Recommended Courses for High School Students
Welcome! Below you will find entry level courses recommended for high school students by subject area. Please view COCC's class schedule to see when and where classes are offered each term.
Suggestions for choosing appropriate coursework:
Academic Advising: It is recommended that high school students enroll at COCC as degree-seeking students and complete academic advising for support with choosing appropriate classes. Course choice is impacted by a variety of factors, such as degree and certificate goals, potential transfer to another college or university, math and writing placement, and pre-requisite guidelines.
College Catalog: If you plan to attend COCC please review the COCC College Catalog to identify courses that align with COCC degrees and certificates.
First Time College Students:
- The suggested first course for all high school students taking college credit classes at COCC is HD 100CS: College Success.
- HD 110: Career Planning is also highly recommended for exploratory students.
Pre-requisites: Note that many courses have required or recommended pre-requisites (see course descriptions).
Important Dates: Please review the COCC Academic Calendar for important dates and deadlines including course drop and withdrawal deadlines.
Financial Aid Implications: College credits completed in high school become a permanent part of your college record. There may be future financial aid implications for unsatisfactory academic progress. Additionally, college credits taken in high school are counted towards the financial aid credit maximum. Please review Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility to help you make informed decisions.
What to do if you are struggling with a class? COCC has many resources to support high school students with success. If you are struggling please reach out to your Instructor, your Academic Advisor, or your high school counselor for resources and support. COCC also offers FREE Tutoring for all students.
- Anthropology
- Art & Design
- ART 110 Beginning Graphic Design
- ART 115: Basic Design: 2D
- ART 116: Basic Design: Color
- ART 131: Beginning Drawing
- ART 141: Vector Art Illustration
- ART 142: Digital Painting: Basic Techniques
- DSGN 101: Introduction to Product Design
- DSGN 140: 3D Modeling Software: Basics
Note: COCC offers many traditional visual arts classes that are also recommended for high school students.
- Automotive
High school students can choose from the following courses, based on their interests and schedule. Currently, these courses are only offered on the Bend COCC campus. High school students are not required to take AUT 106: Automotive Program Orientation before taking the courses below.
Option 1: Students are encouraged to take the courses below concurrently (however, they may choose to take just one). The following courses are self-paced. Students attend open lab times to complete coursework. Lab times for the courses below are 9am to 12pm, Monday through Thursday. To be successful, students should plan to attend 6 hours in the lab per week to complete both courses.
• AUT 101: Basic Electricity for Automotive
• AUT 107: Mechanical SystemsOption 2: Students are encouraged to take the courses below concurrently (however, they may choose to take just one). The following courses are self-paced. Students attend open lab times to complete coursework. Lab times for the courses below 12pm to 3pm, Monday through Thursday. To be successful, students should plan to attend 6 hours in the lab per week to complete both courses.
• AUT 110: Small Gas Engines
• AUT 115 College Success for Automotive Technology (Required in-person class every Thursday 1pm-3pm) - Aviation
At this time, Aviation classes are only open to registered COCC Aviation students. To learn more about the Aviation program and careers in aviation, we encourage high school students to attend an informational Aviation Program Orientation.
- Business and Hospitality Management
- Computer Information Systems
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary Programs (Baking, Culinary, Hospitality Management)
- BAK 101: Intro to Baking Pastry (lab fees are approximately $740 in addition to tuition and COCC fees)
- CUL 101: Intro to Culinary Arts (lab fees are approximately $740 in addition to tuition and COCC fees)
- CUL 102: Food Safety & Sanitation
- HM 101 – Introduction to Hospitality
Note for Expanded Options students: Baking and Culinary courses are typically not paid for by your high school through Expanded Options due to the high course fee. Please see your high school counselor for more information.
- Economics
- Education and Teaching
- ED 103: Outdoor Teacher Training (1 Credit): Partnership with Camp Tamarack
- Students interested in Early Childhood Education
- Students interested in K-12 Teaching and Licensure (Elementary & Secondary)
- Engineering
- Fire Science
- Health Careers/Occupations
- HD 130 Intro to Health Careers (career planning course for students interested in health care)
- AH 111 Medical Terminology (good academic foundation for many health care pathways)
- AH 115 Cultural Responsiveness in Allied Health
- HHP 212A AHA BLS Provider CPR (required for most health career programs)
- FIRE 104 Intro to Emergency Services
Pharmacy Technician (PHM) High School Pathway: High school students can begin PHM coursework with department approval (contact Stephanie O'Bryan for more information and approval)
- PHM 100: Pharmacy Technician Practice (online)
- PHM 115: Pharmacy Technician Lab I (Lab)- Two weekends on COCC Bend campus
Interested in COCC Health Care programs: COCC Health Career program guide: High school is an excellent time to complete pre-requisites or co-requisites for COCC health care programs. Guidebook details pre-requisite and co-requisite options for high school students interested in COCC health care programs.
- Human Services
Prepares students to serve people in need in a variety of careers: counseling, social work, addictions counseling, case management, and more.
- Manufacturing and Welding
Information coming soon.
- Outdoor Leadership
- OL 251: Wilderness First Aid
- OL 244 Psychology of Risk and Adventure
- OL 255: Outdoor Living Skills
- OL 194AA: Avalanche Level I Training and Companion Rescue
Also, students can build outdoor leadership skills in our HHPA classes in climbing, canoeing, rafting, mountain biking, and more. Additional OL courses can be completed by students enrolled in our cohort Outdoor Leadership program.
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology