Prince William County Public Schools

Bridging Classes

Bridging classes are intended for students who have completed English language classes and are now ready to work towards getting their GED. These classes are for individuals who want to explore their own career interests and skills needed to self-assess, plan, and prepare to enter a career field that is personally and financially fulfilling; or who want to set their own personal and educational goals. Topics may include resume writing, online job search and applications, interviewing techniques, American business culture, entrepreneurship, goal setting, and access to higher education and training programs.

Community Engagement and Citizenship Preparation

Classes are designed to provide instruction in citizenship and naturalization preparation, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation, and for students to acquire life skills that will help them function in their communities and at workplaces. Students learn about the U.S. government, history, and geography, the naturalization process, the interview process, and passing the naturalization test. The class also helps students with their English literacy and language skills while studying the citizenship and other community engagement topics.

Customer Service and Sales

This course is a 90-hour class that prepares participants to gain customer service and sales skills and improve their English language proficiency skills. Students will master customer service and sales skills such as customer life cycle, developing effective strategies to engage customers, assessing customer needs, and closing sales. They will gain crucial workplace skills that include problem-solving, working in teams, reading customer body language, and increasing customer satisfaction and retention. They will increase their language skills as they relate to business and customer relations. The class is co-taught by the content teacher and an English language teacher. Students can earn an industry-recognized certification in Customer Service after successfully passing the exam.

Digital Literacy Class

For individuals 18 years of age or older who want to improve or strengthen basic computer skills for personal use or for the workplace. This class will also help you prepare for the Customer Service or Microsoft Office Specialist cohorts we offer. Our Digital Literacy class can help you build the foundation you need now to take our Microsoft Office Specialist or Retail Customer Service class and obtain an industry credential.

Topics covered in our Digital Literacy class include:

• Basic computer skills
• World wide web
• Computer operating systems (Windows)
• Using email
• Microsoft Office essentials
• Social media
• Information literacy

Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB)

Entrepreneurship and Small Business is a 120-hour class that could help participants meet their needs in starting, running, and managing a small business. In this class students will learn how to be entrepreneur, how to recognize business opportunities, how to start a business, features of business operations, how to develop marketing and sales skills and how to manage finances in the small business world. The class is co-taught by the content teacher and an English language teacher. Students can earn a certification in Entrepreneurship and Small Business if they pass the exam. The certificate is an industry-recognized one.

Guest Service GOLD

This course will focus on Guest Services skills that include foundational concepts and knowledge in the seven elements of Making Connections: Authenticity, Intuition, Empathy, Champion, Delight, Delivery, and Initiative. Instructors will provide workplace education coursework focusing on workplace skills including basic skills, critical thinking, digital literacy, self-management, using information, working with others, understanding systems, transitioning to employment and/or postsecondary education. The class is co-taught by the content teacher and an English language teacher. At the end of the course, individuals will take a certification exam.

Integrated Education and Training (IET)

Integrated Education and Training (IET) courses are for individuals who want to receive an industry recognized certificate upon successful completion of a specified career pathway and certification exam. Successful completion requires passing the related certification examination.

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

This course prepares individuals to become certified as a MOS Specialist in Outlook, Word, and Excel. This class is co-taught by two teachers. At the end of the course, individuals will take the MOS Certification exam.