Mississippi Gulf Coast
Comnmunity Colleges offer programs in a four-county area.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has eight locations in the Gulf Coast area of Mississippi, offering college classes of various types. The college has four actual campuses, and four areas that have centers where classes are offered. The college also offers on-site training to area industry. The college started in Perkinston in 1912 and has grown to cover the entire Gulf Coast area of Mississippi in a four-county area.
History
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College system traces its roots back to 1911 with the establishment of the Harrison County Agricultural High School in Perkinston; the first classes started in 1912. This became the first junior college in 1924. In 1962, a Gulf Coast district was established in a four-county area, and two more branches were added in Handsboro and Gautier. The organization got its current name in 1987, and in 1996 a campus-without-walls concept was added, allowing the school to allow training in off-campus settings.
Perkinston Campus
More than 1,000 students are enrolled at the Perkinston Campus, which is where the school began, and is the only campus with dormitories. This is still considered the main campus, and it offers a complete college experience for two years. There are various academic programs, career and technical programs, and a full lineup of clubs, sports and campus organizations. Perkinston is about 20 miles from the coast.
West Harrison County Center
The West Harrison County Center in Long Beach specializes in evening classes that run Monday through Thursday. The center is in the Long Beach Industrial Park and offers one-year programs in areas such as electrical technology, food production and management, machine tool technology, drafting and automotive collision repair, and general auto repair.
George County Center
The George County Center is located in Lucedale and offers programs such as cosmetology, electrical systems, office systems, nursing and surgical technology. GED courses are offered as well, and various special interest classes are offered when there is demand. Lucedale is a rural area, but the town itself is growing, and is about 25 miles from the coast.
Military Related Centers
The Keesler Center is at the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi and offers classes to military personnel and their families. There is a full range of courses that can lead to an Associates Degree. The Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, at the Naval base, is similar. Courses at this center are offered to the general public as well as military-related personnel.
Jefferson Davis Campus
The Jefferson Davis Campus in Gulfport is a mile from Mississippi Beach. The campus offers a wide range of academic courses for first- and second-year college students. There are academic and career-technical programs, fine arts, and an active student body with clubs and organizations.
Tags: Gulf Coast, County Center, area Mississippi, four-county area, Harrison County, Mississippi Gulf, Mississippi Gulf Coast
