ABOUT LANEY

Laney College is the largest of the four Peralta Community College District campuses, serving approximately 16,000 students annually. As the flagship college for the Peralta District, Laney College stretches across sixty acres in downtown Oakland, California, one of the most ethnically and economically diverse cities in America. Laney is also one of the oldest community colleges in the nation, celebrating 67 years in 2020.

The Laney College service area includes the adjacent cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and Piedmont. It also draws students from the Greater Bay Area because of its reputation for diversity and high-qualityz technical training.

Laney College offers associate degrees in more than 20 liberal arts and science fields; a significant number of graduates go on to attend 4-year colleges and universities, including the University of California and California State University systems.

Laney College has preserved and continuously updated a remarkable set of career and technical (CTE) programs. These programs include traditional trade areas like Electrical Technology (state certified), Welding, Industrial Maintenance, Machining, and Carpentry. The college has also developed new programs in other advanced technical fields such as Building Automation Systems (one of three programs in the USA), Digital Design, Medical Device Engineering Technology, 3-D design and Rapid manufacturing, and Advanced Lighting Technology. The college offers programs in the applied arts such as Professional Photography and Graphic Design. Laney College has one of the few Restaurant Management programs in the Bay Area and a world-class Baking and Pastry program.

Finally, Laney College is a national leader in sustainability education. Energy efficiency and related sustainability themed courses can be found in many different departments including Carpentry, Environmental Control Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Electrical Technology, Biology, and Chemistry.

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)

Laney College is your personal gateway to a wonderful career. Did you know that many high-paying careers don’t require a 4-year college degree? In fact, the number of careers in technical fields is growing rapidly and the opportunities are plentiful. Once you complete a 2-year technical degree or certificate at Laney, you will have a portable credential which will travel with you wherever you decide to go. At Laney, our CTE programs are constantly on the move, tracking industry trends and updating our classes and programs so that you will learn the cutting edge skills of the future. Our CTE faculty are hired because they are industry experts, most with many years of relevant industry experience. And our CTE faculty are dedicated to your success!

If you are considering a career in Engineering, Construction, Business, Advanced Manufacturing, Green Technology, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, and so many other fields, Laney College is the place to jump start your career! We invite you to explore our programs, meet some of our faculty, and take a virtual tour of our exciting instructional labs.

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WHAT WILL YOU LEARN AT THE LANEY CTE OPEN HOUSE & CAREER EXPO

Discover how you can achieve the technical, personal, and business skills to succeed in your chosen career. Become part of the Laney community and join a network of career-minded students and knowledgeable faculty.

Find out about financial aid, scholarships, special support services, and job opportunities to help you stay in school while you complete your program.

Meet the faculty and chat about the programs that interest you. Learn about the career paths that each program can provide for you and the road map to start your career.

Meet program graduates and learn about their path to success. Learn about the skills that employers value the most.

Learn about workforce trends from industry leaders and partners. Find out how the job market is changing, which industries are expanding, and where the jobs of the future will be.

Meet a counselor and begin to map out your education-to career pathway and begin to develop your education plan.
Meet admissions staff to help you enroll for the spring semester!

FOUNDED IN 1953

55+

CTE PROGRAMS
IN 9 TOP INDUSTRIES

$46

At only $46 per unit, your
educational goals are accessible
and achievable.

400+

Bright and Talented Faculty
Members

1-Min

Walk from Merritt BART Station

STUDENT SERVICES

Learn about the student services that will propel you into a successful career.

FINANCIAL AID

The Laney College Financial Aid Department inspires a diverse and multicultural student body by providing timely financial aid access, financial literacy, and student support services to prospective, new, and continuing students to enhance student success and completion.

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COUNSELING

The Laney Counseling Department offers remote appointments online and by phone now through Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters to better serve you!

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WELCOME CENTER / ADMISSIONS AND RECORD

The Welcome Center staff will provide current and incoming students with one-on-one assistance with the online college application, registration, financial aid application, scholarships, student photo ID and linkages to other on-campus student support services.


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SCHOLARSHIPS

The Peralta Colleges Foundation has enhanced the intellectual, cultural, and educational needs of our students, faculty and staff, by providing scholarships, supporting the professional development of faculty and staff, and fostering innovation in the educational programs.

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EMPLOYMENT CENTER

The Employment Services Center assists students to develop their job search strategies and empowers them to approach job opportunities and internships in an efficient manner. Students can benefit from excellent referral services, events, activities, programs, and resources to assist in their job search.

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STUDENT ACTIVITIES & CAMPUS LIFE

The office of Student Activities and Campus Life, in collaboration with the campus community, provides opportunities for the development of the whole student through "outside the classroom" activities by offering a variety of educational, wellness and social programs.

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STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

CARE/CalWORKs Program/ EOPS Program - Provides many support services to students including counseling, peer advising, financial assistance, career and personal development resources, and transfer support.
Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS) is the office responsible for determining and providing required academic accommodations for students with disabilities. The use of services is voluntary and offered to assist students with disabilities who are attending Laney College.
Restoring Our Communities (ROC) is an academic support program at Laney College, by and for formerly incarcerated students. ROC is about supporting and equipping formerly incarcerated* (FI) students with the tools to be successful at Laney College and beyond.

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INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION / STUDY ABROAD

Peralta Community College District’s Office of International Education makes it possible for more U.S. students from a broad range of backgrounds to participate in an academic, internship, or service-learning experience abroad. “All college students need international education and work experience in order to compete and thrive in a global workforce,” said Allan E. Goodman.

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VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER

The Laney College Veterans Resource Center (VRC) provides support and financial assistance to veterans and their dependents. These services are available to those veterans who are eligible for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The VRC certifies and monitors progress throughout the semester, notifying the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs of any.

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CTE DEPARTMENTS / PROGRAMS

Discover our range of CTE courses available to study online or on campus.

Architecture

Biomanufacturing

Business

Carpentry

Ceramic Technology

Commercial Music

Computer Science

Construction Management

Cosmetology

Culinary Arts

Electrical & Electronics

Engineering

ECT / HVACR

Graphic Arts

Legal & Community Interpreting

Machine Technology

Media Communications

Photography

Welding

Wood Technology

Industrial Maintenance

Building Automation System

Journalism

SPONSORSHIP

Student Success in partnership with industry

Frequently Asked Questions

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Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs prepare people of all ages and backgrounds to enter new careers with the skills needed for successful employment. CTE programs serve recent high school graduates, those re-entering the workforce, and those completing a bachelor's degree and now seeking career entry skills. CTE programs provide students with the opportunity to develop:
  • Academic and technical skills needed in their selected industry
  • Employability skills such as teamwork, customer relations, and self-management
  • Stackable certificates to ensure that every course and credential count towards the completion of a degree.
CTE programs at Laney College embrace a wide range of industries in many challenging fields including Advanced Manufacturing, Building and Construction Trades, Business and Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Digital Media and Communications, and Hospitality. Because the global economy is constantly evolving, Laney CTE programs change with the times. Examples of CTE Departments and Programs offered at Laney College can be found to the right.
Community colleges form the backbone of CTE education in the United States. Public high schools also introduce many career fields to aspiring students and create opportunities to transition from high school programs to post secondary education and training.
Laney's wide ranging CTE programs provide hands-on, project-based learning experiences with industry-specific technology, tools, and equipment. Short-term certificate programs as well as 2-year degree programs (many leading to 4- year degrees) are available. Laney College offers more than 55 CTE programs in nine top industry sectors. Start here and you can go virtually anywhere.
Many CTE classes will transfer to a similar program in a 4-year institution, most notably in Architecture, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management. We strongly recommend that if students intend to transfer, they consult with their counselor prior to taking classes to determine which courses will transfer. Some CTE programs have state-wide articulations in place which allow students to transfer classes within the state to participating 2-year and 4-year intuitions.
Yes! Many high paying careers do not require a bachelor's degree but do require rigorous post-secondary education. There is in fact a growing shortage of skilled technical workers, and this shortage is increasing. These skilled technical jobs cannot be taken offshore or automated out.
Career and Technical Education prepares students for high wage and high demand careers. In an ever-changing job market, CTE graduates enter the workforce having comprehensive skills and the ability to be innovative critical thinkers.CTE programs rely on industry input through Advisory Committees, thus, giving our programs access to current and competitive insight. This results in connecting local employers to local talent, who have been trained according to their input.
Laney CTE programs are the perfect fit for those seeking a dynamic learning environment with top instructors, innovative curriculum and state-of-the-art equipment. We partner directly with employers looking for skilled workers in these 9 top industries:
  • Building & Construction Trades
  • Business & Entrepreneurship
  • Digital Media & Communications
  • Engineering, Design & Production
  • Healthcare & Bioscience
  • Hospitality, Retail, & Tourism
  • Information & Communication Technology
  • Personal Services
  • Public Service & Lab

CTE DEPARTMENTS / PROGRAMS

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