Creating Your First Semester Education Plan
Should I Take Classes Full-Time or Part-Time?
What If I have Advanced Placement Credits?
Personal Growth (PERG) Courses
For Students Exploring Career Pathways
For Students Who Know Their Major

Creating Your First Semester Education Plan

Now that you understand the education paths at Miramar College, your math and English milestones, general education options, and how to use the College Catalog, you’re ready to pick your classes for your first semester!

This video will review suggested courses for your first semester at San Diego Miramar College:

Read through the tabs above for important things to consider as you build your first semester education plan.

In the next module, you will need to get your first semester courses reviewed by a counselor.

Remember there are no right or wrong answers!

Your responses will help the Counselor to provide helpful feedback about the courses you select.

Should I Take Classes Full-Time or Part-Time?

Deciding whether to enroll full-time or part-time can have a big impact on your academic experience, finances, and overall well-being.

Here's a helpful guide to make the best decision for your needs.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Enrollment

In college, each class is worth a certain number of semester units.

Units show how much time and work the class requires.

Usually, the more units a class has, the more time you’ll spend in class and studying.

When you take classes, your total units add up to help you meet the requirements for your degree or certificate.

Full-Time Student

12 or more units per Fall/Spring semesters.
6 units in the Summer.
3 units in Winter Intersession.

Part-Time Student

11 or fewer units per semester.
3 units in the Summer.
No Winter Intersession class

On average, for every 1 unit, students are expected to spend about 2 hours on homework or studying each week. So, if a class is 3 units, you might spend around 6 hours a week outside of class working on it.

Reasons to Take Classes Full-Time

1. Eligible for the San Diego Promise

At SDCCD, taking at least 12 units per semester qualifies you for the San Diego Promise, which offers:

Free tuition for up to two years (regardless of Financial Need)
Priority registration
Support workshops and resources

This can save you thousands of dollars and provide valuable support while you transition to college life.

For more information on the San Diego Promise and how to sign up, visit the San Diego Promise website.

2. Graduate or Transfer Sooner

Full-time enrollment allows you to complete general education requirements and major requirements more quickly, which means:

Graduating with your associate degree in two years
Transferring to a four-year university sooner

3. Access to More Financial Aid

Some forms of federal and state financial aid (like the Pell Grant or Cal Grant) are only available—or are awarded in greater amounts—to full-time students.

For questions regarding financial aid, contact the SD Miramar Financial Aid Office.

4. Suitable for Working 20 Hours or Less Per Week

If you plan to work 20 hours a week or less, full-time enrollment can be manageable.

Many students successfully balance school and part-time work with careful time management and support.

Reasons to Take Classes Part-Time

1. Balancing Work or Family Responsibilities

If you have a job, caregiving duties, or other major responsibilities, part-time enrollment may be more realistic and manageable.

2. Adjusting to College Life at Your Own Pace

College coursework can be very different from high school.

Taking fewer classes can give you more time to adjust, especially if:

You’re unsure of your major
You want to focus on doing well in each class
You’re managing mental or physical health concerns

3. Spreading Out Costs

If you’re not eligible for the San Diego Promise or other aid, part-time enrollment means you pay for fewer units at a time, which may make college more affordable month-to-month.

4. Suitable for Working 30+ Hours Per Week

If you’re working 30 hours or more per week, part-time enrollment is often the best choice.

It allows you to meet work demands without sacrificing your academic performance or well-being.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Here are some questions to ask yourself when thinking about whether to take classes full-time or part-time:

Do I qualify for the San Diego Promise Program?
Am I ready to take on 12+ units of coursework?
Do I need to work to support myself or my family?
Do I have a reliable support system in place?
What are my academic and career goals, and how quickly do I want to reach them?

Enrolling full-time gives you access to free tuition through the San Diego Promise Program and puts you on track to finish faster—especially if you're working 20 hours or fewer per week.

If you're working 30+ hours weekly or need more time to adjust, part-time enrollment can help you stay balanced and successful.

No matter your path, your success matters most.

Take the time to choose the schedule that works for you.

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You can always switch between full-time and part-time as your life circumstances change.

What If I Have Advanced Placement (AP) Credits?

If you have passing scores from Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, you may be able to satisfy general education requirements.

View the Credit for Prior Learning page in the San Diego Miramar College Catalog to see how your exam scores count towards units and GE areas.

If you want to use your exam scores for credit at SDCCD, you must send your scores directly to San Diego Community College District!

This video will show you an example of an AP exam and how it relates to college courses.

Personal Growth (PERG) Courses

Personal growth courses are a helpful way to learn about college life, explore careers, or manage stress.

These classes are offered both in person and online.

You can find available PERG classes in the SDCCD Online Class Schedule.

PERG 120: College Success and Lifelong Learning (Click to Expand)

PERG 130: Career and Life Planning (Click to Expand)

PERG 140: Life Skills and Personal Adjustment (Click to Expand)

PERG 160: Stress Management and Well-Being in the Modern World (Click to Expand)

For Students Exploring Career Pathways

If you haven't decided on a major yet, that's okay!

The beautiful thing about California Community Colleges is that it provides a space to explore and learn more about yourself before committing to a major/career.

For your first semester, we suggest taking some General Education courses from CalGETC and a Personal Growth (PERG) course.

Recommended First Semester Plan

For students exploring majors, this would be a recommended first-semester plan:

**Full-Time First Semester Plan**
Course	Units
ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000X- Academic Reading & Writing Remember to refer to your R/W Milestones!	3
COMM C1000 - Intro to Public Speaking	3
PERG Course (See PERG tab for course descriptions)	3
CalGETC Course from any of the following areas: Area 3A Area 3B Area 4 Area 6	3

**Part-Time First Semester Education Plan**
Subject	Units
ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000X - Academic Reading & Writing Remember to refer to your R/W Milestones!	3
PERG Course (See PERG tab for course descriptions)	3

Important Considerations:

Do not take a math course until your major is selected!
AP CREDIT: Do you have AP exam credit (scores 3 or higher) that satisfy general education requirements? Refer to the College Catalog to see how AP credits satisfy GE requirements. We'd hate for you to take an extra class you don't need!

For Students Who Know Their Major

If you already know your major, great!

You can use the Program Mapper to view major requirements and also mix in some general education requirements, too.

Recommended First Semester Plan

**Full-Time First Semester Plan**
Course	Units
ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000X - Academic Reading & Writing Remember to refer to your R/W Milestones!	3
COMM C1000 - Intro to Public Speaking	3
Major Required Course from the Program Mapper	3+
Major Required Course from the Program Mapper	3+

**Part-Time First Semester Plan**
Course	Units
ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000X - Academic Reading & Writing Remember to refer to your R/W Milestones!	3
Major Required Course from the Program Mapper	3+

Important Considerations:

AP CREDIT: Do you have AP exam credit (scores 3 or higher) that satisfy general education requirements? Refer to the College Catalog to see how AP credits satisfy GE requirements. We'd hate for you to take an extra class you don't need!