Cerritos College News Release - July 2008

NORWALK, Calif. - July 8, 2008 - Cerritos College’s Engineering Design Technology (ENGT) Department is pleased to announce that it will offer a head start in the aerospace industry through engineering design software courses starting the fall semester.

Engineering design software courses taught at Cerritos College cover programs such as AutoCAD, Autodesk; MAX 3-D Designer, Mechanical Desktop, MAP 3-D, Inventor, SolidWorks, and CATIA. According to Farid Wissa, chairman/professor of the Engineering Design Technology Department, knowledge of these programs are highly desired by industry giants seeking to hire employees.

“Engineering companies are in need of good designers to be part of their teams with very high salary rates,” he said. “In fact, all aerospace firms recently ran advertisements announcing interviews for open job positions, and engineering software designers are needed for the Boeing Aircraft Company to contribute to the building of 2,600 airplanes in the next 20 years."

Enrollment for Fall 2008 is underway for classes starting Monday, August 18, 2008, and students can register online at www.cerritos.edu. Those interested in taking any of these classes should apply immediately while space still exists.

Students who feel that they have experience that is equivalent to prerequisite courses may contact the Engineering Design Technology Department to discuss alternatives that can satisfy prerequisites.

High school juniors and seniors may enroll in most engineering technology courses free of cost to earn both high school and college credit under the College Bridge Program. For more information about the College Bridge Program, minors should speak with their high school counselors and the Cerritos College counselors. The Cerritos College Engineering Design Technology Department has course credit transfer agreements with California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Long Beach and other surrounding universities.

For further detailed information please visit www.cerritos.edu/engt or call (562) 860-2451, ext 2910 (Farid Wissa) or ext. 2908 (Jaya Hiranandani), or e-mail fwissa@cerritos.edu or hiranandani@cerritos.edu.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 200 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently nears 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

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