New Southern Technical College Classes Start

Whether they’re embarking on their first career or changing careers, Bloomingdale residents can train at a college in their own back yard.

Southern Technical College at 608 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon, offers career training for students looking to enter electrical or medical office and billing fields. Classes start this week.

At the 22,000-square-foot college campus, students can earn associates of science degrees in medical assisting, medical billing and coding, electrical trades technology and applied electronics technology, including heating, ventilation and air-conditioning repair. The campus includes state-of-the-art computer, electronic and medical labs along with a library and administrative offices.

This college is for the nontraditional student who wants to start a career in a shorter period of time," according to Southern Technical College Dean Walt Wilfong. He said classes are geared to people who’ve already been out there working and want to start a new career or get ahead in their career, high school graduates who've put their college on hold or the older worker looking for a career change.

The age of the students at the college ranges from recent high school graduates to 60s.

Those attending the college, for the most part, will be full-time, degree-based students.

Classes at Southern Technical College are structured for students to complete one course per month by attending morning or evening sessions from Monday through Thursday for four weeks of class.  This “focused learning” method allows students to concentrate on one subject at a time yet still carry a full course load of three courses per quarter.  This means that students attending Southern Technical College are able to earn their associate degree in as little as 18 months. 

The college offers a combined hands-on approach and traditional classroom settings.  Students will receive intensive training in their selected major core areas along with traditional general educational classes designed to enhance their communication, interpersonal and professional skills.

In addition, to offering required degree courses, the college offers general education and liberal arts courses including English composition, communications, introduction to humanities, philosophy, music and biology, college mathematics and algebra, introduction to psychology and sociology, principles of economics and microeconomics.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

The college is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, and is a member of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Colleges and Schools.

The main campus of Southern Technical College is located in Orange County at the Florida Mall in Orlando.  Additional campus locations exist in Seminole, Lake and Polk counties. 

For information or for a professional career assessment, call (813) 654-8800 or visit www.southerntech.edu.