Texas AM University
TAMU 4225
College Station, TX 77843
Program Contact | Tracy Glass |
tglass@tamu.edu | |
Phone | 979.845.4461 |
Website | http://paths.tamu.edu |
The PATHS Certificate Program leads to a successful career as a Direct Support Professional General (DSP-G), a Direct Support Para-Paraprofessional (DSP-P) or a Child Care Professional (CCP). This three-semester certificate program (includes a 4-week summer program prior to the fall), offered at the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University, prepares graduates for careers supporting people with disabilities and older adults to live in their communities, as well as teachers and children. A Direct Support Professional General may be employed by a private agency for people with developmental disabilities or older adults, a home health agency, the family of the individual receiving services, or directly by an individual with a disability or older adult. Students working toward a certificate as DSP-P support teachers and students in the classroom and may become employed by school districts or other educational facilities. Students working toward obtaining a certificate as a CCP learn to support children ages 0-5 in a childcare setting.
The program begins with a 4-week summer Bridge to Career program that serves as a “college boot camp”. Students learn how to navigate independently within the Texas A & M campus and community, acquire basic students skills, self-advocacy skills, self-determination skills, and learn about supports available to them. The following semester of classroom coursework provides students with the required skills to gain successful employment as well as enrichment courses to further enhance the quality and depth of the training. During the second semester, students are placed in an onsite practicum position based on their chosen career path. The PATHS Certificate offers opportunities for graduates to be employed immediately as a Direct Support Professionals (DSP-G, DSP-P, or CCP) by providers of community services.
General | |
---|---|
Public or private: | Public |
Type of school: | 4-year college or university |
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? | No |
Students in this program: | Have graduated or exited from high school |
Number of students: | 42 |
Description of our summer transition program: |
Students attend a 4-week summer program (Bridge to Career) as a prerequisite to the PATHS Program. This will help the student and staff to determine whether the program is a good fit for their career goals. |
Affiliates | |
---|---|
School district or agency partner: | Center on Disability and Development |
Contact person: | Jessica Dees |
Email: | jdees@tamu.edu |
Requirements | |
---|---|
Deadline to apply to this program: | February |
Link to admissions process: | Admissions link |
Requirements for admission to this program: |
|
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
|
Program length: | 1 year |
Cost | |
---|---|
Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? | Yes |
Students pay for the program in the following ways: |
|
Links to scholarship information: | Scholarships |
Academic | |
---|---|
Students take these types of "typical" courses (with students who don't have disabilities): | Students do not take typical college courses |
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
Information on special classes: |
All classes and activities required for the program are listed here on our website: http://paths.tamu.edu/program-content |
Time spent only with other students in this program: | All of the time |
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | Direct Support Professional or Child Care Professional |
The credential(s) is/are: | Approved by Institute of Higher Education |
Employment | |
---|---|
Other career development activities are: |
|
We offer the following specialized credentials: |
Human Services and Child Care |
Housing | |
---|---|
Housing is provided to students: | Yes |
Housing options available: |
|
Extracurricular | |
---|---|
Students participate in student organizations on campus: | Yes |
Proportion of time spent only with other students in this program: | 75% |