SCC Public Works Program Earns High Praise and High Rankings
Craig Wheeler worked in construction for more than 25 years but couldn’t find a job in the industry after the recession.
Thanks to the education he received in Santiago Canyon College’s Public Works Program, today Wheeler works full-time as an assistant construction manager for an Irvine engineering consulting firm.
Upon completing classes in the program, “I learned many of my skills were transferrable,” says Wheeler, a Laguna Niguel resident. “I redirected my focus from construction to viewing projects from a different perspective. Rather than focusing on the minutia, we were taught to look at plans and specifications for infrastructure projects - the macro view.”
Public Works faculty member Carlos Castellanos, who facilitates the program, says most of its students, like Wheeler, already work in the construction industry.
SCC’s course content is designed to provide students entering the public works field and current public works employees with coursework that improves their employability in a wide variety of positions in the public works field, including inspection and related responsibilities.
“Most of our students are not coming right from earning their high school degrees,” Castellanos explains. “They might be working for a city performing maintenance services and they’re looking for a promotion into a white collar or supervisory role. We get about 25 percent of students who are new to the profession with no prior knowledge of public works or construction.”
The program offers an Associate of Science and Certificate of Achievement in Construction Management, Construction Inspection and Environmental Management. Four core courses apply to all three areas, and each certificate requires completion of a total of seven classes.
The Public Works Program is the only one of its kind in Orange County; similar programs are offered at colleges in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, Castellanos says. He is the city engineer for the City of Anaheim as well as the facilitator of the SCC program.
“We are a unique program because we specialize in public works,” he notes. “There isn’t a lot of opportunity to learn about this line of work anywhere else. Due to industry demand and a high number of retirements, job availability is trending upward. We’ve been very successful in attracting new students and look to further partner with local municipalities.”
The program recently received a fifth-place ranking among the top 10 programs nationwide for construction degrees from Schools.com. Compiled from data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the ranking was based on the program’s affordability, flexibility and student success.
“Our program is highly regarded by many public works professionals in Southern California,” Castellanos says, “and the commitment by our faculty to the development of our students is unprecedented. We’re excited for the opportunity to educate and mentor the next generation of public works employees to meet the latest industry standards.”
Wheeler landed a job interview soon after Castellanos invited him to attend a conference hosted by the American Public Works Association, where he sat in on sessions and spoke with companies and vendors.
“I highly recommend the SCC program,” Wheeler says. “Not only do they train you well, but the faculty members offer you great opportunities to position yourself for success in the job market.
“The classes aren’t simple by any means and students entering the program will get out of it only what they bring into it,” he notes. “Faculty members have diverse backgrounds and they have a wealth of experience to learn from.”
For more information on the SCC Public Works program, please contact (714) 628-4883 or visit www.sccollege.edu/PublicWorks.
