Orange Coast College
Encyclopedia
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides two-year associate of art and science degrees, certificates of achievement, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges and universities. This college is a large population type campus. The school enrolls 24,424 undergraduate students which is more than neighboring local university such as Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
and University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
. In terms of population size, Orange Coast College is the third largest college in Orange County. It is located in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, about 40 miles (63 km) south of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) away from both the 55 freeway and 405 freeway
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
as well as State Route 73
California State Route 73
State Route 73 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. The route runs from Interstate 405 to Interstate 5 through the San Joaquin Hills in Orange County. From its northern terminus, the first three miles of the highway are called the Corona del Mar Freeway; this section of highway...
. It is about 10 miles (16.1 km) from Corona del Mar State Beach
Corona del Mar State Beach
Corona del Mar State Beach is a protected beach in the state park system of California, USA. It is located in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, and managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation...
. It is 20 minutes from Disneyland
Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of the Walt Disney Company. Known as Disneyland when it opened on July 18, 1955, and still almost universally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be...
, and from two hours to a half day from the mountains and ski regions of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
History
Orange Coast College was formed after local voters passed a measure in the January 1947 election to establish a new junior college on a 243 acre (0.98338698 km²) site, secured from the War Assets Administration in Washington, D.C, carved from the 1300 acres (5.3 km²) deactivated Santa Ana Army Air BaseSanta Ana Army Air Base
Santa Ana Army Air Base was an air base built during World War II that was decommissioned in 1946. The air base was used for basic training but did not have planes, hangars or runways. The base was and located in Costa Mesa between Baker Street on the north, Harbor Blvd. on the west, Wilson...
.
The first official District board of trustees hired the college's founding president and district superintendent, Basil Hyrum Peterson, on July 28, 1947. Construction of campus classrooms and facilities began when Dr. Peterson hired Fran Albers as the college's carpenter in February 1948. Albers' crew of 35 workers (mostly Coast football players paid 60 cents an hour) turned an Army movie theatre into an auditorium and concert hall; a service club into a 500-seat gymnasium; an Army chapel into a facility for theatre productions and student/staff weddings; a military storage building into a library; an Army PX into a student center; a battalion headquarters building into an administration building; and several cadet barracks into student dormitories and married student and faculty housing.
The first campus building phase occurred in the early 1950s, when renowned architect Richard Neutra
Richard Neutra
Richard Joseph Neutra is considered one of modernism's most important architects.- Biography :Neutra was born in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna, Austria Hungary, on April 8, 1892. He was born into both-Jewish wealthy family...
was brought in to re-design the campus. Leaving many of the original buildings intact, Neutra added several modernist structures including the strikingly minimalist Campus Theater and two large lecture halls. These were laid out on a 45-degree angle to the city street grid, in much the same manner as The Parkinsons
The Parkinsons
John B. and Donald D. Parkinson were a father-and-son architectural team operating in Los Angeles in the early 20th century.-Early years:...
' layout of USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. The second and largest building phase occurred in the 1970s, when local architect William Blurock was hired to replace many of the original Army buildings with structures more suitable for educational purposes.
A plan is currently in effect to remove the early Neutra buildings in the center of the campus, which have long since become out-dated, and open up a large central park around which both the outlying 1970s buildings and several newer buildings will be clustered.
Organization and admissions
The college is one of three of the Coast Community College District, a regional organization providing administrative services and funding for post-secondary education. The district is chartered by the state of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to provide community college services.
The mission of OCC is to provide inexpensive education in the trades, licensed trades and skilled professions, as well as remedial and transferable lower-division courses for students who plan to transfer to either a California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
or University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
campus.
Orange Coast College is one of the top transfer institutions in the country. OCC is currently the top California Community College for California State University transfer and is the fifth in transfers to the University of California. It ranks 65th out of more than 5,000 community colleges in the United States
Community colleges in the United States
In the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education and were once commonly called junior colleges....
in awarding associates degrees.
For California residents, costs are $26 (recently raised from $20, mandated by the state) per unit. For non-residents, costs are about $150 per unit. A typical two-year program has 60 units. All students who are over 18 years of age and can benefit from the services at OCC, qualify for admission.
Students who are under 18 years of age must show any one of the following,
- A high school diploma
- The California High School Certificate of Proficiency or equivalent
- Completion of the 10th grade and the Early Start Petition form.
Academic profile
OCC offers associate of arts (2 year) degrees in:- Accounting
- Agriculture (OCC has agricultural fields)
- Aircraft Maintenance Technician School (FAA-certified programs for airframe/powerplant licenses and avionics)
- Architecture
- Business
- Child Development (OCC has a child-center with an intern program)
- Computer Information Systems
- Construction (OCC Students actually construct structures)
- Electronics
- Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning
- Machining
- PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Welding
OCC also has complete, transferable lower-division undergraduate programs in:
- ActingActingActing is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
- BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
- ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
- Computer ScienceComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
- DanceDanceDance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
- EconomicsEconomicsEconomics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
- EnglishEnglish studiesEnglish studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
(an emphasis on literature and critical theory is available) - FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
- GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
- HistoryHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
- Interior DesignInterior designInterior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
- LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Classics - Marine Science - OCC Marine Science Department maintains - with student help - a 2000 gallon recirculating, chilled seawater aquarium and tropical marine aquariums as well. The Marine Science Department sponsors the Coastal Dolphin Survey Project - a long-term research project dedicated to the understanding of the population biology and ecology of Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) that utilize the coast of Orange County. Nine different classes in marine science are offered at OCC and all have as a prerequisite the beginning oceanography class - Marine Science 100 (lecture) and Marine Science 100L (laboratory).
- MathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
- MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
(Opera training is available) - PaintingPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
- PhilosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
- Physical EducationPhysical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, including athletic teams - PhysicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
- Political SciencePolitical sciencePolitical Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
- SailingSailingSailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
(OCC maintains a sail base in Newport BeachNewport Beach, CaliforniaNewport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, and teaches a wide range of classes for all levels of sailing, including weather and navigation) - Sculpting
In December 2002, Rabbit Island, a 38 acres (153,780.7 m²) island located in the North Gulf Islands of the Georgia Strait 50 miles (80.5 km) west of the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, was donated to the Orange Coast College Foundation. Since then the OCC Foundation, using funds designated for the Orange Coast College School of Sailing & Seamanship has refurbished the facilities on the island, made significant capital improvements and has helped fund the use of the island as a field station to teach summer classes in Island Ecology, Biological Diversity, Vertebrate Biology, Intertidal Ecology, kayaking, and photography. Now referred to as "Wheeler Station" at Rabbit Island (in honor of the donor - Henry Wheeler). OCC marine science and biology instructors have used the island to conduct research on species diversity, standing stock, species distribution, and oceanography. Plans were underway to find separate funding for the island outside of OCC. Possible funding sources included the National Science Foundation, rental of the island facilities to Canadians, funding from the Associated Students of OCC (ASOCC), and through other foundation grants and private donations. In March 2007, the Orange Coast College Foundation Board of Directors voted to sell the island after determining that keeping and maintaining it was unfeasible. As of July 2007, the island was in talks to be sold to a private party for 2.41 million dollars. However, the sale did not materialize and the island was sold in March 2008 to a privately-held Canadian corporation for 2.19 million dollars.
OCC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. It also has specialized accreditation by American Dental Association (Commission on Dental Accreditation), the American Dietetic Association (Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education), and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Student life
OCC has active clubs, competitive sport teams, and an involved Associated Student Body. However, the campus community is less social than a four-year institution because it is primarily a commuter college serving local people.On-campus housing is not available, and local housing is expensive, approximately $1100 per month for a small single-bedroom apartment. Local rooms in houses rent for about $750 per month. The minimum wage of $8.00 per hour is about half of the income required to live in Costa Mesa.
Many changes have been going on at Orange Coast College. A new library was opened in January 2008, the Lewis science building was remodeled, and a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
was built by the new art center. It is the only community college in Orange County that has its own Starbucks. The student resource center, Watson Hall, contains:
- Counseling center
- Multicultural Center
- Records and Admissions
- Transfer Center
- Career Center
- International Center
Coast Report
The Coast Report has been OCC's campus newspaper since 1948. The Coast Report currently distributes 5000 copies of their paper throughout the campus every week on Wednesdays. The Coast Report also maintains the Coast Report Online which is an online version of the paper. The faculty advisors for the paper are Cathy Werblin and Alicia Lopez. The current editor in chief for the paper is Annie Kim.In addition to the Coast Report newspaper the Coast Report also produced Pirate Pulse, a weekly video webcast of school news. The Pirate Pulse was created in the Spring 2010 and produced 14 episodes. The founders of Pirate Pulse were Rosie Duginski, Nuran Alteir, Michael Slobom, and Trinidad Villajnueva.
The Pirate Pulse ended in October of 2010 when the producers decided to create a more integrated multimedia program.
The Coast Report now releases numerous videos on their website every week.
Student body
| Undergraduate | U.S. Census | |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasian White American White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa... |
43% | 73.9% |
| Black African American African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States... |
2% | 12.1% |
| Asian Asian American Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,... |
22% | 4.3% |
| Hispanic | 21% | 14.5% |
| Native American Native Americans in the United States Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as... |
1% | 0.9% |
OCC has a total enrollment of 24,783 students, of which 16,384 degree seeking undergraduates. 97% of incoming students are drawn from California, and 3% from out of state. 35% of students are part time. As of Fall 2007, the number of students with B.A. or higher is 10%.
Noted people
- Pham Xuan An, journalist and spy
- Gustavo Arellano, journalist and columnist
- Beverly BivensBeverly BivensBeverly Bivens was lead singer with the American West Coast folk-rock group We Five from 1965-67. After her marriage to jazz musician Fred Marshall and the break-up of We Five, she sang for a while with the experimental Light Sound Dimension, but, by the late sixties had largely left the music scene...
, lead singer of We FiveWe FiveWe Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached #1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart... - David DenmanDavid DenmanDavid Denman is an American film and television actor.-Education:After graduating from Fountain Valley High School, Denman attended the summer training congress at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco before receiving his B.F.A. from Juilliard.-Career:He made his film debut with Keanu...
, actor - Rob EnderleRob EnderleRob Enderle is an American technology analyst.Enderle has worked at several technology companies, including EMS Development Company, ROLM Systems and IBM, before becoming a technology analyst. He began his analyst career at Dataquest, before helping to launch GiGa Information Group...
, consultant - Paul FrankPaul FrankPaul Frank is an American cartoonist, artist and fashion designer. His creations adorn clothing, accessories, and many other products...
, artist and fashion designer - Rebecca ForstadtRebecca ForstadtRebecca Lynn Olkowski , better known by her maiden name, Rebecca Forstadt, is an American voice actor who is best known for playing anime girls with sweet voices. She is also known as Reba West and Becky Olkowski.After studying theater at Orange Coast College, in Costa Mesa, California, Ms...
, (aka Reba West), actress - Gigi IbrahimGigi IbrahimGihan "Gigi" Ibrahim is an Egyptian journalist, blogger and socialist activist. She has been credited as being a part of a new generation of "citizen journalists" who document news events using social media. For this she was featured on a cover of Time magazine as "one of the leaders" of Tahrir...
, journalist, activist - Chris Jackson, arena football player
- Casey JenningsCasey JenningsCasey Thomas Jennings is an American beach volleyball player. He teams up with Kevin Wong and has teamed up with Brad Keenan or Matt Fuerbringer during most of his career.-Personal life:...
, beach volleyball player - Ross JohnsonRoss Johnson (politician)James Ross Johnson is a Republican United States political figure from California who most recently served as chairperson of the California Fair Political Practices Commission...
, politician - William KattWilliam KattWilliam Theodore Katt is an American film and television actor, best known as the star of The Greatest American Hero. He is also known for playing Tommy Ross, the ill-fated prom date of Carrie White in the film version of Carrie and Paul Drake Jr. in the Perry Mason TV movies...
, actor - Diane KeatonDiane KeatonDiane Keaton is an American film actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. Keaton began her career on stage, and made her screen debut in 1970...
, actress - Brian KrauseBrian KrauseBrian Jeffrey Krause is an American actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Leo Wyatt on the WB Network TV series Charmed from 1998 to 2006.-Background:...
, actor - Tom KubisTom KubisTom Kubis is a jazz composer/arranger, woodwind player, recording artist, band leader.Tom was recognized in the middle 60's as an outstanding saxophone and flute player...
, jazz composer/arranger - Scott MosierScott MosierScott A Mosier is an American-Canadian film producer, editor, podcaster and actor best known for his work with director Kevin Smith, with whom he co-hosts the weekly podcast, Smodcast.-Early life:...
, film producer - Dustin NguyenDustin NguyenDustin Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American actor, director, writer and martial artist. He is best known for his roles as Harry Truman Ioki on 21 Jump Street and as Johnny Loh on V.I.P.-Early life:...
, actor - Audrina PatridgeAudrina PatridgeAudrina Cathleen Patridge is an American reality television personality, actress, and model. She is known for being one of the four original primary cast members featured on the MTV reality series The Hills. She has also starred in the films Sorority Row and Into The Blue 2...
, reality show cast member, The HillsThe HillsThe Hills is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from May 31, 2006 until July 13, 2010. The show uses a reality television format, following the personal lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles, California, but tends towards a narrative format more commonly found... - Steve TimmonsSteve TimmonsSteve Dennis Timmons is a former volleyball player from the United States, who represented the USA at three consecutive Summer Olympics starting in 1984. In each tournament he won a medal: two gold and one bronze...
, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, Volleyball - Patrick WarburtonPatrick WarburtonPatrick John Warburton is an American actor of television, film, and voice. He is best known for his several TV roles, including the title role of The Tick, David Puddy on Seinfeld, the evil Johnny Johnson on NewsRadio, and anchorman Jeb Denton on Less Than Perfect...
, actor