VALLEY — Working students will have the chance to obtain two years of college on Saturdays through a new program at Southern Union State Community College.

Linda North, dean of academics at Southern Union, said beginning this fall, students can take classes on Saturday on campus or online to earn an associate’s degree in several programs.

The programs include business, communications, early childhood elementary education, psychology and social work. North said some programs can be completed in four semesters and the maximum for a program will be six semesters.

“It provides a great opportunity for that working student,” she said.

Additionally, North said the Saturday classes can also help knock out general education classes needed for a health science degree.

“Those people who are working that always wanted to get into healthcare can get those academic classes out of the way before they apply and begin a health science program,” said.

The classes are also transferrable to any public, four-year public institution in Alabama, North said.

“We are hoping to find an opportunity to help people working swing shifts to give them an opportunity to go to school if they want to,” she said.

Although Southern Union has offered Saturday classes in the past, it has never made the full commitment to offer all courses in a program. North said in the past it was a couple English and math classes.

“There was good interest at the time, so we went back and reevaluated and came up with this idea,” she said. “We just want this to be an opportunity for those students who don’t have another way to go to school.”

To finish the program on time, North said, students will have to be in class all day on Saturdays. She said classes will typically range from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. She said the classes won’t be all lecture, meaning there will be projects and group work designed to reach different learning styles.

The students taking Saturday classes can be considered full-time students, so they will have access to the library and all support services through the college.

Classes for the fall semester start Aug. 19 and the first set of Saturday classes begin Aug. 24. North said enrollment is still happening now.

For more information, contact Robin Brown at (334) 756-4151 extension 5204. Information is also available on the website at www.suscc.edu.