Dillon County Technology Center is more important than ever in meeting the educational needs of Dillon County’s students as they prepare to enter a global economy.
The center’s dedicated staff of educators are committed to getting students college and career ready by equipping them with the skills needed to successfully enter the workforce and preparing them for high wage, high demand career fields.
The Dillon County Technology Center offers national certification in Automotive Technology, Building Construction, Masonry, Mechatronics and Culinary Arts (Prostart). Also attainable are state licenses in Cosmetology, Certified Nursing Assistants, and Nail Technicians. Other courses offered at the Center are Law Enforcement Services, Information Technology and Business Management and Administration.
These are areas in which business and industry need skilled workers. This training can help provide students with some basic job entry skills, on the job, and help launch a career in the field a student may choose. Many students use their training to pursue higher education and some of the courses at the Technology Center even allow them to exempt certain courses at the local technical colleges.
Courses are nine weeks, semester, and year-long courses. Students can begin taking courses their sophomore year of high school. All of the courses are open to any interested students.
Below is a brief description of each course:
Mechatronics Integrated Technologies is an interdisciplinary field involving mechanical, Instrumentation, Electronics, Robotics /Automation, Computer Components, Control Systems, and welding. This program prepares students who like to work with their hands as well as their minds.
The Nail Technology program is certified by the South Carolina State Board of Cosmetology. The Nail Technology program is a one year course and students receive a total of four Carnegie units. Students who enter the class must take Nail Technology 1 & 2, complete 300 hours, and must be sixteen years of age. The Nail Technology Program is designed to prepare the student to qualify for the South Carolina licensing examination. The students will be able to work immediately in nail salons, full service salons, day or medical spas upon state certification.
The Masonry program is an instructional program designed to encourage students to understand the history of masonry. All students are certified in Masonry Construction Safety and receive a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Blue card that is accepted nationally.
The Business Management program plays a prominent role in preparing students to become responsible citizens, capable of making the astute economic decisions that will benefit their personal and professional lives. Using the concepts described in state standards, business teachers introduce students to the basics of personal finance, the decision-making techniques needed to be wise consumers, the economic principles of an increasingly international marketplace, and the processes by which businesses operate. In addition, these standards provide a solid educational foundation for students who want to successfully complete college programs in various business disciplines. The Business Management offers a number of courses that prepare students for entry-level employment.
The Health Science program is a secondary program of study that promotes health career opportunities to students in grades 10-12. Integration of health science courses, work-based learning experiences, HOSA-Future Health Professionals activities, and academics allow students to make informed decisions regarding an array of careers and educational pursuits.
The Information Technology (IT) course introduces students to the steps necessary to analyze problems and define computing requirements appropriate to its solution, with a focus on how to troubleshoot, build a personal computer, implement and evaluate a computer-based system. Students learn to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society. IT courses lead students to recognize the need for continuing professional development and imparts an understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues in information technology.
The Building Construction program is immersed in a curriculum from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) where they learn the materials and process for masonry, electrical, carpentry, plumbing, blueprint reading and estimating. Students will also be involved in extensive safety training to include hand and power tools. Instruction is supplemented by a variety of hands-on projects and activities. Students enrolled in this course have the opportunity to gain national industry certification through the NCCER training.
The Law Enforcement program is an overview of the criminal justice process. Students will learn the duties and responsibilities of the police, courts, and corrections. Included in this course is historical development of the systems, study of landmarks, and Supreme Court decisions that impact criminal justice. Physical fitness and field trips will be taken with parental consent to various locations. Professional law enforcement personnel will provide lectures and demonstrations during the semester. The introduction course is designed to give students an insight into the beginning of law enforcement, consisting of theory by lectures.
The Automotive Technology Department at the Dillon County Technology Center is Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES) certified and a nationally certified Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) by National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, Inc (NATEF). This department is the only AYES program in the Pee Dee area. This course provides training and development of skills needed to inspect, diagnose and repair automobiles. This is a two year course, which consists of Intro to the Automobile, Shop Safety, Brakes, Electrical/Electronics, Suspension/Steering, and Engine Performance. Scholarship opportunities are offered through Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Charlotte, NC and Lincoln Technical College in Nashville, Tennessee. This course prepares student to become ASE certified in four of the eight areas. The AYES programs provide job opportunities for students as interns in the workplace their junior and senior year of high school. This gives the student interns hands-on training in the workplace with on-site job evaluation by mentors. The Automotive program has articulation agreement with: Lincoln Technical College and UTI.
Culinary Arts is a nationally certified program that introduces students to a wide variety of careers in the hospitality industry. The curriculum is based on a study of food preparation, lodging, customer service and business management. Students can earn a national certificate that will give them college credit and scholarship opportunities. To earn a national certificate, students will need to obtain 400 hours, earn 70% or higher in both classes and pass both year 1 and 2 national exams. In addition, students may earn national certification in Managers ServSafe, a food safety and sanitation training program. Students who receive the certificate are eligible for National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) scholarship opportunities and college course credit at more than 75 of the USA leading hospitality and culinary arts colleges and universities. The Culinary Art program has articulation agreements with Johnson and Wales University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
For more information on how your child can become a part of Career Technology Education (CTE), contact Carolyn Crawford, School Counselor, at 843-774-5143 or email her at ccrawford@dillonatech.com or visit your local high school guidance office. For a list of all programs, visit our website at http://www.dillonatech.com or page on Facebook®.
