Texas produces nearlY 10 percenT of
thE natiOn’s cOMPutEr
and elecTronIcs producTs and
nonmeTallIc mIneral producTs, sucH as
brIck, glass, and cemenT.
at Bell Helicopter doing CNC gear grinding, internships Continuing Education
which is a very specialized field. We had Many colleges partner with area businesses. Education doesn’t end once you’ve earned a
one student who’s now making musical UT-Tyler has a relationship with Trane, a degree, either. Many people find that after
instruments!” major manufacturer of air conditioners and a few years in the industry, they learn about
heating equipment. “Trane has internships careers they hadn’t even thought of.
Apprenticeships to which we can send students, offering “There aren’t many students who say,
In many cases, students can benefit from the summer or part-time employment,” ‘I want to become a safety specialist’ right
high demand for skilled workers. Businesses Hansen says. out of high school,” says Hansen. “What
and industries are often willing to help with Manufacturers are always looking happens is, they get into a manufacturing
apprenticeships and internships. “Students can for promising employee candidates. A career and then develop a further interest
enroll in community college and join a union number of aerospace manufacturers in safety and become a supervisor in safety
apprenticeship program,” says Bill Smith, with offer apprenticeships in the Dallas/Fort or safety training development.” Many
the Dallas Independent School District. Worth area, for instance, as do petroleum employees return to school to qualify
“They’ll go to class one or two nights companies around Houston. themselves for career advancement.
a week, for three or four years, and when “Companies try out an employee before “There are a lot of opportunities for
finished, they come out with journeyman they make their investment in hiring advancement,” says Gutierrez, “and moving
licenses that are recognized by unions them,” Hansen says. “It can cost between up to engineering is great. If you’re good at
nationwide.” $7,000 and $15,000 to recruit, hire, and what you do and you’re passionate
train a new employee. Internships are about your work, you’re
wonderful opportunities for companies to always going to have
identify people that they’d like to hire. It great jobs and
get the crEDit
minimizes their risk.” job offers.”
You Deserve Advanced Degrees
T
If you choose to pursue education beyond a
ech prep in Texas is a great way to earn
two-year degree, your job opportunities—
college credits toward a technical career
and the potential rewards—will only
while you’re still in high school. Tech prep
increase. “When you are interested in
programs center on “articulation agreements,”
a four-year degree, you could go into
contracts between the student, his or her high
industrial technology or industrial safety,”
school, and community colleges the student
says Hansen. “And we have a master’s
would like to attend. The agreement includes
degree in industrial management, which is
recommendations for courses to be completed
about being responsible for planning and
before graduation and outlines a two-year
controlling the operation of a production
degree or certificate program.
plant. Industrial managers assist
selected courses in a Tech prep plan cover
manufacturing engineers in making sure
the same material as the equivalent college
the production facility works appropriately,
course, allowing the student to receive what
that the line is operating efficiently.”
is called advanced technical credit toward the
Texas A&M at Kingsville also offers a
college degree. It’s like a bank account. The
master’s degree in industrial management
credit is banked for you at the college, and you
through its college of engineering. At Southern
withdraw it when you enroll.
Methodist University in Dallas, graduate
for more information on Tech prep, visit
students can earn doctorates in engineering
www.techpreptexas.org. ask your counselor
plus industrial management. The program
about advanced placement, dual credit, or
focuses on the application of engineering
articulated courses and other opportunities to
principles to planning and operational
earn college credit.
management of industrial production.
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