Fall 2009 Learning Communities

Jump to:  Developmental Education_Track   G.E. Track   Transfer Track   First Year Experience

Developmental Education Track:

These courses will help you attain the academic skills necessary to prepare you for advanced courses or to develop your career goals and objectives.                           

Success in Math

First Year Experience Track:

The First-Year Experience Program (FYE) is a special part of the Learning Community Program.  Students are enrolled

in a full semester’s work at one time.  These courses are designed to provide students with a strong start in college.  Students who are interested in this program should call (562) 860-2451, ext. 2782 for more information.

To qualify for full-time status, FYE students will need to enroll in an additional course(s) to complete the full

schedule of 12 units.  This requirement may be met by adding mathematics, reading, or another G.E. course(s).  Recommendations for courses to take in addition to each House are listed below.

Learning Communities Program

Learning communities involve the intentional creation of class pairs or clusters around a common theme, public issue or question. Typically, the same group of students is co-enrolled in two or more courses, usually from different disciplines—for instance, history and art, English and career guidance, political science and philosophy. Students enroll in both courses but receive a separate grade for each one.

Course instructors integrate their syllabi, encouraging students to gain a deeper understanding of each course, even as they discover connections between the two.  Classroom activities, tests, assignments, field trips, research projects, and educational technology are used to engage students in their own learning, as well as provide them with valuable “real-world” skills.

Perhaps more importantly, the learning community model promotes student-centered learning, with an emphasis on an enriched classroom environment.  It promotes greater intellectual growth and genuine mastery of course content through collaborative activities, frequent feedback, and increased student-teacher and student-student interactions. Traditional lecturing is minimized; active learning and thoughtful integration of content are maximized.

Research indicates learning communities promote student achievement, retention, and progress toward degree completion.  Faculty benefit from professional development and training, fresh approaches to teaching, and collaboration with colleagues.

First-Year Experience Program (FYE)

The First-Year Experience Program is a special part of the Learning Community Program.  Students are enrolled in a full semester’s work at one time.  These courses are designed to provide students with a positive, strong start in college.  Students who are interested in this program should call (562)860-2451, ext. 2782, for more information.

What Are The Benefits Of Joining A Learning Community?

• Smooth your transition into college
• Meet other students and form lasting friendships
• Reinforce learning in one class while working on projects in the other
• Learn how to choose your major and reach your academic goals sooner
• Graduate or transfer to a four-year college or university sooner
• Increase your learning and earn better grades

Are the Learning Communities courses transferable?

Many of the courses are transferable to the CSU’s and UC’s. See the Schedule of Classes or the Cerritos College Catalog to check specific courses.

What are the requirements to enroll?

The only requirement is that you must enroll in all the courses listed for that Learning Community. The prerequisites are listed in the Cerritos College Catalog and must be met prior to enrollment.

Are Learning Community courses more difficult?

No, you will not be required to do more work than if you took the two classes separately.  In fact, by taking the courses in a learning community, you may find that material is easier to understand.

How will Learning Community course be listed on my transcript?

Your transcript will reflect the classes as separate courses.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

Log on to www.cerritos.edu, select MyCerritos, and follow the directions. To enroll in a learning community, you must enroll in all courses in the learning community before exiting MyCerritos. To enroll in the FYE program, please call Ext. 2782.

Falcon Phone

Follow the step-by-step instructions in the Schedule of Classes. Do not forget to enroll in all the courses in the learning community before ending the call or you will not be registered in any learning community course. If you encounter problems registering, try reversing the order in which you enter the class numbers. If you encounter any other problems, please contact the Learning Communities Program Center immediately for assistance. For more information or assistance about enrolling in the Learning Communities Program check the Internet at www.cerritos.edu/lcp or call (562) 860-2451, Ext. 2782.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL POLICY

When a student enrolls in a group of two or more courses as part of a learning community or FYE House, he or she MUST MEET THE PREREQUISITE(S), if there are any, for EACH course in the combination. Students enrolled in one section of a course that is part of a learning community must be enrolled in all other courses in that group. If one course is dropped, the student MUST and WILL BE DISENROLLED from all other courses in that learning community. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

QUESTIONS

        If you have questions about the Learning Communities Program (LCP), please call (562) 860-2451, ext. 2782 or stop by the LCP Center in the Admissions Building.