With four locations in three counties, the College of Southern Maryland bills itself as being both convenient and affordable. Formerly known as Charles County Community College, the school now operates in Calvert and St. Mary's counties, as well. It also offers alternative learning formats, including weekend college and Web-based courses.
In addition to serving more than 60 percent of tri-county residents who attend institutions of higher learning, CSM also teams with the University of Maryland University College to offer programs in Europe. Such "Maryland in Europe" classes are open to Department of Defense personnel stationed in Europe.
The Charles County Board of Education founded the school in 1958, and the first classes were held in the evenings at La Plata High School. The school established its Friendly Hall Campus in La Plata a decade later, then expanded into St. Mary's in 1978 and into Calvert County in 1980. Today the school offers a range of associate degree programs, along with industry certifications and other career training programs. Classes provide job skills that can enhance students' careers today, while also preparing students to transfer into bachelor's degree programs at other institutions.
The school works closely with the local business community through its Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), which offers technical training programs to upgrade employees' skills. The institute delivers management and leadership programs, pollution control and prevention, and other forms of business consulting.
Because the average student here is 28 years old, CSM gears itself toward the adult learner. In recognition of students' existing family and work obligations, the school offers Saturday-only courses, weekend programs and a variety of other course delivery options for students who can't attend regular daytime classes. Self-paced computer classes and Web-based courses, for instance, provide a high degree of flexibility.
For those already in a professional environment, cooperative-education internships combine classroom study with relevant career experience and allow students to earn course credits for their real-world accomplishments.
For returning learners who also are parents, the college offers Kids' Konnections (a children's reading series), as well as children's summer camps and wellness programs for all age groups. Other services include drug- and alcohol-abuse prevention programs, career services, a returning women's program, and arts performances for children and adults.
Facilities at the various CSM campuses also include an indoor pool, a fine arts center, high-tech computer laboratories, sports facilities, bookstores, fitness centers and a state-of-the-art conference center.
However, prospective students should be aware of the school's commuter atmosphere. Campus housing is not available and the diverse range of study options means that students come and go at different times. But for students who want to get involved, the college does boast a number of organizations, including a popular Spanish club, a nursing student association, a science club and the Black Student Union. Athletics is another way to get involved in campus life. Women's sports include soccer, tennis, volleyball and basketball, among others. Men's sports include soccer, basketball and tennis.
The College of Southern Maryland emphasizes learning as a lifelong process. Its credit and non-credit courses are designed to meet the needs of recent high school graduates, as well as the demands of returning students. Students come to the classroom with a broad range of life experiences, but they share a desire to better themselves and their circumstances in an academic setting that is open, welcoming, convenient and affordable.
In addition to serving more than 60 percent of tri-county residents who attend institutions of higher learning, CSM also teams with the University of Maryland University College to offer programs in Europe. Such "Maryland in Europe" classes are open to Department of Defense personnel stationed in Europe.
The Charles County Board of Education founded the school in 1958, and the first classes were held in the evenings at La Plata High School. The school established its Friendly Hall Campus in La Plata a decade later, then expanded into St. Mary's in 1978 and into Calvert County in 1980. Today the school offers a range of associate degree programs, along with industry certifications and other career training programs. Classes provide job skills that can enhance students' careers today, while also preparing students to transfer into bachelor's degree programs at other institutions.
The school works closely with the local business community through its Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), which offers technical training programs to upgrade employees' skills. The institute delivers management and leadership programs, pollution control and prevention, and other forms of business consulting.
Because the average student here is 28 years old, CSM gears itself toward the adult learner. In recognition of students' existing family and work obligations, the school offers Saturday-only courses, weekend programs and a variety of other course delivery options for students who can't attend regular daytime classes. Self-paced computer classes and Web-based courses, for instance, provide a high degree of flexibility.
For those already in a professional environment, cooperative-education internships combine classroom study with relevant career experience and allow students to earn course credits for their real-world accomplishments.
For returning learners who also are parents, the college offers Kids' Konnections (a children's reading series), as well as children's summer camps and wellness programs for all age groups. Other services include drug- and alcohol-abuse prevention programs, career services, a returning women's program, and arts performances for children and adults.
Facilities at the various CSM campuses also include an indoor pool, a fine arts center, high-tech computer laboratories, sports facilities, bookstores, fitness centers and a state-of-the-art conference center.
However, prospective students should be aware of the school's commuter atmosphere. Campus housing is not available and the diverse range of study options means that students come and go at different times. But for students who want to get involved, the college does boast a number of organizations, including a popular Spanish club, a nursing student association, a science club and the Black Student Union. Athletics is another way to get involved in campus life. Women's sports include soccer, tennis, volleyball and basketball, among others. Men's sports include soccer, basketball and tennis.
The College of Southern Maryland emphasizes learning as a lifelong process. Its credit and non-credit courses are designed to meet the needs of recent high school graduates, as well as the demands of returning students. Students come to the classroom with a broad range of life experiences, but they share a desire to better themselves and their circumstances in an academic setting that is open, welcoming, convenient and affordable.