The Ferrum College Technical Studies program was created through community partnership in response to an ongoing need for career pathways in technical trades in the region. Our mission is to provide education and practical credentialing that helps develop leaders in trades including carpentry, electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), industrial maintenance, marine trades, plumbing, welding, and construction management.
The Ferrum College Technical Studies program includes training and coursework in technical trades including carpentry, electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), industrial maintenance, marine trades, plumbing, welding, and construction management. The curriculum is designed for flexible access by dual enrollment students, professionals seeking certificates and other credentials, and Baccalaureate students seeking to enhance their studies with practical skills that prepare them for the marketplace. The curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Build Smart Institute and the Virginia Technical Institute (and both sites, along with Franklin County High School, are proposed to be off-campus instructional sites for Ferrum College) to meet needs in the Franklin County and surrounding areas while providing job training and experience for students.
Students will achieve OSHA certification for safety (associated with completion of TCS 100 or TCS 101 or prior certification)
Students will demonstrate basic familiarity with a specific trade (associated with completion of TCS 101 or TCS 111-117)
Students will demonstrate intermediate specialization with a specific trade (associated with completion of TCS 211-217 or TCS 221)
Students will demonstrate advanced specialization with a specific trade (associated with completion of TCS 311-317 or TCS 322)
A Construction Project Manager collaborates with Engineers and Supervisors in planning, budgeting, allocating resources, and providing timely completion of the project. They also ensure that the project is completed within the set budget and is within the scope. Additionally, they ensure the project delivers the expected results and benefits. Their duties include planning, hiring, firing, and supervising employees.
This course is designed to introduce the trainee to construction. Key content includes basic safety, introduction to construction math, introduction to hand tools, introduction to power tools, construction drawings, basic rigging, basic communication skills, basic employability skills, and introduction to material handling. This course is a prerequisite for many of the construction management certificates and degree options. Students will have the opportunity to earn an NCCER certificate and OSHA-10 certification in this course. (Partnership with Build Smart Institute) 6 hours, 6 credits.
This course is designed to help all associated with a project to read and implement project blueprints. It includes performance tasks to assist the learning process. The course covers terms, components, symbols of construction drawings, and reading specification associated with drawings. This course covers both commercial drawings and residential drawings. Students will have the opportunity to earn an NCCER certificate in this course. (Partnership with Build Smart Institute) 2 hours, 2 credits.
This course is designed to help trainees become familiar with the bid/estimating process, from initial bid meeting until bid day. This will be accomplished by introducing the process one section at a time. Individual problems will be used at each stage to practice the new topic, along with a continuing project which runs the entire course completed per stage as each new topic is mastered. Finally, there will be a timed final project to immerse trainees into a simulated bid day experience. Students will have the opportunity to earn an NCCER certificate in this course. (Partnership with Build Smart Institute) 2 hours, 2 credits.
This course is designed to introduce the skills or enhance the skills of a project manager. It is beneficial for anyone that has recently entered or about to enter into a project management role and includes performance tasks to assist the learning process. Students will have the opportunity to earn an NCCER certificate in this course. (Partnership with Build Smart Institute) 9 hours, 9 credits.
