Founded in 1978, Brookhaven College is one of the seven colleges of the Dallas County Community College District.
The college provides affordable freshman- and sophomore-level courses. Many students each year successfully transfer to four-year universities, while others enter directly into the workforce with a technical degree, certificate or skills award. Recent enrollments included 12,900 credit and more than 8,000 continuing education, or noncredit, students.
The Brookhaven College Core Curriculum allows students to complete foundational courses before transferring to a four-year university. The Core Curriculum guarantees the transfer of the Core to any public university or college in Texas, as long as students have completed the entire block and finished with a 2.0 GPA or higher. For students hoping to get on track to a great career, Career Technical Education courses may be the right choice. Brookhaven College offers high-quality and relevant technical, college-level programs that prepare graduates to enter immediately into the workforce. Brookhaven College awards the Associate in Applied Science degree and offers numerous one-year certificate programs and skills awards to prepare students for employment, career change, transfer or advancement.
Brookhaven College is the home of several unique initiatives and programs. In 2009, the Science and Allied Health Building opened, boasting 144,000 square feet of space, including classrooms, labs and lecture halls, along with unique spaces custom built for the college's health programs such as X-ray rooms, an ambulance simulator and intensive care and nursing units. An expansion for the Automotive Technology Department space, Building Q, also opened in fall 2009 that almost doubled the number of automotive training bays.
In fall 2006, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District's Early College High School opened, allowing area students to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. The first class of ECHS graduated in May 2010, all with some college credits and with 29 students receiving associate degrees. The Head Start Center at Brookhaven College, a preschool for 176 children and a training facility for the college's child development program, opened in 2007. Also located at Brookhaven College is the Brookhaven College Geotechnology Institute, an organization whose mission is to promote Earth system's science education and teacher training. The college also offers a unique and comprehensive arts program through its School of the Arts for college-level art students and the Arts Academy with innovative arts programming for the whole family.
Continuing education courses offer opportunities for personal enrichment and growth. Programs include the Arts Academy, professional certificates, Corporate Training Solutions, English for Speakers of Other Languages and Health Care Careers. Courses are flexible, affordable and offered for all ages and skill levels.
Workforce training courses are available for employee development and improvement. Programs include: occupational language training; conversational Spanish; English for Speakers of Other Languages; computer graphics and desktop publishing; cross-cultural training; leadership and supervision skills; personal and executive coaching; and compliance and standards training. In January 2010, the new Workforce and Continuing Education Building opened featuring adjustable-size classrooms, a computer information technology lab, a jewelry-making lab and state-of-the-art visual technology equipment.