School Details
Cerro Coso Community College is a two-year public institution serving the Kern Community College District as a leader in educational opportunity. Dedicated to the improvement of each student, CCCC a source of transfer preparation, workforce training and several other academic options. Become a lifelong learner and enhance career opportunities with Cerro Coso’s accessible resources.
Earn an associate’s degree online with the option of a variety of programs. Curriculums for online learning include business, education, cyber security, liberal arts and more. Certificates are also available through this flexible format, designed for non-traditional students.
Qualities of online learning with CCCC:
- Strict time guidelines and requirements
- Accessible tech support
- Online readiness assessment quiz
- Online courses offer the same rigorous curriculum as on-campus
Accreditation & Licensing
Cerro Coso Community College is accredited by:
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
The Cerro Coso Community College offers an online Anthropology degree, the Associate in Arts in Anthropology. This is a transfer program that offers guarantee acceptance to the CSU system, so students have a clear pathway to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. Graduates of this program are prepared to transfer at the junior level to CSU programs and colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology so they can prepare for careers in areas including anthropology, forensics, international affairs, social services, cultural resource management, business, and education. While completing this anthropology degree, you will critique aspects of human social and cultural life from an anthropological perspective and compare and contrast major theoretical perspectives in the field. Students will also learn to use the scientific method to analyze aspects of the human condition, to analyze the place of humanity in nature, to describe the methods used to study humans as biological organisms, and to identify major trends in cultural evolution using the material cultures of prehistoric and historic humans.
Cerro Coso Community College offers an online art history degree, the Associate in Arts in Art History. This is a transfer degree that guarantees acceptance to the CSU system and provides a clear path to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree. With this art history program, students are prepared to transfer at the junior level to CSU programs and colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees in:
- Art History
- Studio Arts
- Fine Arts
- Art Education
- Art Therapy
The curriculum teaches students to analyze and interpret the formal, technical, and expressive aspects of works of art as historians, viewers, or creators. You will also learn to discuss art that represents diverse cultures and regions within a historical and social context and to apply art historical terminology and methodology when analyzing and interpreting art. Graduates are familiar with a variety of art production processes.
Cerro Coso Community College offers an online English degree, the Associate in Arts in English, as a transfer degree. This program guarantees acceptance to the CSU system and provides a path to a CSU major and baccalaureate degree, preparing students for careers in teaching, journalism, technical writing, publishing and editing, public relations, advertising, communications, government, business, and more. The curriculum provides knowledge, skills, and experiences required of an educated, literate citizen while fostering critical reading and writing practices, wide-ranging interpretive abilities, and greater historical and cultural awareness. You will explore areas of British, American, and international literature; analyze genres from various historical periods; and study composition and rhetoric.
Graduates are prepared to:
- Critically read literary works in English, including diverse voices and cultures
- Identify key elements of literary genres
- Relate literary works to their historical, cultural, and aesthetic contexts
- Define, identify and analyze literary and dramatic techniques in a variety of works
- Compose formal written analyses of texts demonstrating academic discourse and literary analysis
Advance your career opportunities by enrolling in an online program today!
The online Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts degree offers a concentration in Arts & Humanities. This program is designed to meet general education requirements for transfer students, allowing them to then transfer to a four-year college or university. The curriculum emphasizes cultural, literary, humanistic activities and the artistic expression of human beings. You will study people and different cultures throughout the ages and how they responded to themselves and the world around them in artistic and cultural expression. Graduates learn to evaluate the significance of artistic and cultural constructions and the origins, varieties, and meaning of expressions and artifacts of human experience related to arts and humanities.
Advance your career opportunities by enrolling in an online program today!
Advance your career opportunities by enrolling in an online program today!
Business
The online Administrative Office Assistant Certificate program from Cerro Coso Community College is designed to equip students with the range of skills necessary to perform the duties of an entry level administrative assistant in today's technological office. Coursework trains students in:
- Communication
- Bookkeeping
- Office Skills
- Computer Applications for Business
Graduates of this program are prepared to pursue careers as office assistants, bookkeepers, filing clerks, administrative assistants, payroll clerks, front office professionals, and more.
The Associate of Science in Business from Cerro Coso prepares you for a wide variety of entry-level positions in business. Graduates can go on to work as a budget analyst, business owner, manager or supervisor, loan officer, management analyst, and much more.
Coursework examines issues involved in operating a business in complex, diverse, and international environments. Students learn the importance of financial management and legal and ethical decision-making. Graduates will have the skill set necessary to apply critical thinking skills to solve complex issues in a business environment.
Classes in this online Business degree cover topics such as:
- Financial accounting
- Business law
- Diversity in the workplace
- Marketing
Cerro Coso Community College offers an online Associate of Science degree in Business Administration. Students in this degree program will learn a wide variety of business skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.
Coursework in this online Business Administration degree explains the nature of business, business operations, business organization, and business procedures. Students learn how to apply critical thinking skills to technical and economic issues they may encounter in the workplace. This degree also specifically prepares students for transfer at the junior level to California State University colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in business, business administration, management information systems, and other related degrees.
The curriculum includes studies of:
- Accounting
- Business law
- Economics
- Computer information systems
An Associate of Science degree in Business Office Technology prepares you to succeed and thrive in today’s technology-dependent workplaces. Graduates will have the skills necessary for challenging positions as administrative assistants and office managers.
Coursework covers material related to communications, computer applications, office procedures, business, and bookkeeping. Students learn how to utilize computer software tools such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, accounting, and desktop publishing for business-related tasks. Graduates will also be well equipped to handle a variety of business financial transactions throughout the accounting cycle.
Positions available to graduates of this technology management online degree include:
- Bookkeeper
- Receptionist
- Payroll clerk
- Office assistant
- Data entry operator
The Associate of Science in Management from Cerro Coso Community College provides the leadership skills necessary to thrive in today’s complex and technological business environment. Students in this program learn how to apply critical thinking skills to managerial issues, make ethical decisions, and solve technological problems.
Classes examine ways in which management, supervision, and leadership skills can be put to use in diverse situations. Students learn basic skills in areas such as accounting, business law, business communication, human resources, project management, and more.
Graduates of this online business management degree program can pursue management positions in fields including:
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Construction
- Accounting
- Social services
- Marketing
Gain practical skills for immediate employment in a wide range of settings with the online Business Certificate program from Cerro Coso Community College. Students learn how to analyze issues involved in operating a business in complex and dynamic environments.
Classes explore the importance of the various functional areas of business, with courses in accounting, personal finance, business law, marketing, and computer information systems. Graduates will have the preparation necessary to apply critical thinking to complex business issues.
Prepare for the challenges of today’s technology-dependent world with an online Business Office Technology Certificate from Cerro Coso Community College. This program offers an introduction to topics in communication, computer applications, business, office procedures, and bookkeeping.
Students will learn how to apply word processing, spreadsheet, database, accounting, presentation, and desktop publishing tools to business-related tasks. Additionally, coursework prepares students to competently handle a variety of business financial transactions including petty cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and more.
This technology management online certificate program can help you in your pursuit of jobs such as:
- Office assistant
- Bookkeeper
- Data entry operator
- Filing clerk
- Administrative assistant
- Receptionist
- Payroll clerk
Gain a general understanding of business and leadership with an online Management Certificate from Cerro Coso Community College. This certificate program provides students with the management skills key to success in today’s technological business environment.
Coursework teaches students to apply critical thinking skills to technical and managerial issues and make ethical decisions in a managerial context. Graduates will be prepared to apply management, supervision, and leadership skills in a range of diverse and complex situations.
This online business management program prepares students for management roles in areas including:
- Retail
- Restaurant
- Construction
- Social services
- Advertising
- Compensation and benefits
Cerro Coso Community College offers an online Office Clerk Certificate program that prepares students to perform basic job responsibilities in entry-level office work. Courses introduce software tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access for business office-related projects such as letter and report creation, spreadsheet creating and editing, and data entry. Students also gain skills in business communication, time management, and professional ethics.
The curriculum covers topics in:
- Practical math for business and consumers
- Computer literacy
- Computer keyboarding
- Business information
Computer Science & IT
Graduates of the online Information Technology associate’s degree from Cerro Coso Community College will be able to configure, install, diagnose, and support hardware and software issues for clients. Skills in reading, interpreting, and communicating technical information to various audiences can be useful in any workplace.
Students will gain competency in databases and information management. Courses explain ways to work with servers, storage, and virtualization, including implementing and evaluating security solutions. Graduates will be prepared to design, test, debug, and implement complex computer programs.
Careers available to graduates include:
- Computer programmer
- Computer repair (A+ certified)
- Computer help desk support
- Network technician
- Information assurance technician
- Cybersecurity technician
The associate’s degree in Web Professional from Cerro Coso Community College teaches students the foundations of internet technology, databases, eCommerce, and electronic communications. Students will be able to use software applications to produce web content and media after completion of this online web development associate’s degree.
Courses focus on user-centered design, creating an attractive, accessible, and usable web site or mobile application. Students will gain skills in standards-based coding and creative problem solving. Graduates can find opportunities in website design, content management theme design, web database development, search engine optimization, and more.
Some of the class topics available to students include:
- Digital imaging
- Accessibility and UX design
- Computer information systems
- Computer illustration and design
- Digital video and audio production
- E-commerce and social media marketing
The online Certificate in Data Analyst I is designed to analyze data using forecasting, optimization, and changing scenarios. Students will also learn to prepare reports using spreadsheets, word processing, and database management programs.
Courses cover ways to design and manipulate databases with SQL and database management systems. An emphasis is placed on work with spreadsheets and database management systems to create models and analyze results. Graduates of online data science programs will be prepared for positions in fields of data collection, data processing, and data analysis.
The curriculum includes studies of the following:
- Principles of project management
- Data analytics for business
- Programming concepts and methodologies
- Database design and management
The online Certificate in Information Technology prepares students for positions maintaining computer information systems for business. Students will learn to interpret and use technical information to solve common business problems using IT systems and applications.
This online IT program teaches students ways to provide user support for various computing issues. Classes cover networking, program design and implementation, servers, and virtualization. Graduates will be prepared for positions such as help desk providers, computer support specialists, computer repair technicians, networking technicians, information assurance technicians, and cyber security technicians.
Some of the course topics in this program include:
- Programming concepts and methodologies
- Database design and management
- Information and communication technology
- Computer information systems
Cerro Coso Community College’s online Certificate in Information Technology Plus prepares students for careers working with computer information systems for business. This online IT program teaches students ways to provide user support for a variety of computing issues.
Students will learn how to implement and evaluate network security solutions. Classes also cover how to design, analyze, and support computer networks. The online certificate program consists of four courses and can be completed in as little as one semester.
Graduates can pursue job opportunities as:
- Help desk providers
- Computer support specialists
- Computer repair technicians
- Networking technicians
- Information assurance technicians
- Cybersecurity technicians
The online Certificate in Web Fundamentals develops technical and design skills through individual and collaborative work-based projects. Students will learn to identify concepts of internet technology, networking, databases, and electronic communications.
The online web design program explores the creation of web media including graphics, motion graphics, and interactive media. Students will use valid markup, cascading style sheets, semantic encoding, accessibility compliance, and error-free scripting to create web content. Graduates will be prepared for various careers in website design or development.
A sample of courses available includes:
- Computer information systems
- Web scripting with JavaScript
- Web design
- Accessibility and UX design
- Digital imaging
The online Web Professional Certificate from Cerro Coso Community College prepares students for certifications including the Web Foundations Associate Series, Web Design Specialist, and E-Commerce Specialist. Graduates will be prepared for a range of careers in the web industry.
Courses cover standards-based coding and scripting, technical and design skills, usability, accessibility, media production, e-commerce concepts, project management, and networking. Both Adobe applications and open-source products are examined in coursework for this web design online program. Students will also gain realistic expectations about work conditions in the field through individual and collaborative work-based projects.
This certificate can enhance career opportunities in areas such as:
- Website design and development
- Content management system development
- Web database development
- Mobile web development
- eCommerce development
- Search engine optimization consulting
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
You can begin your journey into the study of the legal field with the Associate Degree for Transfer in Law, Public Policy & Society. The online law degree prepares you to continue your education in a related field such as:
- Legal studies
- Communication
- Political science
- Behavioral sciences
Through the online law associate’s degree program, you earn an interdisciplinary education focusing on how the law impacts public policy and society. Graduates can continue their education or find employment as legal secretaries, paralegals, or legal assistants.
You can guarantee yourself admission as a junior with the Associate in Science in Administration of Justice from Cerro Coso Community College. The online administration degree allows you to transfer to the CSU system to continue your education.
Through the online criminal justice associate’s degree program, you learn the underlying causes of criminal and antisocial behavior. Your online studies cover such topics as:
- Juvenile procedures
- Investigation procedures
- Legal aspects of evidence
- Forensic crime scene investigation
You can work in a legal environment with the Associate in Science in Paralegal Studies from Cerro Coso Community College. The online paralegal degree examines such topics as:
- Legal research and writing
- Civil litigation procedures
- Law office management
- Family law
Through the online paralegal associate’s degree program, you also learn about legal ethics, civil procedures, and how to prepare legal documents. Graduates can either work as paralegals or legal document assistants or continue their education for more rewarding career opportunities.
You can gain knowledge and skills in information security with the Associate of Science in Cyber Security Technology from Cerro Coso Community College. The online cyber security degree leads to work in such positions as:
- Information Assurance Technician
- Network Security Professional
- Information Security Analyst
- Cyber Security Technician
Through the online cyber security associate’s degree program, you gain command of technical information and computer networks. Graduates have the skills to install, configure, support, and diagnose software and hardware issues.
You can prepare to work as an information security specialist with the Certificate of Achievement in Cyber Security Technician from Cerro Coso Community College. The online cyber security program leads to career opportunities like:
- Cyber security technician
- Network security professional
- Information assurance technician
Through the online cyber security certificate program, you can work in information security for businesses. Students also transfer to a bachelor’s program in related areas to continue their education.
You can train to work in the legal field with the Certificate of Achievement in Paralegal Studies from Cerro Coso Community College. The online paralegal program explores such topics as:
- Legal ethics
- Legal research
- The court systems
- Preparation of legal documents
Through the online paralegal certificate program, you can work under an attorney in law firms, government offices, and the public and private sectors. Further licensing can qualify you as a Legal Document Assistant to help others with their court documents.
Education
The online Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education program guarantees acceptance to the CSU system as it prepares educators to transfer to CSU and a bachelor’s degree program. Educators learn to examine teaching and care practices that provide a developmentally appropriate program to support children’s growth, development, and learning, and also learn to integrate understandings of children’s development and needs to maintain healthy, safe, supportive, and challenging learning environments that demonstrate culturally relevant, inclusive, age-appropriate, and anti-bias approaches respectful of children, families, and early learning professionals. Graduates are prepared for careers in Child Development and Early Childhood Education or to transfer to child development, elementary education, and education programs at a 4-year college or university.
CCCC offers the Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Associate Teacher as a way to work with children with minimal education. This online early childhood education program can start your career in such positions as childcare worker, preschool teacher, or elementary school classroom assistant.
The role of early childhood education should not be overlooked. Research has shown that early childhood education has such outcomes as:
- Improves cognitive abilities
- Creates a foundation for lifelong learning
- Brings equity to classrooms
- Reduces poverty by improving social mobility
Those wanting to work in early childhood education gain a complete educational foundation with CCCC’s Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Master Teacher. This online program provides courses in core areas—curriculum, development, and child/family/community.
The online certificate program offers areas of specialization to align with your career interests. Some of the available concentrations you may select include:
- Dual language
- Curriculum
- Children with exceptional needs
- Infant care
The early childhood education coursework imparts developmentally appropriate practices that support children’s learning, growth, and development. Furthermore, certificate holders find they have explored their own philosophies, values, and experiences, which guides them in supporting the children under their care.
The Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Site Supervisor from CCCC offers a minimal level of education for those wanting to work with children in a group environment. This online early childhood education program recognizes the importance of reaching children at a young age.
Through the early childhood education coursework, students learn developmentally appropriate practices that support children’s development, growth, and learning. Certificate holders find success in such roles as:
- Assistant teacher
- Site supervisor
- Childcare center administrator
- Preschool teacher
The Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Teacher from CCCC imparts the foundations of early childhood education. This online program covers essential elements of reaching young children. Such parameters include:
- Understanding children’s development
- Meeting the needs of young children
- Maintaining a safe, supportive, challenging, and healthy learning environment
- Demonstrating cultural relevance
Through this online early childhood education certificate program, students receive documentation of their training to qualify for work with children in group settings. With a minimum investment of time and money, this program helps educators deliver an age-appropriate development program for young children.
Math & Science
The online Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Mathematics & Science is available from Cerro Coso Community College. This liberal arts degree is designed for students hoping to gain a broad knowledge of liberal arts and sciences along with additional coursework in math and science. The curriculum emphasizes the natural sciences, examining the physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena. You will also study the development of mathematical and quantitative reasoning skills beyond the level of intermediate algebra.
Graduates are able to:
- Describe the nature of science, the methods applied in scientific investigations, and the value of those methods in developing a rigorous understanding of the physical world
- Apply algebraic, graphical, numerical, and other methods to solve applied problems in the areas of mathematics, natural sciences, computer graphics, and computer animation
The online AS in Mathematics degree program from Cerro Coso Community College prepares students for transfer to a four-year institution for completion of a baccalaureate degree in applied or theoretical mathematics, mathematics education, statistics, engineering, natural or physical science, or economics. Graduates possess the knowledge and skills needed to:
- Use the Cartesian, polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinate systems effectively
- Use scalar and vector products in applications
- Use vector-valued functions to describe motion in space
- Extend the concepts of derivatives, differentials, and integrals to include multiple independent variables
- Solve simple differential equations of the first and second order
- Analyze and model the behaviors of physical phenomena by applying advanced calculus concepts
- Apply broad mathematical concepts to practical applications
Psychology & Human Services
Cerro Coso Community College offers an online Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Social & Behavioral Sciences. This is a transfer program, designed to help students complete general education requirements before transferring to a four-year degree program. You will take courses that emphasize the perspectives, concepts, theories, and methodologies of the disciplines that comprise study in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. The curriculum teaches students to apply major concepts and methods used by social or behavioral scientists to investigate, to analyze, or to predict human or group behavior. Students also learn to evaluate how social scientists view the ways that individuals and societies are interconnected within social, historical, political, and cultural environments.
The associate’s in Psychology transfer degree allows students to enter a bachelor’s program in the CSU system with junior standing and priority admission consideration. Students will study the foundations of individual and group behavior.
Courses examine how to apply psychological principles to enhance interpersonal, social, and occupational skills. Students will learn how to evaluate psychological data and apply the scientific method to various theories. Graduates will be equipped with basic knowledge applicable to careers in research, teaching, counseling, social work, human resources, and more.
A sample of class topics with this major include:
- General psychology
- Research methods in the social and behavioral sciences
- Physiological psychology
- Lifespan development
- Abnormal psychology
Help improve the mental and physical health and wellbeing of others with an associate’s degree in Human Services. Students will learn about practices in the Human Services industry, ways to analyze situations, and proposing appropriate interventions.
The curriculum covers core Human Services skills such as conducting an interview, writing an incident report, participating in team meetings, and providing support and referrals to clients. Courses in this online Human Services degree also examine case management, cultural competence, computer literacy, intervention skills, strategies for children with special needs, and more.
Graduates can pursue career opportunities including:
- Human services technician
- Case worker
- Family development specialist
- Recovery specialist
- Independent living specialist