Majors & Careers

Business Administration: This is intended to be a transfer program. The curriculum has been carefully articulated with the UNM Anderson School of Management to ensure that all successfully completed courses transfer without loss of credit. Students should apply for acceptance to the Anderson School of Management one semester prior to transfer. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Information on Anderson School of Management can be accessed here.

This degree can also be used as an introduction to the world of business, accounting and finance. Students wishing to start their own business, manage an office, or be a bookkeeper may find this major helps them acquire needed skills. Those wishing to start their own business should also work closely with the Small Business Development Center at UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center, 1020 Huning Ranch East Loop SW, Los Lunas NM, West of I-25, South of Main Street.

Criminology:This is a transfer program designed to prepare students for completing a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Employment opportunities include careers in corrections, public safety, health service, social work, counseling and public administration. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all pre-admission course work. Information on UNM’s Criminology B.A. program can be accessed here.

This degree can assist students locally in preparing to work with New Mexico Adult Probation and Parole or the New Mexico Corrections Department. It can also be used to assist those interested in law enforcement to gain the college credits necessary to be admitted to a law enforcement academy.

Early Childhood Multicultural Education: The program addresses the seven general Early Childhood Education competency areas required as partial fulfillment of the New Mexico Department of Education licensure for early childhood education (birth to third grade).

In addition all coursework for the A.A. degree in ECME can be applied toward the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Family and Child Studies offered by the College of Education at UNM-Main Campus. The B.S. leads state licensure for public school teachers working with children from birth through the age of eight who are developing both typically and atypically. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all preadmission work. Information on UNM’s Family and Child Studies B.S. program can be accessed here.

Elementary Education: The degree program for Elementary Education (grades K-8) meets all the general education and core requirements necessary to transfer to any New Mexico college of education. All courses offered are accepted by the College of Education at UNM-Main Campus and apply toward a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Elementary Education. A BA or BS degree is required for New Mexico teaching licensure to teach in the public school system. Students completing this degree may also qualify as an Educational Assistant or Substitute Teacher. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all preadmission course work. Information on the UNM College of Education programs can be accessed here.

Liberal Arts This is intended to be a transfer program. Upon completion of the degree, students will have taken a number of introductory courses that satisfy the general education requirements of most four-year institutions. Students can customize their choices to fulfill requirements within most Bachelor of Arts/Science programs. The degree outlines coursework for those who intend to major in Sociology, Psychology, English and History. It can also be used to meet requirements for most arts and sciences majors that are not hard sciences. Students completing will do best if they continue on to receive a bachelor’s degree; however, it may help them meet the requirements for some jobs just above entry level.

Secondary Education The degree program in Secondary Education (grades 7-12) meets all the general education and core requirements necessary to transfer to any New Mexico college of education. All courses offered are accepted by the College of Education at UNM-Main Campus and apply toward a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Secondary Education. A B.A. or B.S. degree is required for New Mexico teaching licensure to teach in the public school system. Students completing this degree may also qualify as an Educational Assistant or Substitute Teacher. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all preadmission course work. Information on the UNM College of Education programs can be accessed here.

Studio Arts This is intended to be a transfer program. This degree provides students with the courses necessary for completion of the first two years toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree at UNM and most other four-year institutions. Information on UNM’s College of Fine Arts can be accessed here. Fine Art students often go on to pursue careers in design, animation, curacy, archiving, teaching, photography, or art direction to name a few.

Emergency Medicine The program is intended to prepare graduates to meet the professional educational needs of pre-hospital care providers. The degree also meets the EMT National Standard Curriculum requirements and incorporates New Mexico requirements with EMT scope of practice. Upon successful completion of degree requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.33, graduates will be qualified for New Mexico and National Registry testing. Students who successfully complete the degree are also eligible to apply for the UNM School of Medicine Emergency Medical Services Bachelor of Science program. Students who complete the bachelor program are more likely to find work and advance within the field. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all preadmission course work. Information on the UNM Department of Emergency Medicine programs can be accessed here.

General Science This is intended to be a transfer program. It includes many requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the fields of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or health sciences. Options within the degree should be determined by the major or profession the student wants to pursue and/or the admission requirements for undergraduate programs or professional schools. Students pursuing this degree may be interested in dental hygiene, medical laboratory sciences, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, physician’s assistant, radiology, or medical school in the health sciences. Students wishing to pursue careers that require a basis in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, etc., may also choose this degree. Most baccalaureate and professional programs are competitive in that they only accept a limited number of students. Grades in science and math courses will be very important and additional standardized testing will be required.

Health Education This is intended to be a transfer program. The degree incorporates the requirements needed to continue into the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Education degree program where students are prepared for occupations in community health or school health education. Students learn to develop, implement, and evaluate health education and promotion interventions and initiatives that reduce risky behaviors and related morbidity and mortality. Students work actively with communities, hospitals, agencies, and schools to design and conduct culturally appropriate health behavior enhancement programs. They develop and implement research and evaluation protocols relevant to the needs, strengths, and desires identified by communities. Information on the UNM Health Education Program can be accessed here.

The ADN program prepares students for beginning nursing practice in a variety of health care settings. After completion of the program the student is prepared to test for a Registered Nurse license. Students who wish to may continue working toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through the BSN Bridge Program offered online at various four-year colleges and universities including UNM-Main Campus. Students pursuing the ADN are encouraged to continue to the BSN to be more mobile in their career over time. Information on the RN to BSN online program at UNM-Main Campus can be accessed here.

Computer-Aided Drafting This degree program prepares students for entry-level positions as CAD Operators in industries like construction, architecture, civil design, and science. Courses specific to this major may not transfer to other colleges and universities if a student seeks to continue their education after earning the degree. Students considering Architecture as a career path may start with this degree.

Digital Media Arts The program provides students with a well-rounded, design applications knowledge base. Students also develop creative problem solving skills that employers desire in all the various careers in digital media including digital photography, graphic and web design, animation, video and film, and game art. Many DMA courses are preparatory classes for certifications in software programs including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver and InDesign, as well as Autodesk Maya and Apple Final Cut Pro.

The DMA Associate of Applied Science is occupational in nature and not intended for transfer. Many courses can be applied toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, Media Arts, Electronic Arts or many of the Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media (IFDM) Arts degrees.

Game Design & Simulation This program provides the student with well-rounded art and programming knowledge leading to marketable skills. These skills are the foundation in current game development careers including game art, programming, design and development.

The Game Design degree is occupational in nature and not intended for transfer. Many courses can be applied toward bachelor programs in Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media (IFDM), computer science, business administration, or fine art. The gaming industry is expected to show positive growth through 2022; however, the growth in New Mexico is limited. Students pursuing this degree should be expecting to relocate, work outside the gaming industry itself, or fully develop and market an original game.

Office and Business Technology This degree program prepares students for office management and administrative assistant positions. In order to advance students are encouraged to take the Microsoft Office Specialist Exam (MOS) and join a professional organization such as the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and work toward becoming a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP).

Health Information Technology This degree program prepares students for careers in field of medical records. Millions of medical records are being transitioned from paper files to sophisticated medical databases every day and specialists with skills in computers, medical terminology, and management are needed to make this transition possible. Students completing this degree may work as health information technicians, medical coders, healthcare information managers, or medical secretaries. More information on Health Information Technology careers can be accessed here.

Information Technology This degree program provides students with a well-rounded knowledge base in troubleshooting and customer service that are necessary for a career in computer and technical support. Many of the IT courses prepare students for industry certification.

Integrative Studies This degree program is designed for either students who are working professionals that need a college degree to advance or students who know what coursework they need for a specific career path or major not traditionally offered by UNM-Valencia. Students can customize this degree to meet a specific set of goals with the help of an academic or faculty advisor. The custom nature of this degree means that it is not tailored to a particular career path. Instead it is adaptable to many paths.

3-D Printing The certificate program gives students an introduction to the technology that makes 3-D modeling and printing possible. While unlikely to lead to a career on its own, this certification may be useful for Computer-Aided Drafting, Art and Engineering students to name a few.

Allied Health

These certificate programs prepare students for entry level work in health related fields as follows:

Emergency Medical Technician Basic  Introductory EMT certificate allows the student to work under the supervision of an EMT Intermediate on an ambulance, with the fire department, or in other healthcare settings.  EMTs are usually required to have a CPR certification and maintain it.

Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate  Intermediate EMT certificate allows the student to work on an ambulance, with the fire department, or in other healthcare settings.  EMTs are usually required to have a CPR certification and maintain it.

Nursing Assistant  This certificate prepares students to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).  Upon completion of the coursework, students must pass the certification exam in order to be licensed.  CNAs work in many health care settings including, home care, elder care, medical clinics, doctor's offices, and hospitals under the guidance of a Registered Nurse.

Personal Care Attendant  This certificate prepares students to work as a Home Health Aide (HHA).  HHAs usually work with those who need in-home assistance and their work requires lifting and bending.

Phlebotomy Technician  This certificate prepares students to work as Phlebotomy Technicians in a lab or similar setting.  Phlebotomy Techs locate veins and draw blood for testing or donation.

Automotive Technology The certificate program will prepare students to sit for the national ASE certification exam, thereby qualifying them for careers as Transportation Engineers, Automotive Engineers, Automotive Engineer Technicians, Electro-Mechanical Technicians, and Auto Master/Service Technician Mechanics.

Business Administration The program is a good introduction to the world of business, accounting, and finance. Students wishing to start their own business, manage an office, or be a bookkeeper may find this certificate helps them acquire needed skills. Those wishing to start their own business should also work closely with the Small Business Development Center located at the UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center, 1020 Huning Ranch East Loop SW. in Los Lunas, NM. West of I-25, South of Main Street

Education The program contains some core education requirements that will articulate with all New Mexico colleges of education. Students completing this degree may qualify as an Educational Assistant or Substitute Teacher.

Computer-Aided Drafting This program prepares students for entry-level positions as CAD operators. It may also serve as an excellent addition for those seeking a degree in Architecture in the place of a minor.

Digital Media Arts The program provides students with the same well-rounded, design-oriented, applications knowledge base provided to associate degree students. Students also develop creative problem solving skills that employers desire in all the various careers in digital media including digital photography, graphic and web design, animation, video and film, and game art. Students who are interested in graphic design may wish to continue to the UNM Continuing Education program, which can be accessed here.

Early Childhood Multicultural Education This program provides students with the knowledge and skills required to work with children, birth through age eight and their families in a variety of settings including child care centers, head start programs, family child care, preschools, and in public schools as early childhood teaching assistants. All course work for this certificate can be applied toward the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Multicultural Education (ECME) degree.

Film Technology The program provides students with instruction in post-production editing and cinematography, with an introduction to commercial, television, and film production. It is designed to train local talent to work in below the line positions in the New Mexico film industry. Information on the film industry in New Mexico can be accessed here.

Information Technology This program provides students with the trouble-shooting skills and customer service techniques that employers will appreciate in an IT support worker. Many of the IT courses will help students prepare for industry certifications.

Medical Assistant This certificate program prepares students for careers in clinics and medical offices with opportunity for advancement in the healthcare field. Students completing the course are not prepared for industry certification; however, certification is not required to work in this field in the state of New Mexico. Students who wish to qualify for higher paying jobs would be well served to pursue certification as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants. Information on certification can be accessed here.

Studio Art This program prepares students to pursue original art creation. It is best suited for students who believe they can create and sell original artwork. The certificate may also assist those seeking to improve their art skills as part of a hobby or a second career.