Ask most college students what they need most from their course of study, and they will say skills to succeed in the workplace.

Workplace readiness is an important part of the value proposition for today’s students and especially those considered Generation Z (born mid- to late-1990s). Their expectations of what college must offer are more practical than all preceding generations.

Harcum College specializes in offering career-ready majors. Most Harcum graduates enter their field of study within six months of graduation from associate degree-granting programs such as Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assisting, Photography, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Veterinary Nursing, just to name a few.

Mike Prushan, Director of Business Programs at Harcum since 2014, has built invaluable workplace skills into his programs — Accounting, Business Management, Marketing, and Sports Management.

“Written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, networking skills are all things students learn as business majors and will use in the world of work,” he said.

At Harcum, there are numerous experiential or immersive avenues, depending on the major. All accredited majors in the health sciences require clinical experience. Veterinary Nursing requires two practicums with large and small animals at PennVet facilities, the Ryan Veterinary Hospital and the New Bolton Center.

Another important factor for allied health students is the pass rate for licensing and certification exams, which must be obtained for employment in the field. Pass rates are consistently near perfect for Dental Hygiene (98.6 percent), Occupational Therapy Assisting (97 percent), Physical Therapist Assisting (99.4 percent), and for the last three consecutive years Nursing (100 percent).

Students in Fashion majors must design or create a clothing line for an annual fashion show. Interior Design students mount an eye-popping portfolio show every spring. For numerous other programs, students learn workplace skills through Academic internships, readily available in majors such as Accounting, Animal Center Management, Fashion Merchandising, and Marketing.

Harcum is still accepting applications for a January 2020 start in many majors including a Saturday Occupational Therapy Assisting program and an evening Physical Therapist Assistant program. For more information or to apply, contact Admissions at 610-526-6050 or email enroll@harcum.edu.