Planning your first term
Use this page as a guide to help choose your first term of classes at PCC.
Part-time schedule
Part-time: less than 12 credits per term. On average, a student taking 4-8 credits per term (1-2 classes) should plan to spend between 12-24 hours a week in class and studying.
- One writing class: most new students take WR 121Z: Composition I. You should take the writing class that was recommended during placement. See your writing placement in MyPCC: ready to register.
- One class from your major: browse the class schedule for intro classes in your area of study. If you don’t have a major yet, choose a topic you want to explore.
Full-time schedule
Full-time: 12 credits or more per term. On average, a student taking 12 credits per term (3 classes) should plan to spend 36 hours a week in class and studying.
- One writing class: most new students take WR 121Z: Composition I. You should take the writing class that was recommended during placement. See your writing placement in MyPCC: ready to register.
- Two classes, choose from:
- Class from your major: browse the class schedule for intro classes in your area of study. If you don’t have a major yet, choose a topic you want to explore.
- Math class: after completing placement, decide if you want to take a math class. Learn about choosing a math class. See your math placement in MyPCC: ready to register.
- General education elective: classes in subjects like history, science, and humanities. See general education classes.
Registration tools
- How to register
- Getting on a waitlist
- New Student Sessions: for first-time college students who have applied to PCC and plan to take classes toward a degree or certificate.
Class suggestions by program
Below are examples of first term classes for some of PCC’s academic programs.
- These suggestions are for first-time students who have placed into WR 121Z and MTH 60.
- Some classes below require higher math placement.
Online classes: before registering for online classes, you must complete the Start Guide for Online Learning.
| Program of interest | First term class suggestions |
|---|---|
| University Transfer | WR 121Z, general education classes: see more about university transfer |
| Architectural Design and Drafting | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Architectural Design and Drafting |
| ASL/English Interpreting | Take prerequisites needed to apply to ASL/English Interpreting |
| Auto Collision Repair | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Auto Collision Repair (if classes are full, take WR 121Z and general education classes) |
| Automotive Service | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Automotive Service |
| Aviation Maintenance | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Aviation Maintenance (if classes are full, take WR 121Z and general education classes) |
| Aviation Science | WR 121Z, GS 109, and prerequisites needed to apply to Aviation Science |
| Bioscience | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Bioscience |
| Building Construction | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Building Construction |
| Business Administration (AAS degree) | WR 121Z, BA 100, BA 101, BA 131, BA 111 |
| Business Administration (transfer) | WR 121Z, BA 101, BA 106, Arts and Letters general education class |
| Civil and Construction Engineering | See suggested classes: CCET advising guide |
| Computer Information Systems | WR 121Z, MTH 65 or higher, CIS 120 or 121 (take CIS 120 if you need computer literacy skills before taking CIS 121), CIS 184C |
| Computer Information Systems (Cybersecurity) | WR 121Z, MTH 65 or higher, CIS 120 or 121 (take CIS 120 if you need computer literacy skills before taking CIS 121), CIS 184C and apply to Cybersecurity |
| Computer Information Systems (Web Development and Design) | WR 121Z, MTH 65 or higher, CIS 120 or 121 (take CIS 120 if you need computer literacy skills before taking CIS 121), CIS 184C or 195H |
| Criminal Justice | WR 121Z, CJA 100, CJA 101 |
| Dealer Service | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Dealer Service |
| Dental Assisting | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Dental Assisting |
| Dental Hygiene | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Dental Hygiene |
| Diesel Service | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Diesel Service |
| Education (elementary) | WR 121Z, MTH 211, PS 201, PSY 201A, ED 100, ED 224, ED 258, ED 259, ED 251, ED 269 |
| Education (middle / high) | WR 121Z, MTH 60 or higher if teaching science or math, and classes in field of interest |
| Electronic Engineering | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Electronic Engineering |
| Emergency Medical Services | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Emergency Medical Services |
| Exercise Science | WR 121Z, FT 100, FT 101, FT 131, PE 181A, PE 295, HE 295, and prerequisites needed to apply to Exercise Science |
| Eye Technician | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Eye Technician |
| Facilities Maintenance (HVAC) | FMT 101, FMT 111, ARCH 162, any FMT class without prerequisites (for AAS degree, also WR 121Z and APR 162) |
| GIS and Geospatial | See suggested classes: degree advising guide or certificate advising guide |
| Graphic Design | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Graphic Design |
| Health Information Management | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Health Information Management |
| Interior Design | WR 121Z and suggested classes from the term-by-term breakdown Interior Design |
| Landscape Tech | See suggested classes: term-by-term breakdown Landscape Tech |
| Machine Manufacturing | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Machine Manufacturing |
| Medical Assisting | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Medical Assisting |
| Medical Lab Tech | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Medical Lab Tech |
| Microelectronics | WR 121Z, MT 101, MT 102, MT 103, MT 106 (if placed into MTH 65), MTH 95 (if placed into MTH 95), MT 111A, MT 151 |
| Multimedia | WR 121Z and suggested classes from term-by-term breakdown Multimedia |
| Multimedia: Video Production | WR 121Z and suggested classes from term-by-term breakdown Multimedia: Video Production |
| Nursing | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Nursing |
| Paralegal | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Paralegal |
| Radiography | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Radiography |
| Veterinary Tech | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Veterinary Tech |
| Welding | WR 121Z, WLD 101, WLD 102, and apply to Welding |
Classes without prerequisites
If you’re new to college, you may not meet prerequisites for some classes. The classes below have no (or few) prerequisites, meaning you can register without having to complete other classes first.
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 WR 115
- 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 WR 121Z
- 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 121Z: Composition I
- WR 240: Creative Writing – Nonfiction
- WR 241: Creative Writing – Fiction
- WR 242: Creative Writing – Poetry
- WR 243: Creative Writing – Script Writing
Questions
Have a question about what classes to choose? Connect with Academic Advising.