The course numbering system at Porterville College has been established to indicate the intent of the course and its relationship to the offerings of four-year colleges and universities. The meaning of the number system is as follows:
P100-P299 ( previously 1-49 )P001-P069 ( previously 50-69 )
Certificate and associate-degree-level courses only. Baccalaureate transferability is subject to review by individual institutions to which the student may transfer.
P070-P089 ( previously 70-89 )
Developmental classes. These classes are not intended for certificate, associate or baccalaureate degree programs. However, credit may be awarded.
P090-P099 ( previously 90-99 )
Non-credit courses. These courses do not appear on college transcripts.
Accounting ACCT
Administration of Justice ADMJ
Agriculture AGRI
American Sign Language ASL
Anatomy ANAT
Anthropology ANTH
Applied Design APDS
Art ART
Astronomy ASTR
Biology BIOL
Business BUS
Business Administration BSAD
Business Supervision BSSP
Chemistry CHEM
Child Development CHDV
Commercial Art CMRT
Computer Graphics CGRP
Drama DRMA
Earth Science ERSC
Economics ECON
Education EDUC
Emergency Med. Tech. EMTC
Engineering ENGR
English ENGL
English as a Foreign Language EFL
English as a Second Language ENSL
Film FILM
Fire Technology FIRE
General Studies GNST
Geography GEOG
Geology GEOL
Graphic Arts GRPH
Health Education HLED
Health Careers HCRS
History HIST
Human Services HMSV
Humanities HUM
Industrial Maintenance INDT
Information Systems INFS
Interdisciplinary Studies INST
Journalism JRNL
Life Science LISC
Marketing MRKT
Math MATH
Microbiology MICR
Music MUSC
Natural Science NATS
Nursing NURS
Office Technology OFFT
Philosophy PHIL
Photography PHOT
Physical Education PHED
Physical Science PHSC
Physics PHYS
Physiology PHYL
Political Science POLS
Psychology PSYC
Real Estate REAL
Sociology SOCI
Social Science SOSC
Spanish SPAN
Speech SPCH
Work Experience WEXP
The relative level and applicability of each course are designated by the following letter symbols:
A — Applicable to all Associate degree and Certificate Programs.
UC — Transferable to universities within the University of California System.
CSU — Transferable to universities within the California State University System.
Courses without one of the above designations do not carry certificate or degree-level credit, but may be used to prepare students for further study in an institution for higher education.
Every effort is made to offer all the courses in the catalog at least once every two years. However, the fact that a course is in the catalog does not necessarily mean that it will be offered in a particular semester. Students should check the schedule of classes for current offerings.
The California Articulation Number (CAN) is a cross-reference course identification system for many lower division transferable courses commonly taught on college campuses. Porterville College is a member of the CAN system. Courses identified with a CAN are considered to be comparable and acceptable with the identical CAN course at all participating colleges.
Credit: Each course carries a specified credit value. This is indicated at the right of the title line. In California Community Colleges, generally, for each credit offered, one hour of lecture per week, three hours of laboratory per week, or an equivalent combination of both per week is required. In laboratory, some physical education and some selected other classes, additional hours of in-class work is required. Each hour a student spends in a lecture class presupposes two hours of outside preparation.
When a course may be taken for variable credit, depending on the amount of work assigned, the credit value designation will show two numbers, hyphenated, instead of the usual one number.
Consent of a counselor must be obtained to carry more than nineteen (19) credits.
Prerequisites: Course prerequisites are intended to ensure that the student will have sufficient preparation before entering a course and to assure a reasonable chance for his/her success. An instructor has the prerogative to refuse admission to class or officially drop a student from class who has not satisfied the course prerequisites as published in the college catalog. Students are advised that credit will not be awarded for courses taken after a higher level course has been completed, e. g., English P050 taken after completion of English P101A, or Beginning Tennis taken after Intermediate Tennis.
