If you’re not currently attending SMC, fill out an application for admission online at www.smc.edu/admissions. You can then register for classes online or by phone after your appointment date and time. If you need help at any time, please ask. Our campus is filled with dedicated people who care about your success. Enjoy your classes!
Our Welcome Center helps smooth the way for new students by offering a “one-stop shop” for admission, enrollment, orientation, academic counseling, financial aid, and more. We’ll even take you (and your parents, if you like) on a campus tour, so you’ll know how to find your way around before your first day of classes. The Welcome Center is located on the ground floor of the Student Center, next to the Health Services Center and the cafeteria. No appointment is necessary—all you need to do is just walk in the door!
The SMC Bookstore now offers on-line purchase of class textbooks and other merchandise. You can order on the web, and either pick up the books in the bookstore or have them shipped to your address by United Parcel Service. The web address is http://bookstore.smc.edu/.
You can accelerate meeting your General Education requirements by enrolling in special 8-week sessions. The first session starts August 25, and the second session starts October 20. See the Special Programs section for a complete listing of short-term classes.
SMC has dozens of support labs and centers to assist you. See Information & Policies for a comprehensive list.
The SMC Shuttle provides free, safe, on-time parking day and afternoons, Monday through Thursday. Details and up to date parking and transit information can be found on the Parking Information web page.
OFFICE Hours
Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Hours subject to change without notice. Please go to www.smc.edu/admissions.html for updates.
Enrollment by web or phone
Monday – Sunday: 1:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Web: www.smc.edu/admissions.html (go to “Student Self Service System”)
Phone: (310) 434-4333
To enroll in online or hybrid classes, you MUST use the Student Self-service System.
WHO MAY ENROLL
You may enroll at Santa Monica College if you:
• Have graduated from high school, or
• Are 18 years of age or older, or
• Are 16 years of age or older and submit your “Student Score Report“ for passing the California High School Proficiency Examination, and you meet the residency requirements (see “Residency link” at
Information & Policies) and can profit from the program.
APPLYING FOR ADMISSION
Continuing Students do NOT have to reapply for admission. If you have never attended Santa Monica College (New Student) or have been away for two or more consecutive semesters (Returning Student), you must first:
• File an application for admission online (go to
www.smc.edu/admissions.html);
• Complete the assessment in math AND English (or ESL); and
• Arrange for transcripts of previous college work (or high school work, if no previous college work was completed) to be sent to the Admissions Office. These should be received
no later than Monday, July 28, 2008. We recommend that you request all transcripts at least four weeks before the start of the session. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent by the other college(s) directly to SMC’s Admissions Office. Copies issued to a student (even if in a sealed envelope) will be considered unofficial and will NOT be accepted.
You will be e-mailed an admission letter. Please review the letter for information on orientation, assessment, and enrollment.
After your orientation, you will be able to sign up for classes on the date and time of your enrollment by logging onto the Student Self Service System at www.smc.edu/admissions.html or by calling the telephone enrollment line at (310) 434-4333. There is NO need to come to campus to enroll.
International Students
Santa Monica College defines an “international student” as a student attending the College while on an F-1 student visa. The international student application is available at the International Education Center and may be requested by calling (310) 434-4217, or may be downloaded from our website (www.smc.edu/international). International students can apply online through the same website. Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2008, for the Fall 2008 semester; and November 15, 2008, for the Winter 2009 session.
To maintain their F-1 visa status, all international students MUST enroll in AND complete a course load of twelve (12) or more units in the Fall and Spring semesters (Summer and Winter sessions are optional).
• Students with F-1 visas from other schools may enroll at SMC on a limited basis. Please consult with the International Education Center for more information.
• Students with other types of visas (not F-1) may enroll through the Admissions Office. If you are currently on a B visa, you cannot enroll until you have obtained an F-1 student visa or changed to another visa. Please contact the International Education Center for additional information.
Veteran Services
Santa Monica College is approved as an institution for higher learning for veterans and veterans’ dependents entitled to educational assistance from the Veterans Administration (VA). The College cooperates with the VA in helping veterans. SMC’s mission to support veterans in achieving their educational goals includes academic, career, and transfer counseling, as well as tutoring and other services.
VA regulations not only require students to meet the same academic standards as all other students at SMC, but also place certain restrictions on students receiving VA educational benefits. Students who fail to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 (C) will be placed on academic probation. After two semesters on academic probation, students will lose their VA educational benefits. Please see the Veterans Counselor for additional information.
Veterans are urged to take advantage of the counseling services and educational programs offered by Santa Monica College. While SMC does not provide answers to veterans’ problems that are not related to the College’s programs, efforts will be made whenever possible to direct students to resources where answers may be found.
Students with Disabilities
If you wish to use the special counseling services provided through the Center for Students with Disabilities, call (310) 434-4265. The TDD number is (310) 434-4273. Please see the “Center For Students With Disabilities” link listed in the Information & Policies section of this schedule of classes for more information.
Printed SMC materials are available in alternate media upon request. To request publications in alternate formats for disability accommodation, e-mail DSCcontact@smc.edu or call (310) 434-4265. The information published in this Schedule of Classes is also available online (see www.smc.edu/schedules).
Disqualified Students
If you have been disqualified (dismissed) from Santa Monica College for poor academic performance or unsatisfactory progress and you have been away from SMC for one semester or less, you must file a Petition for Readmission in person with a counselor. The counselor will determine whether reinstatement is possible and what conditions you must meet in order to enroll at SMC.
If you are a disqualified student and you have been away from SMC for two consecutive semesters (one year) or longer, you must file a Petition for Readmission and an SMC Admission Application. You may file both of these online by going to www.smc.edu and clicking on “New Students Apply Online,” then following the instructions provided there. If you intend to submit these forms in person (i.e., not online), you must file the SMC Admission Application in the Admissions Office and the Petition for Readmission in the Transfer/Counseling Center. You must also arrange for all transcripts (official or unofficial) to be sent to the Transfer/Counseling Center, ATTN: Readmission Committee, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405.
The decision on your readmission will be sent to you by mail, along with any further instructions.
For information on other requirements for disqualified students seeking reinstatement, see the College Policies, Rules, and Regulations section of the SMC catalog, or contact the Transfer/Counseling Center.
Please see the “College Policies” link listed in the Information & Policies section of this schedule of classes for additional information.
ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
The Assessment Center is located in Room 109 of the Liberal Arts building. Assessment services are available on a walk-in, first-come/first-served basis during normal testing hours. Assessment testing hours are Monday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours are subject to change, so please visit our website (www.smc.edu/assessment) or call (310) 434-8040 for up-to-date information. Please note that there may be an extensive wait during heavy testing periods.
You must present a valid government-issued photo identification card (e.g., driver’s license, passport, current high school ID, military ID) and have applied for admission to SMC.
Assessment is essential in evaluating your skill levels and assisting you in your selection of coursework to ensure your success. Assessment is used only to generate placement recommendations, and not to advance students to higher-level courses.
Assessment in English or ESL and in Math is mandatory if you are:
• A first-time college student enrolling in more than six (6) units during your first semester at SMC, regardless of your academic goals; or
• A continuing student enrolling for your second semester at SMC, and you have not completed the assessment process; or
• Enrolling in an English, ESL, or math course for the first time (even if you are not a first-time college student); or
• Enrolling in courses with recommended English or math preparation.
Based upon your assessment results, you will receive an English, ESL, or math placement recommendation.
A placement waiver will be issued if you meet SMC’s assessment exemptions (see the “Requests for Placement & Prerequisite Waivers” section below) or you have already completed applicable coursework with a C (2.0) or better. You must provide a college transcript, AP report, assessment results, or other official documentation as proof. If you are planning to transfer, we strongly suggest that you discuss your plans with a counselor. Students who have received an AA or higher degree from a US-accredited institution are generally exempt from assessment, but may not automatically qualify for a particular English or mathematics course. Please consult with a counselor at the Transfer/Counseling Center.
PLEASE NOTE: Although you may be exempt from assessment, you still must successfully complete—or receive waivers for—any prerequisite courses (or their equivalent) that are required for English, ESL, or math classes. For further information, please consult with a counselor at the Transfer/Counseling Center.
Requests for Placement & Prerequisite Waivers
Placement and prerequisite waivers for English, ESL, math, and chemistry may be granted under the specific circumstances noted below. Please read the appropriate section to determine if your request will qualify. Be sure to follow the procedure outlined; failure to do so will likely result in denial of the waiver.
Placement recommendations and permits to enroll in English, ESL, math, or chemistry may be issued to you if you have completed a relevant college-level course with a grade of 2.0 (C) or better. Please bring a copy of your college transcript to the Transfer/Counseling Center or Welcome Center. A counselor will evaluate the course in question and, if appropriate, issue you a waiver.
Santa Monica College does not automatically accept assessment results from other institutions. Exceptions may be made under very limited circumstances, as noted below, and only on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our website for information on how to request a waiver (www.smc.edu/assessment/waivers_exemptions.html). Failure to do so will result in denying your request.
• Out-of-State/Out-of-Area Students Applying to SMC:
If you are eligible to enroll at SMC and planning to move to the Los Angeles area (or elsewhere in California) to attend SMC, you may be permitted to complete the appropriate tests at another institution, but ONLY if the tests are the same as the ones in use at SMC (see below for test names). However, SMC will apply its own “cut” scores and other measures in determining your placement eligibility. PLEASE NOTE: You must have completed the tests within the past calendar year.
• Los Angeles-Area & Ventura-Area Students:
If you live in the greater Los Angeles/Ventura area, you must come to Santa Monica College to undergo the assessment process. We will not accept assessment results from other schools, even if you took the same tests as those offered at SMC.
• Test you must take if you meet the above criteria:
For English: ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension
and
Sentence Skills tests; For ESL: ACCUPLACER Language Use
and
Reading Skills
and
Sentence Meaning test; for math: COMPASS Math test.
• Placement test results must be faxed directly by the institution to (310) 434-8019, to the attention of Prof. Esau Tovar. Results that are hand-carried or faxed by the student will not be accepted.
College Board Advanced Placement test results may be used to determine your eligibility for English, math, and chemistry courses. You must bring your original AP test results to the Assessment Center, the Welcome Center, or to the Transfer/Counseling Department. Faxes or copies will not be accepted under any circumstances. Placement/prerequisite waivers will be issued under the following conditions:
• A score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP English Language & Composition or Composition & Literature exam will qualify you for English 2 and give 3 units credit for English 1;
• A score of 3 on the AP Calculus AB exam will qualify you for Math 7 and give 5 units credit for Math 2;
• A score of 3 on the AP Calculus BC exam will qualify you for Math 8 and give 5 units credit for Math 7;
• A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam will qualify you for Math 8 and give 5 units credit for Math 7;
• A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam will qualify you for Math 11 and give 5 units credit for Math 8.
Before enrolling in Chemistry 11, you must either satisfactorily complete Chemistry 10 or pass the Chemistry 10 challenge exam. The exam is given on a limited basis, so plan ahead. Testing appointments for this exam are scheduled through our webpage (www.smc.edu/assessment).
You are required to take the Math Proficiency Assessment (MPA) if you wish to obtain an Associate Degree from Santa Monica College and you have not completed Math 20 (Intermediate Algebra) or higher and did not meet this requirement through the regular math assessment. The MPA is administered during normal testing hours. Note you must have completed a minimum of 30 semester units that meet the AA degree requirements. If you have attended another college and are using units completed there to meet the AA degree requirements, be sure to have your transcripts sent to SMC. Retesting is permitted once, after a waiting period of eight (8) weeks after the date you initially tested. Be sure you review and prepare for the test.
You may retest in English, ESL, math, and chemistry after a waiting period of two weeks from the date you first took the test. After that, you are also permitted to retest once each calendar year, but only if you have NOT started taking courses in the relevant subject. If you enroll in any of those courses, you will forfeit your chance to retest.
All assessment results are valid for a period of one calendar year. Please make sure you enroll in the courses your assessment results qualified you for BEFORE your assessment results expire. Once your results have expired, you will be blocked from enrolling in those courses and will need to retest.
ABOUT YOUR TRANSFER UNITS
Many students use Santa Monica College as the freshman and sophomore years of a four-year college plan. In fact, SMC is a leader in transferring students to their junior year at four-year colleges and universities, including the UC and CSU systems. Each of these institutions has a list of courses that must be completed to satisfy requirements for:
• general education requirements,
• lower division pre-major requirements, and
• elective requirements.
How credit for a course at Santa Monica College transfers to your future school depends on how that school will accept the course and how clearly defined your transfer goal is.
Typically, for admission to the UC or CSU system, you will need to have completed 60 or more units of study with the appropriate grade point average. However, these institutions do not look just at the number of units you have completed—they also look at how to apply those units to your educational goal (e.g., how many of the units meet your general education requirements, how many of these units meet your pre-major requirements, and so on).
Santa Monica College has already worked out transfer agreements—called articulation agreements—with most local colleges and universities on how the units of credit transfer to meet your graduation requirements. You can look up transfer information yourself (go to www.smc.edu/transfer or to www.assist.org), but you will probably find it much easier to use the assistance of a counselor at our Transfer/Counseling Center. For information, or to schedule an appointment with a counselor, please call (310) 434-4210.
STUDENT-ATHLETES PLEASE NOTE: A separate set of requirements may apply to you if you plan to transfer with an athletic scholarship. Please see an athletic counselor for a list of these requirements and to arrange for continuous counseling while enrolled at SMC.
HEALTH CARDS
For the safety and wellbeing of our students, Santa Monica College strongly recommends that any student with a health problem fill out a “Confidential Health History” card, available in the Health Services Center. The health history card alerts instructors to any health concerns/illnesses a student may have, and informs instructors on how to best help/assist the student if an emergency or health-related difficulty occurs during class. Health information is confidential and used only in case of emergency.
VOLUNTARY FIELD TRIPS DISCLAIMER
Santa Monica College may sponsor voluntary field trips in which you may want to participate. According to the California Code of Regulations (Subchapter 5, Section 55450), if you participate in a voluntary field trip or excursion, you are deemed to have held harmless the District and its officers, agents, and employees from all liability or claims which may arise out of or in connection with your participation in this activity.
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION DISCLAIMER
Throughout the year, some classes will be meeting at off-campus locations. Santa Monica College will not be providing transportation to these sites, and all transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the student. Although College staff may assist in coordinating this transportation or may recommend travel times, routes, caravaning, etc., these recommendations are not mandatory. Santa Monica College is in no way responsible and assumes no liability for any injuries or losses resulting from this non-District-sponsored transportation. If you ride with another student, that student is not an agent of, or driving on behalf of, Santa Monica College.
IMPORTANT: All enrollment is through the web or by phone. You may enroll in any class that has space available until the evening before the second class meeting. Beginning the day of the second class meeting, you will be required to have an Instructor Approval Code—which will allow you to enroll from any computer or phone—for each class in which you wish to enroll, even if the class has space available. NOTE: If you are enrolling in an online, hybrid, or Arranged Hours class, your enrollment deadline is the Sunday evening prior to the start of Fall Semester. If the class is full, you will be required to have an Instructor Approval Code, regardless of when you enroll.
You may enroll by web or telephone on or after the enrollment date and time assigned to you in your Enrollment Information Letter. (You may also view your enrollment date and time through the Student Self Service System at www.smc.edu/admissions.html).
For your convenience, you may enroll by using computer terminals and telephones at designated times in the Admissions Office lobby and in the library, or by using computer terminals in the Cayton Center (these terminals require a valid A.S. ID card and password). You may also enroll through SMC’s website (www.smc.edu) using a home computer.
You are strongly urged to enroll at the time and date assigned to you. The later you enroll, the more likely you are to find the classes you wish to take already filled.
Please note: SMC no longer has waiting lists. If a course is closed, please keep trying, as it will re-open if space becomes available.
Continuing students were mailed Fall enrollment materials beginning April 21, 2008.
You may enroll by telephone or web on or after the enrollment date and time listed in your Enrollment Information Letter. Beginning the day of the second class meeting, you will need an Instructor Approval Code to enroll by telephone or web. If the class is full, you will be required to have an Instructor Approval Code, regardless of when you enroll. PLEASE NOTE: You may NOT use the phone to enroll in online or hybrid classes.
You may download a Touch Tone Registration Worksheet in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format here. You may download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader if needed here. You may also add or drop classes by phone.
For payment information, see the PAYMENT POLICY section below.
You may enroll by web or telephone on or after the enrollment date and time listed in your Enrollment Information Letter. Beginning the day of the second class meeting, you will need an Instructor Approval Code to enroll by web or phone. PLEASE NOTE: If you are enrolling in an online, hybrid, or Arranged Hours class WITH SPACE AVAILABLE, your enrollment deadline is the Sunday evening prior to the week the course begins. If the class is full, you will be required to have an Instructor Approval Code, regardless of when you enroll. For online courses, you will need to request an Instructor Approval Code by sending email to the instructor.
You can log in to enroll from any computer in the Admissions Office lobby, the library, or the Cayton Computer Lab (which requires a valid A.S. ID and password). You may also enroll from home if you have a Internet access.
1. Go to www.smc.edu and click on “Admissions”;
2. Click on “Student Self Service System”;
3. Enter your student ID number and your six-digit password (date of birth);
4. Confirm the term for which you are enrolling;
5. Using the menu on the left, click on “Add a Class.”
6. Enter (or search for) the section number for the class to be added;
7. When the section number appears in the box below your schedule, click on the blue “Add the Class” button.
To confirm that the classes you selected have been added, click on “Transaction Receipt” in the menu on the left. If the receipt is correct, print out a copy. You must have this printout to contest any discrepancies.
For payment information, see the PAYMENT POLICY section below.
If you decide not to attend a course you have enrolled in, it is YOUR responsibility to officially withdraw from it. Please see the “College Policies” link listed in the Information & Policies section of this schedule of classes for additional information.
1. Go to www.smc.edu and select “Admissions”;
2. Select “Student Self Service System”;
3. Enter your student I.D. number and six digit password;
4. Confirm the term for which you are dropping a class;
5. Using the menu on the left, click on “Drop a Class.”
6. Select the class to be dropped and click “Drop” in the “Drop Class?” column;
7. When the section number appears in the box below your schedule, click on the blue “Drop the Class” button to complete the drop.
To confirm that a class has been dropped, click on “Transaction Receipt” in the menu on the left. Print the receipt showing the dropped class. You must have this printout to contest any discrepancies.
PLEASE NOTE: You may be eligible to receive some form of financial aid. If so, you should call the Financial Aid Office at (310) 434-4343 as soon as possible. Work Study funds and State Board of Governors (BOG) fee waivers are available for the Fall Semester.
You can pay your fees by using a MasterCard or Visa credit card at the same site where you enroll. For other payment options, see the “How to Pay” information below.
• Early Enrollment (by web or phone) is from May 5, 2008, to July 28, 2008. During this period, you may enroll on or after the date and time assigned to you. Payment of enrollment and related fees (e.g., mandatory fees and nonresident tuition) for courses you enroll in during the Early Enrollment period is due on or before 5 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2008. Failure to pay by this date may result in your being dropped from your classes for nonpayment of fees.
• Payment of enrollment and related fees for courses you enroll in on or after Tuesday, July 29, 2008, is due immediately. No automatic dropping of courses will occur, so remember that it is YOUR responsibility to drop any course you do not wish to continue. If you do not drop the courses that you do not wish to attend by the refund deadline, you will be responsible for paying the fees and a hold will be placed on your records, even if you do not go to class. The hold will remain in place until all fees are paid. A hold on your records prevents you from enrollment in future courses at SMC and restricts access to services offered by the Admissions Office, such as providing transcripts, enrollment verification, issuing diplomas, etc.
• If you need more time to pay, log onto the Student Self Service System BEFORE your payment deadline and follow the “Postpone Your Fees” instructions.
SMC offers students several payment options.
• You may pay fees in cash, by check, by money order, by cashier’s check, or by Visa or MasterCard.
• Nonresident tuition may be paid in cash, or by money order, cashier’s check, or a personal check
drawn on a California bank, in person, at the Bursar’s Office.
You may pay:
• In person at the Bursar’s Office (located north of the Counseling Complex);
• By phone or web using a Visa or MasterCard (web enrollment takes place on a certified secured site, and all data transactions are encrypted;
to pay fees online, log onto the
Student Self Service System, make sure the
correct “school semester”
is selected, and select “Pay Fees Online” from the menu on the left);
• By mailing your check, money order, or cashier’s check (no cash) to Santa Monica College, Bursar’s Office, 1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405; or
• By depositing your check, money order, or cashier’s check (no cash) in the campus collection chute at the Bursar’s Office.
If you have any credit for any prior transaction(s), the amount will be applied to any owed balance.
Photo I.D.
Take your payment receipt to the Photo ID Station (east of the Bursar’s Office) to obtain your Student Universal Access I.D. Card. You will need your card to use the College’s tutoring centers and computer labs, ride free on selected Big Blue Bus routes, and purchase tickets for (or attend) certain student events or activities.
Grades by Phone OR WEB
You may obtain your grades at the end of each term by logging into the Student Self Service System (select “Student Records,” then “Unofficial Transcript”) or by calling (310) 434-4333 from a touch-tone phone. PLEASE NOTE: It may take 7 to 10 days after the end of the term for your grades to be posted. Computer terminals in the Admissions Office, Cayton Center, and library—and free phones in the Cayton Center (first floor), Letters and Science building (first floor), and Admissions Office—are available for this service.
You will need your six-digit student I.D. number and your six-digit password to begin. The web and phone systems will guide you through the process, and will also provide you with your cumulative units attempted, units completed, GPA, and academic standing.
Accessibility Advisory
Santa Monica College is currently undertaking a large rebuilding and modernization program. At the completion of this process, we hope to have found solutions to most of our access problems. To the best of our knowledge, no programs are inaccessible, and we do not schedule single offerings in inaccessible locations. However, some locations are not accessible to students with specific, disability-related access needs. We will relocate classes to accommodate individual students. To initiate this process, please call the Center for Students with Disabilities at (310) 434-4265 voice, (310) 434-4273 TDD, or (310) 434-4272 FAX.
The Sunset Ride, a new accessible public bus line, stops inside the Bundy Campus. In Fall 2008, the #14 Line bus stop on Bundy/Centinela will be relocated to make it easier for riders to transfer to the Sunset Ride for transport into the campus.
The following classrooms have access restrictions:
Airport Arts Campus (2800 Airport Ave.): Rooms 11, 12, 13, 14, 24.
ESL Building: Wheelchair access to restrooms is available with an access key to the staff restroom.
Letters and Science: Rooms 201, 203, 205.
Liberal Arts: Rooms 200, 204, 214, 217, 220, 223, 228, 231, 236, 237, 239, 240, 243.
Access keys are required for elevators during nonbusiness hours (when classes are not in session) in the Business, Art, and Student Activities buildings, and for the accessible restrooms in the Letters and Science, Art, and ESL buildings. To obtain copies of the access keys, please go to the Center for Students with Disabilities (Room 101 of the Admissions/Student Services Complex) or call (310) 434-4265.
STATEMENT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Santa Monica College is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is earnestly pursuing an Affirmative Action Program as required by all Federal and State laws pertaining to age, sex, race, and physical disability. EVERY COURSE IS OPEN TO ENROLLMENT AND PARTICIPATION BY ANY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO THE COLLEGE AND MEETS THE COURSE PREREQUISITES.
All efforts have been made to present complete and accurate fee information. Consult the Admissions Office for up-to-date information.
Regular Enrollment Fee: $20 per unit (subject to change).
Student Services, Activities, and Health Fee: $46 for Fall (subject to change).
Nonresident Tuition: $195 per unit (some nonresident students, other than F-1 visa students, may pay only $164 per unit).
Materials and Supplies Fees: Some classes require additional fees for materials and supplies. Please consult the class listings in this schedule to determine whether any fees are required.
PLEASE NOTE: You may be eligible to receive some form of financial aid. If so, you should call the Financial Aid Office at (310) 434-4343 visit the Financial Aid website (www.smc.edu/financialaid) as soon as possible. Work Study funds and State Board of Governors (BOG) fee waivers are available for the Spring Semester. Please see Information & Policies for additional information.
SMC offers students several payment options. Please see the PAYMENT sections for details.
All students—resident and nonresident—in graded credit courses must pay an enrollment fee of $20 per unit. This fee is subject to change without notice.
Fees may be paid in cash or by pre-printed check, Visa or MasterCard, money order, or cashier’s check.
There are no enrollment fees, student service fees, or health fees for Adult Education classes, which are designated by section numbers of 7000 or above.
Students in credit classes will pay a fee of $46 (subject to change) for the Fall Semester. This fee includes $14 for Health Services, $13 for Student Universal Access I.D. Card, and $19 for Associated Students Membership support. The Health Services fee is mandatory. The fees for the Student Universal Access I.D. Card and the Associated Students Membership are optional, but both provide special benefits (contact the Admissions Office at time of enrollment if you do not wish to pay these fees):
• Universal Access I.D. Card with Picture—The Universal Access I.D. Card (“student I.D.”) provides enhanced access features and improved campus security. The card allows students to check out books from the Library and is used for attendance credit at campus tutoring centers, the Modern Language Lab, and other course-related labs. You will need this I.D. card AND a current A.S. membership sticker to take advantage of riding “Any Line, Any Time” on the Big Blue Bus. Go to www.smc.edu and click the “Maps, Shuttle, Bus, Directions, Parking” link for details.
• Associated Students Membership—A.S. membership supports more than 60 SMC student clubs, student scholarships, and a variety of other activities that foster academic achievement, social interaction, and community involvement. Buy your A.S. membership sticker at the Bursar’s Office today! Benefits of A.S. membership include access to:
• Computers, printers, Internet usage, email access, and limited FREE printing in the Cayton Associated Students Computer Lab;
• Free admission to SMC athletic events and A.S.-sponsored events, including concerts and guest lectures;
• Student club membership, support to start a club, and funding for club activities;
• Annual events, including Club Row, Homecoming, Pizza Bash, and Campus Resource Fair;
• Movie Night;
• Evening entertainment events;
• Discounts on tickets for selected SMC theatre, dance, and music productions;
• Discounts on selected movie and theme park tickets (if purchased at the SMC Events Office);
• Student advocacy at the State level;
• Leadership opportunities (elected or appointed);
• Kinecta Federal Credit Union account;
• Selected scholarships; and
• Emergency grants from the Faculty/Student Relief Fund.
For the 2008-2009 academic year, A.S. membership fees will help support the success of students and expansion of SMC’s transportation initiative to offer free access to Big Blue Bus service. For more information, please stop by the A.S. Office (Room 202 of the Cayton Associated Students Center), call (310) 434-4250, or visit the A.S. webpage (www.smc.edu/associated_students).
• Health Services—Free basic health services, information, and referrals by a full-time Registered Nurse; emergency first aid treatment; and free or reduced-cost immunizations.
Students who are both citizens and residents of a foreign country (including F-1 visa students) must pay an additional tuition fee of $195 per semester unit. Other nonresident students must pay a tuition fee of $164 per semester unit. For residency information, please see the “Residency” link at Information & Policies, visit the SMC website (www.smc.edu), or call the residence clerk in the Admissions Office at (310) 434-4460 or (310) 434-4595. If you are a nonresident student, please note that your fees are payable in cash, by money order or cashier’s check, or by a pre-printed personal check drawn on a California bank.
An on-campus parking decal does NOT guarantee you a parking space. What a parking decal does is entitle you to use on-campus student parking areas on a space-available, first-come/first-served basis. Please note that your parking decal is for on-campus parking only—it is NOT a residential (street) parking permit.
For parking at SMC’s main campus, you MUST purchase a campus parking decal for $85 for the Fall Semester. This decal provides access to parking lots at all SMC campuses. Parking decals may be purchased online through the Student Self Service System. The parking decal fee is not refundable after the first three weeks of the Fall Semesters. Students who receive benefits under Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) or a general assistance program should contact the Financial Aid Office for a possible parking fee reduction.
Parking at an SMC satellite campus—Academy of Entertainment & Technology, Airport Arts, Bundy, or the Performing Arts Center (Madison)—is FREE for students attending classes there, but REQUIRES A DECAL. Satellite campus decals may be requested online or picked up in person (a small handling fee applies to online requests, to cover mailing costs). See www.smc.edu/parking for details.
Parking at the SMC Olympic shuttle lot is FREE for SMC students and staff. Please consult SMC’s parking webpage (www.smc.edu/parking) for the latest details.
Inter-campus shuttle service is free (SMC I.D. required). Please consult SMC’s parking webpage (www.smc.edu/parking) for routes and operating hours
Handicap Parking: The display of a DMV handicap placard AND an SMC parking decal entitles you to park in any handicap, student, or staff parking space.
New! “Any Line, Any Time” Big Blue Bus AT NO COST
Starting this Fall, SMC students with a valid student I.D. and Associated Students sticker can ride ANY Big Blue Bus ANY time for FREE! The new program is a major expansion of SMC’s transportation initiative—launched in 2007 in partnership with the Big Blue Bus—aimed at improving access to SMC and reducing traffic, noise, and air pollution in the community. Seewww.smc.edu/parking for details.
New Pico Corridor Line: A new Rapid 7 Big Blue Bus service will begin this Fall along the Pico Boulevard corridor will run from the SMC campus to the Rimpau Transit Center in midcity Los Angeles, and possibly all the way to the Metro Purple Line station at Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue. You must show your SMC ID card to the driver to be exempt from paying a fare. Please visit www.smc.edu/parking for details.
Withdrawal Refund Schedule
Please see Information & Policies for information on withdrawal refunds.
The California community college system is funded by the State of California. Students who meet certain state residency requirements pay an enrollment fee and may qualify for a BOG Fee Waiver to cover certain costs associated the enrollment fees. The BOG Fee Waiver, however, will NOT cover the Health Services fee or the Associated Students membership fee. In addition to the BOG Fee Waiver, Santa Monica College offers students a variety of financial assistance, which includes both federal and state financial aid to help pay for some of the basic costs of living while attending college. Many of these financial aid programs have early deadline dates and require time to process the application forms. Be sure to start the financial aid process as soon as possible.
Under certain circumstances, students who meet specific California residency requirements may be exempt from paying enrollment fees if they file a BOG Fee Waiver application with the Financial Aid Office. For example, if you can document that you are a recipient of Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Income (SSI), or General Relief (GR), or that your income meets specific criteria, you may be exempt. Before starting enrollment procedures, please contact the Financial Aid Office (or review the information at www.smc.edu/financialaid) to determine your eligibility for a BOG Fee Waiver.
If you feel that you need financial aid to assist you with achieving your educational goals, visit the Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hours are subject to change without notice. For additional information, please visit the Financial Aid Office’s website at www.smc.edu/financialaid or call the office at (310) 434-4343.
Santa Monica College offers many campus services to assist and support you. For details about these services, see Information & Policies for additional information or visit the SMC website (www.smc.edu).
LIBRARY. The library is one of the largest community college libraries in the nation, and includes online, CD-ROM, and multimedia resources.
TUTORING CENTERS. Centers specializing in math, science, humanities, modern languages, business, ESL, reading, and writing offer free tutoring services.
COMPUTER LABS. Specialized labs and classrooms with personal computers for student use.
CENTER FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. A number of specialized support programs, including the High Tech Training Center.
TRANSFER/COUNSELING CENTER. Assists and advises students on educational plans and goals, and provides specialized services for transfers to four-year institutions.
CAREER SERVICES CENTER. Helps students sort out aptitudes and interests to determine possible careers to pursue, and works to place students in off-campus jobs.
AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGIAN CENTER. Specialized support and outreach programs for African American students.
LATINO CENTER. Special support and outreach programs for Latino students.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER. Specialized assistance for international students, assistance with nonimmigrant F-1 visas, and academic and transfer counseling.
BOOKSTORE. Books, supplies, special orders, and buybacks.
HEALTH SERVICES. Free and low-cost services for students and staff.
FOOD SERVICES. Food court and specialty snack shops.
ART GALLERY. Professional guest artist and student exhibits.
PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY. Professional contemporary exhibits.
JOHN DRESCHER PLANETARIUM. Public lectures and shows every Friday evening.
Besides the academic and career-preparation courses listed in the main body of this schedule, Santa Monica College offers other programs of study. These include:
SMC CONTINUING & COMMUNITY EDUCATION. Over 450 low-cost classes each semester—for children and adults—in subjects ranging from watercolor techniques to culinary arts, along with lectures, seminars, and workshops on a variety of topics. Professional certificate and continuing education programs and seminars. Free English as a Second Language (ESL) and other noncredit adult education classes. See commed.smc.edu or call (310) 434-3400 for information and listings of course offerings.
EMERITUS COLLEGE. Over 160 free, noncredit courses each semester in a broad range of topics for older adults. Classes are held in a variety of locations and serve more than 3,400 seniors annually. Check www.smc.edu/emeritus for program information.