BACK TO SCHOOL UNIVERSITIES, TRADE SCHOOLS OFFER CHANCE TO BRUSH UP OLD OR BEGIN ANEW.

Byline: Pam Park Staff Writer

If you always wanted to be a lawyer, a fashion designer, a filmmaker or a computer nerd, it's not too late. Schools that cater to adults abound in Los Angeles.

Advancing an existing career or preparing for a new one is driving more working adults to return to school, educators say.

``Many students who are already in the work force may come back to brush up or learn a new skill that will enhance their economic value in the work force,'' said Kyle Orr, spokesman for the Los Angeles Community College District.

``It's quite common for people to have multiple careers in their lifetime,'' Orr said.

Community colleges such as Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys and Pierce College in Woodland Hills offer day and evening classes at low rates for Californians. The cost per unit at community colleges is $11.

The average student age at Los Angeles community colleges is 27, Orr said.

``A lot of our students are not right out of high school.''

At California State University, Northridge, there are counseling and networking programs for adults who want to return to a four-year college. ``They come back to complete their degree, upgrade their skills - all sorts of reasons,'' said Leroy Jeeter, associate director for transfer services.

Business administration is popular with a lot of the older students who want to complete a four-year program at CSUN, Jeeter said.

For those who want a faster track, CSUN's Extended Learning division offers certificates in topics from cinematography to landscape design.

If a traditional college is not for you, there are a variety of private schools that offer professional advancement or career programs.

In Woodland Hills the San Fernando College of Law, owned by the University of La Verne, offers a four-year, evening law degree.

``We're pretty much the Valley's law school,'' said Yvette Underdue Murph, director of admissions. ``We offer a part-time day or evening program that takes four years, and a three-year, full-time program which is during the day only,'' Murph said. A degree costs about $45,000.

Learning Tree University, with locations in Chatsworth, Thousand Oaks and Irvine, offers eight certificate programs in art and design, 20 in business and 20 in computers and information technology, said spokeswoman Janet Chandler.

Learning Tree classes meet once per week for eight weeks. Most are in the evenings to serve working professionals, but there are some day and Saturday offerings.

In May, the university began online classes to serve the population that finds it hard to get to the classroom. So far, about 30 classes have been offered online.

``We're really excited about our online classes as an augment to our brick-and-mortar classes,'' Chandler said.

Class costs run from $200 for a business course to $500 or more for a highly technical course.

Westlake Village Culinary Institute offers a 24-part course that prepares students for employment as chefs.

``It is taught from the point of view for people who might go to a professional kitchen to work. For those who want to work in the field, there are more jobs out there than people to meet the demand,'' said owner and director Phyllis Vaccarelli.

Although she does have students fresh out of high school, about half are older and are changing careers, she said. The school provides placement services, too.

The course costs about $2,750, but some people take it because they do a lot of entertaining and want to improve their skills, Vaccarelli said.

Other Valley offerings include information technology courses at the University of Phoenix in Woodland Hills and Pasadena; architecture and business administration at Woodbury University in Burbank; and film and television at Columbia College-Hollywood in Tarzana.

In fact, more than 30 schools are listed in the West Valley Yellow Pages.

There's even a University of Metaphysics in Studio City.

In Los Angeles, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising offers an associate of arts degree, a professional designation or advanced study in fashion, interior, textile and graphic design, plus related merchandising and management courses.

Barbara Bundy, vice president of education, said the program has only full-time students, but evening classes are available.

``We're finding most of our career-changing students fit into the professional designation category. They're normally employed full time somewhere and they come to us one or two nights a week and on Saturday,'' Bundy said. ``They're excellent students. They're very motivated.''

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Jacquelyn Cruz, 51, a student at the Fashion Institute of Design, is going back to school after a career in advertising.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

Box: SCHOOL BY THE NUMBERS