MiraCosta College has announced new career education programs in cybersecurity, ROV/drone operations and biomedical equipment maintenance and repair.
“Providing students with the skills to embark on rewarding careers is why MiraCosta College is introducing new programs this fall,” said MiraCosta College Superintendent/President Sunita “Sunny” Cooke.
“None of these programs were developed in a vacuum. All were created in collaboration with our industry partners and with an eye toward training our students for in-demand, good paying jobs.”
Called the first of its kind in the region, MiraCosta College’s new Cybersecurity Program will be based at the Oceanside campus and will offer both an associate of science degree and a certificate of achievement.
“Our Cybersecurity Program will help prepare students for seven different industry certifications, including CompTIA Security+, CySa+ and PenTest+,” said Rick Cassoni, full-time faculty in the Computer Studies and Information Technology Department.
The average salary for information security analysts employed in San Diego County reached $98,950 in May 2017, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the number of people working in the field is expected to grow by 28 percent in the 10-year period ending in 2026.
The new Biomedical Equipment Technician Program, housed at MiraCosta’s Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad, will prepare those entering the field to inspect, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair increasingly sophisticated medical and monitoring devices.
Besides classroom and laboratory instruction, MiraCosta College is working with area employers to provide internship possibilities in medical equipment repair and related fields in which the pay is more than $55,000 annually in San Diego County.
Also housed at the Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad is MiraCosta College’s ROV/Drone Operator Technician Program, a program that not only will prepare students to operate increasingly popular drones, but also will prepare them to understand the technology to maneuver remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs).
These underwater robots are used extensively for exploration of the oceans, inspecting underwater pipelines, and testing offshore platforms.
The program includes sections on machine design, introduction to submersible robots, introduction to drones, FAA licensing requirements and regulations, and programmable controllers, among others.
The program includes FAA licensing test preparations.
Both the drone operations and biomedical equipment programs are being offered tuition-free, as United States Department of Labor America’s Promise grants are covering the $6,000 cost for each student (a $310 administrative fee, however, will be required upon registration).
Information about the ROV/Drone Operations and Biomedical Equipment Technician programs can be found at tci.miracosta.edu.