TRADING UP MORE STUDENTS FOCUS SCHOOLING ON SKILLS TO LAND JOB ENROLLMENT BOOMING IN CAREER, TECHNICAL COURSES COMPUTERS USUALLY TOOL OF CHOICE.

Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT

Staff Writer

Preeti Gaur weighed majors in biochemistry and engineering before settling on nursing, a field in which she knew she could find a job.

Gaur, 19, is working toward a certificate at Pierce College in Woodland Hills so she can quit her job at Subway and work in a hospital.

Gaur is part of a new wave of students focusing on schooling that will land her a job. After all, studying Russian literature may stimulate your brain, but employers want workers with skills.

"The curriculum ... has evolved and become a lot more high-tech," said Alisha Hyslop, spokeswoman for the Association for Career and Technical Education. "It's not your father's auto shop, and I think that is drawing people in."

Nationwide, student enrollment is booming in career and technical courses. Just don't call it trade school or vocational education. These days, career-oriented courses are more likely to lead to jobs involving a computer than a wrench.

In the 1999-2000 school year, the federal Department of Education counted 9.6 million career-minded students. By 2003-04, that number had increased by more than 50 percent, up to 15.1 million.

Career tech students may be working toward a degree or a certificate, exploring a career change or keeping their skills fresh.

Local schools have increased their career-oriented classes in response to demand.

New classes added

Pierce College has added a dozen new career and technical classes in response to greater demand, said Donna-Mae Villanueva, a dean at the school.

During the past two years, enrollment in child-development courses has increased 16 percent, and the number of students taking electrical classes has risen 11 percent.

"Bottom line is we're seeing an increase in students taking the CTE classes," Villanueva said.

At Los Angeles Valley College, about half the students take career and technical courses, said Laurie Nalepa, a dean at the school.

The fastest-growing programs are business, accounting and real estate. The school, which charges $20 per unit, recently had a waiting list 400 students long for nursing and respiratory therapy.

The increase in demand for career tech classes in California is relatively new.

Previously, career and technical education had been overshadowed by the traditional academic courses -- math, English and foreign languages -- required to get into a California State University or University of California school. Students were so busy taking these "a to g" requirements that there was no room for wood shop, computer science or agricultural studies.

"The trend was flat to a slight drop," said David Long, education secretary for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "The reason was the tremendous push for the basics."

Career funding hike

But recently, the University of California added hundreds of career and technical classes to a list of those that satisfy the public-college requirements, including business economics, veterinary science and robotics.

Schwarzenegger has drawn attention to career and technical education by increasing funding for classes and equipment. In his 2007-08 budget, Schwarzenegger asked for $52 million for career tech, including $32 million in new funding.

He thinks job-oriented education is crucial because it will boost the state's supply of skilled workers, a prime concern among businesses.

Finding well-trained employees is the No.1 issue facing midsize Valley businesses, according to a poll released at the San Fernando Valley Economic Summit in May.

Some of the jobs most in demand here are X-ray technicians, registered nurses and machine operators.

At Global Aerospace Technology Corp. in Chatsworth, CEO Steve Cormier is constantly hiring. The company makes parts to load and unload cargo planes.

"We hit all the career days we possibly can," Cormier said.

Global plans to train six student apprentices from Monroe High School to spread the word that there are good-paying aerospace jobs in the Valley.

This year, the company hired 11 employees to bring its staff to 41. With the extra workers, output increased and revenue grew from $5.5 million to $7.5 million, Cormier said.

"Bottom line is, we're really growing pretty fast," Cormier said, "and without skilled machinists we're not going anywhere."

julia.scott(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

Now hiring

Skilled workers in demand locally:

X-ray technician

Machine operator

Registered nurse

Mechanical engineer

Biotech customer service representative

SOURCE: Economic Alliance of the

San Fernando Valley

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Machinist Martin Huynh sets up a computerized numerical control milling machine at Global Aerospace Technology Corp. in Chatsworth. Finding well-trained employees is the No.1 issue facing midsize Valley businesses, according to a poll released at the San Fernando Valley Economic Summit in May.

(2 -- color) Entry-level machinist Joel Rivera drills holes in a component being made at Global Aerospace Technology Corp. in Chatsworth.

(3) Engineer Foster Beasley works on the design of a component at Global Aerospace Technology Corp. in Chatsworth.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

box:

Now hiring (see text)