Source: College of the Canyons
Included among the nearly 2,000 class sections being offered by College of the Canyons this fall are 57 noncredit class sections, marking a 36 percent increase from the fall 2016 semester.
Free and open to all community members, COC Continuing Education/Noncredit courses cover a wide range of subjects, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), GED preparation, basic skills, computer applications and web technology, as well as citizenship preparation classes.
All noncredit courses have been designed to help students and community members improve their language and study skills, and/or transition into a collegiate academic setting.
“Our noncredit course offerings are a tremendous asset to the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Lisa Pavik, Assistant Director of Admissions and Records-Noncredit. “These free classes are held at local businesses, libraries, elementary schools, and community centers across the SCV, in addition to both the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses.”
The noncredit program also offers free academic and career advisement in multiple languages for current noncredit students and noncredit students interested in transitioning to the credit program. Advisement sessions are scheduled by appointment only, and offered in English, Spanish, Russian, Armenian, Farsi, Korean and Arabic.
For 19-year-old Artyom Galstyan, COC’s noncredit ESL classes were a tremendous resource to him when he immigrated to Santa Clarita from Armenia in 2015.
“What I enjoy the most about non-credit ESL classes is the group of people that come together every day for one purpose, to learn English,” said Galstyan, who has earned two certificates from the college’s noncredit ESL program.
In the fall, Galstyan will be transitioning to credit courses and plans on taking business classes and more ESL classes to advance his English skills.
“ESL classes have created a great foundation for my English skills,” said Galstyan. “Today I use English pretty professionally.”
The COC Continuing Education/Noncredit office is located at the Valencia Campus in Canyons Hall, Room 167. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday’s from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information about the college’s selection of noncredit classes, call (661) 362-3304 or follow the link: Continuing Education/Noncredit .
