Workforce Development Courses at GCU
A career in the trades is one that many skilled workers find to be rewarding. A recent study has shown that 94% of trade workers surveyed stated that they would encourage their own kids or family to pursue a career in the skilled trades. These same workers also reported as optimistic about their future, with 95% being optimistic about their financial potential and 93% reporting the same about career growth opportunities.1
The Center for Workforce Development at GCU aims to contribute to a skilled labor workforce by providing learning opportunities for those who are passionate about their trade. By offering Grand Canyon University trade courses, we strive to help meet the need for workers in various industries. We partner with numerous companies to be able to offer our students quality learning that can directly translate into their field.
Trade courses offered through the Center of Workforce Development at GCU are designed to prepare students with applicable skills and knowledge that they can use in their specific career path. They will complete their courses at our campus in Phoenix and will have the opportunity to become job-ready for their professional career.
There is a significant shortage of skilled tradespeople in the U.S., creating a need for people to fill these roles in our communities.2 GCU offers trade programs that can help learners feel ready to fill these gaps and potentially pursue the next step in their career. Students will experience hands-on learning and support while being taught relevant skills, all while benefitting from an on-campus experience at GCU.
GCU has collaborated with various manufacturing partners to offer learners the chance to complete CNC machinist courses while partaking in a traditional college experience. These CNC machinist courses can help prepare students for careers in many industries, such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, semiconductors and other various manufacturing operations. Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while completing courses within a 15-week period.
CNC students at GCU may have the opportunity to work with our proud industry partners, including:
- Benchmark Precision Technologies
- Lux Precision Manufacturing
GCU is pleased to offer students the opportunity to complete pre-apprenticeship courses in Phoenix, Arizona or Austin, Texas. The pre-apprenticeship program courses take one semester to complete.4 These courses can help prepare learners to join an apprenticeship program after completion, so they can be ready to enter this field as knowledgeable and skilled electrician professionals.
GCU’s pre-apprenticeship program works with several industry partners to provide you with a diversified experience. Our partners include:
- Rosendin Electric Inc.
- Maricopa County
- AEC Electric
- Corbins
- Hawkeye Electric Inc.
- Salt River Project
- Cannon and Wendt
Partners of GCU’s trade courses can gain entry-level, knowledgeable workers who have experienced relevant training and are ready to apply themselves to practical work. GCU’s workforce development courses aim to connect businesses with aspiring trade professionals to create mutually beneficial relationships through promoting:
- Recruitment: Involving the community and recruiting those with a passion for pursuing their trade demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to the workforce.
- Responsibility: Our trade courses teach students how to perform respectable work while demonstrating principles of honor, pride and responsibility.
- Retention: Our trade students have access to GCU’s learning resources that can help support them as they complete their courses.
- Results: These courses are designed to generate results and can equip students with the technical skills they need to enter or continue to work toward their careers.
- Request: We are always looking to expand the opportunities we can offer our students by partnering with organizations in Arizona to help provide solutions to workforce shortages.
GCU also offers varying levels of sponsorship for our partnership organizations, including benefits and perks for your company. To get started in becoming a GCU trade partner and help provide opportunities for students, please contact Mickey Nunez.
1 Steckel, D. (2023, Aug. 24). Young people want skilled trades careers – so what’s stopping them? Thumbtack. Retrieved Jan. 23, 2024.
2 Kelly, J. (2024, Jan 10). Why you should consider a job in the trades. Forbes. Retrieved Jan. 24, 2024.
3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Machinists, as of May 2022, retrieved on Dec. 11, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as machinists, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
4 This pre-apprenticeship does not lead to licensure.
5 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Electricians as of May 2022, retrieved on Nov. 1, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020-2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as electricians, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country, or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to es:mate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.