Guilford Technical Community College: Degree Programs and Pathways to Success

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), the fourth largest institution in the North Carolina Community College System and the largest in the Piedmont Triad, offers a wide array of degree programs and certificates designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in their chosen careers or for transfer to four-year universities. Located at 601 E. High Point Road in Jamestown, North Carolina, GTCC provides accessible and affordable education to a diverse student body.

General Information

GTCC operates on a semester-based academic calendar. In the Fall of 2023, the total number of entering students was 3,781. As of Fall 2022, the college had a full-time enrollment of 4,146 students and a part-time enrollment of 6,675 students. The student-faculty ratio is 18-to-1, ensuring students receive personalized attention. The college has an open admissions policy and offers credit for life experiences, making education accessible to a wide range of individuals.

Tuition and Financial Aid

GTCC is committed to providing affordable education. For the 2020-2021 academic year, in-state tuition and fees were $2,289, while out-of-state tuition and fees were $7,665. There is no application fee. Moreover, GTCC provides financial assistance to a significant portion of its student body. Fifty-seven percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, with the average scholarship or grant award being $4,163.

Academic Programs

GTCC offers degrees and certificates in 78 different fields, catering to a broad spectrum of interests and career aspirations. The highest degree offered at Guilford Technical Community College is an associate degree. Popular programs include Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, General Studies and Humanities, Other, and Information Technology.

Career Pathways

To help students navigate the numerous academic options, GTCC has created eight Career Pathways, each designed to guide students toward specific career goals:

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Arts, Entertainment, and Design (AED): This pathway is designed for future musicians, production assistants, vocalists, actors, visual artists, game developers, and designers, offering a broad field of study leading to careers both in the public eye and behind the scenes.
Business, Accounting, and Entrepreneurship: Accounting and Business Administration degrees prepare students for roles in management, marketing, economics, and the free enterprise system. Supply Chain Management and Logistics programs focus on the international and domestic movement of goods.
Construction, Architecture, and Aviation: This pathway includes architectural design, construction technology, aviation studies and design, welding, air conditioning repairs, and automotive repair.
Healthcare and Wellness: Careers in dental, nursing, physical therapy, radiography, and wellness fields await students who complete degrees in this Career Pathway.
Human Services and Social Sciences: This pathway is for those interested in making a difference in the lives and well-being of their community.
Information Technology: This pathway focuses on computer technology and information systems.
Liberal Arts and Humanities: If you're interested in creative expression, philosophical endeavors, and communicating ideas, consider a degree in the Liberal Arts and Humanities.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): This pathway encourages students to apply rational and logical thought processes to the needs of the world and creatively design, test, redesign, and implement solutions.

College Transfer Programs

GTCC offers college transfer programs through the Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), and Associate in Engineering (AE) degree programs. These programs are designed for students who plan to continue their education at a four-year university.

Associate in Arts (AA): Designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in one of the liberal arts disciplines or training at a professional school that requires a strong liberal arts background.
Associate in Science (AS): Designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in areas of study such as computer science, mathematics, the sciences, or professional programs that require strong mathematics and science backgrounds.
Associate in Fine Arts (AFA): Designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in either theatre or visual arts.
Associate in Engineering (AE): Designed for students who want to pursue a four-year degree in engineering.

The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) facilitates the transfer of students between institutions in the North Carolina Community College System and the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. The Associate in Arts (AA) and the Associate of Science (AS) degrees shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit (SHC) of college transfer courses.

The Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) between signatory institutions of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) and the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) is intended to provide smooth transfer for community college students who wish to continue their education at an NCICU institution which has signed the agreement.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Programs

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) programs are designed to provide entry-level employment training. AAS programs range from 64 to 76 semester hour credits. A full-time student can typically complete one of these programs within two years. In addition to major course work, Associate in Applied Science degree programs require a minimum of 15 semester hour credits of general education. General education requirements include course work in communications, humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences and natural sciences/mathematics.

Diploma and Certificate Programs

Diploma programs are designed to provide training for entry-level employment. Diploma programs range from 36 to 48 semester hour credits and can usually be completed by a full-time student within two semesters and one summer session. Certificate programs are designed to provide training for entry-level employment. Certificate programs range from 12 to 18 semester hour credits and can usually be completed within one semester by a full-time student.

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Campus Locations and Services

GTCC operates from seven locations:

The main campus in Jamestown: Located at 601 High Point Road.
The High Point Campus: Located at 901 South Main Street.
The Greensboro Campus: Located at 3505 East Wendover Avenue.
The Donald W. Cameron Campus: Located at 7908 Leabourne Road in Colfax.
The Union Square Campus: Located at 124 E. Gate City Boulevard in Greensboro.
The Aviation Campus: Located at 260 North Regional Road, Piedmont Triad International Airport.
The Small Business Center: Located at 1451 S. Elm St. in Greensboro.

The Aviation Campus has three locations:

The T.H Davis aviation center ("Aviation 1"): Located at 260 North Regional Road. It is the primary building for the college's Aircraft maintenance technician program and includes a hangar which houses 12 aircraft including a Boeing 727(outside on the ramp), Robinson R22, MU-300, and many other small General aviation aircraft.
Aviation 2: Located at 819 Radar Road. It is the primary location for the colleges Avionics and aircraft manufacturing programs, as well as the location for the aircraft maintenance technician structures classes.
The Caesar Cone II: Serves the colleges pilot needs.

GTCC provides a range of services to support students' academic and career goals:

Academic/career counseling services
Placement services for completers
Employment services for students
Credit for life experiences

A History of Growth and Adaptation

Guilford Technical Community College was founded as the Guilford Industrial Education Center on April 3, 1958, to prepare workers for technical jobs created by the rapid manufacturing growth in the county. The school opened in August 1958 on the site of the former Guilford County Tuberculosis Sanatorium with 50 students enrolled in two classes. In 1983, the State Board of Community Colleges approved GTIâs request to add a college transfer program, and the institution became Guilford Technical Community College.

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