Course Numbering and Special Courses

The course numbering system in use at College of San Mateo as part of the San Mateo County Community College District categorizes courses according to the following:

100-599 Courses generally transferable to a four-year college or university.
600-699 Courses varying in content and which are usually transferable.
700-799 Courses that are part of a specific occupational program and which are not generally regarded as transferable.
800-899 Courses that are non-transferable
925-957 Non-credit ESL courses

From time to time, a department may offer a course which is experimental in nature, and covers a special topic. Because such courses are never exactly the same, you will not find them described in the catalog. They are, however, regular credit courses of the College.

The following experimental/selected topics credit courses may be offered in all instructional programs as approved by the Curriculum Committee. See class schedule for current semester offerings.

665 Selected Short Course Topics
Designed for Accounting students and professionals who are interested in increasing or developing new skills. View WebSchedule for course offerings.

680-689 Selected Topics (Degree/Certificate Applicable, CSU Transferable)
Units: 0.5-3; Hours/semester: By Arrangement. Selected topics not covered by regular catalog offerings. Course content and unit credit are determined by the appropriate division in relation to community/student need and available staff. These courses may be offered as lecture or lab classes. View WebSchedule for course offerings.

690 Special Projects
Units: 1-3; Hours/semester: 48-162 lab hours by arrangement. Grade Option; Prerequisite: 3.0 G.P.A. in subject field. Independent study in a specific field or topic, directed by an instructor and supervised by the Division Dean. Students are eligible to request approval of a special project only after successfully completing at least two college level courses in the subject field. (Note: Students normally may receive credit for only one special project per semester.) Units apply toward AA/AS degree or certificate. CSU Transferable.

680 and 690 courses may be transferable to UC, contingent upon a review of the course outline by a UC campus after transfer. Maximum credit allowed in Selected Topics and Special Projects is 3 units per term, with 6 units total in any or all subject areas combined.

879 Selected Topics (Degree/Certificate Applicable, Non-Transferable)
Units: 0.5-3; Hours/semester: By Arrangement. Selected topics not covered by regular catalog offerings. Course content and unit credit are determined by the appropriate division in relation to community/student need and available staff. These courses may be offered as lecture or lab classes. See semester class schedule for particular offerings. Not designed for transfer credit. Units apply toward AA/AS degree or certificate.

880 Other Selected Topics (Non-Degree/Non-Certificate Applicable, Non-Transferable)
Units: 0.5-3; Hours/semester: By Arrangement. Selected topics not covered by regular catalog offerings. Course content and unit credit are determined by the appropriate division in relation to community/student need and available staff. These courses may be offered as lecture or lab classes. See semester class schedule for particular offerings. Not designed for transfer credit. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree nor certificate.