Career and life skills are the core of every SMC degree. This is the way college should be.
The best return on your college investment is a great job and a successful life. At other colelges, career prep takes extra time outside of class, and most students just don't have that time.
Career prep isn't optional; it's essential.
SMC is the ONLY college with career prep built into your four-year degree, so you’re job-ready without sacrificing time for classes, work, or enjoying college.
Watch: SMC's Camak Core Focuses Your Degree on Career and Life Skills
Free Application.
No Test Scores Required.
No Test Scores Required.
SMC IS AFFORDABLE.
SAVE BIG ON YOUR DEGREE.
SAVE BIG ON YOUR DEGREE.
SPOILER ALERT: EMPLOYERS WANT YOU TO HAVE CAREER SKILLS BEFORE YOU START THE JOB.
The Camak Core is SMC's professional development/career skills degree concentration featuring hands-on experiences for all four-year degree students. No extra time needed.
MOST STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TIME TO VISIT A TRADITIONAL CAREER SERVICES OFFICE - SO WHY DO COLLEGES MAKE THEM?
Skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and understanding information don’t just magically happen—they take practice. But let’s be real: most college students don’t have endless hours to perfect them. And at most schools, only a handful have time to camp out in a career services office.
That’s where your Camak Core classes come in. Through hands-on projects and real-world learning, you’ll build these skills (and more) in a way that actually sticks—without sacrificing your job, study time, or social life.
Pro tip: These aren’t just “work” skills—they’re life skills. Master them now, and you’ll be way ahead of the game.
SMC FOUR-YEAR DEGREES INCLUDE A CAREER PREP CONCENTRATION
80% of college students say they want a degree that leads to a career they love, but employers say they're not prepared for the workforce. That's a problem. To solve it, we changed the SMC degree structure to carve out space for professional skills and experiences.
Our traditional four-year (bachelor's degree) programs include two years of general education and then you take your academic concentration and professional development courses in your junior and senior years.
Our customizable four-year (bachelor's degree) programs also include two years of general education, but you can customize your degree with two academic concentrations plus professional development.
Pick either degree that suits you - either way, your professional development classes won't add any additional time or cost, only incredible value.
Here's how the Camak Core fits into your degree without adding extra time or cost:
Camak Core classes start in your junior year at SMC.
By graduation, you'll have the skills and confidence you need to be successful.
WATCH: How the Camak Core Fits Into Your SMC Degree (and why it's called "Camak Core!")
Your academic major teaches you learning skills. The Camak Core teaches you career skills.
Both are important, but employers seek career skills first in addition to your major or grade point average when deciding who to hire.
See what the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found employers are looking for in career-readiness.
Watch: Hear How the Camak Core Attracted Conor DePaoli ('24) to SMC
Watch: Rodney Setzer ('23) Learned First-Hand How the Camak Core Applies in the Workplace.
Watch: Quinn Mann used the skills he learned in the Camak Core to advance his pursuit of a law degree.
Watch: Olivia Jackson and Eva Nix Share Their Testimonial on the Impact of Professional Development at SMC
Check out the Camak Core classes:
Class 1: Professional Communications
Communicating in the workplace is different than communicating in the classroom. This course will prepare you for an internship, teaches you how to network like a pro, and helps develop your interview and resume skills.Class 2: Internship
You'll complete 120 internship hours as part of your SMC degree. You can do all of your hours during one semester, or break it up into 40-hour increments over several semesters. You get to pick the internship experience(s), and we'll help you get placed with a company.Class 3: Community Discovery & Engagement
Professional Development and Leadership
Being a leader isn't about being the most important person at a company or on a team. No matter what job title you have, leadership is about knowing how to be a good work teammate, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and working to continuously improve (personally and professionally).Applied Technology
No matter what career you choose, some basic tech skills will give you a head start for job success and make you career-ready at graduation! Most colleges don't teach these skills, but at SMC, you’ll receive certificates in many technologies you can use in almost any career, including Microsoft Excel, data collection, website creation, and many others.Capstone Project
You'll showcase all of the career skills you learned over the past two years in a project of your choice. Start your own business, plan an incredible event, or create an organization that helps others. The project possibilities are endless but you now have the skills to do it. The confidence you'll gain from this final, incredible SMC experience is another important benefit. See 2022 student projects.Free Application.
No Test Scores Required.
No Test Scores Required.
SMC IS AFFORDABLE.
YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR FREE TUITION.
YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR FREE TUITION.
Geovana Batres Ardon Wins First Place in APEX Showcase
Senior Capstone Presentations Culminate Career Skills Learning
WATCH: the APEX SHOWCASE 2023
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