Our Programs
CAL offers the opportunity to choose from 6 program areas, Change Lab, Tech Lab , FAB Lab, Media Lab, Health Sciences, and Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering are all designed to give you industry level training in a challenging and rewarding learning environment.
Change Lab
Change lab students out in the community. Field trips and community engagement are a big part of the Change lab experience.
The main focus in Change lab is leadership and entrepreneurship, we feel real world experiences and engaging activities are the best methods to learn these skills. We use real world problems to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, and many of our students start and own their own business during this program, which we fully support in developing with them. After students gain experiences running their own entrepreneurial venture, we also partner with community organizations and address problems the students select in the community.
If this is you and you seek out new challenges, then Change Lab is for you. You are in control of your future and CAL can help you create your way to success. Change Lab is a two year course which takes you through identifying problems and developing solutions, but also creating a social action project that addresses a problem in the community with a viable solution.
Over the two-year program, students may earn up to 23 college credits and will complete at least 10+ hours at partner works sites.
“The best thing about CAL is being able to learn more about my passion and having that knowledge give me a boost into my future.”
Download our complete course guide for all our program areas. Spanish and English versions below.
Department Staff
Click the link above to see a list of courses for each program area. (PDF Download)
Tech Lab
Ethical hacking, programming, and cyber security classes utilize the latest industry standards and give students a jump start on current industry trends.
The Tech Lab program at CAL is not an average information technology program. In taking full advantage of the two year program model, courses build off of each other so that the student experiences long-term projects and learns a deep understanding of technical systems. The courses are offered in such a way that students can borrow or build off of knowledge learned previously and continue to stretch their understanding in different disciplines.
“CAL’s Tech Lab program prepared me for college in several ways. One of the most important ways was that it taught me the basic fundamentals about how to become a successful student.”
Students will learn cyber security fundamentals, programming, and web programming . Students will use this knowledge to secure infrastructures and information through ethical hacking. Students will have opportunities to compete in different cybersecurity competitions.
Over the two-year program, students earn more than 11 college credits.
program Staff
Click the link above to see a list of courses for each program area. (PDF Download)
FAB Lab
DESIGN2FAB Lab is where creativity meets design. Students take products from initial design stages all the way to fabrication.
Students in the Fashion, Art, and Branding Lab (FAB Lab) will create clothing, accessories and wearable technology. Students will focus on market and consumer-driven design and will be professionally and academically ready for an internship or entry into a college program at Mt. Hood Community College, Pacific Northwest College of Art, or Oregon State University. Students will be literate in the business of apparel, design, production, branding and marketing.
Over the two-year program, students earn more than 16 college credits and will complete at least 25+ hours either at partner worksites and/or completing partner projects.
program Staff
Click the link above to see a list of courses for each program area. (PDF Download)
Media Lab
Digital Media and Design students have access to the same gear that industry professionals use.
With constantly changing technology and ever increasing reliance on digital content, the Digital Media and Design (DMD) program at CAL is poised to get students ready for a variety of careers in the creative services industries. In this hands-on program, CAL students learn techniques for image development; they capture, create, and edit video and photo files for media productions and projects. Developing concepts through scripts and storyboards, CAL DMD students practice design, animation, digital storytelling, photography, and videography for film, web, and other types of multimedia productions. Students learn fundamental principles of graphic design, advertising, photography, video production, and marketing. DMD students love creativity and design.
Over the two-year program, students earn more than 20 college credits and will complete at least 25+ hours either at partner work sites and/or completing partner projects.
“I really love all the gear. In class we get to use all the same gear that people in the industry use. It’s cool that I can check out cameras and laptops and all the stuff I need to be creative.”
Program Staff
Click the link above to see a list of courses for each program area. (PDF Download)
Health Sciences
CAL is a leader in the state in health science education. Learning is hands on and geared towards a career in the fast changing world of health science.
CAL Health Science program students gain the skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation, and real-world experiences they need to prepare for high-demand, high-wage careers in healthcare. Students strengthen their skills for careers in the 21st century’s healthcare industry. Some of the careers we explore involve working directly with people, while others involve research. Industry experiences for students are varied and may be in hospitals, medical or dental offices. Students receive an education and training opportunities within the world of Health Sciences using state-of-the-art, industry-grade equipment such as the Anatomage Table or participate in hands-on learning using tools like Anatomy In Clay. Instructors assist learners in assessing their educational goals, interests, abilities, and skills to facilitate students’ ambitions.
Over the two-year program, students earn up to 25 college credits and will have several industry experiences outside the classroom.
“Before I chose CAL I was stuck between taking AP classes and going to CAL. I chose CAL because I knew I wanted to become a doctor. This program is helping me to figure out if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life”
Program Staff
Click the link above to see a list of courses for each program area. (PDF Download)
Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering
CAL graduates in our Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering program emerge with great intro level skills that make them in high demand with local manufacturing firms.
This program area is focused on engineering processes and prototyping (3D print & design) while working with metals. Like a Mechanical Engineer, students learn how to think, design and produce solutions to problems. Students use SolidWorks (CAD) and move from applying proper use of hand tools to welding, milling, machining, metals foundry, and rapid prototyping. Students complete work‐site learning experiences in businesses over the course of the senior year. Partners include Boeing, Cascade Corporation, Precision Castparts, and Toyo Tanso.
Over the two-year program, students earn more than 20 college credits and will complete at least 6+ hours at partner works sites.
Program Staff
Click the link above to see a list of courses for each program area. (PDF Download)
Language Arts at CAL
While technically not a program area English classes are an integral part of every program area. While you are a CAL student you will take your english credits here. Our English classes offer the opportunity for college credit and focus on giving you the communication skills you need to be successful in college or the workforce.
““You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.””
