Answers to frequently asked questions.

What are the most important courses for students to complete in their first semester?

The most important courses for any college student are the first college-level English and Math courses in which the student enrolls. At Community College of Philadelphia they are usually English 101 and Math 118. English and Math courses provide students with the academic tools to do well in other courses.

What about students who place below English 101 or below Math 118?

Students who place into English 098 and score well on the reading portion of their placement tests should complete the first semester of courses on the previous chart, substituting English 098 for English 101. They should go on to complete English 101 as soon as possible in their academic careers.

Other students who place below English 101 or below Math 118 should complete the prescribed developmental courses before beginning the program of courses for CST. It is important to be prepared academically for the courses in which one enrolls. Students who are not sure about course registration should call Academic Advising or the Counseling Center at the numbers listed on page 4.

This is especially important for students who place below the English 098 level. Those students should take only English courses until they reach the 098 level. While this demands some patience and persistence on the part of students, years of accumulated data show it is the surest path to academic success. Ask yourself – does it make sense to take courses that require the use of college-level language skills that aren’t yet fully developed? This is especially true for ESL students. There are many examples of ESL students who have started at a low English level and have achieved great success in other courses after concentrating on the development of language skills.

Students who place into MATH 016 should take MATH 016 and then MATH 017 before attempting any other courses in the scientific or technical disciplines. Most students who are placed into MATH 016 and do not successfully complete MATH 016 and MATH 017 rarely succeed in any college-level courses.

What about my elective courses?

Generally, you should choose elective courses that interest you, fulfill graduation requirements, and transfer well to four-year colleges you may later attend.

It is important to consider the requirements of the four-year schools you are most likely to attend after finishing at Community College of Philadelphia. The Counseling Center has catalogs for most four-year colleges in the area. Counselors and academic advisors usually know which courses will transfer well, and can guide you in the selection of your electives. They will also help you to select courses that fulfill other graduation requirements.

The CST degree requirements for elective courses are designed to provide a balance of study in various areas with some depth in a few selected areas. The curriculum was designed to satisfy requirements of most four-year colleges.

The electives which are part of the CST degree may also be use to earn a proficiency certificate. Proficiency certificates are focused course offerings that are developed to prepare students for employment.

What proficiency certificates are available in the fields of health care and science?

The following proficiency certificates may be of interest to the student interested in health care and science:

Biomedical Technician Proficiency Certificate

Biotechnology Proficiency Certificate

Digital Imaging Proficiency Certificate

Geographic Information Systems Proficiency Certificate

Medical Insurance Billing Proficiency Certificate

Medical Office Assistant Proficiency Certificate

Medical Office Clinical Assistant Proficiency Certificate

Nanofabrication Manufacturing Proficiency Certificate

Network and Systems Administration Proficiency Certificate

Patient Service Representative Proficiency Certificate

Process Technology Proficiency Certificate

You will find the course requirements for each proficiency certificate in the online College Catalog under Degree and Certificate Programs.

How do I choose my health course?

The health careers concentration requires that you take one of the following as a health course: AH 101-Introction to Health Care Professions, AH 103-Medical Terminology or Diet 111-Introduction to Nutrition. Each is a valuable course for students interested in health careers. Although only one is required as a health course, the others may be taken as General Electives.

All students are encouraged to take AH 101-Introduction to Health Care Professions-early in their academic careers. In this course, students will explore a variety of health-related disciplines, learn associated entry level skills, and compare the educational and credentialing requirements as well as job opportunities of various careers within the health care field. Taking this course early will help plan your academic path appropriately.

In AH 103-Medical Terminology, you will learn the language of medicine. Successful completion of this course has been shown to increase grades in Biology courses. In Diet 111-Introduction to Nutrition, you will study nutrition in depth, which will benefit you both professionally and personally. Keep in mind that Diet 111 cannot be taken before completion of Biology 109.

What if I don’t plan to go on to a four-year school?

The courses you take at Community College of Philadelphia will be the foundation for the academic achievements for the rest of your life. Make the most of that opportunity by preparing for later study even if it doesn’t fit into your plans at present.

What about part-time students?

Part-time students should complete each set of courses listed as a semester load for full-time students before going on to the next set. Usually it takes a part-time student two semesters to finish each set of courses described as one semester for full-time students

Where can I get more information about the CST curriculum?

Community College of Philadelphia students can contact Academic Advising at 215-751-8778 or the Counseling Center at 215-751-8169 to discuss the program. Students can also contact the CST curriculum coordinator at 215-751-8534, ldavidson@ccp.edu or stop by the office at W2-19. Visit the CST website at http://faculty.ccp.edu/dept/cst for information on CST and the select programs available to CST students.

People considering applications to the College should call the College’s Information line 215-751-8010 or visit the College’s Welcome Center at 17^th and Spring Garden Streets or go to the College’s web page www.ccp.edu.

Where can I find more information for new students at Community College of Philadelphia?

Our Online New Student Orientation is a great place to start! This wonderful resource has information about placement tests, registration, financial aid, student skills, campus resources and academic planning. Go to MyCCP. Look under “Support Services” and click on “New Student Online Orientation” to get started.