President's Message

Welcome to Cypress College!

Whether you are a new or returning student, a high school student wanting to get a head start on college, or even coming back to college after an extended absence, we are delighted you have chosen to take your educational journey with us; we encourage your full participation in all the college has to offer. Whether you are attending Cypress College in person, virtually, or a combination of both, all the things you need, including policies and resources, are available in a variety of formats, and this student catalog was developed with you, and your needs, in mind.

At Cypress College, we say Buen Cypress to one another, acknowledging that We Take This Journey Together. We hope you will find that we have a vibrant community of faculty, counselors, and staff members committed to your success, and we all believe that the most important part of our college is supporting you in your academic journey. We hope you will take the opportunity to participate in student government, audition for one of our performing arts productions, join one of our many student clubs, compete on our athletic fields, and find community in our various support groups and academic disciplines. Come discover Cypress College and find out why we were named the #1 Community College in California in 2018 and again in 2020, as well as an Aspen Top 150 college in the nation in 2023 – making us among the top 10% of all community colleges across the US!

Cypress College is proud to be a Guided Pathways college. This means it is our goal and responsibility to provide you with the tools you need to identify and acquire the knowledge and skills to move ahead in your education, to advance to a better job, or to support your journey of lifelong learning. We want to make navigating college and the classes you will need to accomplish your goals, a clear and simple process. Please peruse our Programs of Study webpage and access our Program Mapper, also located on each academic webpage, to guide you in discovering our academic majors and areas of interest, and to provide an outline of the courses you should be taking each semester in order to achieve your degree or certificate.

We also encourage you to discover our fabulous campus and facilities. Take our new virtual 3D tour of the campus to help you explore our facilities virtually, or, when on campus, you’ll notice QR codes to help guide you on your journey and help you navigate our services. Our Veterans Resources Center and Science Engineering and Math Buildings opened in 2021 and our new Fine Arts Building is being upgraded, along with the newly remodeled Student Life and Leadership Center, the new Puente and Legacy Program spaces in the Humanities Building, and this year we are adding affinity spaces for our Rising Scholars, Honors students, AAPI, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please take a moment to review the many resources within these pages and acquaint yourself with all Cypress College can offer you. Our catalog is a how-to guide to success, and we deliver a vast array of support services such as counseling, tutoring, free tuition, low-cost textbooks, and mental health and wellness support to all students. So let us know how we can provide you with the services and special program support you need to be successful here.

If you have questions that are not addressed by the information contained in this catalog, please use our college staff as a resource. Our motto is “No Wrong Door”, which means that every door you knock upon – whether virtual or in person -- will be opened by a person committed to providing you with the guidance and support you need. We are interested in you and your success so please do not hesitate to contact any college representative, program, or department listed in this catalog, as the need arises.

Buen Cypress, Chargers! We Take This Journey Together!

JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D.
President