Sure, when people think of Southwestern College, many of them think of the more than 150-acre campus on the corner of the intersection of East H Street and Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista. It’s a fair thought, that’s where Southwestern College has most of its history, has laid most of its foundation and serves most of its students, but Southwestern College is more than just the campus in Chula Vista. It has a presence throughout South San Diego County with higher education centers in National City, Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and the Crown Cove Aquatic Center in Coronado.
As the only public institution of higher education in South San Diego County, Southwestern College has a commitment to provide access and opportunities to the students throughout its region, not just the city of Chula Vista. Every center is staffed with trained professionals to offer counseling, tutors, library services and everything else you’d get at the Chula Vista campus. Plus, each campus has its own specialty programs, general education courses and dedicated faculty and staff.
Higher Education Center at National City
For more than 20 years, the Higher Education Center at National City has been serving the community with its educational programs and services. The center in National City offers in-demand general education courses, ideal for transfer-bound students or anyone pursuing higher education. Its signature programs are dental hygiene and medical lab technician, where students gain hands-on technical experience from industry professionals.
Expanding on its mission to offer high-quality education to the community, the Higher Education Center at National City is expanding with a two-story building with funds from Proposition R. The new building will expand course sections and programs with new classrooms, science laboratory spaces and a teaching clinic. Also through Proposition R, part of the center has gone through a comprehensive renovation that is now the home of the Center for Business Advancement, which offers support services for small businesses in the region.
Take a virtual tour of the Higher Education Center at National City.
Higher Education Center at San Ysidro
With the creation of the Higher Education Center at San Ysidro in 1988, Southwestern College made a commitment to increase access to higher education throughout its service region, and today the center continues that mission by offering a variety of courses to meet students’ educational goals.
The center, which is minutes away from the U.S.-Mexico international border, is home to more than 1,800 students who are pursuing an associate degree, completing requirements to transfer or developing professional skills. The center is also home to Southwestern College’s Family Studies Department, one of Southwestern College’s most popular programs. As with each center, San Ysidro offers services from trained staff and experts to help students succeed including admissions, financial aid, counseling, disability support services, tutoring and more.
Take a virtual tour of the Higher Education Center at San Ysidro.
Higher Education Center at Otay Mesa
The Higher Education Center at Otay Mesa is home to Southwestern College’s signature programs of Police Academy, Nursing, Fire Science Technology, Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician, and International Business, Logistics and Transportation. These popular programs help train students in some of the region’s most sought-after professions and help stimulate the local economy through its business services. Led by local industry professionals, students are given internship opportunities and connections with local agencies for job placement.
In addition to technical career pathways, the center at Otay Mesa offers general education and transfer courses for students looking to pursue their associate degree or transfer to a university. It’s also a hub of student services, where any student can receive help with admissions, financial aid, tutoring, library services and more.
Take a virtual tour of the Higher Education Center at Otay Mesa.
Crown Cove Aquatic Center
Many students trade their textbooks for surfboards when they take classes at the Crown Cove Aquatic Center (and on weekends, you’ll even find Southwestern College employees out on the water) to learn aquatic sports from San Diego professionals. Situated on the picturesque Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, the Crown Cove Aquatic Center offers water recreational courses and certificates to the entire community. Its certified staff leads students through paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and surfing courses on the San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean and promote a safe and entertaining aquatic education.
The center is also a designated American Heart Association Community Training Center, which allows the center to give safety certificates and training in CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator. As a service to San Diego County, the center provides private lessons and aquatic youth camps for children from age seven to 17.
