Academic Divisions | NorthWest Arkansas Community College

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Academic Divisions


NWACC offers a diverse range of affordable and accessible learning opportunities that fit your schedule and educational needs. Learn more about the college’s divisions and their various course, degree, certificate and plan options.

Division of Business and Computer Information Systems

NWACC’s Division of Business and Computer Information offers a wide variety of courses that will put you on the right track to developing the skills that will ensure you remain competitive in today’s job market. Business courses are offered in a traditional classroom experience or online. Courses can be used toward an associate of applied science, a technical certificate or a transfer degree.

Business and Computer Information

 

Division of Communications and Art

NWACC’s Division of Communication and Arts offers several areas of study spanning art, design, cinematic studies, languages, theater and journalism. Our courses are taught by highly qualified and engaged instructors with real world experience in their fields, including published writers and composers, award-winning musicians and playwrights. Communication and art courses can be used toward associates of fine arts degrees, associates of applied science degrees, technical certificates, certificates of proficiency and transfer degrees.

Communication & Art


Division of Health Professions
(Reports to the VP of Workforce and Economic Development)

The Division of Health Professions at NWACC provides growth opportunities in a range of rewarding fields such as nursing, dental assisting, respiratory and physical therapy, fire science, paramedics, and health information management. You may want to work in a fast-paced high demand environment saving lives in an emergency room or as a first responder, leverage your interest in data and technology specializing in health information, help regain a patient’s strength or assist one in learning to manage physical challenges. There is a career path for you in health professions. The division offers certificates of proficiency, technical certificates and an associate of applied science.

Health Professions

 

Division of Science and Mathematics

The Division of Science & Mathematics at NWACC offers courses and areas of study that can take your natural curiosity and translate it into the research field, funnel your love for algebra and calculus into the path you want, provide the professional training that will keep your career on track, and so many more exciting options. The division offers courses that fulfill requirements for certificates of proficiency, technical certificates, an associate of applied science or a transfer degree.

Science and Math

 

Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences

NWACC’s Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences can help you begin the career you want in a broad range of fields. You may want to make an impact on your community, to work with children as an advocate or educational specialist, or to protect and uphold the law as a paralegal.You can also earn credits in general education courses like anthropology, history, philosophy, psychology, geography, social work, political science and sociology. Through this division, you can work towards earning credits for an associate of applied science, technical certificates, certificates of proficiency and transfer degrees.

Social & Behavioral Sciences


Division of Workforce and Economic Development

(Reports to the VP of Workforce and Economic Development)

Adult Education

The Adult Education program at NWACC offers non-credit classes that teach and review academic skills normally associated with the public school secondary curriculum to prepare you for the high school equivalency exam, the General Educational Development (GED®) Arkansas high school diploma. Classes focus on Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED® preparation.

  • The program also offers English as a Second Language (ESL), designed for those whose native language is not English. Digital literacy is integrated into the ABE, GED® and ESL classroom instruction. All classes are open-entry and open-exit. You may enroll at any time during the year and may attend at any time of day or evening. The course’s pace of learning is individualized for your needs. There is no charge for any adult education class.

Adult Education


Food Studies

As a Center for the Study of Food and as NWACC’s culinary department, Brightwater offers the insights and skills needed to positively impact our food system. In addition to gaining cooking proficiency, you will regularly participate in activities and training on culinary nutrition, growing and sourcing food, food waste and recovery, whole-animal butchery, food entrepreneurship, and seasonal cooking. Brightwater is the first culinary school to integrate a food-systems approach and inquiry-based learning to cooking, local farming, sustainability and community development.

Food Studies / Brightwater


Workforce and Economic Development

NWACC’s Division of Workforce and Economic Development (WED) provides a full range of noncredit and continuing education classes and customized training programs to residents, businesses and government agencies in northwest Arkansas (NWA) and the surrounding area.

Its strategic and hands-on training and experienced-based learning enables community members and organizations to adapt to a rapidly changing global business environment and a rise in demand for skilled workers throughout northwest Arkansas (NWA). Its primary goal is to empower the greatest number of people to achieve maximum talent development for the betterment of themselves, their families and their communities.

Workforce and Economic Development is a certified Microsoft IT Academy. In addition to Microsoft official curriculum classes, the division provides classes in professional development, including Six Sigma, Achieve Global and AMA curriculum, as well as customized solutions. Classes and programs delivered at the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies can also be delivered on sight at a client’s facility.

Workforce & Economic Development

 

Division of Trails & Trades

NWACC's Trails & Trades Division offers short-term and high-impact training in a range of dynamic industries including trails, bicycle repair, construction, skilled trades and integrated design. Programs are taught by industry experts who provide you with hands-on training and in-demand skills that prepare you for a fulfilling career.

Trails & Trades