Introduction
To meet the diverse needs of students, Pima Community College offers a variety of ways for students to reach their educational goals. Students can choose from traditional, alternative-style, or accelerated classes. These classes cover many subject areas and fulfill degree and certificate requirements. Students can take classes to transfer to a four-year institution, prepare for job training, or continue their education in an area of special interest.
These classes are provided days, evenings, and weekends. Evening classes begin at 4:30 p.m. or later. Classes are offered at all PCC campuses and learning centers, as well as more than 100 off-campus sites, including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, public schools, and neighborhood centers in Pima County.
Traditional-Style Classes
PCC offers traditional-style classes in which students are required to attend lecture and/or lab on specified days and times. Regular classes run for 16 weeks during fall and spring semesters. Some classes include in-class computer usage.
Alternative-Style Classes
PCC also offers alternative-style classes that provide students with different teaching methods or within different time frames. These classes are designed to fit students’ learning styles and scheduling needs and include:
- Online - Classes taught via the Internet.
- Open Entry/Open Exit - Students enroll at any time during the semester and complete required work at their own pace within the semester or by arrangement with the instructor. Full academic credit classes only.
- Self-Paced Independent - Students work off-campus at their own pace, with study materials prepared by College faculty. Students must meet with faculty for the initial class at the time and room defined in the class schedule.
- Self-Paced on Campus - Students work on-campus each week at their own pace, in the room defined in the class schedule, with faculty guidance. Students must meet with faculty in the room defined during the first week of classes.
- Classroom and Online - Students receive instruction in the classroom and via the Internet with reduced time in the classroom.
- Web Self-Paced - Students work via the Internet at their own pace with materials provided by College faculty via the Internet.
Note: All Self-Paced courses must be completed by the end of the semester in which they are taken.
Workplace Learning Classes
A workplace learning course is one in which the student applies concepts and practices learned previously or concurrently to facilitated observation and/or practical work situations, on- or off-campus, within a field related to the discipline. These experiences may also be referred to as cooperative education, practicum, clinicals, field experience, internship, or externship. All workplace learning courses are supervised by the College and have an assigned instructor, and class attendance is tracked on a weekly basis.
Honors Program
The Honors Program provides students enriched learning opportunities, as well as service, leadership, and social engagement activities, to foster academic, professional, and personal development. It features an enhanced curriculum where students can expand their intellectual capabilities, develop creativity, and practice leadership skills. The primary goals of the Honors Program are to encourage leadership and community service, to provide opportunities for intellectual, professional, and personal growth, and to facilitate entry into Honors Programs at four-year colleges. The Honors Program features small class sizes, assistance for students seeking scholarships and awards, and a strong support network among students, faculty, and staff.
To graduate from Pima Community College with an Honors designation, students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of honors courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5. The Honors 101 Colloquium (3 credits) is a required course in this 15-credit minimum. HON 101 must be completed with an A or B grade.
Admission Criteria
Details about the criteria to join the Honors Program, as well as program requirements and Honors contacts, are at pima.edu/programs-courses/honors/. For information about other honors societies, see Phi Theta Kappa.
Distance Learning - PimaOnline - Online Education
With an ever-increasing number of PCC courses in many subject areas available online, you can receive an excellent education no matter where you live or work. Please see https://pima.edu/programs-courses/pima-online/index.html for more information, including how to find an online class and how to get started.
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