Tarrant County College Offers Comprehensive Education Meeting Community Needs

The Tarrant County College District is a two-year, comprehensive community college located in Tarrant County, Texas. It provides degree programs that lead to an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Applied Science. The college also provides certificate of completion programs, designed to meet specific needs of the community.

Tarrant County College operates through four campuses: The Northeast Campus is located in the city of Hurst and the Northwest and South Campuses are located at Fort Worth. The Southeast Campus is located at Arlington and the administrative offices are at the May Owen Center, in downtown Fort Worth. A new comprehensive campus is scheduled to open in downtown Fort Worth in 2008.

In fall 2004, the credit student enrollment was more than 34,000 and the college was ranked as the eighth largest among Texas community colleges and universities.

Accreditation

Tarrant County College is accredited by the by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states. It is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

The educational programs and courses of the college are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Tarrant County College is also a member of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, and the American Association of Community Colleges.

Distance learning

The Center for Distance Learning of the Tarrant County College offers a variety of credit courses, via Instructional Television and the Internet. These distance learning courses combine on-campus sessions (orientations, seminars, and examinations) with related readings and assignments.

Distance learning courses are more convenient for non-traditional adult students. They can earn recognized degrees that will add to their career portfolios, without compromising their work or family lives.

A lot of the course work can be done at home and students don't have to come to the campus too often. They have more options and can select the time when they want to complete their weekly lessons or attend seminars/orientation and/or take examinations.

Students who take distance learning courses must be mature, self-motivated and self-disciplined, to complete each week's work. Those who are employed must carefully consider how much time they can actually spare for college work. The college reserves the right to limit the course load for any student.

When students successfully complete a course, they are given full college credit. The courses and credit hours offered are equivalent to those offered on campus. All the courses apply towards associate degree requirements. Many fulfill certificate program requirements and/or requirements for bachelor's degrees.

Tarrant County College is an accredited two-year institution, dedicated to providing affordable access to quality education, for the citizens of Tarrant County, Texas.