Collin College offers unique types of learning opportunities for students.
Academic Programs
Smart Planning for a Degree Program or Area of Study
Areas of Study prepare a student to transfer to a baccalaureate program at a college or university. Collin College offers a variety of plans designed to prepare students for a college or university degree. Students can complete the General Education Core certificate; a Field of Study, or begin coursework in a pre-professional program.
Choose A Program and Award
If you need help selecting a program that matches your skills and personality, go to Collin College’s Career Services for help identifying your career goals. To obtain workforce details (such as projected earned wages) for programs offered at Collin College and other Texas schools, explore Career Coach and the Texas CREWS website.
Before you register, choose an area of study or a degree/certificate. It is important to establish a degree plan, outlining all of the courses needed and the sequence as well as the semester in which the courses will be taken. Work with a Collin College Academic Advisor to complete the online “Change of Major” request form. The degree plan will help you make the right decisions so that you avoid taking courses that do not apply to your degree or certificate.
If you are planning to earn a 4-year baccalaureate degree, choose the 4-year college(s) you want to attend and select a baccalaureate degree as soon as possible. It is important to consider the specific degree requirements of the colleges where you want to transfer. Make these choices early in the planning process; ideally, when you first start at Collin College. If uncertain about a transfer institution, try picking one or two top choices. Work with a Collin College Academic Advisor to determine which courses from Collin College will apply to the transfer institution.
Stay on Track
Run your personalized Degree Audit through CougarCompass every semester before registering. The CougarCompass Degree Audit report shows which requirements for your degree/program you’ve completed, and which ones you still need to complete. It also gives lists of courses you can use to complete specific core, elective and program requirements. Meeting with a Collin College Academic Advisor helps to ensure that you take only the courses you need. This can save your time and money.
Choosing a Plan Year
Students who plan to transfer to a college or university have a choice to make regarding the requirements for graduation. Specifically, they may choose to graduate in accordance with the program requirements that are in effect during one of their terms of enrollment. If a degree or certificate is terminated during their enrollment, they will have three years in which to complete the terminated program under the old requirements. They should consult with a Collin College academic advisor to learn about all the requirements and limitations that may apply. Students are advised to keep a copy of the program requirements and transfer guide(s) in effect during their enrollment at Collin College. Students should also keep their course syllabi to assist with transfer.
Learning to Learn
EDUC 1300 (also offered as EDUC 1100 ) Learning Framework is a college credit course that examines learning based on research and the theory of learning psychology. This course is available for all students who want to enrich their understanding of how to learn, enhance their study skills, and explore their own strengths and weaknesses as learners in order to develop effective personal learning strategies to increase their likely success in other college courses. For more information, see EDUC 1300 (or EDUC 1100 ) in the course description section.
Advanced Study Opportunities
Advanced Study in Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The Center for Advanced Study in Mathematics and Natural Sciences (CASMNS) provides speakers, research opportunities for selected students, and advanced study opportunities in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics.
Students desiring CASMNS opportunities should speak with a CASMNS faculty member during CASMNS orientation to schedule an interview, and if appropriate, the student will be assigned a supporting instructor.
Honors Coursework
The Honors Institute at Collin College provides a student with a challenging learning experience designed for students with advanced academic skills and a commitment to learning. Honors sections are designated as such in the registration schedule. Enrollment in and completion of an Honors course will be recorded on the student’s transcript and may qualify the student for honors scholarships.
Interested students should visit the Honors Institute webpage for information on eligibility to enroll in Honors courses: https://www.collin.edu/academics/honors/
Pre-Professional Studies for Academic Transfer Students
Professional schools, such as architecture, business, chiropractic, dental, engineering, law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine require varying amounts of undergraduate preparation. Many of the required courses at the freshman and sophomore levels are offered at Collin College. It is the responsibility of students to know the exact requirements for admission to the specific professional school to which they are applying.
Every Texas public baccalaureate includes the 42-credit core curriculum as part of its degree requirements. The state of Texas guarantees that any Texas public institution will accept core credits from any other Texas public institution and that these core credits will apply toward a baccalaureate degree. Completing the core curriculum at Collin College will save a student money because the tuition per credit hour is lower than at any public four-year institution.
For additional information and specific Texas and out-of-state requirements, consult a Collin College academic advisor.
Pre-Architecture
Collin College offers the general education courses commonly required for students entering a baccalaureate degree program leading to careers in architecture, landscape architecture, building construction, and urban and regional planning.
Pre-Health Studies
Pre-Health studies include areas such as:
- Pre-Chiropractic, Pre-Clinical Lab Sciences,
- Pre-Dental
- Pre-Medicine
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Physician’s Assistant
- Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Collin College offers the courses that are most commonly recommended for the first two years of Pre-Chiropractic, Pre-Dental, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy, and Pre-Veterinary Medicine programs at most colleges and universities. These courses provide a basic foundation in medical science and help establish basic clinical reasoning and clinical skills. Most English, mathematics and science courses have prerequisite requirements.
Pre-Law
An applicant for admission to a school of law must have received, or have completed, all requirements for a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of approved standing prior to beginning work in a school of law. Future law school students should complete the core curriculum and take courses that emphasize written and oral skills, research into problems facing society, logical reasoning, and business practices.
For this occupation, students should consider courses in the following disciplines:
- Accounting
- Humanities
- Business
- Philosophy
- Economics
- Psychology
- English
- Sociology
- History
- Speech
Course selections should always be discussed with a Collin College academic advisor to ensure that students take the correct courses for their particular pre-law baccalaureate program at their intended transfer institution.
Pre-law students are encouraged to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) during the semester prior to completing the baccalaureate degree.
Continuing Education (CE) Opportunities
Quality Learning Opportunities
Collin College’s Continuing Education (CE) is open to the community and provides a general tuition rate, specific for each course. CE offerings vary from semester to semester in order to meet local training demands and provide seasonal and current event offerings. New classes start weekly, with course durations ranging from several hours to several months. The most current information is available on Collin College’s website at www.collin.edu/ce/.
Collin College’s CE is the leading career skills training institution for adults who are seeking to build new and refine current skills. More than 70 industry-recognized certificate series and certification-preparation training programs are offered in the administrative, creative, education, finance, health care, information technology, logistics, management, public safety, service, and veterinary medicine career fields.
What is the difference between a credit course and a CE course?
- Credit courses are generally taken as part of a degree program and provide college credits.
- Non-credit courses are offered to provide a purposeful and systematic process of acquiring and recording lifetime learning.
- In some circumstances, there may be opportunities to leverage CE courses as a pathway to credit programs through Collin College’s Prior Learning Assessment.
- Successful completion of non-credit courses is recorded as Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Why would a student want to take CE courses?
- These are courses students take to increase knowledge and skills, either to assist students on the job or for their personal enrichment.
- Students will not earn “traditional” college credits toward a degree, although they may earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which will be recorded on a Continuing Education transcript.
What are linked courses?
- Linked courses mix credit and non-credit students in the same learning environment, ensuring the same rigorous standards are met in your education.
- Offered in areas as varied as computer technology, dance, real estate and health care, these courses provide college credit for credit students and continuing education units (CEUs) for continuing education students.
- Continuing Education students pay the CE course tuition rate. Credit students pay the academic course tuition rate based on location of residence.
- CE students complete a quick admission process and space is limited for select Linked Courses. For a current list of linked courses, go to www.collin.edu/ce/classes/linked.html.
What are Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?
- CEUs are recognized nationally to record satisfactory completion of certain approved occupationally related programs. Courses are offered at a variety of locations depending on the types of courses and availability of facilities.
- One (1) CEU is awarded for each 10 contact hours of instruction included in a specified CE program or activity. Successful completion is attendance-based, unless otherwise noted with “Passed Competencies” under “CEUs Earned.” Ninety (90) percent attendance is required for successful completion for most courses, but students are encouraged to review the course syllabus for each class to determine specific attendance requirements.
- For more information and CE transcript requests, visit http://www.collin.edu/ce/ce-transcripts.html.
How can I get more information about the contents of a course?
Are there any prerequisites for Continuing Education courses?
- Many courses specify prerequisite knowledge. These prerequisites are stated to ensure students have the prior knowledge and skills required to get the most out of and be successful in the course.
- It is recommended students take the time to talk to an advisor or program personnel for the course area. For more information, go to www.collin.edu/ce/.
How do I register for a CE course?
- For most CE courses, there is open enrollment. Students may simply choose the course(s), register, and pay for the class(es).
- Registration is available online, over the phone at 972.985.3711, or at any of Collin College’s main campuses.
- For many CE healthcare courses, there is a separate application which must be completed and submitted with supporting documents. For more information, go to www.collin.edu/ce/healthsciences/index.html.
Will students receive a certificate upon CE course completion?
- CE does not offer certificates for individual courses. Certificates are only awarded for completion of a Certificate Series of courses.
- However, students may request an official CE transcript. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded for successful course completion, and will appear on an official CE transcript.
Locations of CE Classes
- CE classes are primarily located at the Courtyard Center (CYC) in Plano, with a select number of courses scheduled at other Collin College campus locations.
- For a list of Collin College campus locations and maps, go to www.collin.edu/campuses/index.html.
For more information, call 972.985.3750.
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