Academic Programs
Ready to find the path that's right for you? Get started by choosing from these career pathway areas. If you are unsure about what you might want to study, then check out Career Coach .
Arts & Culture
Fine Arts & Design - Programs and areas of study in this community of interest attract students who have a desire to study human society and culture. They should appreciate a focus on acquiring a deep understanding of humanity, society, historical context, and human expression. Students in this area may tend to “think outside the box” to solve a problem or achieve a goal by generating their own work that represents their personal interests and passions.
Related Programs
Business & Communication
Business, Marketing & Communication - Programs and areas of study in this community of interest attract students who are leaders and entrepreneurs driven by innovative solutions and achieving goals. This area develop students' written and verbal communication skills, and involve reading, writing, editing, research, analysis, speaking, and persuasion. They also value team work, problem solving, managing, numbers/data, and interpersonal transactions.
Applied Degrees & Certificates
Business
Related Programs
General/Exploration
The Exploration Pathway will be best for these students:
- Students who haven't chosen a program or plan of study can explore different subjects to help them decide their path forward. Designated Exploration Courses will offer classes introducing students to different subjects and allow them to pick one that fits their interests, while fulfilling the requirements for transferring to a four-year school or for an associate degree. Students can then choose one of the other pathways, or stay in the Exploration Pathway to finish with their core general education transfer requirements finished or to get the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science.
- Students whose objectives cannot be met through the college's transfer or occupational degrees can pursue the Associate in General Studies degree, which is designed to meet the students' objectives such as obtaining a two year liberal education or meeting employment needs not offered through other programs.
- Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution in pursuit of a bachelor of arts degree can complete their general education courses at KCC and earn the General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) Certificate.
Helping Professions
Human Service & Social Science - Programs and areas of study in this community of interest attract students who enjoy helping and assisting others. They desire a career where they will nurture the growth of or address the problems of a person's physical, psychological, intellectual, or emotional well-being through counseling, social work, public safety, or education.
Liberal Arts & Science
Social Science
Education
Human Service
Applied Degrees & Certificates
Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Education, AAS
- Early Childhood Education – Director/Administrator Option, AAS
- Early Childhood Education Level Two Credential, Certificate
- Early Childhood Education Level Two Transfer Pathway
- Early Childhood Education Level Three Credential, Certificate
- Early Childhood Education Level Three Transfer Pathway
- Early Childhood Education Level Four Credential, Certificate
- Early Childhood Education Level Four Transfer Pathway
- Early Childhood Education Infant - Toddler Level, Certificate
Education
Law Enforcement
Related Community of Interest
Medical Professions
Health Careers - Programs and areas of study in this community of interest attract students who enjoy helping people live better, safer, and healthier lives. This area develops students with comprehensive training and experiences to be job-ready for the healthcare industry. They also value compassion, teamwork, and fast paced environments.
Related Programs
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics - Programs and areas of study in this community of interest attract students who are curious about “how things work” in nature, biology, machines, physical laws, etc. They help students apply theory through hands on experience using critical thinking, creative problem solving, and innovation. Courses concentrate on exploration and discovery using knowledge of physical, life, and mechanical sciences.
Liberal Arts & Science
Engineering
Life Science
Mathematics
Physical Science
Applied Degrees & Certificates
Agriculture & Horticulture
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Commercial Refrigeration Track, AAS
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Domestic Refrigeration Track, AAS
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration: Energy Audit Track, AAS
Automotive Technology
Computer Graphic Technology
- Computer Graphic Technology, AAS
- Computer Graphic Technology: Engineering Design Specialization, AAS
- Computer Graphic Technology: Graphic Design Specialization, AAS
- Computer Graphic Technology: Social Media Specialization, AAS
- Computer Graphic Technology, Advanced Certificate
- Computer Graphic Technology, Certificate I
- Computer Graphic Technology, Certificate II
Applied Degrees & Certificates
Electrical Engineering Technology
- Electrical Engineering Technology: Industrial Electrical Technology Track, AAS
- Electrical Engineering Technology: Industrial Instrumentation and Process Control Track, AAS
- Electrical Engineering Technology: Renewable Energy Technology Track, AAS
- Electrical Engineering Technology: Industrial Machinery Maintenance Track, AAS
Information Technology
Manufacturing Technology
- Machine Tool Technology, Advanced Certificate
- Millwright, Advanced Certificate
- Manufacturing Technology: Industrial Maintenance Specialization, AAS
- Manufacturing Industrial Maintenance II, Advanced Certificate
- Intermediate Manufacturing Industrial Maintenance, Advanced Certificate
- Manufacturing Industrial Maintenance I, Certificate
- Basic Manufacturing Industrial Maintenance, Certificate
- Manufacturing Production, Certificate
- Process Technology Solutions, Certificate
- Manufacturing Technology: Machine Tool Specialization, AAS
- Manufacturing Technology: Transportation/Warehousing/Distribution/Logistics (TWDL) Specialization, AAS
- Manufacturing Transportation, Warehousing, Distribution and Logistics II, Advanced Certificate
- Intermediate Manufacturing TWDL, Advanced Certificate
- Manufacturing Transportation, Warehousing, Distribution and Logistics I, Certificate
- Basic Manufacturing TWDL, Certificate
- Manufacturing Logistics, Certificate
- Manufacturing Technology: Welding Specialization, AAS
- Welding Technology, AAS
Related Programs
Empower your journey
Career Coach
Find careers that match your interests and discover the KCC programs that will prepare you for success. Start by taking a career assessment to find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work. Read through your personalized results and see which pathways and careers are a good fit for you.
Study Abroad
The program gives you a better understanding of other cultures by offering the opportunity to study literature, history, art and politics in a foreign land.
Choose from short-term summer programs and semester-long programs in
- Salzburg, Austria (fall, spring or summer)
- San Jose, Costa Rica (summer only)
- Canterbury, England (fall or spring)
- Dijon, France (summer only)
- Carlow, Ireland (fall, spring or summer) - Requires a student visa. Please begin the application process as soon as possible.
- Seville, Spain (fall, spring or summer)- Requires a student visa. Please begin the application process as soon as possible.
This opportunity is available through KCC’s participation in the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs. The ICISP website has more information.
Student Experience: Gabriella Longtin
Gabriella Longtin studied in Salzburg, Austria, during Spring 2023. Before going abroad, she had never gotten on a plane, a train, or a taxi. She did all of those things on the first day. Hear Gabriella talk about classes, places visited, and how Facetime with her dog was essential.
Student Experience: Zack Rupp
Zack Rupp studied in Canterbury, England in Spring 2015. He received KCC’s Study Abroad scholarship. Listen to Zack’s WKCC interview with James Jones on this podcast.
Eligibility
To apply, you must …
- get approval and recommendation of KCC’s ICISP representative.
- have completed at least 12 semester hours of college credit courses at KCC.
- have completed ENGL 1613 with at least a “B.”
- have a cumulative grade point average which meets requirements for your selected location. (The GPA requirements vary by program, from 2.75 to 3.5).
- be 18 years of age or older.
Application deadlines
Start your application by contacting the ICISP representative: Email transfer@kcc.edu or phone 815-802-8584.
- Fall semester participation: * April 1
- Spring semester participation: * Oct. 1
- Summer participation: Varies by location
* Due to visa requirements, application for Ireland and Spain should begin earlier.
Financial aid
KCC-approved Study Abroad courses may be considered when determining enrollment status for assistance under the Title IV and Higher Education Act (HEA) programs. Enrollment in these courses may be included when applying for financial aid assistance.
Scholarships are available
The KCC Foundation offers the Cora S. Speicher Memorial Scholarship. Information on the scholarship and application dates is at foundation.kcc.edu/scholarship . This scholarship was created as a generous gift from Cora S. Speicher, an unquenchable optimist who traveled the world, recovered from a broken hip at age 100, and lived to the remarkable age of 106.
Scholarships awarded in the spring are available for use in the upcoming fall or spring.
Additional study abroad scholarships:
- ICISP (Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs) Scholarships
- The Gilman Scholarship Program
- Gilman-McCain Scholarship
- Boren Scholarships
- Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship
KCC ICISP representative
Out of State Students
KCC is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post-secondary distance education that has comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education programs.
Membership allows out-of-state students from fellow NC-SARA participating states to complete online and hybrid coursework and programs at KCC. Please be advised, there may be adverse consequences if a distance education student changes residency from a state KCC is authorized in, to one it is not authorized in. Change of residency can affect availability of Title IV funds to the student and can mean that a program leading to licensure is not valid in the new state.
Further information…
- For member state status, please refer to the map of SARA member states.
- Complaints are addressed in the out-of-state distance learning students section on the Student Complaints page.
- KCC tuition refund policy
- www.nc-sara.org
Need help?
Chat Now with a Student Affairs representative or call 815-802-8500.