Skip to main content

Youth Programs Icon

Youth Programs

Trident Technical College offers high school students several opportunities to get an early start on their college education and professional careers with the Dual Credit, Early Admit and youth apprenticeship programs, and offers summer camp programs for youth ages 7-17.

  • Dual Credit
  • Early Admit
  • Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program (CRYA)
  • QUEST
  • Lowcountry Advanced Manufacturing Institute (LAMI)
  • Workforce Training (formerly Continuing Education) Youth Classes and Summer Camps

Dual Credit

TTC’s Dual Credit Program allows qualified high school students to take college courses taught through TTC and receive high school credit. Students can get a head start on completing coursework for an associate degree or bachelor’s degree, while having the opportunity to explore careers and expand interests through courses not offered at the high school.

Studies suggest that students who receive college credit while still in high school are more likely to graduate from high school, more likely to continue their education after high school and have more success during their first official year of college than their peers. Participating in the Dual Credit program can also significantly reduce the time and cost to pursue post-secondary education. Students can complete two years of coursework through Dual Credit for a fraction of the cost when compared to courses at four-year institutions, and credit earned at TTC can transfer to many of those colleges and universities. Learn more.

Early Admit

The Early Admit program at TTC allows high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college courses before they have graduated from high school. Courses completed as part of the Early Admit program become a part of the student’s college transcripts but will not affect their high school records.

Most general education college courses transfer to colleges and universities across the nation because TTC is a regionally accredited college. In addition, many applied technical or professional courses transfer to selected colleges and universities. Participating in the TTC Early Admit program can also significantly reduce the cost to pursue post-secondary education. Learn more.

Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program (CRYA)

The Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program at TTC prepares rising high school juniors, seniors and graduating seniors for rewarding careers in a variety of fields. Regional employers offer students the opportunity to "learn and earn" with paid on-the-job training along with related classroom instruction at TTC. The costs associated with the youth apprenticeship college courses are covered by the program for students who are hired by participating companies.

Students who complete the two-year program receive two years of paid employment and mentoring from an industry professional, a high school diploma (if not already granted), one year of college credit from TTC free of charge and national credentials from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Two-year apprenticeships are offered in fields that range from Industrial Mechanics and Machine Tool Technology to Culinary Arts and Hotel Operations to Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Nurse Aide/Pre-Nursing. Opportunities are also available in Automotive, Bookkeeping, Information Technology, Pharmacy and Security. Learn more.

Lowcountry Advanced Manufacturing Institute (LAMI)

The Lowcountry Advanced Manufacturing Institute is a weeklong, full-day summer program for rising high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors. It is a prestigious opportunity to gain exposure to the extremely diverse world of advanced manufacturing.

Selected participants hear from industry leaders, and use state of the art equipment in the South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center as they learn about the wide variety of positions in manufacturing, from machining and robotics, to marketing and logistics. Monday through Thursday students will learn about and get hands-on experience with current trends and practices in high-tech manufacturing as well as develop and complete a group project. On Friday students will present their group to faculty, industry leaders, and family, followed by a catered recognition luncheon. Learn more.

Noncredit Youth Classes and Summer Camps

Trident Technical College will host a series of full day STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) focused youth camps , as well as Culinary camps (ages 10 and older) during the summer of 2024. The cost for culinary camps is $400 per week, all other camps are $325 per week.

Camps will be available across all Trident Technical College’s campuses and sites.

Camps will be offered weekly June 10-28, 2024 and July 8-26, 2024.

Camps will be offered in the following three age groups (age at the time of camp):

  • Ages 7-9
  • Ages 10-12
  • Ages 13-17

Each day camp drop off will begin at 8:30 a.m. Camp Pick-Up time is 4:15-4:45 p.m.

Campers must bring lunch, snacks, and water bottle.

For more information on camp topics, please visit 2024 Summer Camp Topic Descriptions.