Beyond the classroom
The CPCE office offers cheaper classes and certification courses at Liberty
The Center for Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) is a branch of CASAS and provides students with extra residential education in non-credit and for-credit courses.
Liberty students can take these extra courses for under $100.
The CPCE office is flexible and willing to meet the needs students have and help them if they want to have an extra class to expand their education.
STUDY — Resident graduate student Jon Bateman studied at the Jerry Falwell Library. The CPCE of ce offers classes from global studies to how to publish your own book.
Photo Credit: Joel Coleman
All of these courses are for students who want to broaden the scope of their education and enhance their professional skills.
Many majors require extra classes outside of the degree completion plan, such as CPR, a course which fills up fast.
The other courses that are widely offered are the conversational language classes, which teach a wide spectrum of languages from Spanish and Japanese to Farsi and Swahili.
According to Sherman, many students that are a part of LU Send or are going on mission trips will take the courses.
Doing so will enhance their experience as they converse with people of that language without need for an interpreter.
“We bring in local, experienced teachers with real life experience for these courses,” the Director of CPCE George Sherman said.
“The instructor for the wilderness first aid course and intro to scuba course is a rescue and recovery diver for the state of Virginia.”
All of the language instructors are fluent either because they grew up in that culture, or they have a doctorate in that specific field.
“Also, most of our instructors will teach the basics in the target language of how to share one’s faith,” Sherman said.
“The courses were priced friendly for students so that they can have easy access to these courses.”
Sherman also explained courses are not pass or fail, and everyone who completes the course will receive a certificate of completion.
A sought out class is the CPR and first aid certification course.
For Liberty students, the course is $65.
This base price is to ensure students can easily take it without worrying about driving to other locations or paying more than necessary.
Many majors, such as nursing and exercise science, require a CPR certification.
All of the language courses are offered for seven weeks and meet once a week, usually on Tuesday nights to fit with most schedules.
The CPR courses only require one night of class for certification, and these courses are given every few weeks.
Classmates — History graduate students Erin Yates and Ryan Vohringer studied together at the Jerry Falwell Library. With CPCE classes, both residential and online students can take extra classes to receive certificates in a variety of subjects.
Photo Credit: Joel Coleman
The office is looking into adding continuing education courses for professionals, such as teachers.
Alumni that graduate with degrees often need an institution to continue their licensure or skills, and Liberty is striving to open this platform.
Members of the CPCE are excited that they are now offering a Karen Kingsbury course for writing and publishing fiction.
Sherman explained that this new course has been a hit.
“There are over 500 people enrolled in this course, and it has only advertised for three months,” Sherman said.
“This is a huge turnout and shows that students are very interested in these types of classes.”
Many classes that the CPCE office provides are offered next semester, and the CPR courses are offered throughout the semester.
To sign up for courses and find out more about the classes the CPCE offers, visit their page under the Academics tab of Liberty’s website or email cpce@liberty.edu.
Voncannon is a news reporter.