College Information

Vision Statement
Trident Technical College’s vision is to be a leader among two-year colleges in providing diverse and innovative educational programs and services in a highly technical and competitive global environment.

Mission of Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College is a public, two-year, multi-campus institution which provides quality education and promotes economic development in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. TTC is a member of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education system.

As an open-door institution of higher education, the College provides lifelong learning opportunities for traditional and nontraditional students. These opportunities enhance the economic, social and cultural life of the community. Accessible and responsive to the needs of this multicultural community, TTC prepares students for a rapidly changing global environment.

Each semester approximately 12,000 credit students enroll in programs leading to college transfer associate degrees and technical associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. The curriculum includes programs in Allied Health Sciences; Business Technology; Community, Family and Child Studies; Film, Media and Visual Arts; Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts; Humanities and Social Sciences; Industrial and Engineering Technology; Law-Related Studies; Nursing; and Science and Mathematics. To foster student success, TTC provides developmental education and comprehensive student services.

Using communication and problem-solving skills, graduates draw on knowledge from a broad range of disciplines to make decisions and perform tasks, working as individuals and as team members. As a state and national resource, TTC provides continuing education courses, customized education and training for business, industry and government, and a variety of activities and services, including facilities for the Center for Accelerated Technology Training to offer employment training programs.

The College pursues its mission guided by the following institutional values:

• The worth and dignity of each individual
• The rich cultural and ethnic diversity of our students, faculty and staff
• A management and leadership philosophy defined by high ethical standards, open communication, teamwork, employee empowerment, and continual assessment and improvement of our processes and products
• A faculty and staff dedicated and committed to serving diverse student and community needs
• The academic freedom essential for teaching and learning; the self discipline and ethics essential for all professional activities and relationships
• Lifelong learning and success for all students, faculty and staff
• Educational innovation 
• Strict accountability for the effective and efficient use of all resources
• A college environment that is safe and attractive as well as conducive to wellness and productivity

Goals
The following goals were approved for TTC by the Area Commission:

• To provide quality education and promote economic development by offering diverse and innovative credit and continuing education programs
• To provide programs and services which promote success and enhance the quality of life for students
• To continuously improve management systems and organizational structures
• To communicate effectively with faculty, staff and students as well as with external constituencies, agencies and legislative bodies
• To recruit, employ and retain a diverse, highly qualified faculty and staff, to provide competitive salaries, and to provide opportunities for professional growth and development
• To acquire, build, renovate and maintain physical facilities; to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and technology; and to provide technical support services
• To acquire adequate financial resources, to allocate them effectively and to ensure strict accountability

Location
TTC serves Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties with three campuses. Main Campus is located on Rivers Avenue, one mile north of Aviation Avenue in North Charleston. Berkeley Campus is in Berkeley County on Highway 17-A, south of Moncks Corner. Palmer Campus is located in downtown Charleston on Columbus Street.

The History of Trident Technical College
In 1964, the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Technical Education Center was established as part of a statewide system founded by Gov. Ernest F. Hollings to meet the education and training needs of South Carolina. The center opened with two buildings and 226 students. In 1973, to accommodate its increasing growth, the center merged with Palmer College, a private business college in downtown Charleston. The combined Palmer College and B-C-D Technical Education Center became Trident Technical College. In 1982, the College built its Berkeley Campus near Moncks Corner. Four years later, the Palmer Campus moved to its current peninsula site. Since 1986, TTC has continued its planned renovation of the Palmer Campus. The final renovation phase, completed in spring 2001, created a new front entrance to the campus building as well as expanded library facilities, labs, classrooms and offices. To accommodate future growth, in 1993 the College purchased 117 acres of land next to its Main Campus. The following year, TTC purchased 30 acres of land and buildings adjacent to its Main Campus. In 1997, the College opened the first phase of the Complex for Economic Development on this 30-acre site.

In 2002, the College purchased the North Rivers Commerce Center, two buildings located off Rivers Avenue on Mabeline Road, to accommodate increasing student growth and the need for more office space.

The College completed additional components of the Complex for Economic Development during the 2005-06 academic year. The Culinary Institute of Charleston and the Information Technology Center opened in August 2005. The Industrial Maintenance Technology Center, The Learning Center and the Trident Aeronautical Training Center opened to students in 2006. Additional areas scheduled to open in 2006 include a Nursing Auditorium, the Industrial Electricity Lab, science labs and general classrooms.

TTC offers more than 150 programs of study in a variety of technical and career areas, as well as programs for those who plan to continue their education at a four-year college.

Publisher’s Note
Although the editor and publisher of this Catalog have made every reasonable effort to attain factual accuracy herein, no responsibility is assumed for editorial, clerical or printing errors or errors occasioned by mistakes. The editor and publisher have attempted to present information that, at the time of preparation for printing, most accurately described the course offerings; faculty information; academic and administrative policies, procedures, regulations and requirements; and the support services of the College. Additional College information is available in the On Course class schedule and monthly Student Calendar of Events. Information on program graduation rates is available on TTC's Web site. This Catalog does not constitute a contract between TTC and its students or applicants for admission or with any other person. TTC reserves the right to change, without notice, any statement in this Catalog, including but not limited to statements concerning tuition, fees, charges, academic regulations and requirements, course cancellations, class size, instructors, curricula, calendars, credits, or any other College activity or program. Changes will become effective whenever the appropriate TTC authorities so determine.

See TTC's Web site for current information. Information on changes will be available in the office of the registrar. It is especially important to keep apprised of current graduation requirements for your degree program. Catalog users should inquire as to whether changes in this Catalog have been made since the date of publication.

All courses listed in this Catalog are offered only if there is adequate demand and if faculty and facilities are available to provide a qualified instructor and appropriate meeting place. All courses are not offered every semester. For updated course listings, check TTC's Web site. TTC provides programs of study with faculty and academic support that are believed to be appropriate to achieve the academic objectives of this institution.

The College does not guarantee, however, that the completion of any course or program of study will result in the acquisition of knowledge or skills or will enable you to pass or complete any specific examination for any course, degree or license. The College holds that the acquisition of knowledge is contingent upon your ability, desire to learn and application of efforts.