MERRITT COLLEGE CATALOG 2009–2011 Merritt College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges which is located at 3402 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, phone (707) 569-9177. 12500 Campus Drive Oakland, California 94619-3196 Phone: (510) 436-2413 Fax: (510) 436-2514 Web: http://www.merritt.peralta.edu 2 MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 WELCOME TO MERRITT! On behalf of the faculty, staff and administration, it is an honor and a pleasure to welcome you to Merritt College. The entire college staff is available to support your academic goals and ensure that your stay at Merritt is your best possible educational experience. Merritt College is one of the four colleges in the Peralta Community College District. We have served as a comprehensive two-year college for more than 50 years providing exceptional programs, courses and services. Whether you plan to transfer to a university, want to acquire technical skills for entrance or advancement in employment, have a desire for educational enrichment, or want to develop the foundational skills necessary to enter a field of your choice, you will find that we offer courses that meet your needs. We are happy that you have decided to select Merritt College to pursue your educational goals. I am confident that your educational experience here will be beneficial, satisfying and enriching. Sincerely, Robert Adams, Ed.D. President MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 3 ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTORY PERALTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Nicky Gonzalez Yuen, Trustee Abel Guillen, Trustee Cy Gulassa, Trustee Linda Handy, Trustee Marcie Hodge, Trustee Dr. William Riley, Trustee Bill Withrow, Trustee Yvonne Thompson, Student Trustee Nicole Tobor, Student Trustee DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS Elihu Harris, Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Wise Allen, Vice Chancellor for Educational Services Thomas Smith, Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chancellor for Human Resources MERRITT COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS Robert Adams, Ed.D., President Linda Berry, Vice President of Instruction Vacant, Vice President of Student Services Stacy Thompson, Division Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences Division Rebecca Kenney, Division Dean, Mathematics, Science & Vocational Programs Division Anthony Powell, Dean of Student Support Services/DSPS and Student Activities Jacquelin Bell, Business and Administrative Services Manager 4 MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE A Message from the President 3 Administrative Directory 4 General Information 7 Campus Information Directory 8 College Calendar 2009-2010 9 Admissions and College Regulations 19 Student Services 43 District and College Policies 53 Degrees and Majors 77 Transfer to Four-Year Colleges and Universities 85 Curriculum Patterns and Courses 95 College Staff 265 Non-Discrimination Policy (in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese) 274 Index 277 Campus Map 287 MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 5 6 MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 GENERAL INFORMATION MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 7 CAMPUS INFORMATION DIRECTORY For Information About: Go To or Call: Telephone Academic Probation and Suspension Counseling Office, R109 436-2475 AC Transit Monthly Bus Passes Student Activities Office, R124 436-2535 Add and Drop Classes Admissions and Records Office, R112 436-2487/2488 Admissions and Academic Records Admissions and Records Office, R112 436-2487/2488 Allied Health Programs Allied Health Office, D102 436-2422 Allied Health Program Requirements Counseling Office, R109, or Allied Health, D102 436-2475/2422 Assessment Testing Assessment Office, R109 436-2562 Books and Classroom Supplies Campus Store, R101 436-2438 Career Planning Counseling Office, R109 436-2475 or One-Stop Career Center, R105 436-2445 Check Dispersal (Students & Staff) Bursar’s Office, Q215 or R114 436-2402 Child Care Children's Center 436-2436 CARE Program EOPS/CARE Office, R109 436-2476 Cooperative Work Experience Education One-Stop Career Center, R105 436-2637 Counseling Counseling Office, R109 436-2475 Course Outlines/Descriptions/Information Office of Instruction, Q307 436-2413 Credit by Examination for Coursework Office of Instruction, Q307 436-2410 Credit/Non-Credit Course Information Office of Instruction, Q307 436-2413 Degree/Program Requirements Counseling Office, R109 436-2475 Disabled Students Programs and Services DSPS Office, R109 436-2429 Division I Dean and Instructional Services Humanities and Social Sciences Division Office, D216 436-2425/2609 Division II Dean and Instructional Services Math, Science, and Vocational Division Office, D241 436-2409/2426 Emergency Services Police Services, District Office (or ext. 7236 on campus) 465-3456 Extended Opportunity Programs/Services EOPS/CARE Office, R109 436-2470/2473 Fee-Based Classes/Payments Office of Instruction, Q307 436-2413 Fees, Payments Bursar’s Office, Q215 436-2402 Financial Aid (Grants/Loans/Books) Financial Aid Office, R113 436-2465 Food Services Cafeteria, R131 ----------- Grievance Procedures, Student Student Services Office, R112 436-2477 Help with Personal Problems Counseling Office, R109 436-2475 Health Services, Student Student Health Services Center, R106 436-2533 Instructional Services Office of Instruction, Q306-308 436-2410/2413 Learning Center Services Tutorial/Learning Center, D187 436-2442/2443 Library Services/Reference Desk Library/Learning Resources Center, L200 436-2457 Lost and Found Student Activities Office, R124 436-2535 MerrittWORKs/CalWORKs MerrittWORKs Office, R105 436-2651/2469 Petition for Associate Degree/Certificate Admissions and Records Office, R112 436-2487/2488 Police Services Police Services Office, R117 (or 465-3514 at D.O.) 436-2668 President, College President's Office, Q302-304 436-2416 Puente Program Puente Program Office, R105 436-2529 Public Information Public Information Office, Q214 436-2419 Schedules of Classes Admissions and Records Office, R112 436-2487/2488 Student Activities/ASMC/Student Clubs Student Activities Office, R124 436-2535 Student Conduct and Due Process Student Services Office, R112 436-2477 Student Services Administration Vice President's Office, Student Services, R112 436-2477 Student Services Administration Dean's Office, Student Services, R112 436-2595 Study Load/Permission to Carry Excess Units Counseling Office, R109 436-2475 Switchboard, Main Campus Switchboard, D160 (or dial "0" on campus) 531-4911 Transfer Requirements (In or Out) Transfer Center, R105 436-2445 Transcripts Admissions and Records Office, R112 436-2487/2488 Tutorial Services/Assistance Tutorial/Learning Center, D187 436-2442/2443 Veterans' Affairs Veterans' Affairs Office, R113G 436-2574 Vice President of Instruction Office of Instruction, Q306-308 436-2410/2413 Vice President of Student Services Vice President's Office, Student Services, R112 436-2477/2478 8 MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 COLLEGE CALENDAR 2009–2010 FALL SEMESTER 2009 SPRING SEMESTER 2010 August 18-19 T-W Professional Days - No classes January 18 M Martin Luther King Day - August 20 Th Day and evening instruction Holiday Observance begins January 19-20 T-W Professional Days - No classes August 22 S Saturday instruction begins January 21 Th Day and evening instruction September 5 S Last day to drop full-term begins credit classes and receive a January 23 S Saturday instruction begins refund February 4 Th Last day to drop full-term Note: Short-term and open- credit classes and receive a entry/open-exit classes must refund be dropped on or before the Note: Short-term and open- first day of class to receive a entry/open-exit classes must refund. be dropped on or before the September 5 S Last day to add classes first day of class to receive a September 7 M Labor Day - Holiday refund. observance February 6 S Last day to add classes September 8 T Census Day - Instructors verify February 8 M Census Day - Instructors verify enrollment in classes enrollment in classes September 19 S Last day to drop full-term February 12 F Lincoln's Birthday - Holiday credit classes without a "W" observance appearing on transcript; date February 13-14 S-Su Saturday and Sunday classes varies for short-term and open- do not meet entry/open-exit classes. February 15 M Washington's Birthday - October 20 T Professional Day - Classes do Holiday observance not meet February 16 T Last day to drop full-term October 23 F Last day to file petitions for credit classes without a "W" AA or AS degree/certificate appearing on transcript; date November 11 W Veteran's Day - Holiday varies for short-term and open- observance entry/open-exit classes. November 25 W Attendance Verification Day - March 19 F Last day to file petitions for Instructors verify enrollment in AA or AS degree/certificate classes March 25 Th Professional Day - Classes do November 25 W Last day to drop full-term not meet credit classes with a "W" April 4-10 Su-S Spring Recess appearing on transcript April 30 F Attendance Verification Day - November 26-27 Th-F Thanksgiving - Holiday Instructors verify enrollment in observance classes November 28-29 S-Su Saturday and Sunday classes April 30 F Last day to drop full-term do not meet credit classes with a "W" December 12 S Saturday instruction ends appearing on transcript December 14-18 M-F Final examination week May 14 F Malcolm X's Birthday - Holiday December 18 F Fall semester ends observance December 23 W Grade rosters/rollbooks due May 22 S Saturday instruction ends December 24-January 1 Holiday closure May 24-28 M-F Final examination week May 28 F Spring semester ends May 31 M Memorial Day - Holiday observance June 4 F Grade rosters/rollbooks due Note: Calendar dates are subject to change. MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 9 STUDENT AWARDS 2009 10 MERRITT COLLEGE 2009-2011 GENERAL INFORMATION INTRODUCTION 44,800 acres of East Bay lands in August of 1820. On July 1, 1964, the Board of Education voted to offer vocational, Merritt College is a public, comprehensive two-year college. occupational, and liberal arts courses on each of the It is one of the four colleges of the Peralta Community existing campuses. The next year, the voters of the new College District in Alameda County.