The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” 
. Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” 
.
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” 
which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” 
, be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
The esthetician program provides students with professional level skill in client consultation, skin analysis, manual, chemical, and electrical facials as well as eyebrow shaping, waxing, the application of strip and individual eyelashes, and makeup application. Additionally, students will become proficient in health and safety procedures in common use in salons and spas. Upon completion, the student will be eligible to take the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering/NIC Esthetician licensure exam.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate entry level proficiencies needed in a professional spa environment including skin analysis, product application, massage and waxing techniques required for specific skin types and skin conditions. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of electrical modalities and chemical peels at a level applicable to enter the esthetic workplace as well as pass their California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Esthetic examination.
Icon Key
-
Gateway Course
-
Program Requirement
-
General Education -
Appropriate for
Intersession
-
Available Online -
Global Citizenship
Semester 1 (First 8 weeks)
5 Units
This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care State Board Examinations. Basic concepts of bacteriology, sanitation, health and safety, and physiology pertaining to the head, face, hands and arms, are included in this course.
This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care State Board Examinations. Concepts of the State Board of Cosmetology Act and Regulations will be included as well as health and safety.
This is the first skincare/esthetician class required for all entering students who wish to be licensed for Cosmetology and/or Esthetics in the State of California. This course is an introduction to the theory, practical principles, and practice of esthetics (skincare). The course's theoretical and practical components include health and safety concerns, sanitary practices, and safe use of tools and equipment. An introduction of the basic concepts of anatomy and chemistry related to the skin care profession, facial manipulations, masks, packs, client consultation, skin analysis, conditions, disease, and an introduction to basic eyebrow arching are included.
This class is required for all entering students who wish to be licensed for Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care by the state of California. This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written State Board examination. Students are instructed in the basic concepts of health, safety and related chemistry.
This is the third related science class required for all entering students who wish to be licensed for Barbering, Cosmetology, and/or Esthetics for the state of California. This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written State Board examination. Students are instructed in basic concepts of electricity (galvanic/sinusoidal), sanitation and disinfectant techniques.
Semester 1 (Second 8 weeks)
6-9 Units
This is the second course required for Cosmetology and/or Esthetics licensing. The students will demonstrate the application of both individual and strip eyelashes, and the proper method of hair removal, waxing, eyebrow mapping, tinting eyebrows, and lashes, as required by the state of California. This course focuses on the physiology and histology of the skin, including skin disorders and diseases.
- Pre/Corequisite: COSM 18
This course is required for Cosmetology or Esthetics licensing. The student will learn to perform electrical and chemical facials and demonstrate the use of electrical facial machines.
- Prerequisite: COSM 18
This is the third skin care class required for all entering students who wish to be licensed for Cosmetology or Esthetics by the State of California. This class is designed to provide an understanding of skin care products, ingredients, and their significance to the esthetician and Cosmetologist. This course will focus on understanding many of the ingredients used in cosmetic chemistry and what solutions they provide for the clients.Understanding ingredients and solutions will provide the necessary knowledge for the skin care professional to consider when choosing a professional skin care product line and its uses.
- Prerequisite: COSM 18
This is an advanced skin care class for students and licensed estheticians or Cosmetologists. This class is a continuation of COSM 38. This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written Cosmetology and/or Esthetics State Board Examinations. The students will learn additional advanced techniques for skin analysis, record keeping, advanced anatomy and physiology to determine the protocol for microdermabrasion treatments.
- Prerequisite: COSM 18
This is an advanced skin care class for students and licensed Estheticians. This class is a continuation of COSM 38B. This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written Cosmetology and/or Esthetics State Board Examinations. The class will focus on the chemistry of exfoliation products, the pH scale and skin analysis to determine which chemical exfoliate should be used.
- Prerequisite: COSM 18
This course is a module of a variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam, under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successful demonstration of all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
This variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successfully demonstrated all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
This variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successfully demonstrated all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
This variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successfully demonstrated all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
Semester 2 (First 8 weeks)
6-9 Units
This is the fourth skin care class required for all continuing students who wish to be licensed for Esthetics by the state of California and an elective for Cosmetologists. This course will combine theoretical applications and current trends and practices in esthetics.
- Prerequisite: COSM 18
This class is required for all students who wish to be licensed for Cosmetology and/or Esthetics by the state of California. This is an intense class in make-up application. This course will include color theory, blending make-up, the use of concealers, highlighters and contours. The application of blush, powders, lip liners, and lipstick, eye make-up techniques, and the application of new trends will also be covered. Students will learn how to determine face shapes. Students will learn about evening glamour, high fashion make-up, and special bridal looks.
- Prerequisite: COSM 18
This theory course is designed to successfully prepare the student to take the written portion of the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) exam required to obtain an esthetician license. Written testing includes: disinfection, sanitation, health and safety, rules and regulations, bacteriology, anatomy and physiology, manual facials, chemical facials, electrical facials, advanced techniques of skin care, eyebrow tweezing, waxing and makeup procedures.
- Advisory: Completion of at least 400 hours of Esthetician coursework.
This course presents an opportunity for a student/licensee to learn clientele building, choosing the right salon, types of leases and rent agreements, business permits, how to handle supplies, labor related laws, and key points for operating a salon, as well as how to write a resume. This course provides essential theory carefully formulated to prepare a student to pass the written Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care State Board Examinations.
This course is a module of a variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam, under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successful demonstration of all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
This variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successfully demonstrated all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
This variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successfully demonstrated all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.
This variable unit, variable hour, open-entry/open-exit experience provides the opportunity to obtain practical salon training working on patrons. The practical work is as close to actual beauty salon experience as possible. Students will earn hours toward the required practical hours and operations to be eligible to take the California State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and/or Nail Care exam under the supervision of faculty. The student has fulfilled the salon requirement upon completion of 650-700 hours and has successfully demonstrated all required operations.
- Prerequisite: Completion of all beginning courses. Cosmetology students must have completed at least 300 classroom hours; Skin Care students must have completed 60 classroom hours; Nail Care students must have completed 40 classroom hours.