The BIW Grows and Adapts into Healthcare at College of the Desert

Three new programs being developed at College of the Desert will expand the boundaries of the Business Information Worker program — leveraging material from other programs and preparing students for careers in specialized fields.

The college is planning to offer the following certificates of completion as add-ons to the BIW Certificate of Achievement:

• BI – Marketing Specialist
• BI – Medical Office Specialist
• BI – Legal Office Specialist

Each certificate will be comprised of 18 credits that draw from existing courses in the college’s catalog. The Marketing Specialist certificate will cover the basics of marketing and public relations, Medical Office Specialist will draw from health informatics, and Legal Office Specialist will incorporate business law and criminal justice courses.

Pablo Romero, a Computer Information Systems Instructor at College of the Desert, said all three programs are designed to give students the skills they need to obtain jobs with some of the Coachella Valley’s largest employers.

Romero is already starting to plant those seeds with companies in the area. He recently met with Eisenhower Medical, which is going to provide a 16-week internship for students in the Medical Office Specialist certificate program.

“Eisenhower Medical is very big here in the Coachella Valley, and they said that this internship will allow them to pick the best students,” Romero said. “I really believe that specializations for the BIW are going to create massive opportunities for our students.”

The new certificates of achievement have been submitted to the Chancellor’s Office for approval. Once approved, student enrollment is expected to begin in fall 2019. Romero also hopes to add certificates of completion in real estate and hospitality.

To learn more about how Romero spearheaded this effort and how your campus can do the same, watch the webinar replay of his recent presentation here: https://vimeo.com/326401619