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Always something new to learn
Educational pursuits for young adults and lifelong learners are available through several post-secondary educational institutions in Bloomington.
For more than 50 years, Normandale Community College has been an educational cornerstone of the community. About 1,400 students enrolled in September 1968 when its doors opened. Today, enrollment has burgeoned to approximately 15,000 students per year. The college and its 90-acre campus attracts students from across the Twin Cities as well as students from its own backyard.
Normandale is also one of Minnesota’ s most racially-diverse campuses with more than half of the student body composed of students of color.
Besides providing paths to the variety of associates degrees and certificates that community colleges are traditionally known for, Normandale also offers specialized degree programs. Students may enroll in a nanotechnology program, for instance, offered in cooperation with leading high-tech manufacturers.
Normandale has also partnered with other public institutions of higher learning such as Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Metropolitan State University, bringing fouryear programs to its campus. Students pursuing degrees in education can complete all four years of their training while attending Normandale.
The college is also known for its criminal justice, dental hygiene, radiologic technology and music and theater programs. The college’ s largest program remains its liberal arts transfer course sequence, followed by business marketing and management, science and engineering, nursing and teacher education. In keeping with trends in higher education, Normandale also offers much of its course content online.
Students who want to take a course simply for the sake of learning aren’ t excluded. Normandale offers a variety of continuing education courses ranging from career enrichment and computer technology to foreign languages such as Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.
Other colleges in Bloomington include Academy College, offering a variety of professional training programs, Bethany Global University, a private Christian college that focuses on training missionaries, Northwestern Health Sciences University, offering natural and integrative health care education, and Rasmussen College, offering degree programs in a variety of growing fields.
Academy College 1600 W. 82nd St., Suite 100 academycollege. edu
Bethany Global University 6820 Auto Club Road bethanygu. edu
Normandale Community College 9700 France Ave. S. normandale. edu
Northwestern Health Sciences University 2501 W. 84th St. nwhealth. edu
Rasmussen College 4400 W. 78th St. rasmussen. edu
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