how to take a course at a community college

Taking Courses at a Community College.

• Step 1: Find A Community College. Use the California Community Colleges' Find a College Tool to see a map. CPP students often take classes at Mt. Sac, ...
• Step 2: Find the Articulation Agreement.
• Step 3: Apply to the Community College.
• Step 4: Register for the Course (s)
• Step 5: Send CPP Your Official Transcripts.

Full Answer

What classes should I take at Community College?

What Classes Should I Take in Community College for Chemistry?

• Selective School Considerations. If your main goal in an Associate of Science in chemistry degree is to later transfer to a four-year bachelor's program, you'll need to consult the undergraduate ...
• Lecture-Based Classes. ...
• Laboratories. ...
• Mixing in the Math. ...

How many classes can I take in Community College?

You can take a maximum of 19.3 units in the Fall and Spring semesters, and a maximum of 8.3 units during the Winter and Summer sessions. Although these are the maximum units, we recommend that you take 12-14.3 units each semester if you are working 20 hours or less per week.

Why should high school students take community college classes?

• Study and take prerequisite courses as soon as you can. Some programs have a minimum GPA requirement and course prerequisites. ...
• Research eligibility criteria. There are eligibility criteria for each program, such as grade level, teacher recommendations, and parent permission. ...
• Talk to your guidance counselor. ...

Can I take my core classes at Community College?

Your general education requirements (GERs) usually encompass basic English and math, lab sciences such as astronomy and geology, and humanities, such as psychology or art history. Taking these courses online, especially through a community college, is often less expensive than completing all four years on campus at a traditional college.

What are the easiest community college classes to take?

That being said, here's a look at some college classes that tend to be easier than some core classes.Creative Writing. ... Physical Education. ... Psychology. ... Public Speaking. ... Anthropology. ... Art History. ... Acting. ... Photography.More items...

What type of degree is typically learned at a community college?

Most community colleges do not offer a bachelor's degree. Instead, community colleges award certificates and associate degrees. An associate's degree is designed to be finished in two years (after about 60 credits) and is made up of core classes like English, history, math, government, arts, and science.

Does community college accept everyone?

Almost all community colleges are open-access, which means almost anyone who applies is accepted. Usually the highest degree a student can earn at a community college is an associate degree.

What is the easiest degree to get?

Here are the 16 Easiest College Majors for 2022:Psychology.Criminal Justice.English.Education.Religious Studies.Social Work.Sociology.Communications.More items...•

How Can A High School Student Take Community College Classes?

Aren’t community college classes just for college students? Actually, no. While the primary purpose of community college is to provide an education...

What Are The Benefits of Taking Community College Classes in High School?

Why would a high school student be interested in taking community college classes? There are several benefits.

What Are The Drawbacks to Taking Community College Classes in High School?

Though there are major benefits to community college classes for high school students, there are also some drawbacks.

When Should You Take Community College Classes?

You should think carefully about what semester and year you want to enroll in a community college class. It’s recommended that you don’t take commu...

How Do You Decide Which Community College Classes to take?

You will want to think carefully about which community college classes to take in order to maximize their usefulness and how much you learn. Althou...

How to Enroll in Community College Classes

After you have decided which class you want to take, you need to begin the enrollment process. Before you enroll, talk to your academic adviser at...

What Can Community Colleges Offer To Students

Most community colleges offer two-year Associate’s degree programs in a wide variety of academic and pre-professional fields. A growing number also offer Bachelor’s degrees, though most of these programs are relatively new and limited in options.

Will My Kid Have An Opportunity To Participate In Extracurricular Activities In Community College

Most community colleges offer many student clubs and organizations. Some even have sports. This will vary greatly from school-to-school. Handel says many parents and students underestimate the vibrant student life community colleges offer. Take a look at your students college website which usually lists the organizations and resources available.

How Can My Student Transfer From A Community College To A Four

Many students transfer from a two-year community college to a four-year college. The first step is making a plan and talking to an academic advisor about transfer requirements.

Why Should You Take Community College Classes In High School

There are many benefits of going to community college before university, but there are even more benefits when you’re taking classes in high school!

How To Enroll In Individual Classes

If you are a California Community College or California State University undergraduate student, find out how you can enroll in individual UCSD courses through the Cross Enrollment Program.

Frequently Asked Questions Below

What does “transfer” mean? In general, “transfer” indicates moving from one educational institution to another. However, this web site uses the term “transfer” to describe advancement from a community college to a four-year college or university.

Can My Child Earn Credentials At A Community College

Your student can earn an associate degree and post-secondary certificates at community colleges. Associate degrees are typically 60 credits and take two years to complete. Certificates can take anywhere from a few months to several years. A growing number of community colleges are offering bachelors degrees, but not all.

Why Take Summer College Courses Online

AffordableCollegesOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Speak With Your Advisor

If youre planning to take summer courses at another college, you need to check in with your academic advisor or counselor.

Register Now For The Summer 2021 Term

Hundreds of online or in-person classes are searchable now on the Course Catalog. Check the complete schedule of Zoom and in-person classes for summer. CCAC will offer a limited range of on-campus in-person classes, as well as a wide range of online classes and remote learning options.

Why Spending Summer In The Classroom Might Be Worth It

While summer brings a welcome break from the rigors of academics for most students, enrolling in online summer courses could be the ticket to improving your college experiencewithout sacrificing your summer vacation.

Offering Courses In Different Formats To Fit Your Needs

A mixture of live meetings and online learning. Live meetings may be in-person or remote-live, depending on what the state will allow

The Best Classes To Save For Summer Semester

What’s the best online class to take in the summer? The short answer is, it depends who you ask. Take advice from students who have been there before. Weve narrowed down a variety of student perspectives and experiences that might help you choose which methodology for taking online summer classes is right for you.

The Best Classes To Save For Summer If You Want To

Pre-requisite classes or electives can be a nuisance during semesters full of tougher coursework. Some students use online summer courses to knock out these classes to keep their fall and spring semester schedule less cluttered. When you enter the fall semester, you’ll be able to concentrate on the heavy lifting.

Why do community colleges offer online courses?

An online curriculum makes sense to many community college students who are trying to structure their education around a professional job and family responsibilities . In light of the fact that many community college students have limited resources to spend on education, free courses make even more sense on this level.

What was the White House's plan to help community colleges?

In addition to helping high schools come up with a low-cost curriculum, the original proposal coming out of the White House offered federal funding to help community colleges develop courses that students could take absolutely free.

Where did NROC get its courses?

Originally, NROC purchased courses from the University of California 's vault of preparatory courses. However, according to NROC's director, Gary Lopez, nearly one-third of all students and institutions using NROC's free resources today are community and technical colleges.

Is college an impossible dream?

College used to be considered the "impossible dream" for many low-income students and adults looking for additional work training. However, thanks to proposals from President Obama (which still may come to pass some time in the future) and organizations like NROC, students can get the education they need at a price they can afford.

What does it mean to take community college classes?

Taking community college classes may mean you have to pay tuition fees and other expenses. ( Tax Credits /Flickr) Read the sections below to learn more about how to make smart decisions when taking community college classes and minimize negative impacts.

What is the purpose of community college?

While the primary purpose of community college is to provide an education to college students, most now also offer classes to people of varying ages and levels of education, from children to senior citizens. Many community colleges allow high school students to take certain classes. Sometimes high school students are only able to enroll in ...

Why is it important to have enough free time before enrolling in community college?

As mentioned above, it's important to make sure you have enough free time in your schedule before you enroll in a community college course. By choosing classes that fill well in your schedule, you will make your community college experience less stressful and more enjoyable.

Why do you take community college classes in summer?

Taking a community college class during the summer gives you more time to concentrate on it because you won't have to balance a full high school course load at the same time. Don't try to take a community college class if you are already busy with your high school classes and activities.

What to do if your high school doesn't offer AP classes?

If your high school doesn't offer certain advanced classes, taking them at a community college can be a great way to strengthen your transcript. If your high school doesn't offer many or even any AP classes, you may be concerned that your school's lack of challenging classes will put you behind other students when applying to and starting college.

Do you have to include community college classes on your transcript?

Your community college classes may be included on your high school transcript, labeled in such a way to show they are college-level classes, or, if not, you can include your community college transcript with your applications. Taking community college classes in high school shows that you can take initiative, are hard working, ...

Is community college hard?

Sometimes, community college classes aren't challenging, in fact, in some cases high school students feel that the community college classes they take are easy, especially when compared to AP or other advanced classes . If you are used to rigorous classes, there's a chance that you will find your community college classes too easy, especially if you are taking introductory classes. This may result in you not learning as much as you'd like to.

What does a high school counselor do?

A high school counselor can help students plan and select courses that align with their future goals, he says. High school counselors can also inform families of the necessary procedures to enroll in a community college course in their state, he says, while making sure families get the most affordable cost.

Do you have to take a placement test to enroll in a community college?

And sometimes students may have to take a placement test before enrolling in certain courses. Most community colleges have open admission policies, which means that typically anyone who can benefit from higher education can enroll, says Julie Leidig, provost of Northern Virginia Community College's Loudoun campus.

Can counselors help students get high school credit?

And school counselors can ensure students get high school credit if they are participating in a dual enrollment program, along with advising students on which community college courses are likely to transfer to four-year institutions students are considering attending, he says. how earning college credit in high school can slash undergrad costs.

Can teens earn college credit?

Generally speaking, teens earn both high school and college credit when participating in dual credit programs, say Elisabeth Barnett, an expert on dual enrollment at Teachers College, Columbia University. Though, she notes, that the language used to describe these types of programs varies.

Do you have to apply to community college before you can take a course?

Apply: High schoolers will typically have to apply for admission to the community college before they can take a course. The application is typically really straightforward, says Barnett. However, some community colleges have minimum age requirements, she says.

Do high schoolers have to take dual enrollment classes?

Though, she notes, that the language used to describe these types of programs varies. But high schoolers don't have to participate in a dual enrollment program to take classes at a community college, says Barnett. They could just go to a community college and ask to sign up for a class. Parents can help teens take the following steps ...

Why do you take one class at community college?

Taking one class at a community college during the summer can allow students to narrow their focus on a single subject – something they often don't have time to do when taking the typical four, five or six classes during a semester of undergrad. [Find out who benefits from community college .]

When to start planning for Northern Virginia Community College?

It's better to start planning as early as March, she says​. Undergrads usually need to provide an official transcript from their university to sign up for classes at Northern Virginia Community College.

Is community college transferable?

The credits obtained at a community college may be transferable to a student's undergraduate institution, helping the under grad inch closer to graduation requirements. But going back and forth between a four-year school and a community college is not always a smooth process.

Is summer break a college?

For some college students , summer break isn 't just a time for internships​ and trips to the beach. It's a time for returning to the classroom,​ but at another institution: ​ community college. Heading to a community college is "very common" among college students, says Julia Brown, the coordinator for transfer policy at Northern Virginia Community ...

Can you transfer credits to community college?

Usually students can transfer credits, but not grades, from a community college to their primary institution. For some college students, summer break isn't just a time for internships​ and trips to the beach. It's a time for returning to the classroom,​ but at another institution: ​ community college. Heading to a community college is "very common" ...

Does McKibben discourage community college students?

McKibben says he actually discourages students from taking any community college courses during the summer unless it's​ a course that they need, that, for some reason, the university doesn't offer. "We want to make sure they're following a sensible course plan.".

Is an associates degree competitive?

This is only meant to point out that associates degree programs can be quite competitive and inclusive despite common misconceptions. Of course, there are other benefits to learning on the community college level, at least for the first two years of your education.

Do community colleges accept transfer credits?

There are a few problems that can be associated with a community college education and you should take note of these so that they do not become a problem for you. First of all, some universities do not accept many of the courses that are offered on the community college level as transfer credits.