Course/Credit Types

Lower Division Collegiate Transfer (LDC) courses are those that will transfer to four-year schools in Oregon, four-year public institutions, and apply towards a bachelor’s degree. Generally, transfer courses will have a departmental prefix and a three-digit number 100 through 299.

Developmental Education (DEV) courses are designed to help a student gain skill and knowledge before taking college-level courses. These courses will generally have a departmental prefix and a two- or four-digit number.

Career Technical Education (CTE) courses will vary, but will have a departmental prefix and a two-, three-, or four-digit number. Because course numbers vary, students planning to transfer to four-year institutions should follow the course selections shown under the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AA/OT) requirements, as well as consult with their advisor.  Career Technical Education courses may have limitations in degrees.

Non-credit courses are generally offered for community interest, personal enrichment, and professional development. The content is generally not applicable toward a certificate, diploma, or degree, and courses are not always transcribed.

Continuing Education Units (CEU) are a nationally recognized unit granted for educational experiences to upgrade a person’s skills in a particular profession or occupation. Courses developed to meet these needs are often approved through a professional licensing agency or a state or regional board. The units are not convertible to college credit.

Professional Development Units (PDU) activities may include a program, course, workshop, seminar, or other pre-approved learning experience. For a course to be eligible for PDU credit and for the activity to be transcribed by the College, it must meet specific criteria.

Foreign Language Requirement effective for everyone graduating from high school in 1997 (and thereafter).  All Oregon four-year public institutions require two years of high school second language for admission. This admission requirement can also be satisfied by two quarters (or semesters) of a college-level second language or demonstrated proficiency in a second language. For additional information, contact an advisor.

Common Course Numbering (Z) courses are guaranteed to transfer to other public institutions within Oregon. They are the following courses: MTH105Z, MTH111Z, MTH112Z, COMM100Z, COMM111Z, COMM218Z, STAT243Z, WR121Z, WR122Z, and WR227Z.

Subject Codes

Code	Description
ABE	Academic Skills
AG	Agroecology
AH	Allied Health
ANTH	Anthropology
ART	Art
ASL	American Sign Language
BA	Business Administration
BI	Biology
CHEM	Chemistry
CIS	Computer Information Systems
CJ	Criminal Justice
COMM	Communication
CRT	Culinary Arts
CS	Computer Science
DEN	Dental
DRFT	Drafting
ECE	Early Childhood Education
ECON	Economics
ED	Education
EM	Emergency Management
EMT	Emergency Medical Technician
ENG	English/Literature
ENGR	Engineering
ENV	Environmental Technology
ESL	English as a Second Language
F	Forestry
FN	Nutrition
FS	Fire Science
G	Geology
GEOG	Geography
GS	General Science
HD	Human Development
HDFS	Human Development & Family Studies
HE	Health & First Aid/Health Occupations
HIM	Health Information Management
HON	Honors Program
HS	Human Services
HST	History
HUM	Humanities
J	Journalism
MFG	Manufacturing Technology
MT	Machine Tool Technology
MTH	Mathematics
MUP	Music Performance
MUS	Music
NR	Natural Resources
NRS	Nursing
NUR	Nursing - CNA
PE	Physical Education
PH	Physics
PHAR	Pharmacy Technician
PHL	Philosophy
PS	Political Science
PSY	Psychology
SOC	Sociology
SP	Speech
SPAN	Spanish
STAT	Statistics
TA	Theatre
WLD	Welding Technology
WR	Writing
WQT	Water Quality Treatment

Course Numbering System

COURSES NUMBERED 0100-0499 (not section numbers) do not carry grades or credit. Tuition is charged per clock hour.

COURSES NUMBERED 0500-1999 may be graded (letter grade) or ungraded (pass/fail) or audit only. These courses may be credit or noncredit. Courses numbered 0500-1999 may not be applied toward a Southwestern degree or certificate unless stated in specific AAS curriculums.

COURSES NUMBERED 2000-9999, without a career technical alpha prefix and that carry credit, may be used only as an elective for an AAS or certificate (excluding those listed as Developmental Education courses).

COURSES NUMBERED 2000-9999 may be graded or ungraded and may carry credit applicable to a Southwestern career technical degree or certificate. Career technical certificate/degree programs provide up to two years of specialized education designed to prepare the student for career-entry.

COURSES NUMBERED 100-299 are acceptable for a Southwestern degree or certificate and may or may not be eligible for transfer to four-year institutions. However, students should be aware the course or courses may be accepted as elective credit only or not at all if the credits do not fit in the student’s major discipline or major. Transfer acceptability is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Career Technical Education (CTE) courses identified by the following course alpha prefixes may not transfer to a four-year institution. Specific transfer articulation agreements may exist. The interested student should consult with the appropriate staff at the four-year institution. Up to 12 credits of CTE courses numbered 100 and above may be used as elective credit toward the AAOT degree.

The following departments are known to have career technical education courses at Southwestern Oregon Community College:

Developmental Education Courses

Developmental Education (DEV) courses, although they may be required by placement scores, do not fulfill any Southwestern degree or certificate requirements.  Developmental Education courses build appropriate skills enabling students to be successful in college-level courses.

Course Number Change

In the event a course number has been changed from a career technical number to a college-level number, the college-level number will appear on the permanent record only for those who took the class after the change was approved.

Common Course Numbering 

Common Course Numbering (Z) courses are guaranteed to transfer to other public institutions within Oregon. They are the following courses: MTH105Z, MTH111Z,
MTH112Z, COMM100Z, COMM111Z, COMM218Z, WR121Z, WR122Z, WR227Z, BA101Z, BA211Z, BA213Z, ENG104Z, ENG105Z, ENG106Z, PSY201Z, and PSY202Z.