1 2003-04 PALO ALTO COLLEGE BULLETIN CATALOG OF COURSES Palo Alto College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404/679-4501) to award associate degrees and by the Committee on Animal Technician Activities and Training of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Its programs are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the American Society of Transportation and Logistics. Palo Alto College is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Schools, the Texas Community Colleges Teachers Association, and the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations. This catalog contains policies, regulations, procedures, and course content effective at the beginning of the Fall Semester 2003. Palo Alto College reserves the right to make changes at any time to reflect current Board policies, administrative regulations and procedures, and applicable State and Federal regulations. The provisions of this bulletin are subject to change without notice and do not constitute a contract between any student and the college. Palo Alto College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The Alamo Community College District, including its affiliated colleges, does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to access, employment programs, or services. Inquiries or complaints concerning these matters should be brought to the attention of: Director of Human Resources, Title IX Coordinator, 210/208- 8051. Address: Human Resources Department, 201 W. Sheridan, Bldg. AA, San Antonio, Texas 78204. For special accommodations or an alternate format, contact Palo Alto disABILITY Services at 921-5287. Volume 18, No. 1, May 2003 The Palo Alto College Bulletin (USPS 018367) is published quarterly in March, May, July, and October by Palo Alto College, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78224-2499. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Antonio, Texas POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PALO ALTO COLLEGE 1400 W. Villaret Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78224-2499. Telephone 210/921-5000 www.accd.edu/pac 2 PALO ALTO COLLEGE 2003-2004 BULLETIN A Message from the President As you decide to continue your educa- tion, we are excited that you are consider- ing Palo Alto as your prospective college choice. Spurred by a desire to provide higher education to Southside residents in San An- tonio, community leaders decided to create a place where everyone would have access to creating their part of the American Dream. You are a recipient of that legacy, and the faculty and staff at Palo Alto have dedi- cated themselves to your success. You will find a Welcome Center to guide you through admis- sions, financial aid and registration processes at the College. As you start your college career, you will find faculty who have rich expertise in their field and, more importantly, possess a strong love of learning and an unwavering commitment to students. We offer small class sizes where the faculty have the luxury and time to nurture you. As Palo Alto enters its 19th year, this College is positioned to offer you a variety of programs, including technical programs you will not find anywhere else in the area. You will also have access to a world-class natatorium, a child care facility, and a state-of-the-art library. I invite you to read about Palo Alto College and what we offer you in this publication. Then please visit our beautiful, mission- style campus to find why we’ve been called “the heart of the com- munity” and now are considered an “economic engine” for growth and vitality in the future. Welcome! Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán President 3 Table of Contents 1. Academic Calendar ............................................................................. 4 2. About Palo Alto................................................................................... 8 3. General Information .......................................................................... 14 4. Admissions and Registration ............................................................ 20 5. Financial Services and Assistance .................................................... 28 6. Student Support Services and Activities ........................................... 39 7. Academic Regulations and Policies .................................................. 49 8. Graduation ......................................................................................... 55 9. Programs of Study ............................................................................. 67 10. Course Descriptions ........................................................................ 140 11. The People ...................................................................................... 221 12. Index ............................................................................................... 248 13. Campus Map ................................................................................... 254 14. Helpful Telephone Numbers ........................................................... 256 NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE PALO ALTO COLLEGE ALAMO ST. PHILIP'S COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE Palo Alto College is a college of the Alamo Community College District 4 PALO ALTO COLLEGE 2003-2004 BULLETIN 1 Academic Calendar 2003-2004 Consult class schedule for registration/advisement First Summer Session — Day 2003 (six weeks) June 2 Monday. Classes begin. June 5 Thursday. Census date. June 26 Thursday. Last day to withdraw. July 3 Thursday. Last day of classes. July 4 Friday. Independence Day Holiday. College closed. July 7-8 Monday-Tuesday. FINAL EXAMINATIONS. Nov. 5 Wednesday. Last day to complete First Summer Day incomplete (I) grades. Second Summer Session — Day 2003 (six weeks) July 14 Monday. Classes begin. July 16 Wednesday. Census date. Aug. 6 Wednesday. Last day to withdraw. Aug. 13 Wednesday. Last day of classes. Aug. 13-14 Wednesday-Thursday. Final Examinations. Dec. 15 Monday. Last day to complete Second Summer Day Session incomplete (I) grades. Summer Session — Evening 2003 (eight weeks) June 2 Monday. Classes begin. June 9 Monday. Census date. July 4 Friday. Independence Day. College closed. July 10 Thursday. Last day to withdraw. July 22 Tuesday. Last evening of classes. July 23 Wednesday. Final Examinations for Monday-Wednesday classes. July 24 Thursday. Final Examinations for Tuesday-Thursday classes. Nov. 21 Friday. Last day to complete Evening Session Summer incomplete (I) grades. CHAPTER 1: Academic Calendar 5 Fall 2003 Regular Semester Aug. 18 Monday. Faculty Convocations. Aug. 25 Monday. Classes begin. Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Saturday-Monday. Labor Day Holiday. Weekend College closed. Sept. 6 Saturday. Weekend classes begin. Sept. 8 Monday. Census date. Oct. 13 Monday. Employee Development Day. College closed Evening classes will meet after 5 p.m. Nov. 14 Friday. Last day to withdraw. Nov. 27-30 Thursday-Sunday. Thanksgiving Holiday. Weekend College closed. Dec. 7 Sunday. Last day of classes Dec. 8-14 Monday-Sunday. Final Examinations. Dec. 14 Sunday. End of Fall Semester. Dec. 20-Jan. 4 Saturday-Sunday. Christmas/New Year Holiday. College closed. April 12, 2004 Monday. Last day to complete Fall 2003 incomplete (I) grades. Fall Flex Session I 2003 (first eight weeks) Aug. 25 Monday. Classes begin. Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Saturday-Monday. Labor Day Holiday. College closed. Sept. 2 Tuesday. Census date. Sept. 6 Saturday. Weekend classes begin. Oct. 3 Friday. Last day to withdraw. Oct. 12 Sunday. Last day of classes. Oct. 13 Monday. Employee Development Day. College closed. Evening classes will meet after 5 p.m. Oct. 14-15 Tuesday- Wednesday. Final Examinations. Oct. 15 Wednesday. End of Fall Flex Session I. Feb. 12, 2004 Thursday. Last day to complete Fall Flex Session I incomplete (I) grades. Fall Flex Session II 2003 (second eight weeks) Oct. 20 Monday. Classes begin. Oct. 25 Saturday. Census date. Nov. 26 Wednesday. Last day to withdraw. Nov. 27-30 Thursday-Sunday. Thanksgiving Holiday. Weekend College closed. Dec. 7 Sunday. Last day of classes. Dec. 8-14 Monday-Sunday. Final Examinations. Dec. 14 Sunday. End of Fall Flex Session II. Dec. 20-Jan. 4 Saturday-Sunday. Christmas/New Year Holiday. College closed. April 12, 2004 Monday. Last day to complete Fall Flex II incomplete (I) grades. 6 PALO ALTO COLLEGE 2003-2004 BULLETIN Spring 2004 Regular Semester Jan. 5 Monday. Semester begins. Jan. 12 Monday. Classes begin. Jan. 17 Saturday. Weekend Classes begin. Jan. 19 Monday.Martin Luther King Holiday College closed. Jan. 24 Saturday. Census date. March 15-21 Monday-Sunday. Spring Break. College closed. All administrative offices will be closed Thursday-Sunday. April 8 Thursday. Last day withdraw. April 9-11 Friday-Sunday. Easter Holiday. College closed. April 23 Friday. Fiesta Holiday. College closed. Weekend classes will meet. May 2 Sunday. Last day of classes. May 3-9 Monday-Sunday. Final Examinations. May 9 Sunday. End of semester. May 31 Monday. Memorial Day Holiday. College closed. Sept. 7 Monday. Last day to complete Spring 2004 incomplete (I) grades. Spring Flex Session I 2004 (first eight weeks) Jan. 12 Monday. Classes begin. Jan. 17 Saturday. Census date. Jan. 19 Monday. Martin Luther King Holiday. College closed. Feb. 20 Friday. Last day to withdraw. Feb. 29 Sunday.