“Resources,” Education for Better Work for Self-Reliance (2016)
“Resources,” Education for Better Work
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Resources
CES Educational Opportunities
The Church is working diligently to make educational opportunities accessible to many more Church members across the world. The Church Educational System (CES) offers several educational opportunities that, in certain parts of the world, may lead to better work.
As with all education options you consider, prayerfully evaluate whether these options will help further your career opportunities and lead to better work in your location.
Micro Courses—Skills Training for Everyone
If you need training to get a specific job, or if you are in a career and need additional training, micro courses might be a great option. Micro courses can be grouped into three categories: career skills, people skills, and life skills. These courses have been designed so that anyone, anywhere, with access to the internet can learn new marketable skills. The courses can range from 15 minutes of instruction on résumé writing, to a one-hour course on goal setting, to a 12-week course on computer programming that results in an industry certification.
Corporate Connect—Industry Training with Guaranteed Job Interviews
If your goal is to get a job as soon as possible in an area that leads to great careers, Corporate Connect may be the best option. The LDS Business College Corporate Connect Series works with employers to train Church members for specific jobs in the fields of business, IT, health professions, and manufacturing. These jobs pay well and have great upward mobility. Training lasts two to three months with a guaranteed interview for those who finish the program. So far, Corporate Connect has a placement rate of almost 90 percent.
College/University Certificates and Degrees—Higher Education for Better Employment
LDS higher education institutions, including LDS Business College, BYU–Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, and BYU, offer a variety of certificates and degrees, some of which can be earned online. These programs range from one-semester certificates to advanced graduate and professional degrees. Many of these degrees and certificates are skills based and directly prepare students for employment and a career.
At present, these educational options are available only in English. For more information about them, visit churcheducation.lds.org.
Pathway/BYU–Idaho
In association with BYU–Idaho, Pathway is a low-cost educational program that combines online courses with local gatherings. Its purpose is to offer easy entry to students with little or no college experience, or re-entry to those whose previous studies were long ago. Since it is an online program, proximity to a campus is not required. Students earn college credit that is eligible for transfer to BYU–Idaho and several other universities.
Also required:
Be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Be at least 17 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, or age 19 or older (with or without a high school diploma or equivalent).
Have regular access to a computer with high-speed internet and webcam/video chat capabilities.
Speak English proficiently (see more on the next page).
Live within a reasonable commuting distance of a Pathway site; there are many sites worldwide staffed by service missionaries.
Be enrolled in institute (this requirement is for those ages 18–30 who are unmarried).
The Pathway program takes one year (or three semesters) to complete, after which a student may continue toward a college degree. Pathway opens doors to opportunity, which include participating in the BYU–Idaho Online Degree Program, attending BYU–Idaho as an on-campus student, or enrolling in a local college or university (subject to each institution’s admission requirements).
Students who complete Pathway and wish to attend BYU–Idaho on campus in Rexburg, Idaho, must apply formally and pay the regular campus tuition. Those wishing to continue in the online degree program will take courses at the same low Pathway tuition rate and work toward some or all of the following options:
Professional certificates (15 credits each)
Associate’s degree (60 credits)
Bachelor’s degree (120 credits)
For students who are proficient in English, the standard Pathway program combines BYU–Idaho online academic courses with either institute or BYU–Idaho online religion courses. For students who have intermediate to low English proficiency, the “L” version includes academic courses that incorporate English-language instruction as a main component of the coursework. Students meet weekly with a native English speaker throughout the program to improve their English skills. (Pathway service missionaries staff these centers worldwide.)