Hidden classes on campus offer learning opportunities Lesser known courses foster student development with di erent skills needed to ful ll transfer requirements

Richard Zamora Roundup Reporter

Looking through the Pierce College course catalogue can be overwhelming and in a haste to find that English or Math class students frequently overlook some of the more intriguing courses that our campus has to offer.

Professor of Geology Stephen Lee, 64, teaches oceanography, a course that incorporates aspects of geology, chemistry, biology and physics to explain how a major part of our world works.

“Being California residents, it’s hard to imagine not having some interest in the ocean,” Lee said. “What we try to do is take a look at the ocean from a scientific point of view, but also what local conditions are like and what the local ocean is all about. So hopefully it’s about how our home works and what conditions are like here.”

Certain classes are part of a larger program that earns a certificate designating qualification in the field of work. The Industrial

Technology department offers certificates in its automotive and welding courses.

Tom Fortune, 59, is an Associate Professor of automotive technology and Chair of the Industrial technology department where ten basic core classes make up an automotive certificate. Several more courses go beyond the core including hybrid technology, alternative fuels and fabrication classes with additional certificates.

“If you like cars there are great careers in automotive,” Fortune said. “We have an articulation agreement with Cal State LA and the major would become industrial technology power and transportation.”

Many even begin working right out of Pierce with an associate degree.

The courses also make up the necessary foundation to expand into what Fortune calls “clean work.”

Many car systems are now managed by a computer said Fortune.

“There’s a lot of electronics, electronic diagnostic work where you’re sitting inside a car and with a laptop and you’re online with the factory and you’re solving problems that are really software problems,” Fortune said. “It’s not just about changing oil and tires but there’s that aspect too.”

As for the welding courses the certificate adds a level of credibility and value to its holder in the work force, according to Gary Wheeler the senior welding instructor.

“Just been doing a little research on the average pay for a welder that is not certified and it stems from about $16 an hour to about $37 and once you become certified it goes up from there,” Wheeler said. “Some welders are making $150,000 to $200,000 a year by using the skill they’ve learned in colleges like this.”

The welding courses have been able to offer more sections and conduct safety tests on campus.

“We give an overview of all the different types of processes and some people choose to work towards a structural steel certification,” Wheeler said. “We have established last year a testing facility for the LA department of building and safety test lab.”

This semester there are Saturday classes and classes will be offered during summer, which is a great time for students to get introduced to welding to see if they would like to continue it into fall, said Wheeler. Addiction studies is another program that leads to a certificate and has the option of continuing toward an associates degree.

-Tom Fortune Associate Professor of Automotive Technology

“The focus is on much more than just alcohol and drug dependence. It’s a clinical psychology program designed to train students to become clinical counselors,” said Allen Glass II, 34, faculty adviser to for the addiction studies program and Assistant Professor of Psychology.

“There is an emphasis on