Greenville Technical College adjusts program roster to meet current and future workforce needs

Greenville Technical College (GTC) was founded in 1962 to provide skilled workers as the state moved from reliance on the textile industry to an expanded base of business and industry. In those early days, programs in Sewing Machine Mechanics and Fashion Merchandising were among the choices that filled workforce needs. Since that time, programs have been continuously evaluated, and based on a comprehensive review of relevant data, programs may be added, updated, or eliminated in response to the job market.

The healthcare sector remains the number one career path selected by students in Greenville County Schools. As a result, the college has increased the number of seats in several high-demand, high-wage Allied Health programs. The number of Surgical Technology seats has grown by 60 percent, Radiologic Technology seats have been increased by 20 percent, and the number of Dental Hygiene seats has been expanded by 16 percent.

GTC is reopening the Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) certificate. Based on their current and projected needs, local healthcare employers have expressed support for this revamped specialized training.

With engineering graduates in high demand, an associate degree in engineering fundamentals will be added to the program roster for Spring Semester 2026. This seven-track degree will prepare completers to transfer to four-year institutions including Clemson University to complete a bachelor’s degree. Transfer tracks include Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Civil, and Chemical Engineering.

While demand for engineering fundamentals is growing, employment opportunities in the engineering sector have shifted, with greater emphasis on electrical skills. As a result, the Mechanical Engineering Technology program will stop enrolling new students in spring 2026, while serving currently enrolled students through 2028. Those currently enrolled will also have the option of moving into the Engineering Fundamentals program.

Several healthcare programs offered through the Corporate and Continuing Education (CCE) division are being discontinued. The Nurse Refresher course will no longer be offered once currently enrolled students complete the curriculum. American Heart Association classes in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) will be offered on campus but will no longer be offered at community sites.

Three new Artificial Intelligence courses have been added to the Corporate and Continuing Education lineup to meet growing demand for training in this area. Introduction to Generative AI provides a solid foundation in AI fundamentals, Building AI Chatbots teaches participants how chatbots can be used for a variety of tasks, and Prompt Writing for Generative AI helps unlock the full potential of generative AI models.

Changes to Corporate and Continuing Education offerings prepare GTC for exciting changes ahead. Next year, for the first time ever, students taking part in CCE programs will be eligible for federal financial aid with Pell Grant eligibility expanding to students enrolled in short-term, career-focused programs.