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National Application Center :: campus tours :: College of the Desert admissions

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College of the Desert

College of the Desert
43-500 Monterey Ave
Palm Desert, CA 92260-9305

Official telephone: (760) 346-8041
Website: https://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/
Screen last updated on: October 2026
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Calendar system: semester system (two terms comprise academic year)
Month(s) in which new student orientation is held: Orientation for new students is held prior to start of fall term.
Number and length of summer sessions: A summer session is offered for credit.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Percent of full-time freshman students who returned for sophomore year: 70%
Student:Faculty ratio: 26:1
Total faculty: 275 men, 278 women
Full-time faculty: 65 men, 66 women
Part-time faculty: 210 men, 212 women

College of the Desert
REQUIRED UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
General education/core curriculum is required: yes

PROGRAMS OFFERED
Special programs offered:
double majors, independent study, distance learning, external degree program, online courses
Cooperative programs are offered: yes
Study abroad opportunities:
Study-abroad program offered.

LIST OF MAJORS
Associate's Degrees

  • Accounting
  • Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
  • Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General
  • Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
  • Agriculture, General
  • Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician
  • Anthropology, General
  • Anthropology, Other
  • Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General
  • Architectural Sciences and Technology, Other
  • Architectural Technology/Technician
  • Area Studies, Other
  • Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies, Other
  • Art/Art Studies, General
  • Athletic Training/Trainer
  • Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
  • Biological and Physical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Building/Construction Site Management/Manager
  • Business Administration and Management, General
  • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
  • Business/Commerce, General
  • Chemistry, General
  • Child Care Provider/Assistant
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production
  • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
  • Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
  • Construction Trades, General
  • Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
  • Criminal Justice/Police Science
  • Crop Production
  • Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other
  • Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching
  • Economics, General
  • Education, General
  • Education, Other
  • Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • Energy Systems Technology/Technician
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
  • Engineering, Other
  • English Language and Literature, General
  • English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
  • Environmental Science
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Exercise Science and Kinesiology
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Other
  • Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
  • Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General
  • Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
  • Geography
  • Geology/Earth Science, General
  • Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
  • Graphic Design
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
  • Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
  • History, General
  • History, Other
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General
  • Human Development and Family Studies, General
  • Humanities/Humanistic Studies
  • Information Technology
  • Journalism
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
  • Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies
  • Mathematics and Statistics, Other
  • Mathematics, General
  • Mechanics and Repairers, General
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
  • Music, General
  • Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
  • Natural Resources/Conservation, General
  • Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
  • Physical Sciences, Other
  • Physical Therapy Assistant
  • Physics, General
  • Political Science and Government, General
  • Pre-Engineering
  • Psychology, General
  • Psychology, Other
  • Radio and Television
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
  • Social Sciences, General
  • Social Sciences, Other
  • Sociology, General
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
  • Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
  • Turf and Turfgrass Management
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General
  • Visual and Performing Arts, Other
Certificates

  • Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
  • Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General
  • Agriculture, General
  • Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician
  • Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
  • Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General
  • Architectural Sciences and Technology, Other
  • Architectural Technology/Technician
  • Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
  • Building/Construction Site Management/Manager
  • Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector
  • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
  • Business/Commerce, General
  • Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry
  • Child Care and Support Services Management
  • Child Care Provider/Assistant
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production
  • Commercial Photography
  • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
  • Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other
  • Community Health and Preventive Medicine
  • Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling
  • Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
  • Computer Graphics
  • Construction Trades, General
  • Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General
  • Corrections
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
  • Criminal Justice/Police Science
  • Crop Production
  • Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other
  • Digital Arts
  • Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General
  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching
  • Education, Other
  • Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
  • Energy Systems Technology/Technician
  • Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
  • Environmental/Environmental Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Other
  • Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician
  • Fire Science/Fire-fighting
  • General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
  • Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
  • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General
  • Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary
  • Legal Studies
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
  • Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training
  • Mechanics and Repairers, General
  • Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary
  • Music Technology
  • Music, General
  • Musical Theatre
  • Natural Resources and Conservation, Other
  • Natural Resources/Conservation, General
  • Office Management and Supervision
  • Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other
  • Pharmacy Technician/Assistant
  • Physical Fitness Technician
  • Precision Production Trades, General
  • Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
  • Radio and Television
  • Real Estate
  • Recording Arts Technology/Technician
  • Resort Management
  • Retail Management
  • Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General
  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
  • Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
  • Teacher Assistant/Aide
  • Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
  • Turf and Turfgrass Management
  • Visual and Performing Arts, Other
  • Welding Technology/Welder

ADVANCED CREDIT/PLACEMENT
Credit placement options:
  • credit for CEEB Advanced Placement
  • credit for CLEP general
  • credit for CLEP subject
  • credit for DANTES
  • neither credit nor placement for international baccalaureate

CERTIFICATES OFFERED
  • False
 
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