Prairie State College is a two-year community college offering associate degrees; and, technical and career studies certificates, as well as adult, corporate and community education. Prairie State is the first Illinois community college to guarantee all of its degree and technical certificate programs. Founded in 1957 as Bloom Township Community College, the first classes were held in 1958 in the basement of the First Christian Church. The College has come a long way since then. Bloom Community College was originally established to offer transfer liberal arts courses and occupational courses. Most students graduating in the early 1960s earned degrees in the liberal arts field of study. Today, the College serves a more broad population, offering four types of associates degrees(art, science, applied science and general studies), two types of certificates (technical and career studies) and training in many other areas.