West Valley College's Career Education Programs
Today’s employers need employees to be prepared for a wide range of high-wage, high skill, high-demand careers that result from cutting-edge, rigorous, and relevant education.
High school students involved in career education are more engaged, perform better and graduate at higher rates.
West Valley College Career Education Pathways provide an early entry point into a college technical major while still in high school.
Begin your course of study in high school and continue in a community college, such as West Valley College. You earn college credit toward a certificate or degree which lead to a career, or transfer to a four-year program.
Why Career Education Pathways?
In today's job market, most careers require education beyond high school.
- 20 percent require professional degrees
- 62 percent require skilled labor
West Valley College CTE Pathways are a great way to start a college technical major while still in high school. In a CTE Pathways program, you begin your course of study in high school and continue in a community college, such as West Valley College. The result is a certificate or associate degree in a career field, or transfer to a four-year program.
What are the advantages of Career Education Pathways?
- Save money. College is expensive. The free Career Education Pathways college credits you earn apply toward your high school diploma and toward certificates and degrees at West Valley College.
- Save time. Get a head start on your certificate or degree program requirements by earning college credits in your CTE courses before you even set foot on West Valley College campus.
- Gain confidence and a sense of success. Earning college credits before you leave high school lets you know that you can succeed at West Valley College.
For Students
West Valley College can offer students at local high schools, regional occupational programs, and adult schools the opportunity to earn college credit for courses taken while at their school. This happens when faculty and administrators from the respective schools and the college meet and work out an arrangement called an “Articulation Agreement.”
An Articulation Agreement enables you, the student, to enter college already on a path to graduation. It will help shorten the time between when you enroll and start your classes and when you graduate and complete a program.
Imagine – you will already have a college transcript showing you have earned college credit before you even enter college!
The high school articulation process takes considerable effort on the part of faculty to arrange who review the curriculum carefully to ensure that the learning in the school meets the learning requirements of the college course. As a result, you benefit with an accelerated path to a college certificate or degree, so that you can more quickly transfer to a 4-year institution or enter the job market ready to work.
To find out if there is an active agreement established between your school and West Valley College view the articulation directory tab.
The Process
enroll in an articulated course at your high school. We recommend you meet with your counselor or school principal to inquire about articulated courses offered at your high school.
Complete the West Valley College application to obtain a college ID.
Please seek guidance of your high school teacher or counselor for assistance.
Complete the course with a “B” or an “A” to qualify for the articulated college credit.
For Instructors
Start the process of establishing an Articulation Agreement by contacting us by email at wvc.careereducationFREEWEST_VALLEY
Once finalized, articulation agreements are effective for a two-year period.
Articulation Day
Save the date for the next Articulation Day: TBD
During Articulation Day, college faculty, college administrators, and secondary teachers work collaboratively to review, approve, and articulate courses. View the articulation directories tab to find your active articulated courses.
West Valley College CTE Course Articulation Guide for Adult School and High School Teachers
Articulation Process Chart for CATEMA using schools
Articulation Process Chart for non-CATEMA using schools.
Now Accepting Proposals for CTE Course Articulation Agreement for 2025-2027 Academic Years
West Valley College is now accepting articulation agreement for 2025-2027 academic years. Teachers may access the Course Outline of Record (COR) to propose new agreements. The agreement forms can be found under the "Forms" tab.
West Valley College Course Outline Directory (COD): for course articulation proposals
Articulation Directory
| High School Course | WV Course | Department/Program | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Computer Science A | CIST 004A1 – Computer Programming l (Java) | Computer Science | See Agreement |
| Data Structures & Algorithms Honors | CIST 004B1 – Data Structures using Advanced Java | Computer Science | See Agreement |
| Business Accounting & Personal Finance 1 | ACCT 050 – Accounting for Small Business | Business | See Agreement |
| Technical Theatre 2 | THEA 002A - Introduction to Theatrical Design | Theater Arts | See Agreement |
| High School Course | WV Course | Department/Program | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animation | ARTS 055: Introduction to Computer Arts | Art | See Agreement |
| Medical Assisting | HTCH 005: Medical Terminology | Health Care Technologies | See Agreement |
| Mobile Apps Design & Computer Coding | GDES 021A: Web Development | Communication Design | See Agreement |
| Law Enforcement | ADMJ 034: Career Planning in Criminal Justice | Administration of Justice | See Agreement |
| Forensic Science | ADMJ 041: Introduction to Forensics | Administration of Justice | See Agreement |
| Fashion Design & Textile Art | FDAT 030: Introduction to Fashion Design | Fashion Design | See Agreement |
| High School Course | WV Course | Department/Program | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| P-Graphic Design 1 | GDES 001: Creative Suite for Graphic Designers | Communication Design | See Agreement |
| High School Course | WV Course | Department/Program | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Design & Marketing Levels 1 & 2 | FDAT 030: Introduction to Fashion Design | Fashion Design | See Agreement |
Handbook & Resources
- WVMC High School Articulation Handbook
- High School Articulation Agreement Template (effective Fall 2025)
- Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Request Form
- High School Articulation Timeline – see timeline below.
High School Articulation Timeline
| Timeline | Details |
|---|---|
| August–October |
New articulation agreements can be created and existing articulation agreements due for renewal will be updated. High School/ROP/Adult School Teachers:
All-Year & Fall CATEMA Enrollment Deadline: End of October |
| November |
New articulation agreements can be created and existing articulation agreements due for renewal will be updated. Mission College and West Valley College will validate students’ IDs. |
| December |
New articulation agreements can be created and existing articulation agreements due for renewal will be updated. High School/ROP/Adult School Teachers:
Please note: If the articulated course is All-Year (both Fall and Spring semesters), you will wait until the end of the academic year to enter ONE final grade into CATEMA. |
| January–March |
Mission College and West Valley College transcripts with Fall articulated credit will be available in late January. High School/ROP/Adult School Teachers:
Spring CATEMA Enrollment Deadline: End of March |
| April |
Mission College and West Valley College will validate students’ IDs. |
| May–June |
High School/ROP/Adult School Teachers:
|
| July |
Mission College and West Valley College transcripts with Spring articulated credit will be available in late July. |