Focus Award

Focus Awards recognize students who complete a minimum number of credits within a specified focus area. The awards encourage students to expand their knowledge and experience related to a particular academic area. Focus Awards are not formal degrees or certificates, nor are they noted on academic transcripts. Focus Awards are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Focus awards require a minimum of five courses or 18-20 credits from a variety of disciplines. Students track their own progress and notify the focus award manager once coursework is completed. Student coursework completion will be reviewed and successful completion of requirements will result in a Focus Award recognition letter and a celebratory commencement cord.

Journalism Focus Award

The Journalism Focus Award provides a strong foundation for careers in news media and communications. Courses cover media literacy and ethics and help students develop skills to report, write, edit, photograph and produce news stories. The Journalism Focus Award requires a minimum of five courses (18-20 credits), including at least three J-prefix courses and courses from at least three disciplines.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
ART 165	Videography: Basic Techniques	4
ART 268	Videography: Intermediate	4
ART 269PJ	Photography: Photojournalism	4
BA 223	Marketing Principles I	4
BA 250	Entrepreneurship	4
CIS 125I	Adobe Illustrator	4
CIS 197	CMS Web Development: WordPress	4
COMM 241	Media, Communication, Society	4
COMM 242	Introduction to Audio Broadcasting and Podcasting	4
J 215A	Publications Lab I	1
J 215B	Publications Lab II	1
J 215C	Publications Lab III	1
J 216	News Reporting and Writing I	3
J 217	News Reporting and Writing II	3
J 220	Selected Topics in Journalism: Multimedia Journalism	3
J 280	Journalism Practicum	1-3
LIB 100	Introduction to Finding Information	1
WR 240	Creative Writing: Nonfiction	4

Social Justice Focus Award

The COCC Social Justice Focus Award takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding power, privilege, and domination and their operation at the individual, group, community, and national levels. The Social Justice Focus award requires a minimum of five courses (18-20 credits), including courses from at least two different disciplines.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
ANTH 103	Cultural Anthropology	4
ANTH 295	Gender and Sexuality in an Anthropological Perspective	4
BH 208	Multicultural Issues for Helpers	4
CJ 214	Crime, Justice and Race	4
ED 219	Multicultural Issues in Education Settings	3
ED 224	Anti-Bias Curriculum in Education	4
ES 201	Inventing Ethnic America	4
ES 211	Introduction to Native American Studies	4
PHE 228	Health and Social Justice	4
HUM 240	Native American Literature and Culture	4
PSY 202Z	Introduction to Psychology II	4
PSY 216	Social Psychology	4
SOC 212	Race, Class, and Gender	4
SOC 228	Sociology of the Environment	4
SUS 101	Introduction to Sustainability	4
WS 101	Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies	4

Sustainability Focus Award

The COCC Sustainability Focus Award is designed for students interested in exploring the science, ideologies, and/or applications of sustainability in our modern world. Courses highlight the interconnected nature of environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. The Sustainability Focus award requires a minimum of five courses (18-20 credits), two SUS-prefix courses, and courses from at least three disciplines.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
BI 142	Introduction to Marine Biology	4
CUL 235S	Farm-to-Table and Sustainable Cuisine Practices	4
FOR 260	Conservation of Natural Resources	3
G 163	Field Geology: Rivers, Lakes and Springs of Central Oregon	4
G 201	Geology I - The Dynamic Earth	4
G 202	Geology II - Earth's Surface	4
G 203	Geology III - Earth History	4
SUS 101	Introduction to Sustainability	4
SUS 102	Introduction to Environmental Science and Sustainability	4
SUS 103	Physical Science of Climate Change	4
SUS 210	Creating a More Sustainable Society	4
SUS 220	Sustainable Food and Agriculture	4
SUS 298	Independent Study: Sustainability	1-6

Non-credit Training Certificate

A non-credit training certificate (NCTC) is a stand-alone course or a series of courses that do not offer college credit for completion, but which are included in an official transcript. An assessment of measurable outcomes or mastery of learning or knowledge is required. NCTCs are developed in consultation with local employers and workforce representatives and are designed to be responsive to the local economy's labor, skill, and knowledge needs. NCTCs provide documentation of skill attainment for specific occupational skills, knowledge, and/or abilities. All coursework completed within an NCTC is non-credit and include learning outcomes and aligned assessments. Attendance-only classes do not qualify for the non-credit training certificate.

Rules Associated with Non-credit Training Certificates

Admission

As with all non-credit Community Education courses and programs at the College, there is no formal application or admission process. However, NCTC programs may have specific entrance requirements and/or pre-requisites that are noted in the NCTC program guide.

Registration and Refund Policy

Pre-registration is required for all classes. Registration is through the Community Education department. Payment or arrangement for payment is required at the time of registration. Registration directions and exceptions to the general refund policy are noted in course descriptions on the Community Education page and in the printed class schedule.

Student Records

Upon successful completion of a non-credit training certificate, students will receive a printed certificate with program outcomes listed on the back. Grades are indicated on the non-credit transcript for the courses included in the NCTC program. Transcripts may be ordered through the Admissions & Records transcript request web page.

Program Standards

Students enrolled in NCTC program courses receive a pass/no-pass grade on the official non-credit transcript. Grades are based on program-specific course assessments and are transcribed on an official college non-credit transcript, which indicate P for a passing grade, NP for a non-passing grade, and IP for in progress for incomplete or in progress work. Program standards for each NCTC are listed in each program guide.

Calendar

The Community Education page lists current and future course offerings. Non-credit training certificate programs are offered based on industry needs rather than a defined college-term basis. Dates are identified in each NCTC program guide and include total number of clock hours for each NCTC.

Student Code of Conduct

Students will adhere to the College's general policies on conduct and academic honesty. NCTC programs expect student conduct in support of and in alignment with broader Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Community Education Department holds all NCTC students accountable for satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Instructors meet with students regularly to assess progress. NCTC program guides list each program’s standards for SAP.

NCTCs and Credit for Prior Learning

Students entering an NCTC program may receive credit for prior certification (CPC) if they have completed a course, training, or other program that is taught to state, national, or other officially recognized standards. Credit is not awarded for other life experiences. Students interested in receiving credit for prior certification must submit official copies of prior certifications to the Community Education office along with a credit for prior certification approval form. When the CPC is awarded, the student will pay a certification fee before certification is recorded and/or transcribed.

Because NCTC programs require classroom participation and interaction between peers, the maximum amount of CPC that will be accepted is 10% of the entire program requirement. CPC will be awarded only to students currently enrolled in a NCTC program at the College.

Dismissal from Program

Because NCTC programs are short-term and competency-based, it is imperative that students participate in classes. Absence from greater than 10% of required course hours will be grounds for a failing grade. Attendance will contribute to the overall grade in all NCTC classes, so students should be aware of the need to arrange other obligations to be able to attend classes. If student behavior appears to violate the Student Code of Conduct, a referral is made to the dean of student engagement for investigation and review. All NCTC review and disciplinary procedures follow standard college policy.

Readmission

NCTC programs are short-term and offered as needed according to regional business and industry demand. Readmission into a NCTC program after dismissal is not guaranteed. Before registering for a subsequent NCTC program following a formal dismissal, the student must submit an appeal to the Community Education director.

Sustainability Curriculum

The College recognizes the importance of sustainability literacy, which according to the United Nations is “the knowledge, skills, and mindsets that allow individuals to become deeply committed to building a sustainable future and assisting in making informed and effective decisions to this end.”

Sustainability literacy is promoted via two course designations. The first is the sustainability designated course list, which highlights courses that have adopted a moderate-to-strong emphasis on sustainability content. The second course designation is the SUS prefix, which identifies courses that were created with a specific and central focus on sustainability. Sustainability course designations are intended to meet students' and community needs and interests and to create a more just and equitable world.

Course List (Per Attribute)

Course	Title	Credits
ART 297SP	Sustainable Practices: Art Project	1
BI 103	General Biology: Ecology	4
BI 142	Introduction to Marine Biology	4
BI 223Z	Principles of Biology: Ecology and Evolution	5
CH 107	Physical Science: Chemistry	4
CUL 230	Culinary Nutrition and Applied Techniques of Healthy Cooking	3
CUL 235S	Farm-to-Table and Sustainable Cuisine Practices	4
EC 201Z	Principles of Microeconomics	4
EC 202Z	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
FOR 208	Soils: Sustainable Ecosystems	4
FOR 260	Conservation of Natural Resources	3
G 163	Field Geology: Rivers, Lakes and Springs of Central Oregon	4
G 201	Geology I - The Dynamic Earth	4
G 202	Geology II - Earth's Surface	4
G 203	Geology III - Earth History	4
GEOG 101	Introduction to Geospatial Science & GIS	4
NUR 107	Nursing II	10
NUR 112	Introduction to Community Nursing	2
NUR 207	Nursing V	10
OL 111	Introduction to Outdoor Leadership	3
PHE 228	Health and Social Justice	4
PHE 244	Introduction to Human & Planetary Health	4
PHE 268	Sustainable Food and Nutrition	4
PSY 261	Indonesian Field Study I: Preparation to Study Abroad	3
PSY 262	Indonesian Field Study II: Global Health: Field Training and Research	6
PSY 263	Indonesian Field Study III: Communicating Indonesian Field Experience	3
SOC 228	Sociology of the Environment	4
SUS 101	Introduction to Sustainability	4
SUS 102	Introduction to Environmental Science and Sustainability	4
SUS 103	Physical Science of Climate Change	4
SUS 180	Co-op Work Experience Sustainability	1-4
SUS 210	Creating a More Sustainable Society	4
SUS 211	Environmental Activism	3
SUS 220	Sustainable Food and Agriculture	4
SUS 280	Co-op Work Experience Sustainability	1-4
SUS 297A	Sustainable Practices: Art	1

Trailhead Courses

These are courses that students take early in their educational journey and which intentionally link course content to career and pathway exploration, career and pathway competency development, and/or identity and sense of belonging within their pathway and at COCC. Trailhead course designations are intended to help students explore and clarify career and academic goals within one of COCC’s Education Pathways while also building a sense of connection and community within their field of interest.

All Pathways

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
HD 100CS	College Success	3
HD 110	Career Planning	3

Business, Hospitality and Culinary

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
BA 101Z	Introduction to Business	4
BAK 101	Introduction to Baking & Pastry	4
CUL 101	Introduction to Culinary Arts	4
HM 101	Introduction to Hospitality	4

Health Sciences

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
HD 130	Introduction to Health Careers	2
PHE 100	Introduction to Public Health	4

Humanities, Fine Arts and Communication

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
ART 101	Introduction to the Visual Arts	4
ART 102	Introduction to Art and Design Careers	3
COMM 100Z	Introduction to Communication	4
DSGN 101	Introduction to Product Design	4
HUM 101	Introduction to Humanities	4
WR 139	Introduction to Creative Writing	4

Natural Resources

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
FOR 111	Forestry Perspectives	4
OL 111	Introduction to Outdoor Leadership	3

Public and Emergency Services

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
CJ 100	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CJ 203	Critical Incident Management for Criminal Justice Professionals	3
FIRE 103	Exploring Public Safety and College Success	2
FIRE 104	Introduction to Emergency Services	4

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
BI 100	Career Exploration in the Life Sciences	1
CS 160	Computer Science Orientation	4
ENGR 100	Introduction to Engineering I	3
GEOG 101	Introduction to Geospatial Science & GIS	4

Social Science, Behavioral Science and Education

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
BH 101	Introduction to Behavioral Health and Human Services	4
ED 140	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
ED 200	Introduction to Education	3
PSY 201Z	Introduction to Psychology I	4
PSY 212	Careers in Psychology	2
SOC 204Z	Introduction to Sociology	4

Transportation, Industrial Trades and Apprenticeship

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
APR 105	Building a Career in the Skilled Trades	4
AUT 115	College Success for Automotive Technology	2
MFG 100	Manufacturing Technology Orientation	1