MSU’s Center for Continuing Education courses offer enrichment for the new year

A woman decorates a cookie with green icing — Cookie decorating is among the various personal enrichment courses offered by Mississippi State’s Center for Continuing Education, which also teaches a variety of professional development classes, and offers teacher development, continuing education units, reading programs and even online high school courses. (Photo by Logan Kirkland)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—As Mississippi State rings in the new year, the university’s Center for Continuing Education is offering learning experiences to fit any self-improvement resolution.

A branch of the MSU Extension Service, Continuing Education offers over 300 professional development and personal enrichment courses. Open to all, these flexible, online and face-to-face opportunities allow business professionals and the general public to broaden marketable skills or explore new hobbies. Classes can be completed in as little as four hours or—depending on individual preferences and course formats—students can opt for a six-week commitment, among others. Some courses begin new sessions each month.

Continuing Education Manager Dixie Cartwright said that CE students come from all walks of life and various skill levels.

A woman puts on a face mask while people sit at a table in the background. — An instructor in a safety and environmental training program taught through Mississippi State’s Center for Continuing Education prepares to demonstrate asbestos removal procedures to a 2019 class that met at MSU. Online training programs and many other professional development and personal enrichment courses also are available. (Photo by Logan Kirkland)

“More and more people are becoming life-long learners,” Cartwright said. “Continuing Education has something to offer, no matter your stage in life. I encourage people to explore our course options because they often end up surprised.”

According to Business Insider, approximately 80 percent of Americans abandon their New Year’s resolutions by the second week of February. But online or extracurricular courses allow individuals to set practical goals and—with perseverance—attain new skills.

Many individuals are drawn to the program to explore areas of interest, and the personal enrichment courses cover everything from beginner cake decorating or photography to wine appreciation, flourishing fitness or personal finance.

Others seek to brush up on skills related to their industries. According to Cartwright, courses like grant writing, accounting fundamentals and speed Spanish are extremely popular.

Additionally, teacher development, continuing education units (CEUs), reading programs and even online high school courses are available. The Center for Continuing Education also offers OSHA health and safety consultation services to small businesses in Mississippi, as well as various safety and environmental training programs.

For the complete course listing, visit . Cartwright also may be contacted at 662-325-5002 or dixiec@ext.msstate.edu.

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