Planning your first term
Use this page as a guide to help choose your first term of classes at PCC.?Most new students take the following classes their first term:
Part-time schedule
- Writing class
- Class from your major
Full-time schedule
- Writing class
- 2 classes – choose from: math class, class from your major, or general education elective
Writing class
Most new students take WR 121: Composition I. You should take whichever writing class was recommended during the placement process. See how to find your writing placement: ready to register.
Math class
After completing the placement process, you can decide if you want to take a math class. Learn about how to choose math classes. See how to find your math placement: ready to register.
Class from your major
Browse the class schedule for intro classes in your area of study. If you haven’t chosen a major yet,?choose a class in a topic you’re interested in exploring.
Gen ed electives
Gen ed classes are courses in subjects like history, science, and humanities. See a list classes that meet degree requirements here: general education classes.
Online classes: before registering for a class that is fully online, you’ll need to complete the Start Guide for Online Learning.
First term class options
Below are examples of first term classes for common majors. If you don’t see your major listed, see the list of academic programs.
| Major | First term classes |
|---|---|
| Addiction Counseling | LIB 101, AD 101, AD 153, AD 160 |
| Biology | MTH 251 or STAT 243, CH 151, PSY 215 or Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Social Science |
| Business: transfer to university | BA 101, BA 111, Gen Ed in any area (Economics Micro or Macro recommended) |
| Business: 2 year PCC degree | BA 101, BA 131, Gen Ed in any area |
| Chemistry | MTH 111, CH 151, Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Social Science |
| Computer Information Systems | CIS 121, CIS 122, Gen Ed in any area |
| Computer Science | MTH at level you placed into, CS 160 or CS 161A, Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Social Science |
| Criminal Justice | CJA 100, CJA 101, CJA 111 |
| Dental Assisting | MP 111, any course with at least 2 credits |
| Dental Hygiene | BI 112, CH 102 or higher |
| Early Childhood Education | WR 121, ECE 120, HEC 226, HE 112 |
| Education, Elementary school | WR 121, ED 100, Gen Ed in any area |
| Education, Middle or High school | WR 121, Subject you want to teach, ED 224, Gen Ed in any area |
| Engineering | ENGR 101, Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Social Science |
| Electronic Engineering Technology (2-yr) | Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Social Science |
| Electronic Engineering Technology transfer | PHY 201, Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Social Science |
| Exercise Science | WR121, HE295 or PE295, PE 181A/B/C, Gen Ed |
| Exploring | WR 121, 2 Gen Ed in any area |
| Family & Human Services | HUS 101, HUS 102, HUS 121, PSY 201A |
| Graphic Design | GD 120, ART 131A, ART 214 |
| History | HST 101, 102, or 103, 2 Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Science |
| Interior Design | ID 100, ID 131, ID 125, ID 122 |
| Multimedia | MM 112, MM 114, MM 116, MM 235, ART 140A |
| Music – Transfer | MUP 190, MUS 110, MUS 158A, Gen Ed in Social Sciences or Science |
| Music & Sonic Arts | MUS 110, MUS 101, MUC 101, MUS 170 |
| Nursing | BI 112, MP 111, PSY 215 |
| Physician Assistant | CH 151, PSY 201A or PSY 215, BI 211 |
| Pre-Medicine | CH 151, BI 211 |
| Psychology | PSY 201A, another PSY class, Gen Ed in Arts & Letters or Science |
| Radiography | WR 121, MP 111, BI 112 |
| Vet Tech | WR 121, MP 111, BI 112 |
Classes without prerequisites
Since you’re just getting started, you may not meet the prerequisite requirements for many classes. Some classes don’t have prerequisites, meaning you can enroll in them without having completed other classes. The list below shows classes you can take right away, allowing you to explore subjects and build your transcript.
Classes with no prerequisites
- Art 115: Basic Design – 2D Foundations
- ART 116: Basic Design – Color Foundations
- ART 117: Basic Design – 3D Foundations
- ART 131A: Drawing I
- ART 140A: Intro to Digital Photography
- ART 141: Intro to Photography
- ART 219C: Hand Lettering
- ART 237A: Drawing the Human Figure
- ART 253A: Ceramics I
- ART 284A: Watercolor I
- ASL 101: American Sign Language I
- CG 100: College Survival and Success
- CG 112: Managing Test Anxiety
- FR 101: First Year French
- GER 101: First Year German
- HE 242: Stress and Human Health
- HE 250: Personal Health
- HE 295: Health and Fitness for Life
- JPN 101: First Year Japanese
- MUS 101: Introduction to Music
- MUS 190: Introduction to Piano
Classes that only require placement into WR115
- CG 111A: Study Skills for Coll Learning
- CG 140A: Career and Life Planning
- CG 145: Stress Management
- HST 100: Introduction to History
- LIB 101: Introduction to Research
Classes that only require placement into WR121
- ENG 104: Intro to Literature
- ENG 107: Intro to World Lit – Early
- ENG 197: Film Studies – Themes and Genres
- ENG 205: British Lit from 1700
- ENG 250: Intro to Folklore and Myth
- ENG 258: African-Am Lit
- ENG 261: Literature of Science Fiction
- FN 110: Personal Nutrition
- NAS 240: Intro to Native American Lit
- WR 121: Composition I
- WR 240: Creative Writing – Nonfiction
- WR 241: Creative Writing – Fiction
- WR 242: Creative Writing – Poetry
- WR 243: Creative Writing – Script Writing
Questions
If you have questions about getting started, please contact us.