Course Descriptions
A
B
C
- Chemistry (CHEM)
- Communication (COMM)
- Computer Information Systems (CIS)
- Computer Science (CS)
- Criminal Justice (CJ)
- Culinary Arts (CRT)
D
E
- Early Childhood Education (ECE)
- Economics (ECON)
- Education (ED)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Engineering (ENGR)
- English (ENG)
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Environmental Technology (ENV)
F
G
H
J
L
M
N
O
P
- Pharmacy Tech (PHAR)
- Philosophy (PHL)
- Physical Education (PE)
- Physics (PH)
- Political Science (PS)
- Psychology (PSY)
S
T
W
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. A list of these courses can be found in the Course Numbering System - Common Course Numbering section.
Department Codes and Descriptions:
| 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 |
| DD | Digital Design |
| DEN | Dental |
| DRFT | Drafting |
| DS | Diesel Mechanic Technology |
| ECE | Early Childhood Education |
| ECON | Economics |
| ED | Education |
| EMS | Emergency Medical Services |
| 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 |
| HE | Health & First Aid/Health Occupations |
| 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 |
| OAL | Outdoor Adventure Leadership |
| PE | Physical Education |
| PH | Physics |
| PHAR | Pharmacy Technician |
| PHL | Philosophy |
| PS | Political Science |
| PSY | Psychology |
| SOC | Sociology |
| 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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ||
| BI221Z | Principles of Biology: Cells | 5 |
| BI222Z | Principles of Biology: Organisms | 5 |
| BI223Z | Principles of Biology: Ecology And Evolution | 5 |
| BI231Z | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BI232Z | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| BI233Z | Human Anatomy & Physiology III | 4 |
| Business Administration | ||
| BA101Z | Introduction To Business | 4 |
| BA169Z | Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel | 4 |
| BA211Z | Principles of Financial Accounting | 4 |
| BA226Z | Introduction to Business Law | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM104Z & CHEM124Z | Introduction To Chemistry and Introduction To Chemistry Lab | 5 |
| CHEM112Z | Chemistry For Health Professions | 4 |
| CHEM221Z & CHEM227Z | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM222Z & CHEM228Z | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM223Z & CHEM229Z | General Chemistry III and General Chemistry III Laboratory | 5 |
| Communication | ||
| COMM100Z | Introduction to Communication | 4 |
| COMM111Z | Public Speaking | 4 |
| COMM218Z | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| Economics | ||
| ECON201Z | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON202Z | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| English | ||
| ENG104Z | Introduction To Fiction | 4 |
| ENG105Z | Introduction To Drama | 4 |
| ENG106Z | Introduction To Poetry | 4 |
| History | ||
| HST201Z | United States History I | 4 |
| HST202Z | United States History II | 4 |
| HST203Z | United States History Ill | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MTH105Z | Math in Society (has corequisite of MTH105A) | 4 |
| MTH111Z | Precalculus I: Functions (has corequisite of MTH111A) | 4 |
| MTH112Z | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 4 |
| MTH251Z | Differential Calculus | 4 |
| MTH252Z | Integral Calculus | 4 |
| MTH253Z | Calculus: Sequences and Series | 4 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSY201Z | Introduction to Psychology I | 4 |
| PSY202Z | Introduction to Psychology II | 4 |
| Sociology | ||
| SOC204Z | Introduction to Sociology | 4 |
| SOC205Z | Social Change and Institutions | 4 |
| SOC206Z | Social Problems | 4 |
| Spanish | ||
| SPAN101Z | First-Year Spanish I | 4 |
| SPAN102Z | First-Year Spanish II | 4 |
| SPAN103Z | First-Year Spanish III | 4 |
| Statistics | ||
| STAT243Z | Elementary Statistics I | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WR121Z | Composition I (has corequisite of WR121A) | 4 |
| WR122Z | Composition II | 4 |
| WR227Z | Technical Writing | 4 |