Degrees & Certificates

The Film, Television, & Electronic Media Certificate of Achievement Program prepares students to enter broadcasting, cable, online media, and related industries. Students can pursue degrees in the field of mass or electronic communication for work in audio and video production, radio and television, cable television and media departments of companies and government agencies. This program prepares students for entry level jobs and to enter a two-year degree program for additional study.

The MJC Regional Fire Training Center Fire Academy is a premier, intensive and physically strenuous 1 semester program to prepare students for careers in Fire Service. The Fire Academy provides students with the opportunity to achieve a full breadth of State Fire Marshall certifications inclusive of the Fire Fighter I, LARRO, RS1, Auto Extrication, Hazmat Fro & Decon, Wildland Firefighting, Low Angle Rope Rescue, etc.

The Fire Science Program of the Modesto Junior College Regional Fire Training Center has been approved by the State Fire Marshal's Office and the State Board of Fire Services as an accredited Regional Academy & Fire Science training center and offers several paths for those who have an interest in the fire service. Students desiring a career in the fire service are strongly encouraged to obtain either a Certificate or A. S. Degree in Fire Science. The Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science at Modesto Junior College meets the same goals of the Certificate program but more importantly, also serves to provide a foundation for higher learning and transfer capabilities to a four year institution. The Fire Science Major has six required core courses. To fulfill the balance of degree units, students must complete 12 additional electives units as found in the program electives and meet the General Education requirements. The total number of these units will vary depending upon the General Education Pattern option you select.

The Fire Science Program of the Modesto Junior College Regional Fire Training Center has been approved by the State Fire Marshal's Office and the State Board of Fire Services as an accredited Regional Academy & Fire Science training center and offers several paths for those who have an interest in the fire service. Students desiring a career in the fire service are strongly encouraged to obtain either a Certificate or A. S. Degree in Fire Technology. A certification of completion in Fire Technology is designed for the student who wishes to make the fire service a career but does not intend to pursue a 4 year degree and is granted upon fulfillment of the 18 unit core courses and the completion of 12 additional program electives.

The student will develop skills and knowledge in managing a horticultural fruit production operation. Training in this course includes practical horticultural skills such as propagation, pruning, thinning, planting, and management skills, such as supervision of labor, selecting insurance, credit, orchard planning, spray programs, and calendar of operation. The program also prepares students for transfer to a four-year college. Contact the division office in the Agriculture Building for advising assistance.

The Industrial Welding Program supports and maintains a training platform that focuses on the most common welding and sheet metal processes, certifications, and supporting technologies used in industry. The curriculum for the program is concentrated primarily on the Shielded Metal Arc, Gas Tungsten Arc, Gas Metal Arc, Flux Core Arc Welding, Oxy- Acetylene Welding, Oxy-Acetylene and Plasma Cutting. The program’s courses expose students to both hands-on, laboratory and lecture learning objectives.

The General Studies: Arts and Humanities with an emphasis provides an opportunity for you to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in a comprehensive area of study. This degree is intended for students who may not be planning to transfer to a university in the near future. The General Studies degree is intended to provide both breadth and depth of education. Breadth is achieved by completion of the 18-unit MJC-GE Pattern for the Associate’s Degree. Depth is achieved when you complete an additional 18-unit Emphasis in one of four areas: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, or Language and Rationality. By completing this pattern of study, you will have a “well rounded” education in addition to lower-division course work in related disciplines which can be used as preparation for a field of study.

The Associate of Arts in General Studies with Emphasis provides an opportunity for you to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in a comprehensive area of study. This degree is intended for students who may not be planning to transfer to a university in the near future. The General Studies degree is intended to provide both breadth and depth of education. Breadth is achieved by completion of the 18-unit MJC-GE Pattern for the Associate’s Degree. Depth is achieved when you complete an additional 18-unit Emphasis in one of four areas: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, or Language and Rationality. By completing this pattern of study, you will have a “well rounded” education in addition to lower-division course work in related disciplines which can be used as preparation for a field of study.

The Associate of Arts in General Studies with Emphasis provides an opportunity for you to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in a comprehensive area of study. This degree is intended for students who may not be planning to transfer to a university in the near future. The General Studies degree is intended to provide both breadth and depth of education. Breadth is achieved by completion of the 18-unit MJC-GE Pattern for the Associate’s Degree. Depth is achieved when you complete an additional 18-unit Emphasis in one of four areas: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, or Language and Rationality. By completing this pattern of study, you will have a “well rounded” education in addition to lower-division course work in related disciplines which can be used as preparation for a field of study.

The Associate of Arts in General Studies with Emphasis provides an opportunity for you to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in a comprehensive area of study. This degree is intended for students who may not be planning to transfer to a university in the near future. The General Studies degree is intended to provide both breadth and depth of education. Breadth is achieved by completion of the 18-unit MJC-GE Pattern for the Associate’s Degree. Depth is achieved when you complete an additional 18-unit Emphasis in one of four areas: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, or Language and Rationality. By completing this pattern of study, you will have a “well rounded” education in addition to lower-division course work in related disciplines which can be used as preparation for a field of study.

Geography is the study of spatial aspects of the physical environment, human activities, and the nature of their interactions. Geography draws upon theories from both the physical and social sciences. As physical scientists, geographers study earth processes and the resulting features; climate, soils, vegetation, tectonics, landforms and resources. As social scientists, geographers examine human behaviors and the patterns humans create through economics, religion, language, urbanization, folk and popular culture, and ethnic identities which are reflected in the landscape. Geography utilizes a regional approach to examine the interrelationships between the physical environment, economy, culture, politics and history of specific locations, such as California, Europe or Asia. The Associate in Arts in Geography for Transfer (AA-T in Geography) degree is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Geography at a California State University campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU System, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept this degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

The Associate in Science in Geology for Transfer Degree includes lower division coursework that is required for transfer and which focuses on the mastery of the identification of earth materials and the use of geologic maps, stratigraphic sections, and remote sensing imagery, using these techniques to model real- world applications. The Associate in Science in Geology for Transfer Degree is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Geology at a California State University campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU System, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept this degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

Completion of the Gerontology Program will provide the holder with the skills, knowledge, and education necessary to work with the elderly. It also provides training and growth opportunities for existing human service employees. In addition, this Skills Recognition Award in Gerontology will serve as another step in an educational and career ladder leading to a Human Services Skills Recognition Award, certificate and or degree. All course work will be applicable as electives and/or meet the requirements for the Human Services degrees at MJC.

In this program, students will develop skills and knowledge for the successful management of heavy equipment. Contact the division office in the Agriculture Building for advising assistance.

The Associate in Arts in History for Transfer (A.A.-T in History) Degree includes lower division coursework that is required for transfer and will provide students with the opportunity to learn a valuable skill in critical thinking and writing as they explore a variety of historical topics in world and western civilizations and American history. The A.A.-T in History includes courses that explore world and U.S. history, political institutions, and social and cultural influences. The Associate in Art in History for Transfer (A.A.-T in History) Degree is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in history at a California State University campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU System, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept this degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

The Human Resources program is designed to deliver relevant skills for today's business workplace. This skills builder program provides: 1) skills enhancement for students in the business workforce; 2) a pathway for students to explore the Human Resources field; and 3) a specific business concentration for students who desire to transfer with an AS-T or AS in Business Administration. Courses cover Human Resource principles and practices of management and planning, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, employer/employee relations, and legal requirements in the field.