MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (MDC)

Miami Dade College is the largest institution of higher learning in the United States. The main campus is located in Miami and there are seven additional campuses within Miami Dade County.

History

Miami Dade College was established in 1959 and welcomed its first group of students in 1960. Nicknamed Chicken Coop College, after the original buildings that were converted into classrooms, 1,428 students attended the first year.

Amid the politics of desegregation and the convergence of Cuban refugees, Dade County Junior College admitted seven black students and was the first Florida junior college to be integrated.

By the mid 1960s, approximately 15,000 students attended the school. The college became one of the largest in the state of Florida by 1967, with over 23,000 students enrolled.

In 1970, a downtown campus was opened. This was a decade of growth for Miami Dade College. In 1977, the Medical Center Campus opened its doors and by 1979, bilingual studies were offered with 2,000 students enrolled in outreach areas. These eventually became the Inter America Center.

By 1983, over 18,000 students attending Miami Dade College were immigrants and refugees. Women made up 56% of the student body. 66% of students were minorities. At this time, Miami Dade entered a partnership with Florida International University.

Miami Dade College opened its fifth campus in First Baptist Church in 1985 with 350 students in attendance. A modern campus was opened in 1991 to accommodate the growing student body. The college had gained national recognition by 1989, when it became the best community college in the United States.

Miami Dade College had welcomed 1.5 million students by 2000. It still continues to grow today, not only in educational resources but also socially, culturally and economically.

Academics

Miami Dade College has eight campuses. The academic programs are accredited by many prestigious institutions, including:

• Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Assistant
• Florida Board of Nursing
• Federal Aviation Administration

Associate Degrees are offered in more than 150 fields. Examples include:

• Biology
• Science Applied Sciences
• Social Work
• Engineering
• Arts
• Pre-law
• Teaching

The curriculum has been created to accommodate students who wish to attend a four year institution. The Graduate of Honours is designed for gifted high school students and many have went on to attend such prestigious educational institutions such as Columbia, Stanford and Yale.

Student Life

Each of the eight campuses of Miami Dade College offer students a unique perspective on college life. They provide assistance to promote cultural richness and diversity and support students as they hone leadership skills, grow intellectually and evaluate their personal values. Students are also prepared to be active and informed citizens of the community.

Athletics

Miami Dade College is part of the Florida Community College Activities Association Southern Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association. Their five intercollegiate teams include:

• Men's Baseball
• Women's Softball
• Men's Basketball
• Women's Basketball
• Women's Volleyball

Community

The Miami Dade community is a tropical paradise. Beaches are abundant for fun in the sun. The nearby Everglades National Park is a unique outdoor experience and is home to fourteen endangered and rare species. The park is also a great place for the outdoor enthusiast to canoe, camp or hike.

If you like to shop or party, South Beach is the place for you. Art galleries, boutiques and museums are plentiful and the night life is amazing.

Other interesting attractions include, Coral Castle, Parrot Jungle Island, Miami Museum of Science, Seaquarium and many more. Be sure to check out festivals and events taking place locally. There's always something going on in the Miami Dade area.