to program! You can program mobile apps, web applications, software - you are the master of your technology. Programming languages give instructions to computers and devices about what to do. Even though the tech world changes quickly, there will always be a need for programmers. We see new technology every day and someone created the instructions that technology needs to work. I'm a bit biased on this one, but knowing how to program is a very powerful skill.
GIS is probably one of the least understood programs we offer at Hinds, but it's really interesting. GIS systems use data (from a database) and apply it to information about the Earth's surface to produce maps.
An example would be Google Maps - when you ask for information about traffic in an area or look at sattelite images, you are seeing GIS at work!
All kinds of information can be linked to a location (a zip code, for example). This helps many industries make decisions. GIS systems can include data about people, such as population, income, level of crime, education level, even voting patterns. It can include information about land, such as different kinds of plants and soil, bodies of water, and areas that may flood. It can include information about the sites of factories, pollution, farms, schools, roads, and electric power lines. Actually, there aren't many limitations of the kinds of data that can be used and this means there are many jobs in different industries - from engineering to marketing!
Keep hackers out! Everything runs on technology be the person who designs safe and secure infrastructures to keep the bad guys away. Every day people and businesses share all kinds of data, it could be catastrophic if certain data ended up in the wrong hands. This program is cool because it reminds me of an action movie. You have to understand what hackers do to be able to fend them off. People with the skills are going to be in demand for a very long time. Every industry wants to keep their information safe.It's really hard to stop at 5 programs, there really are many options for those interested in technology, and many can provide well paying careers that will be in demand for a long time. Check out our career and technical programs below!
