Programs of Study
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Oakridge College is a small land-sciences and liberal-arts college — "Knowledge, with pine in the air." Chartered in 1947 and grown from the 1918 Oakridge Institute of Forestry and Land Sciences, it enrolls roughly 600 students across four academic divisions. This catalog lists every program you can study here. Browsing is open to everyone; you declare a major when you enroll in Munibase with an Oakridge student account.
How this catalog works
- Choose a major — a field of study — then the level you intend to pursue.
- Degree levels:
- Certificate — 30 credits, roughly one semester (3 courses). Career-focused.
- Associate — 60 credits, roughly two years (6 courses).
- Bachelor — 120 credits, roughly four years (12 courses); awarded BA, BS, or BFA.
- Concentrations are focus tracks inside a major (for example, Behavioral Science within Psychology). You pick one after declaring the major — no separate application.
- Every program name links to its full page — structure, sample coursework, and graduation requirements.
- Sample classes are representative, not the full requirement sheet — just enough to show what a major feels like.
The four divisions
| Division (Dean) |
Departments |
| Arts & Humanities |
Fine Art · Literature · Performing Arts |
| Social Sciences |
Psychology · Sociology · Political Science |
| Natural Sciences |
Earth & Ecological Sciences · Mathematics · Laboratory Sciences |
| Professional Studies |
Legal Studies · Health Sciences · Education · Career Programs · Certificates |
Arts & Humanities
Department of Literature
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Literature & Writing — Assoc · BA |
Close reading, criticism, and creative & professional writing across the canon |
Advanced/Expert English, History, Art |
Writers, journalists, editors, bookish romantics |
History & Cultural Studies — Assoc · BA
(concentration: Museum Studies) |
History paired with visual and material culture — and, in the Museum Studies track, curation, archives, and preservation |
History → Expert History, Art, Anthropology |
Museum & gallery characters, archivists, the town-historian type |
Department of Fine Art
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Fine Art — Assoc · BFA |
Studio practice and artistic craft toward a working portfolio |
Art → Expert Art, History, Chemistry/Biology |
Painters, sculptors, working-artist characters |
| Visual Arts & Design — BA |
Digital art, design, and marketing visuals for a commercial practice |
Advanced/Expert Art, Design & Marketing, Computer Programming |
Graphic designers, agency creatives, in-character builders |
Department of Performing Arts
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Music — Assoc · BA |
Theory, performance, and composition |
Music → Expert Music, Physics/Psychology, History |
Musicians, band & venue characters, performers |
| Theatre & Performance — Assoc · BA |
Acting, public speaking, and live performance |
Public Speaking/Advanced, Psychology, Music |
Actors, event hosts, extroverted spotlight-lovers |
College core
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Liberal Arts — Assoc · BA |
The broad four-year degree at the college's core; heavy on electives |
English, History, Sociology/Psychology, + electives |
Undecided students, generalists, characters finding themselves |
Social Sciences
Department of Psychology
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
Psychology — Assoc · BA
(concentration: Behavioral Science) |
The mind and behavior; clinical and research foundations. The Behavioral Science track adds biology — the science of why people act |
Psychology → Expert Psychology, Anatomy & Physiology, Ethics |
Future therapists, HR, counselors, criminal-profiler characters |
| Human Development & Social Work — Assoc |
Supporting individuals and families through social services |
Psychology, Sociology, Conflict Resolution |
Social workers, counselors, caretaker-hearted characters |
Department of Sociology
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Sociology & Community Studies — Assoc · BA |
Society, groups, and community systems |
Sociology → Expert Sociology, Psychology/Political Science, Ethics |
Community organizers, nonprofit & outreach characters |
| Anthropology — Assoc · BA |
Human cultures past and present, through fieldwork and cultural analysis |
Anthropology → Expert Anthropology, Paleontology, History |
Curious observers, museum/academic characters, worldbuilders |
| Public & Community Health — Assoc |
Population health, prevention, and public-health policy |
Sociology, Political Science, Biology/Chemistry |
Public-health workers, clinic staff, civic-health advocates |
Department of Political Science
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Political Science & Civic Studies — Assoc · BA |
Government, policy, and civic institutions |
Political Science → Expert, Sociology/History, Psychology |
Aspiring politicians, city-council RP, campaign types |
| Economics — Assoc · BA |
Markets, money, and economic policy |
Economics → Expert Economics, Political Science/Psychology, Computer Programming |
Business owners, bankers, policy-minded characters |
Natural Sciences
Department of Earth & Ecological Sciences ⭐ the college's founding discipline
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
Environmental & Ecological Science — Assoc · BS
(concentration: Geology) |
Forestry, ecology, restoration, and land stewardship — home of the botanical flagship lab. The Geology track focuses on terrain and the deep history of the land |
Earth Science → Expert Earth Science, Physics, Biology |
Rangers, ecologists, surveyors, conservation & outdoors characters — Oakridge's signature |
Department of Mathematics
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
Mathematics & Physics — Assoc · BS
(concentration: Statistics & Data Analysis) |
Pure and applied mathematics, extending into physics — and, in the Statistics track, modeling and quantitative data analysis |
Mathematics → Expert Math, Physics, Computer Programming/Economics |
Analytical minds, future engineers & teachers, analysts, the spreadsheet-obsessed |
Department of Laboratory Sciences
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Biology — BS |
Living systems from cells to organisms; foundation for medicine and research |
Biology → Expert Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Mathematics |
Pre-med & research-bound characters, nature nerds |
| Chemistry — BS |
Matter, reactions, and lab technique; feeds medicine, forensics, and industry |
Chemistry → Expert Chemistry, Physics/Earth Science, Mathematics |
Lab-coat types, would-be pharmacists & researchers |
| Forensic Science — Assoc · BS |
Crime-scene and laboratory science: analyzing evidence to support investigations |
Chemistry, Biology, Advanced/Expert Chemistry, Psychology |
Aspiring CSI/lab techs, HCSD forensic support, detail-obsessed puzzle-solvers |
| Laboratory Technology / Clinical Analysis — Assoc · BS |
Running diagnostic and analytical labs; the tech behind hospital and crime labs |
Computer Programming, Chemistry/Biology, Advanced/Expert science |
Hospital lab staff, methodical hands-on characters |
Professional Studies
Department of Legal Studies
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
Criminal Justice & Legal Studies — Assoc · BA
(A.A. Criminal Justice · B.A. Legal Studies; pre-law pathway) |
Law, policing, courts, public records, and civic administration. The academic feeder to the HCSD academy — not itself a law school or police academy |
Sociology, Psychology, Ethics, Public Administration |
Future deputies, paralegals, dispatchers, municipal staff, pre-law students — a Briarmont staple |
Department of Health Sciences
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
Health Sciences — Assoc · BS
(Nursing Prep / Pre-Med) |
Foundations for nursing (associate) and medicine (bachelor); the hospital RP pipeline |
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology, Advanced Chemistry, Advanced Biology |
Nurses, doctors, EMTs, allied-health characters |
Department of Education
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Education — BA |
Teaching theory and classroom practice across subjects |
Pedagogy → Expert Pedagogy, a lab science, a core teaching subject |
Future teachers at Oakridge & Briarmont schools, mentor characters |
Career Programs (Associate)
| Program (levels) |
What it's about |
Sample classes |
Who tends to take it |
| Culinary Arts & Hospitality — Assoc |
Cooking, kitchen management, and the hospitality trade |
Cooking, Advanced Cooking, Chemistry/History |
Chefs, cafe/restaurant owners, hospitality characters |
| Administrative & Technical Support — Assoc |
Office operations plus practical IT; keeping an organization running |
Advanced English, Conflict Resolution, Computer Programming |
Office managers, city-hall & business staff, natural organizers |
Certificates (30 credits · ~one semester each)
| Certificate |
What it's about |
Who tends to take it |
Home department |
| Allied Health |
Entry-level clinical-support foundation |
Aspiring medical staff testing the water before nursing |
Health Sciences |
| Home Health Aide |
In-home patient care |
Caregivers, home-care characters |
Health Sciences |
| Paralegal Studies |
Legal support and research |
Law-office staff, paralegals, pre-law testers |
Legal Studies |
| Municipal Administration |
Local-government office operations |
City-hall staff, clerks, municipal RP |
Legal Studies |
| Security & Public Safety |
Security and safety operations |
Security guards, dispatch, HCSD-adjacent civilians |
Legal Studies |
| Teaching Support |
Classroom aide / paraeducator |
Teacher's aides, tutors, school RP |
Education |
| Office Administration |
General clerical / office skills |
Receptionists, admins, any workplace RP |
Career Programs |
| Industrial Safety |
Workplace safety and hazard control |
Factory/warehouse safety officers |
Career Programs |
| Camera & Production Crew |
Film / video production-crew basics |
Media crew, machinima / film RP |
Career Programs |
| Sound & Live Event Production |
Live audio and event tech |
Club/venue sound techs, event RP |
Career Programs |
| Technical Theatre & Stagecraft |
Behind-the-scenes stage tech |
Stagehands, lighting & set characters |
Career Programs |
Changing your major
Declaring a major sets the prerequisites your later coursework builds on. Change direction and some of that groundwork no longer applies — so Oakridge applies a credit adjustment when you switch, scaled to how far the new major sits from the old one:
| You switch to a major in… |
Credits forfeit |
Why |
| the same department (e.g. Literature & Writing → History & Cultural Studies) |
None |
Your groundwork carries straight over |
| the same division, a different department (e.g. Sociology → Political Science) |
10% of earned credits |
Prerequisites partly overlap |
| a different division (e.g. Fine Art → Biology) |
20% of earned credits |
You are effectively starting over |
The department and division of every major are fixed by this catalog, so the adjustment is applied consistently. Moving between the concentrations of one major is not a major change — it is always free.
Enrolling
Anyone may browse this catalog. To declare a major and enroll, you'll need an Oakridge student account in Munibase — open the College in Munibase. Course-by-course offerings for the current term live in the Course Catalog.
