The focus of every student walking through the doors at Northwest State Community College is to graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to find a rewarding career. While earning an education is the best way to ensure your resume gets a second glance, adding work experience to that college degree may be all that it takes to move you to the top of the stack.
“Employers are looking for graduates who have experience in the field,” said Tom Bowes, coordinator of industrial technology programs at NSCC. “The best way to gain this experience is to find an internship that aligns with your degree or certificate program.”
Two students enrolled in the maintenance technician/mechatronics program took this advice to heart and found an internship program that many college students can only dream about. John Weaver and Brad Wagner, with the help of their NSCC instructors, both earned internship positions with Perfection Servo Hydraulics in Batavia, Illinois, located near Chicago.
“The internship helps to make the connection between the bookwork you learn in the classroom and the hands-on experience you can only get from on the job training,” said John. “It was an eye-opener to be actually in the industry and see what we learned in class come to life.”
The students spent their summer working for Perfection Servo Hydraulics. The company carefully designed the internship program to ensure that each student had the opportunity to work with several different people in as many departments as possible. This allowed them to get maximum exposure to their future career options. “It was a great experience,” said Brad. “We gained a lot of knowledge that we would never have fully appreciated while in the classroom.”
Although the internship experience was enough to make both students grateful for the opportunity, an added perk was that they were housed just 40 minutes from Naperville, Illinois. “We had time on the weekends to do a little sightseeing and experience a culture that was very different from what we were used to in northwest Ohio,” said John.
The internship, offered through a partnership between Northwest State and Perfection Servo, provided the students with a rooming stipend and an hourly wage for 40-50 hours of work per week. This allowed John and Brad to earn a little spending money and save a few dollars for their next semester’s tuition.
According to Tom, the College plans to continue and even expand its partnership with Perfection Servo Hydraulics. “Our goal is to expand this internship so two or three interns are working with Perfection Servo every semester,” said Tom. “The initial program has been such a huge success; we are working to develop it even further.”
Industrial Technologies Offers Hands-On Learning
The Industrial Technologies Division at NSCC offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. Small class sizes and hands-on learning are the norm for these classes where students hone their skills and prepare to enter the workforce immediately following graduation. Students who want to continue their education also have the option of transferring into a four-year degree program at a partnering college or university.
Industrial Technologies degree and certificate programs include:
Applied Science in Industrial Technology
- Industrial Electrician
- Machining CNC Programming
- Maintenance Technician/Mechatronics
- Millwright
Certificate Programs
- Industrial Electrical
- Industrial Maintenance
- Machining
- Millwright
- Programmable Controller (PLC)
Math, Science & Engineering Students Prepare for the Workforce
Students interested in earning a degree or certificate in Engineering Technologies have a variety of options at NSCC. Once enrolled, students will benefit from the small classroom sizes as they learn to analyze problems and, more importantly, how to fix them.
Through the Engineering Technologies Division, students will be prepared to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. They will also have the option of transferring into a four-year degree program at a partnering college or university.
Degree and certificate programs offered through the Engineering Technologies Division include:
Applied Science
- Systems Design (Alternative Energy Technology)
- Systems Service (Alternative Energy Technology)
- CAD/CAM
- Computer Science Engineering Technology
- Electrical Engineering Technology
- Industrial Management Technology
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Plastics Engineering Technology
Certificate Programs
- Systems Design (Alternative Energy Technology)
- Systems Service (Alternative Energy Technology)
- Computer Aided Design
- HVACR (Climate Control)
- Plastics Manufacturing
- Quality Control
Business Students Gain Skills to Advance Their Careers
The Business Technologies Division at Northwest State offers a variety of degree, certificate and licensing programs that provide the skills needed to help students who are seeking a new and rewarding career in business. These programs also benefit students who are interested in advancing their current careers.
Many of the associate degrees offered in the Business Technologies Division offer a two-plus-two option. This means that students can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at Northwest State and transfer seamlessly into their junior year at a four-year college or university.
Degree and certificate programs offered through the Business Technologies Division include:
Associate of Applied Science
- Pre-Business Administration
Associate of Applied Business
- Accounting
- Business Management
- Forensic Accounting
- Information Technology
- Paralegal Studies
- Visual Communication – Graphic Design
Business Management
- Advertising & Promotion Management
- Banking & Finance
- Business Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Human Resource Management
- International/Global Business
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Information Technology
- Computer Programming
- Internet Security
- Network Administration
- Website Administration
Office Administrative Services
- Office Administration
- Office Administration – Legal Support
- Office Administration – Medical Support
- Office Administration – Office Management
Certificate Programs
- Accounting Assistant
- Computer Technician
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Office Assistant
- Real Estate
