San Bernardino is the 18th-largest city in the state of California and is situated directly in the middle of the San Bernardino Valley. The city was first established in 1883 when the Southern California railroad was forced to pass through the area, thus creating a place of immediate value to those using he trains. As of the 2000 census, there were more than 185,000 residents of San Bernardino; as of 2009, the county's population was estimated at more than 2 million.
San Bernardino Valley College is a community college in the city that offers students options of both a traditional classroom atmosphere and an online program for learning. The school offers associate degrees to its graduates and prepares them for careers in their chosen fields or for transfer to a traditional four-year college or university.
Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa offers students 30 different associate degree programs ranging from from anatomy/physiology to theater arts. In addition, it also offers professional certification programs for professions and skill sets that may not necessarily need a specific degree. Some examples include emergency medical services, fire technology and office computer applications.
The Professional Development Center in the city of San Bernardino is an institution that focuses on providing students with specific skill sets for a given profession. The school offers programs in food handling, customer service skills and computer training. It also offers customized programs that enable students to combine different aspects of programs to tailor their specific needs.