Career Education

The Berkeley City College Student-Ambassador Program is made up of students in Business, CIS, MMART, HUSV, Education, Biotechnology, and Analytical Chemistry CE programs. Our focus is to support new and continuing students in career explorations, finding internships and jobs, and establishing connections. Our Ambassadors serve as the liaisons for the college and community, and they collaborate to support Berkeley City College’s mission to promote educational opportunity, student success, and diversity.

1. Strong Workforce Program (SWP)  To develop more workforce opportunities and lift low-wage workers into living-wage jobs, California took a bold step in 2016 to create one million more middle-skill workers. At the recommendation of the California Community College Board of Governors, the Governor and Legislature approved the Strong Workforce Program, adding a new annual recurring investment of $248 million to spur career technical education (CTE) in the nation’s largest workforce development system of 115 colleges. 
2. Perkins Federal Grant The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) provides CCAC with federal funding for student support staff, instructional equipment and professional development for faculty and staff.  The goals of the Perkins Grant are to help Career & Technical Education students earn better grades, remain in school, and graduate with an Associate Degree or Certificate as well as the skills necessary to pursue employment in current or emerging high-priority technical professions while supporting gender equity across all career pathways.
3. CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy The CIRM program in stem cell research and therapy will prepare students, including many from underrepresented and underserved communities, for jobs and careers in biology and biotechnology.
4. Bayer Grant “Expanding Equitable and Inclusive Access to Biotechnology Careers for Berkeley High School Graduates” On December 19, 2022, Bayer announced an investment of more than $1.5 million with Berkeley City College and 12 other Berkeley nonprofits to advance Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education over the next three to five years and to drive resiliency in the West Berkeley neighborhood. The agreement between Bayer and Berkeley City College is for expanding equitable and inclusive access to biotechnology careers for Berkeley High School graduates attending BCC. Specifically, Bayer has committed to hiring Berkeley High graduates now studying at BCC in paid internships. These students will receive work-based training supported by Bayer, including mentoring by Bayer staff.

• BCC Career and Transfer Center BCC Career and Transfer Center offers workshops and webinars to create professional career documents (resume, LinkedIn profile, etc.), provides resources for career research and assists students with finding jobs, internships and volunteering opportunities. 
• Salary Surfer The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office is providing comparative information about the earnings of recent California community college graduates who received an award in a specific program of study. Salary Surfer uses the aggregated earnings of graduates from a five-year period to provide an estimate on the potential wages to be earned two and five years after receiving a certificate or degree in certain disciplines. 
• Career Coach Career Coach is the online service to help you find career pathways matching your strengths and discover programs at Berkeley City College preparing you for success. How does it work?
  • Create an account and take one of the online career assessments to learn about yourself and your preferences. Career Coach will give you career suggestions based on your interests.
  • Search for careers. The site will provide data on wages, employment, and training.
  • Browse the available programs at BCC leading to the career you want.