SCF Signature Programs

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is pleased to offer an array of Signature Programs in its mission to boldly engage students and the community to be the region’s first choice for innovative, responsive and quality education. These programs are designed to meet the changing educational needs of our students and employers to enrich the community where we live, play and work. 

Accelerated Dual Enrollment Program

The State College of Florida along with Manatee and Sarasota County Public Schools along with Lemon Bay High School with Charlotte County Public Schools have teamed up to offer an Accelerated Dual Enrollment Program. This program is open to students in public high schools within Sarasota and Manatee County Schools.  The Accelerated Dual Enrollment Program allows qualified juniors to gain college credit and high school credit by attending SCF full time. These students are provided additional coaching support and resources to successfully navigate college. In addition, these students will continue full time at SCF as seniors and are on track to graduate with their high school diploma and potentially an AA degree from SCF. 

Dedicated Education Unit at Manatee Memorial Hospital

In January 2019, Manatee Memorial Hospital announced the first Dedicated Education Unit for nursing students in our area on their Medical/Surgical floor. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota is collaborating with the hospital on the first group of nursing students. 

Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) will provide a welcoming culture and consistent environment that allows nursing students to learn with comfort and familiarity alongside our staff. This will foster better scaffold skills and more easily connect theory to practice. The nursing students will be assigned to the DEU for the entirety of their clinical experience. Those that successfully complete the DEU clinical pathway will have an opportunity to be employed at Manatee Memorial Hospital. They will also become clinical mentors for the next group. This approach is used in many parts of the country with much success

Honors Program

State College of Florida offers unique options for students to engage in honors coursework. We encourage students to challenge themselves through experiencing honors coursework, capstones, and seminars. \Students will stretch their minds through critical thinking, research, rhetoric, and cultural literacy.

The Honors Program provides:

• Coursework that counts toward your associate degree and transfers to four-year institutions.
• Honors designation on coursework on your official SCF transcript.
• Honors cords for graduation.
• Hands-on experience in meaningful service-learning.
• Opportunity to perform undergraduate research with faculty.
• Colloquium and capstone events

University & Academic Partnerships

University Partnerships:

State College of Florida partners with local universities to offer a seamless transfer to the upper-division programs. The college has partnered with the University of South Florida, FUSE, New College of Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of West Florida, Edward Waters College, Bethune Cookman College and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University via Ignite. Students can review plans in DegreeWorks which is located in MYSCF.  Students are encouraged to work with their success coaches and their intended transfer institution. A semester schedule of available college/university visits is available in the College & Career Success Center and the Academic Partnership Center. The partnership center is located in the 26West Center, building 8-108 on the SCF-Bradenton campus and the Academic Resource Center, building 400-416 on the SCF-Venice campus. 

Academic Partnerships:

State College of Florida has partnered with IMG Academy to offer IMG postgraduates from high school the opportunity to take college coursework while attending IMG Academy.

SCF provides high quality coursework that aligns with the state frameworks and student learning outcomes. SCF participates in common course numbering system through the Florida Department of Education. Students should be familiar with the SCF academic calendar and its dates/deadlines. SCF holds its accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

IMG Academy covers the cost of tuition and administrative fees and students cover the cost of textbooks, EZ Access and supplies. Students admitted through the partnership will receive a welcome email from SCF to proceed with next steps towards registration. There are several instructional modalities to include: in-person, online & Go-Live. Also, students may select from 16-week classes (encouraged), 12 week classes or 8 week classes.

Manufacturing Opportunities for Skills Advancement and Innovation Collaborative

SCF has received a grant from The Mosaic Company for more than $350,000 to be awarded over two years for a Manufacturing Opportunities for Skills Advancement and Innovation Collaborative. The collaboration will enhance SCF’s Engineering Technology (ET) program to offer 10 new employer-requested manufacturing courses beginning in Fall 2017. This expanded SCF and Mosaic partnership fills a critical advanced manufacturing skills gap and strengthens our community’s economic development with increased job opportunities for students and well-trained graduates for local employers.

“This important partnership started two years ago as State College of Florida and Mosaic sat down together determined to make the right training for mining and production jobs accessible in Manatee County,” said Walt Precourt, senior vice president of Phosphate Operations. “The development of this curriculum is a meaningful step toward that goal and makes it possible for those entering the job market to call Mosaic or many other local industries home, while growing their future and the future of Manatee County.”

Weekend College

Earn your A.A. on the Weekend. College When You Can!

Classes are held Friday night and Saturday at SCF Lakewood Ranch, conveniently located off I-75 exit 213. Online and blended courses may also be available. Three terms are scheduled each year with classes lasting 8, 12 or 16 weeks. Students taking the full course load will graduate in two years, but you can take more time if you need it.

The Regions most affordable Associate in Arts Degree

• Earn an A.A. in two years
• Half the cost of most universities
• Guaranteed to Transfer

Weekend College allows you to earn an Associate in Arts degree taking only weekend classes. You’ll finish your degree in two years and have the option to continue in one of SCF’s bachelor’s degree programs or be eligible for guaranteed transfer to any Florida public university.

If you work full time and have always wondered how you’d find time to complete a college degree, SCF’s Weekend College is the answer for you. Get your degree taking classes only on the weekends and online, allowing you to continue working full time during the week. Best of all, it’s the region’s most affordable way to earn a college degree. SCF’s tuition is half the cost of most universities and a quarter the cost of many private, online universities. Your degree will cost slightly more than $6,000 and financial aid is available to assist you with the cost.