Fall semester 2007 begins Wednesday, and it’s not too late to register.

Registration extends from today (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to Saturday (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), and Monday-Tuesday (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

The fall schedule provides many courses for upgrading your job skills, starting a new career path or personal enrichment.

They include classes in new programs, such as career studies certificates in leadership and religious studies.

Career Studies Certificate in Leadership

Designed to develop and enhance the knowledge and practical skills necessary for persuading, influencing, and inspiring others toward positive organizational change, this program focuses on ethical decision-making, personal negotiation strategies, conflict resolution, and effective communication techniques.

Participants develop personal strategies to enhance their ability to be leaders in their chosen field, whatever it may be.

Occupational objectives include meeting current and future needs to prepare participants to work as coaches, coordinators, teachers, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, counselors, politicians and business persons in non-profit, civic and religious organizations, education, law enforcement, government and commercial enterprises.

The 24 credit-hour program features eight 3-credit courses: AST 205: business communications; BUS 111: principles of supervision I; BUS 117: leadership development; BUS 200: principles of management; BUS 201 organizational behavior; BUS 205: human resource management; BUS 236: communication in management; and SOC 201: introduction to sociology.

Leadership courses offered this fall include the following:

Franklin campus: BUS 111: principles of supervision, Tuesdays, 7-9:50 p.m. and SOC 201: introduction to sociology, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm, or Mondays, 7-9:50 p.m.

Hobbs Suffolk campus: BUS 236: communications in management, Wednesdays, 7:00 to 9:50 pm and SOC 201: introduction to sociology I, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30-1:45 pm or Wednesdays, 7-9:50 p.m.

Career Studies Certificate, Religious Studies

Established in response to community requests for well-educated and diverse clergy and laypeople, this program is intended for persons with a desire to broaden their knowledge and prepare themselves for diverse fields of ministry within the institution of religion.

Designed for both part-time and full-time students and those who are undecided or unable to attend a standard degree program, it affords short-term training needs for individuals operating or serving in a religious capacity.

It is also developed as a specialized program that will assist students in preparation for optional programs of longer duration.

Occupational objectives include pastor, elder, associate minister, minister, deacon, church school superintendent, church school teacher, ministry leader, christian education and missionary.

The 27 credit-hour program includes nine 3-credit courses: ENG 111: college composition I; REL 100: Introduction to the study of religion; SPD 100: principles of public speaking; REL 200: survey of the Old Testament; REL 210: survey of the New Testament; REL 230: religions of the world; REL 233: introduction to islam; REL 225: selected topics in Biblical study; and PSY 230: developmental psychology.

According to Carl Sweat, Doctor of Ministry, who facilitates the program, the courses have proven to be beneficial in the areas of character development, individual enrichment, leadership, and personal and community relations.

Fall Semester Courses

Courses in the religious studies program that are available this fall include the following:

Franklin campus: REL 100: Introduction to the study of religion, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:45 am, and REL 200: survey of the Old Testament, Tuesdays, 7-9:50 p.m.

Hobbs Suffolk campus: REL 233: Introduction to Islam, Mondays, 7-9:50 p.m.

Online Options: REL 100: Introduction to the Study of Religion, REL 210: Survey of the New Testament, and REL 233: Introduction to Islam.

For more information on the career studies certificate in leadership, call Prof. David Lydick at 925-6325.

For details on religious studies, e-mail Dr. Sweat at csweat@pc.vccs.edu.

For information on other programs and offerings at PDCCC, call 569-6700 or visit our Web site at www.pc.vccs.edu.

DR. PATSY JOYNER is the vice president for institutional advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College. Her email address is pjoyner@pc.vccs.edu.