The Basic Skills department consists of the following programs which are offered on both the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campus:

• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• General Education Development (GED)
• High School Completion (HSC)
• Pre-College & College Level Courses

Offered through group classes and/or individualized instruction, Adult Basic Education (ABE) allows adults to improve their skills in reading, writing, math, and workplace and computer fundamentals in order to enter vocational training, advance in a current job, become more employable, or continue into college programs. ABE classes are offered daytime or evening on campus or in your community.

Beginning Literacy

• ABE 50 Reading
• ABE 51 Writing
• ABE 52 Math
  ABE 54 Integrated Basic Skills

Beginning Basic Skills

• ABE 60 Reading
• ABE 61 Writing
• ABE 62 Math
• ABE 64 Integrated Basic Skills

Intermediate Basic Skills

• ABE 70 Reading
• ABE 71 Writing
• ABE 72 Math
• ABE 74 Integrated Basic Skills

Advanced Basic Skills

• ABE 80 Reading
• ABE 81 Writing
• ABE 82 Math
• ABE 84 Integrated Basic Skills
• ABE 85 Refresher Skills

• ABE 90 Educational Interview
• ABE 94 Family Management
• ABE 95 Workplace Fundamentals
• ABE 96 Computer Fundamentals

The English as a Second Language (ESL) program provides courses in English reading, writing, speaking, listening, observing, and computer technology and job readiness skills, with special emphasis on developing communication capabilities and improving language proficiency necessary for vocational training, college programs, and ABE/GED studies. The courses also include workplace basics and computer literacy for students to improve their employment opportunities. The classes are offered daytime or evenings at both colleges and at sites within the college community.

Beginning Literacy

• ESL 010 Literacy Speaking
• ESL 011 Literacy Reading/Writing
• ESL 012 Beginning Literary Integrated ESL - 1
• ESL 013 Literacy Listen/Observe
• ESL 015 Computer Technology & Job Readiness - Beginning Literacy -1

Beginning ESL

• ESL 020 Beginning Speaking
• ESL 021 Beginning Reading
• ESL 022 Beginning Writing
• ESL 023 Beginning Integrated ESL - 2
• ESL 024 Beginning Listen/Observe
• ESL 025 Computer Technology & Job Readiness - Beginning - 2

Low Intermediate ESL

• ESL 030 Low Intermediate Speaking
• ESL 031 Low Intermediate Reading
• ESL 032 Low Intermediate Writing
• ESL 033 Low Intermediate Listen/Observe
• ESL 034 Low Intermediate Integrated ESL - 3
• ESL 035 Computer Technology & Job Readiness - Low Intermediate - 3

High Intermediate ESL

• ESL 040 High Intermediate Speaking
• ESL 041 High Intermediate Reading
• ESL 042 High Intermediate Writing
• ESL 043 High Intermediate Listen/Observe
• ESL 044 High Intermediate Integrated ESL - 4
• ESL 045 Computer Technology & Job Readiness - High Intermediate - 4

Low Advanced ESL

• ESL 050 Low Advanced Speaking
• ESL 051 Low Advanced Reading
• ESL 052 Low Advanced Writing
• ESL 053 Low Advanced Listen/Observe
• ESL 054 Low Advanced Integrated ESL - 5
• ESL 055 Computer Technology & Job Readiness - Low Advanced - 5

High Advanced ESL

• ESL 064 High Advanced Integrated ESL - 6
• ESL 065 Computer Technology & Job Readiness - High Advanced - 6
• Educational Interview
• ESL 090 Educational Interview

Persons who have not completed high school may earn a Certificate of Educational Competency through the state of Washington with a satisfactory score on the General Educational Development (GED) test. Pierce College is authorized as a testing center by the GED Testing Service of the American Council on Education. Students who receive their GEDs may improve their employability, enter a vocational program, or begin a college program. GED classes are offered daytime or evening on campus or in your community.

• GED 11 GED English II
• GED 12 GED English III
• GED 13 GED Literature/The Arts
• GED 20 GED Reading
• GED 25 GED Social Studies
• GED 31 GED Math II
• GED 32 GED Math III
• GED 35 GED Science
• GED 50 Basic GED Preparation
• GED 51 Advanced GED Preparation

Registration Procedure

Contact the Learning Center and make an appointment for orientation and placement testing:

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom: (253) 964-6657
Pierce College Puyallup: (253) 840-8463

General Requirements For Admission:

Any person who does not have a high school diploma and who meets the college's general admission requirements may enter the high school completion program. However, the program is not designed for students who normally would be enrolled in the regular public school system. These students may attend under certain conditions. Some of the guidelines are:

1. A student who is still attending high school must obtain a release from his or her school district showing the class(es) the student is permitted to take.
2. A student who is not in high school, but whose high school class has not graduated, also must obtain a release from the school district where he or she would normally be attending high school.

Registration Procedure

1. Contact the Learning Center and make an appointment with an advisor:
   Pierce College Fort Steilacoom: (253) 964-7324
   Pierce College Puyallup: (253) 840-8461
2. For students who are receiving a high school diploma from Pierce College, a transcript of all previous high school or other school work is required. If necessary, Pierce College's staff will help the students obtain transcripts.

Tuition

Persons 19 years of age or older who meet the requirements for Washington state residency for tuition-paying purposes, or who are active-duty military or dependents of same, will pay a reduced rate for classes that apply toward their high school completion program. Washington state residents under 19 years of age must pay resident tuition rates.

Persons who DO NOT meet Washington state residency requirements pay resident tuition rates for high school completion classes.

Current tuition rates and information relating to Washington state residency requirements are available from the admissions office at either college.

High School Completion Courses

English

• HSC 01-04 English 1-4
• HSC 08 Literature 1
• HSC 09 Literature 2

Mathematics

• HSC 10-12 Mathematics 1-3

Social Science

• HSC 15 Geography I-III
• HSC 16 US History I
• HSC 17 US History II
• HSC 18 US Government
• HSC 19 Washington State History
• HSC 21 Contemporary World Problems
• HSC 22 Civics
• HSC 23 Economics
• HSC 24 Psychology

Science

• HSC 30 Life Science with lab
• HSC 31 Physical Science with lab
• HSC 32 Earth Science with lab
• HSC 40 Ecology

High School Electives

• HSC 45-49 Study Skills I-V

English

The Learning Center offers English classes that provide both quality classroom instruction and increased one-on-one attention to the writing process. Three kinds of classes are offered in the Learning Center:

Developmental Writing
These prepare students for college-level writing. Testing scores are used to place students in these classes.

• ENGL 96 Grammar, Sentences, and Paragraphs
• ENGL 97 The English Sentence
• ENGL 98 Basic Writing Skills
• ENGL 99 Introduction to Composition

College-level Writing
These are required by many college programs and degrees. They are taught with the same outcomes used in lecture classes.

• ENGL 101 Composition – Exposition
• ENGL 103 Argumentation and Research

Skills Classes
These are designed to help students with specific writing problems.

• ENGL 90 Spelling
• ENGL 93 Grammar
• ENGL 94 Sentence Combining
• ENGL 95 Paragraph Development
• ENGL 105 Writing (a class developed for students who have passed ENGL 99 but who have skills they would like to improve before entering ENGL 101)

Math

The Math Lab provides students individualized instruction in pre-college level mathematics courses. Using one-on-one instruction, videotaped lectures, and computer tutors, the Math Lab tries to meet different learning styles. Though most students will attend the lab on a fixed schedule, the lab offers flexible schedules when arranged with the Math Lab coordinator. The labs are open during the day and evenings, Monday through Friday, and also on Saturdays (if enrollment allows) during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Summer quarter hours are limited.

Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom also offers mini-lectures daily for Math 51, 60 and 98. See class schedule for hours.

For enrollment call (253) 964-6735 (Fort Steilacoom) or (253) 840-8462 (Puyallup).

Courses offered through the Math Lab:

• MATH 5 Fundamental Arithmetic
• MATH 54 Pre-Algebra
• MATH 58 Introductory Algebra I
• MATH 59 Introductory Algebra II
• MATH 60 Introductory Algebra
• MATH 98 Intermediate Algebra

Reading/Study Skills

Offered through structured classes or arranged lab format, the Reading and Study Skills programs offer students a flexible way to increase their reading comprehension and gain invaluable study skills. The Reading program offers a varied level of instruction from skill development to speed reading. The Study Skills program allows students to explore such topics as test and note taking strategies, time management, and career planning. Classes are offered both daytime and evening.

• READ 045 Reading Development
• READ 055 Reading Skills Improvement
• READ 075 Reading Tactics
• READ 101 College Reading
• READ 102 Speed Reading
• READ 103 Accelerated Reading
• STUDY 101 Listening Skills
• STUDY 104 Study Techniques I
• STUDY 105 Study Techniques II
• STUDY 106 Study Techniques III