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 121: 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 121: 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: courses in subjects like history, science, and humanities. See general education classes.
Registration tools
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 121 and MTH 60.
- Some classes below require higher math placement.
Online classes: before registering for a class that is fully online, you’ll need to complete the Start Guide for Online Learning.
| Program of interest | First term class suggestions |
|---|---|
| University Transfer | WR 121 and general education classes. See more about university transfer. |
| Addiction Counseling | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Addiction Counseling. |
| Architectural Design and Drafting | See suggested classes in the ARCH first term planner. |
| ASL/English Interpreting | Take prerequisites needed to apply to ASL/English Interpreting. |
| Auto Collision Repair | See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Auto Collision Repair. If program classes are full, take WR 121 and two general education classes. |
| Automotive Service | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Automotive Service. If you aren’t able to start the program, take classes that count toward program requirements for general education, writing, and math. |
| Aviation Maintenance | See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Aviation Maintenance. If program classes are full, take WR 121 and two general education classes. |
| Aviation Science | Courses beneficial prior to applying to Aviation Science: AVS 127, AVS 117, GS 109, WR 121, MTH 58/65/105 |
| Bioscience | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Bioscience. |
| Building Construction | See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Building Construction. |
| Business Administration | WR 121, BA 100, BA 101, BA 131, BA 111 |
| Civil and Construction Engineering | See suggested classes in the CCET advising guide. |
| Computer Information Systems | WR 121, MTH 65, CIS 120 or 121, CIS 184C |
| Criminal Justice | WR 121, MTH 58 or higher, CJA 100, CJA 101 |
| Dealer Service | See suggested classes in the 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. If diesel classes are full, take WR 121 and two general education classes. |
| Education (elementary) | WR 121, MTH 211, PS 201, PSY 201A, ED 100 (not required by most transfer schools), ED 224, ED 258, ED 259, ED 251, ED 269 |
| Education (middle/high) | WR 121, MTH 58 (or higher), courses in field of interest. If you are interested in teaching science or math, take MTH 60 (or higher). |
| Electronic Engineering | See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Electronic Engineering. |
| Emergency Medical Services | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Emergency Medical Services. |
| Exercise Science | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Exercise Science. Additional suggestions: WR 121, FT 101, FT 100, FT 131, PE 181A, HE 295, PE 295, HUS 102. |
| Eye Technician | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Eye Technician. |
| Facilities Maintenance (HVAC) | FMT 101, FMT 111, and any other FMT courses not requiring prerequisites. |
| Gerontology | WR 121, GRN 181 |
| GIS and Geospatial | See suggested classes in the advising guide: AAS degree or advising guide: GIS certificate. |
| 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 121, MTH 58, and suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Interior Design. |
| Landscape Tech | See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Landscape Tech. |
| Machine Manufacturing | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Machine Manufacturing. If you placed into Math 65 or higher, you aren’t required to take a math class. |
| Management and Supervisory Development | WR 121, MSD 101, MSD 105, CIS 120 or BA 131 |
| Medical Assisting | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Medical Assisting. |
| Medical Imaging | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Medical Imaging. |
| Medical Lab Tech | Take prerequisites needed to apply to Medical Lab Tech. |
| Medical Professions | MP 108, MP 111, MP 113, MP 140, HIM 182 |
| Microelectronics | WR 121, MT 101, MT 102, MT 103, MT 106, MT 111A, MT 121A, MT 151 |
| Multimedia | WR 121, MM 112, MM 120, MM 230, and suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Multimedia. |
| Multimedia: Video Production | WR 121, MM 112, ART 140A, MM 235, and suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Multimedia: Video Production. |
| Music and Sonic Arts | See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Music and Sonic Arts. |
| Music and Sonic Arts: Creative Coding |
See suggested classes in the term-by-term breakdown Music and Sonic Arts: Creative Coding. |
| 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 121, MTH 58/65/105, WLD 101, WLD 102, general education, and other requirements to 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 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, use the first term advising questions form.