Academic Programs
A complete guide to the programs, certificates, and degrees you can earn at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA.
How Many Programs Are Offered at College of the Desert?
How College of the Desert Compares
With 102 programs across 31 fields of study, College of the Desert's catalog is broader than the typical trade or vocational school, where 5–15 programs is more common. The roughly 2,900 students who earn a credential each year reflect strong throughput across multiple disciplines — a sign of a school that can serve students with very different career goals under one roof.
What Programs Does College of the Desert Offer?
Liberal Arts & Humanities 3 programs • 1374 graduates (47.4%)
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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Humanities/Humanistic Studies.
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Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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Health Professions & Clinical Sciences 9 programs • 289 graduates (10.0%)
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.
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Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training.
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Pharmacy Technician/Assistant.
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Physical Therapy Assistant.
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Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training.
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Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling.
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Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling.
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Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic).
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Business, Management & Marketing 12 programs • 216 graduates (7.4%)
Business Administration and Management, General.
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Business/Commerce, General.
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Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General.
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Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping.
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Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping.
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Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General.
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Business/Commerce, General.
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Office Management and Supervision.
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Hospitality Administration/Management, General.
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Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General.
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Hospitality Administration/Management, General.
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Resort Management.
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Psychology 1 program • 137 graduates (4.7%)
Psychology, General.
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Family & Consumer Sciences 5 programs • 134 graduates (4.6%)
Child Care Provider/Assistant.
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Child Care Provider/Assistant.
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Child Care Provider/Assistant.
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Child Care and Support Services Management.
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Child Care and Support Services Management.
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Social Sciences 6 programs • 102 graduates (3.5%)
Sociology, General.
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Political Science and Government, General.
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Anthropology, General.
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Economics, General.
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Social Sciences, General.
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Geography.
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Engineering Technologies 6 programs • 81 graduates (2.8%)
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician.
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Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician.
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Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician.
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Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General.
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Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General.
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Energy Systems Technology/Technician.
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Security & Protective Services 6 programs • 78 graduates (2.7%)
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration.
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Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician.
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Fire Science/Fire-fighting.
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Fire Prevention and Safety Technology/Technician.
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Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration.
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Criminal Justice/Police Science.
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Computer & Information Sciences 5 programs • 59 graduates (2.0%)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications.
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Information Technology.
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Computer Science.
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Computer Graphics.
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Computer Graphics.
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Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 2 programs • 55 graduates (1.9%)
Biological and Physical Sciences.
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Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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Visual & Performing Arts 7 programs • 47 graduates (1.6%)
Art/Art Studies, General.
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Visual and Performing Arts, General.
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Graphic Design.
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Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
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Music, General.
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Cinematography and Film/Video Production.
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Cinematography and Film/Video Production.
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Communication & Journalism 3 programs • 47 graduates (1.6%)
Radio and Television.
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Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
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Journalism.
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Mechanic & Repair Technologies 2 programs • 40 graduates (1.4%)
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician.
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Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician.
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Agriculture & Natural Resources 8 programs • 28 graduates (1.0%)
Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General.
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Crop Production.
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Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations.
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Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General.
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Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operations, General.
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Turf and Turfgrass Management.
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Turf and Turfgrass Management.
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Crop Production.
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Parks, Recreation & Fitness 2 programs • 27 graduates (0.9%)
Exercise Science and Kinesiology.
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Physical Fitness Technician.
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Education 1 program • 25 graduates (0.9%)
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs.
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Personal & Culinary Services 3 programs • 24 graduates (0.8%)
Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General.
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Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General.
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Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General.
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English Language & Literature 1 program • 23 graduates (0.8%)
English Language and Literature, General.
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History 1 program • 19 graduates (0.7%)
History, General.
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Biological & Biomedical Sciences 1 program • 14 graduates (0.5%)
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
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Architecture & Related Services 1 program • 12 graduates (0.4%)
Architectural Technology/Technician.
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Foreign Languages & Linguistics 1 program • 11 graduates (0.4%)
Spanish Language and Literature.
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Physical Sciences 2 programs • 11 graduates (0.4%)
Chemistry, General.
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Physics, General.
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Construction Trades 3 programs • 11 graduates (0.4%)
Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector.
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Building/Construction Site Management/Manager.
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Building/Construction Site Management/Manager.
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Natural Resources & Conservation 2 programs • 10 graduates (0.3%)
Natural Resources/Conservation, General.
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Natural Resources/Conservation, General.
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Mathematics & Statistics 1 program • 7 graduates (0.2%)
Mathematics, General.
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Area & Cultural Studies 2 programs • 6 graduates (0.2%)
Ethnic Studies.
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Area Studies, Other.
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Precision Production 1 program • 5 graduates (0.2%)
Welding Technology/Welder.
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Philosophy & Religious Studies 1 program • 4 graduates (0.1%)
Philosophy.
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Communications Technologies 3 programs • 3 graduates (0.1%)
Photographic and Film/Video Technology/Technician.
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Recording Arts Technology/Technician.
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Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design.
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Engineering 1 program • 1 graduates (0.0%)
Pre-Engineering.
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Ready to Start Your Career?
College of the Desert's catalog of 102 programs covers a broad range of fields. Find the one that matches your career goals and apply.