New Programs in Business and Technology Will Meet Workforce Needs

9/2/2024

St. Petersburg College introduced three new credentials in Fall 2024 in the areas of business and technology to meet growing workforce demand and give graduates an edge in the marketplace. 

Cloud Computing Associate in Science degree

SPC became the first institution in the Florida College System to develop an Associate in Science degree in Cloud Computing when it launched in Fall 2024. The program’s curriculum, established with input from other state colleges, serves as the jumping off point for all 28 state colleges that plan to offer similar degrees at their institutions.

The degree will prepare graduates to manage information technology services like servers, storage, databases, and software that are offered over the internet, or “the cloud”.

“It’s an honor that the State Department of Education chose us to create this program as the bedrock for all the other state colleges,” said John Long, Associate Dean of SPC's College of Computer and Information Technology. “The colleges can customize their programs as they see fit based on the foundation we have laid.”

To develop the A.S. framework, the College relied on a $400,000 Cyber Florida grant that included funding for expanding IT pathways. The new degree builds on the Cloud Computing Certificate launched in Fall 2022 to meet the escalating need for highly skilled cloud practitioners like software and security engineers, system and network administrators, full-stack and Java developers, and cloud and software architects.

“The trend in cloud computing is one of the fastest growing sectors in IT, including web development, networking and software applications,” Long said. “Cloud computing has emerged as a key factor in software development. Now, software developers and system administrators are working together as they design, build, and deploy their applications.”

All core courses in the program are offered online and students can work in a virtual environment to practice their skills in real time. Graduates will be proficient in the leading cloud services, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, and Google. Students can take their general education credits on SPC campuses if they choose.

Business certificates

Two new certificates in the College of Business add to a growing body of business credentials aimed at giving graduates an edge in the global economy. The bachelor’s level Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advanced Technical Certificate teaches students how to innovate, adapt, and initiate change within established organizations, turning them into “intrapreneurs,” who can drive growth and development from within. 

The Green Innovations and Social Entrepreneurship Certificate leans heavily into social enterprises and got its start during a summer sustainability program funded by a $25,000 VentureWell grant, awarded to colleges to expand and strengthen STEM innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. 

“One of our goals is to support lifestyle entrepreneurs,” said College of Business Dean Emmanuel Hernandez-Agosto. “Most entrepreneurial programs focus on high-wage or growth areas like tech, but few focus on and take pride in helping these entrepreneurs.” 

The programs join recent additions in the College of Business including the Business Analyst Specialist Advanced Technical Certificate launched in Fall 2023. The certificate builds on associate degrees and is particularly suited for technology students who want to transfer to business roles and for business students who want to expand their technical and data skills.