The Basic Culinary Skills Certificate of Completion program prepares students for many entry level culinary employment opportunities. These include positions as institution and cafeteria cooks, restaurant cooks, and food preparation workers. Students will be provided with the essential skills of sanitation as well as foundational cooking and baking, operations, and production in order to obtain entry level employment in the food service industry.

The Autonomous and Advanced Vehicle Systems Certificate of Achievement is designed to fill the growing need in the automotive industry for technicians trained in advanced vehicle systems; it provides students with training on emerging technologies in the automotive industry related to autonomous vehicle systems, vehicle electronics, and advanced vehicle systems. Coursework includes vehicles forward facing cameras, ultra-sonic sensors, LIDAR sensors, radar sensors, vehicle telematics, and advanced vehicle communication networks. Completion of this certificate will qualify students to take the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) L4 exam. This certificate prepares students for careers such as Automotive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Technician, Automotive Advanced Electrical Systems Technician, or General Automotive Technician. The Autonomous and Advanced Vehicle Systems Certificate of Achievement is part of a stackable sequence of awards that builds upon the Automotive Technician Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement.

The Automotive Technician Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement is the starting point for students beginning their academic career in the Saddleback College Automotive Technology Department. Completion of this program will fulfill all prerequisites for the advanced classes offered in the department and will prepare students for employment as an Automotive Lube Technician, Automotive Apprentice Technician, or Automotive Lot Porter. Students that complete this foundational certificate will be trained in shop safety, tool usage, repair order writing, basic electrical, fundamental math used in the automotive industry, basic to advanced measurement skills, and automotive shop operations. Completion of this certificate will qualify students to take the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) G1 exam. The Automotive Technician Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement is part of a stackable sequence of awards upon which all programs in the department will build.

The Automotive Suspension Technician Certificate of Achievement prepares students for careers as automotive technicians with suspension alignment as an emphasis. Students completing the certificate will be trained in the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of vehicle suspension systems that consist of tire service, brake system diagnostics, suspension and steering service on both import and domestic vehicles and light trucks. This certificate prepares students for careers such as Automotive Suspension Technician, Automotive Alignment Technician, Automotive Brake Technician, and General Automotive Technician. This program is ideal for the small‐business owner, independent shop, or the dealership career‐oriented technician. The Automotive Suspension Technician Certificate of Achievement is part of a stackable sequence of awards that builds upon the Automotive Technician Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement and culminates in either the Automotive Chassis Specialist Certificate of Achievement or the General Automotive Technician Certificate of Achievement.

The Automotive Engine Service Specialist Certificate of Achievement prepares students for careers as automotive technicians with an emphasis in engine mechanical repair, engine machining processes and mechanical diagnostics. Students completing this certificate will be trained in knowledge of all phases of engine mechanical systems, engine performance system operations, diagnostics, and repair. Students will be qualified to achieve a career in automotive engine repair as an Automotive Engine Mechanical Technician (Heavy Line Technician), Automotive Engine Performance Diagnostics Technician, or General Automotive Technician at a privately‐owned repair shop, corporately owned repair shop, or manufacturer dealership. Graduates of the Automotive Engine Service Specialist program will be qualified to take the related National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exams A1 and A8.

​​​The certificate curriculum in heavy equipment service is designed to prepare students with knowledge and skills applicable to medium/heavy-duty engines and equipment the trucking industry. Experience will be acquired in domestic and import versions of these engines and equipment. Students currently in the trade working on medium-duty engines and equipment or new students entering in the trade will benefit from this training.

The certificate of proficiency in Data Analysis with Statistical Programming can jumpstart a career in data analysis that is today’s emergent field in Mathematics and Computer Science.  The certificate prepares students for higher education in Mathematics/Statistics, Data Science, or Computer Science that leads to jobs that employs data to make predictions and decisions.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Use statistical software to perform statistical calculations.

🗸 Use programming methods to write scripts to perform data analysis.

🗸 Use visualization tools to analyze data sets.

The Interactive Media Arts curriculum is predominately project based, and includes courses in 3D/2D Animation, Game Design, Character Design and Layout, 3D Modeling and Printing, Interactive Toy Design, Visual Programming, and Story as they pertain to emerging technologies. Project based learning expands critical thinking skills.  These CSU and UC transferable studio-based art courses are intended to prepare students for industry, as well as provide a foundational understanding of the aesthetic and technical aspects of emerging technologies.  Students interested in Interactive Media Arts are strongly encouraged to also take foundation art courses in traditional drawing, sculpting, and painting.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

🗸 Apply an interactive media art workflow including research, project development, relevant production work methods, adherence to a production schedule, and final output considerations.

The Electronic Technology program provides high quality instruction leading to a certificate of proficiency or achievement, an associate in science degree, and/or transfer to university programs in engineering technology. The program also prepares students for employment or advancement in the electronics and related industries.

Sustainability is a key component of our Wellness Gardening Certificate of Achievement program, which is based on horticultural science and technology. It prepares students for careers such as directors of wellness gardens, sustainable horticulture consultants, garden designers, and herbs, fruit, nut, vegetable, and ornamental plant propagation and maintenance commonly used in wellness gardens. Research supports the implementation of wellness gardens as a strategy to improve and promote human well-being for persons of all ages.
 

Opportunities to connect with nature in a thriving wellness garden benefit the mental and physical health of the people, the ecology, and the communities surrounding them.  

Through our program students will be able to achieve occupational competencies such as strong leadership, communication skills, planning and managerial expertise, and knowledge-based consultation.