Pierce College

Los Angeles Pierce College, or Pierce College, is a two-year community college in Southern California. Located in Woodland Hills, a short drive from downtown Los Angeles, Pierce is one of nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District. Offering associate's degrees, occupational certificates and transfer programs in nearly 100 disciplines, Pierce serves thousands of students in the San Fernando Valley.

Situated on a 426-acre campus, Pierce offers state-of-the-art technology and facilities. The campus has a 226-acre farm on one side, which features an equestrian center and sustains small herds of cattle, sheep and goats. The campus includes a botanical garden and forest area, offering a beautiful setting for academic study in the metropolitan Los Angeles area.   The Pierce campus is a few short miles from attractions such as Universal Studios, Disney Studios and Hollywood. 

The transfer study programs at Pierce College are very strong, and many Pierce students transfer into the University of California system, or the California State University system to complete their bachelor's degrees. The transfer rate for Pierce students is very strong, and a recent UCLA study showed that students from Pierce completed their degree at UCLA with a higher grade point average than students from other transfer colleges. In addition to its alliance with UCLA, Pierce College has alliances with UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Cal Tech and Cal State Northridge. 

The faculty at Pierce is known for being very friendly, and class sizes are small, allowing for more individualized attention.  Pierce College provides excellent training for careers in technology, health care, entertainment, law enforcement and business, among others.

History

Los Angeles Pierce College was founded in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California in 1947. The College was originally called the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture, for its founder, Clarence W. Pierce, M.D. The land for the school's campus was purchased by the Los Angeles City School District. 

The original student body was comprised of all males who enrolled to study agriculture. As the San Fernando Valley became more populated, the need for a more comprehensive community college became apparent, and the college soon expanded its curriculum, changed its mission and its name. 

Under the direction of John B. Sheperd, many new buildings were constructed and enrollment increased exponentially. In the new millennium, under the direction of Darroch Young, Pierce College expanded further, with renovation and construction of more buildings, and new instructional programs.

Academics

Pierce College established a 15-week semester plan, which has led to higher enrollment and better student retention. Pierce also offers two five-week summer sessions and one five-week winter session. This range of options for study allows students the opportunity to move through their curriculum at a more accelerated pace. 

Colleges and Schools

The academic units at Pierce College are divided into departments and disciplines, rather than into colleges and schools. Academic departments range from Agriculture and Natural Resources, Art and Architecture to Management, Marketing or Mathematics.

Student Life 

Students at Pierce College seeking more involvement on campus have just four student clubs or organizations to choose from, but those four are very active and regularly welcome new members. The student organizations include clubs for International Students, Student Government, and two Honor Societies: Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Gamma Sigma. 

Student services at Pierce College include: 

• Assessment Center
• Associated Students Organization
• Athletics
• Child Development Center
• Counseling
• Disabled Student Services
• EOPS
• Financial Aid and Scholarships
• GAIN/CalWorks
• Grades and Transcripts
• Health Center
• High School Outreach
• International Students
• Matriculation
• Special Services
• Student Grievances
• Student Success Workshops
• Transfer Center
• Veterans FA & GI Bill

Traditions

The official school colors for Pierce College are red and black, with white as an accent color. The athletic teams are nicknamed the Pierce "Brahmas."

Athletics

The Pierce College "Brahmas" athletic teams compete in several intercollegiate sports, including: 

Men's Sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Community Life

Most performances from the Pierce College theatre and dance departments are open to the public. There is also a community recreation center on the Pierce College campus, which also offers swimming lessons and a community Sports Camps for local kids.