As one of North Carolina’s top literacy programs, the Pitt Community College Transitional Studies Department offers a wide-range of services to meet the educational needs of Pitt County residents.
While many associate “transitional studies” with GED programming, the department offers much, much more. High School Equivalency (aka GED) preparation is certainly part of the Transitional Studies lineup, but so are English Language Acquisition, College & Career Readiness, Adult Literacy, Adult High School, Career Academy and Workplace Literacy.
For students about to take college English and math, Transitional Studies offers preparatory courses with flexible entry and exit options to help them get ready. It also provides digital literacy classes to help individuals learn how to navigate online applications, including Moodle, distance learning, email, and other internet-based programs.
Perhaps the best thing about Pitt’s Transitional Studies Department is that all of the instruction it offers is free for students. There’s also financial assistance available to help students pay for high school equivalency testing as well as concurrent enrollment opportunities in both continuing education and curriculum courses.
PCC Transitional Studies students have access to many of the same extracurricular opportunities as their peers enrolled in curricula. They can participate in campus activities, such as career fairs, Spring Fling, Fall Fest and financial wellness seminars, or join the college’s Transition Club or National Adult Education Honor Society.
Another key benefit is that Transitional Studies instructors at Pitt specialize in teaching academic skills in the context of careers, thus providing students foundational, career-specific information for academic improvement. The department also offers companion classes to help students improve their chances of success in a number of career pathways, including nurse aide, pharmacy technician, CDL, machining, masonry, HVAC and plumbing.
Through partnerships on campus and in the community, PCC’s Transitional Studies Department provides hands-on experiences to help students learn more about potential careers. Within the current semester, for example, the program arranged for students to take part in masonry demonstrations and a simulated CDL driving experience.
Pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways are a recent addition to the Transitional Studies arsenal. They offer students training, contextualized instruction in companion adult literacy classes, stackable industry-recognized credentials, and opportunities for employment.
For more details on PCC Transitional Studies programs and intake orientation sessions for free classes, contact
the department by calling (252) 493-7892.
A quick breakdown of available Transitional Studies programs:
- Transition English and Math Courses: Give students ‘skilling up’ for college enrollment more flexibility and self-pacing options.
- College and Career Connections: Provide students concurrent enrollment opportunities, including pre-apprenticeship and employment opportunities.
- Career Academy: Provides career and academic development opportunities to students with special learning needs and challenges.
- High School Equivalency (HSE): Helps students prepare for HSE testing.
- Adult High School (AHS): Students who complete coursework receive a North Carolina high school diploma issued jointly by Pitt County Schools and PCC.
- Distance Learning: Features online courses and Internet-based programs.
- English Language Acquisition (ELA): Includes civics and citizenship instruction.
- Workplace Literacy: Offered at work sites, such as Vidant Medical Center, and campus sites to help students ‘skill up’ for job attainment, retention and promotion.
- Digital Literacy: A new initiative focused on cybersecurity and navigating online applications, including Moodle, email and various internet programs.