A quick overview of the trades and trade schools and what those terms mean in relation to Dunwoody College of Technology
It’s become more popular to talk about the trades over the past few years. This has partly been driven by discussions over the value of a college degree and which programs of study offer a strong return on investment.
But it’s also due to increased awareness of how important skilled workers in the trades are to maintaining a strong local and national economy, infrastructure, and manufacturing and building capability.
What are the trades exactly? What is a trade school? And what do those terms mean in relation to Dunwoody College of Technology?
What are the trades and what is a trade school?
The skilled trades typically refer to careers that historically required membership in a trade union: electricians, carpenters, plumbers, etc.
That’s not a strict definition, though, and it has come to have a broader meaning to any career that focuses on high-skilled, hands-on, craft-focused work, especially in construction or manufacturing.
A trade school is an institution that prepares its graduates for work in the occupations that are considered to be trades.
Many trade schools are post-secondary institutions, that is they offer an education for high school graduates. Others exist at the high school level. Trade schools came in many forms, but in pervious decades, they often were small, privately-owned efforts with a focus on just a few areas for training.
However, standalone trade schools are rare these days. Most current training in the trades happens in schools and colleges with a broader range of educational offerings.
Is Dunwoody College of Technology a trade school?
Dunwoody College of Technology is an accredited, private, non-profit technical college that offers certificate, associates, and bachelor’s degrees.
So given the breadth and depth of our program offerings and the fact that we award bachelor’s degrees, Dunwoody College would be considered a technical college and not a traditional trade school
At the same time, Dunwoody does offer majors that provide an education for careers that are traditionally considered part of the trades.
Another way to think of it is: there is a trade school inside of Dunwoody College even if it’s not formally designated as such.
What Dunwoody College programs are considered part of the skilled trades?
The Dunwoody College majors most obviously aligned with the trades are:
But as noted, which careers are specifically identified as “trades” varies, and many other Dunwoody degree programs could be considered as part of the skilled trades or have elements to the training you received that intersect with the idea of the trades.
In addition, although all of the programs listed above are certificate or associates degree programs that lead to high-demand jobs and a career path, they also all transfer into various Dunwoody bachelor’s degree programs. This is because career paths are both more flexible and demanding these days due to the high rate of technological change, and getting more education helps with keeping up with those changes and advancing your career.
Which isn’t to say that traditional paths are gone: many of the electricians that Dunwoody graduates still choose to join a local union and take the traditional path to licensure and a career moving through the ranks at a union.
What should I do if I want to enter the skilled trades?
The best thing to do is to RSVP for a Dunwoody Open House and explore your options in person. That way you can talk to faculty about the career opportunities and view the actual spaces and equipment where you’ll be learning a trade and figure out which program makes the most sense of you.
Can’t make it to an Open House?
View our full list of academic offerings to explore options on your own or fill out a Request More Information form to be connected with Admissions. Our Admissions Counselors can set up a one-on-one on campus or virtual tour and have a lot of experience talking with prospective students about what program could be the best fit for their individual career goals, personal interests, and current life situation.