Career Pathways & Dual Enrollment

"I gained a new perspective on life, mostly regarding the importance of networking."

-Brian Austria (11)

"I've gained a stronger care for networking and outreaching to programs."

-Logan Griffith (10)

DUAL ENROLLMENT 📚

The Mount Diablo Unified School District's Career Pathways Program has offered early college credits for high school students through dual enrollment. Dual enrollment, a program that allows students who are currently enrolled in high school to take college level courses, are offered for free of cost. This is beneficial for students because it allows them to get a head start on college credits, while simultaneously working on high school credits. Taking advantage of this free cost is helpful because according to educationdata.org, "The average public, 4-year university charges in-state residents $406 per credit hour. Most college courses are worth 3 credit hours, meaning one college class typically costs $1,218." College is expensive, and getting a head start in high school could help save students thousands of dollars down the road.

The Career 101 Course

"I found out about this class from Mr. Zibell and my friend Chris Holt."

-Jonathan Seymour Jr (10)

"My favorite memory was visiting Cal East Bay with my friends"

-Senia Flores (11)

One dual enrollment course that is offered through the MDUSD Career Pathways program is the Career 101 course. Taught by Ms. Siragusa, this course teaches students job skills, resume building, networking, and life after high school. This includes trade school, community college, state universities, and UCs.

Networking opportunity offered for Career-101 students!

"College and career readiness is important because so that you can be prepared for how you should be navigating, what you should be expecting, and knowing when you get to college. I found out about this class from my amazing English 3 teacher who constantly urged everyone to join the class which then led my trusted close school administrators to also urge me to join."

- Belinda Connor (11)

"My favorite memory of this class would have to be all the times Ms. Siragusa told us to network, or how important networking is in life."

-Sofia Nicasio Rodriguez (10)

The Career 101 course has also offered field trips to networking events such as the Concord Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee at Gratitude Coffee Shop. This networking event introduced students to the world of business, allowing them to meet local business owners and representatives. Some students successfully found internships through this event, and it helped build students' networking skills. Photographers, bankers, estheticians, pest control, tree services, and several other different representatives were there to represent the businesses they owned or worked at. Not only local businesses representatives showed up, but also representatives from the City of Concord showed up to share local updates. Experiences like these are amazing for students because usually only business representatives can show up and network. This event offered students hands-on experience with skills that could last for generations.

"My favorite thing about this class was learning about different pathways that would suit you if you change your mind about what you currently want to do.

My second favorite thing about this class was getting to listen to the guest speakers and getting to hear their experiences."

-Stephanie Bravo Prado (10)

"My favorite things about this class is the guest speakers that come in and talk about real world stuff like how a credit union works and how they help the community."

-Daniela Serrano (9)

The course has also had the pleasure to invite guest speakers to share with the class. Travis Credit Union of the East Bay came by to present financial literacy to students, teaching students how to save and budget money. Students learned the difference between credit, and debit, and even learned budgeting rules such as the "60, 20, 20 rule." The 60 20 20 rule, and financial literacy overall is important for students to learn before going into the real world because most of the time people splurge and impulse buy, which could lead to becoming financially unstable. The rule they taught was, 60% of your paycheck goes to necessities such as bills, gas, and food. 20% goes to wants, such as monthly streaming services, shopping, and going out to eat. The other 20% is allocated towards savings such as retirement, investments, and emergency funds. Travis Credit Union not only taught students, but gave away gift cards for student participation!

Field trip to Cal-State East Bay!

"From this class, I gained a sense of what steps to take for the career path I want to go down. I also gained knowledge about things that i can do now and what habits I can start building even at 14."

-Janiya Mason (9)

Another cool thing about the class was their opportunity to take a college tour to Cal-State East Bay, as well as completing a student panel. Students had the ability to view the dorms, and see campus life during school hours. They were also able to ask questions about classes, things to do in the area, and the CSU system. Students learned about student clubs, activities, and overall classes in general. College tours are a great opportunity to see your options, and to see if you truly like a campus or not!

Overall the Career-101 course has taught students beneficial skills and has offered numerous tools for the work force such as networking, resume building, and working together!

"My favorite memory of this class is taking the field trip to California State University East Bay in Hayward."

-Jerry Kornkhamteua (11)

"I believe college and career readiness is important to me because I like knowing my goals and this class helps me further by giving me tools and strategies"

-Jorge Trejo Curiel (10)

"Something I have gained from this class is to learn from other people and that networking is important."

-Tyler Brenes (10)

"College and career readiness is important to create plans and goals while you have time in high school."

-Perlah Zepeda Carranza

How do I sign up for Dual Enrollment/Concurrent Enrollment courses?

Most students have no idea how to sign up for dual enrollment courses. Some might not even know that there is concurrent enrollment that is also offered! What is the difference between concurrent enrollment and dual enrollment? Well the only difference is who offers the course, and where it's located. A lot of students think they can only take dual enrollment courses because that's what's offered on school campuses. Many don't realize that they can also sign up for concurrent enrollment. The only difference between the two is that dual enrollment is offered on school campuses, while concurrent enrollment is offered on the college campus. If you're interested, be sure to reach out to your counselor as well as Ms. Bergum or Jorge Salinas-Tognetti. Our school offers several resources to ensure that you get the education you need! Feel free to watch this webinar if you need step by step help! Click the link below to see a course catalog of highschool friendly courses as well.

SU26 HS Friendly Courses List.pdf

Click this link for more information! ↑

↑This webinar is helpful!

"My dream college is to go to UCLA and to become a therapist"

-Daisy Arrezola (10)

"My dream career is a pediatric endocrinologist because I have always wanted to help other kids with autoimmune diseases."

-Lily Boone-Minton (10)

"My dream career is to become a Mechanical Engineer at UC Berkeley, because it seems like a good fit for me in the things I like to do and I try to be hard working to achieve my goals."

-Johny Martinez Rivas (10)

Upcoming Dual Enrollment Opportunities!

If you are interested in taking dual enrollment courses, and are unable to stay after school due to sports, family, or other scheduling conflicts, there is a course for Administration and Justice during 6th period for the next school year. If you have any questions ask Jorge Salinas-Tognetti, the MDUSD dual enrollment counselor at salinastognettij@mdusd.org He's happy to help! Administration and Justice is a great course to take if you're looking into going into law, and public safety! Getting a head start could not only save you money, but make you look competitive when it comes to college applications. Not many schools offer courses like this, and it's great to get a head start now! Because of the high dual enrollment interest rates, more and more students have been gaining greater access to more dual enrollment courses, allowing for the school to offer more options and opportunities! Feel free to scan the QR code!

Career Pathway Courses

Our school also offers career pathway classes through the career pathway program. Some of these pathways include photo arts, construction, auto, and several more. These classes are beneficial for students seeking to go directly into a job force. Students learn skills that help them navigate the work force, and are also invited to the First Friday Coffee, similar to the after school Career-101 course. These classes are taken as electives, and students get to participate in special opportunities like field trips. In this video you can learn more about Concord High's Career Pathway Program!

"College and Career Education is important because it helps us establish a foundation for our future goals and plans, It also helps us build skills related to our future, such as skills like networking, communication, information gathering, and time-management. My favorite thing about the class is the sense of community provided from being in a smaller classroom environment. My favorite memory from the class was when we went to Cal State East Bay, as well as the First Friday Coffee optional field trip"

-Leonardo Giron (10)

Ms. Siragusa Spotlight

"My favorite part of teaching this class is getting to work with students I might not otherwise have the opportunity to know. I love hearing about their interests, goals, and passions, and helping them explore pathways to reach them, along with opportunities they may not have previously considered.

I was so impressed by the students’ willingness to stay after school even longer and be part of a group eager to continue learning and advancing their education, even after a full day of classes. I love spending time with students, helping them get excited about their future goals and opportunities, while also introducing them to new information, experiences, and places they may not have otherwise explored.

The students have taught me so much throughout this experience. During our class discussions and guest speaker presentations, they consistently asked thoughtful and insightful questions that showed genuine curiosity and engagement. It has been exciting to see them critically thinking about their futures, exploring different possibilities, and actively seeking knowledge for themselves. Their willingness to learn, ask questions, and reflect on their goals has made these conversations incredibly meaningful and rewarding."

-Laura Siragusa

Page updated

Report abuse