Nov 25, 2024  
2020-2021 College Catalog 
    
2020-2021 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The College



Accreditation

Pima Community College (4905 E. Broadway Boulevard., Tucson, AZ 85709, 520-206-4500) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Commission can be reached through its website (www.hlcommission.org ), by telephone (800-621-7440), or by mail at 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.

The following degrees and certificates have been accredited, approved, endorsed, or certified by specialized agencies. Those marked “CTD” are clock-hour, non-credit certificates.

These program-level certifications are conducted by external agencies appropriate for each discipline and are in addition to College accreditation:

Automotive Technology, AAS  

Automotive Mechanics Certificate  

Aviation Technology AAS
(In addition, Pima’s Aviation Technology Program is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.)

Dental Assisting Education Certificate  

Dental Hygiene, AAS  

Dental Laboratory Technology, AAS  

Early Childhood Studies, AAS  

Education, Elementary Certification, Post-Degree Certificate  

Education, Secondary Certification, Post-Degree Certificate  

Emergency Medical Technology Certificate  

Emergency Medical Technology — Paramedic, AAS  

Fire Science Academy Track Certificate  

Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE), AAS  

Law Enforcement Academy Certificate  

Machine Tool Technology, AAS  

Medical Assistant Certificate  

Medical Laboratory Technician, AAS  

Nursing, PN Exit Option Degree for Direct Employment, AAS  

Nursing Assistant Certificate  (Desert Vista, West and Pascua Yaqui) 

Paralegal, AAS  

Pharmacy Technology Certificate  

Practical Nurse Certificate  

Radiologic Technology, AAS  

Respiratory Care, AAS  

Surgical Technologist Certificate  

Therapeutic Massage Certificate  

Veterinary Technician, AAS  

Documentation for each program accreditation is available from the Office of Academic Quality Improvement, 520-206-4901.

College Mission

Pima Community College is an open-admissions institution providing affordable, comprehensive educational opportunities that support student success and meet the diverse needs of its students and community.

College Vision

Pima Community College will be a premier community college committed to providing educational pathways that ensure student success and enhance the academic, economic, and cultural vitality of our students and diverse community.

College Values

To guide Pima Community College, these values characterize the way in which we accomplish our mission:

People
We value our students, employees, and the community members we serve, by making decisions that address the needs of those populations.

Integrity
We make a commitment to academic honesty, personal ethics, and institutional decision-making that is based on sound moral principles, accountability, and transparency.

Excellence
We embrace best practices and value high-quality services and programs that lead to successful outcomes for our students through evidence-based continuous improvement practices.

Communication
We are committed to sharing information with internal and external stakeholders in a transparent, timely, and meaningful way that is open, honest and civil.

Collaboration
We encourage teamwork and cooperation within the College and with the community to support student success.

Open Admissions and Open Access
We value open admissions and access to our programs and services for all who may benefit from them, regardless of where they are starting from or what their final goal may be.

Core Themes and Objectives

Student Success

  • Support and increase student goal achievement
  • Support student progress toward goals
  • Enhance course, program and general education assessment to improve learning

Access

  • Provide educational pathways and resources that meet student and community needs
  • Increase enrollment across the College

Teaching and Program Excellence

  • Provide excellent teaching that utilizes best practices to support student success
  • Offer relevant and quality programs that provide positive contributions to the economy of the region

Student Services

  • Provide quality and appropriate student support services at the campuses
  • Provide student-centered admissions and financial aid processes that support student success

Community Engagement

  • Promote initiatives that provide opportunities for the development of our students and community
  • Engage with national, state and local authorities on initiatives that support the mission of the College
  • Develop and enhance partnerships that identify and respond to the educational needs of the community
  • Engage with industry and increase the skilled workforce within Pima County

Diversity, Inclusion and Global Education

  • Expand and support the diversity of the College’s student population
  • Close the achievement gap
  • Expand and support the diversity of the College’s workforce
  • Develop and increase the student population through global education

Institutional Effectiveness

  • Ensure effective and ethical use of the College’s financial resources, technology, and infrastructure
  • Enhance an evidence-based approach to decision-making that is based on continuous improvement processes

College Profile

In 1966 the citizens of Pima County, Arizona, voted by a large margin to form a junior college district. The county superintendent of schools appointed a five-member governing board that laid the groundwork for Pima College. With help from committees composed of citizens, the board developed educational goals, created a financial plan, selected a president, and chose a campus site.

The next year the citizens of Pima County elected a board to replace the appointed officials and approved a $5.9 million bond issue for the College. In 1969, construction on the first campus began on a 267-acre site in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, west of the city.

The College’s first classes met in the fall of 1969 at Tucson Medical Center, Villa Maria and in Marana. In the fall of 1970 Pima College officially opened its doors to 3,543 students. Classes were held in unlikely quarters, a hangar at Tucson International Airport. By January of 1971, students in all programs attended classes in the 11 buildings on Anklam Road - today’s West Campus, which has expanded to include the Center for the Arts to serve about 13,000 students annually.

Expansion and evolution soon began. In 1972 the board renamed the institution Pima Community College to better reflect its mission of service to the community. It began to offer greater access through additional campuses.

In 1974 the College opened the Downtown Campus at Stone Avenue and Speedway Boulevard. The first classes were held in a remodeled post office building. With the purchase of neighboring structures and the construction of the campus center and classroom technology building, the campus grew to 10 buildings. The campus currently serves about 9,000 students annually.

In 1975 the College established the Community Campus to supplement traditional on-campus education. After occupying several sites, the permanent Community Campus facility opened in 1997 near St. Mary’s Road and Interstate 10 and served about 16,000 students annually, until the property was sold in Spring 2019. All Community Campus services and units were relocated to other campus locations.

The College established the East Education Center in 1976. It became the East Campus in 1980. Located on a desert site east of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the campus doubled in size in the fall of 1989 with the construction of the student union and library. The campus serves about 6,000 students annually. In 2004, the College and Tucson Parks and Recreation built a 21-acre park on the northwest edge of the campus, with soccer and softball fields, and a fitness facility for students.

The South Education Center opened in 1986, and by 1993 had grown into the Desert Vista Campus, located near Interstate 19 and Valencia Road. Annually, the campus serves 6,000 students, including many who use the training and student services of the Center for Training and Development. The campus also houses a charter high school serving American Indian students.

The Northwest Community Learning Center opened in 1998 and in fall 2003 was replaced by Northwest Campus on North Shannon Road. The Northwest Campus offers a full spectrum of educational, recreational and cultural programs and services to more than 5,000 students annually.

The College is one of the largest multi-campus community college districts in the nation and currently serves more than 41,000 students annually.

Pima County Community College District

District Office
4905 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-1010
520-206-4500
520-206-4530 (TTY)

Maintenance and Security
6680 S. Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-1700
520-206-2733
520-206-2682 (TTY)

Campuses

Desert Vista Campus
5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz
Tucson, AZ 85709-6000
520-206-5101

Downtown Campus
1255 N. Stone Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85709-3000
520-206-7171

East Campus
8181 E. Irvington Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-4000
520-206-7000

Northwest Campus
7600 N. Shannon Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-7200
520-206-2200

West Campus
2202 W. Anklam Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-0001
520-206-6600

Educational Centers and Offices

Alumni Association
(See District Office)
4905C E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-1320
520-206-4646

Aviation Technology Center
7211 S. Park Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85709-6185
520-206-5910

Center for the Arts
(See West Campus)
2202 W. Anklam Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-0295
520-206-6986

Center for Learning Technology
(See Northwest Campus)
7600 N. Shannon Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-7200
520-206-2352

Center for Training and Development
(See Desert Vista Campus)
5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz
Tucson, AZ 85709-6365
520-206-5100

Center for Transportation Training
(Truck Driver Training site at
Maintenance & Security)
6680 S. Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-1850
520-206-2744

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Education Center
5355 E. Granite St.
Building 2441, Suite 100
Tucson, AZ 85707-3011
520-206-4866

Adult Basic Education for College & Career Administrative Offices
(See Downtown Campus)
1255 N. Stone Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85709-3000
520-206-6500

El Pueblo Liberty Adult Learning Center
101 W. Irvington Road
Building 7
Tucson, AZ 85709-5640
520-206-3737

HSE/GED®/Certification Testing
Downtown Campus,
East Campus and Northwest Campus
520-206-3987

El Rio Adult Learning Center
1390 W. Speedway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-5630
520-206-3800

29th Street Coalition Center Adult Learning Center
4355 E. Calle Aurora
Tucson, AZ 85709-5000
520-206-3550

PCC - Santa Cruz Center
2021 N. Grand Ave., Nogales, AZ 85621
520-394-7181

Pima Community College Foundation
(See District Office)
4905C E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-1320
520-206-4646

Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute - 29th Street Coalition Center
4355 E. Calle Aurora
Tucson, AZ 85709-5000
520-206-3535

Workforce Development and Continuing Education
(See District Office)
4905C E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-1320
520-206-6593

Campuses and Centers

Pima Community College campuses and centers offer degrees, certificates, and training, as well as comprehensive student services that include advising, counseling, tutoring and library services.

Campuses

Desert Vista Campus

  • Center for Training and Development
  • Hospitality Management
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Teacher Education

District Office

  • Continuing Education
  • Small Business Development Center
  • Workforce Development

Downtown Campus

  • Adult Basic Education for College & Career: Adult Basic Education, HSE preparation and testing, English Language Acquisition for Adults, Math Bridge classes, IBEST programs, Refugee Education, Citizenship Classes
  • Automotive Technology
  • Building and Construction Technology
  • Computer Aided Drafting and Design
  • Developmental Education Administration
  • Ethnic, Gender and Transborder Studies
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
  • Immigrant and Refugee Services
  • Machine Tool Technology
  • Mechatronics
  • Paralegal
  • Placement and Testing Administration
  • Veterans Services
  • Welding and Fabrication

East Campus

  • Administration of Justice Studies
  • Arizona Cyber Warfare Range
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emergency Medical Technology
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Makerspace
  • Veterinary Sciences

Northwest Campus

  • Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Hospitality Management
  • PimaOnline
  • Pharmacy Technology
  • Therapeutic Massage

West Campus

  • Anthropology/Archaeology
  • Athletics
  • Dance
  • Dental Assisting
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Dental Lab Technology
  • Digital Arts
  • Fashion Design
  • Fitness and Sport Sciences
  • Medical Lab Technician
  • Music 
  • Nursing 
  • Radiologic Technology 
  • Respiratory Care 
  • Social Services 
  • Theater 
  • Visual and Performing Arts

Centers

29th Street Coalition Center

  • Fire Science
  • Law Enforcement
  • EMT-Paramedic
  • Adult Basic Education for College & Career: Adult Basic Education, HSE preparation and testing, English Language Acquisition for Adults, Math Bridge classes, IBEST programs, Refugee Education, Citizenship Classes

PCC- Santa Cruz Center

  • For-credit college courses

Aviation Technology Center

  • Aviation Airframe Mechanics
  • Aviation Powerplant Mechanics
  • Avionics
  • Aviation Structural Repair

Davis-Monthan AFB Education Center

  • General Education Mobile

El Rio Learning Center

  • Adult Basic Education for College & Career: Adult Basic Education, HSE preparation and testing, English Language Acquisition for Adults, Math Bridge classes, IBEST programs, Refugee Education, Citizenship Classes

El Pueblo Liberty Learning Center

  • Adult Basic Education for College & Career: Adult Basic Education, HSE preparation and testing, English Language Acquisition for Adults, Math Bridge classes, IBEST programs, Refugee Education, Citizenship Classes

Maintenance & Security

  • Autonomous Vehicle Driver & Operations 
  • Bus Driver Training
  • Commercial Truck Driver Training
  • Motorcycle Rider Safety