facebook-pixel

Community Education

CONTACT US
Community Education and Workforce Development

Registration (Coos Campus): 541-888-7352
Registration (Curry Campus): 541-813-1667
Other General Inquiries: 541-888-7214
Email

Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm
(Closed on Fridays during summer)

Take Classes For Fun and Personal Growth!

Southwestern offers a wide range of life-long learning and personal exploration opportunities to enrich your life. We offer a variety of community education classes at our beautiful Coos and Curry campuses, and online as well. All of our Community Classes are noncredit, and taught by highly qualified individuals from our local communities.

Spring Term classes start Monday, March 30, 2026

REGISTRATION FOR SPRING TERM CLASSES OPENS MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2026 AT 8:00 AM. 

To register for a class:

  1. You must have an active SWOCC Student ID number. If you have taken classes at Southwestern within the last year, you will have an active SWOCC Student ID number . 
  2. If you have NOT taken a class at Southwestern within the last year, complete the Community Education & Personal Enrichment application form. This will get you an active SWOCC Student ID number. Skip this step only if you have taken classes at Southwestern within the past year.
  3. When you have an active SWOCC Student ID number, call or email:

CONTACT US
Community Education and Workforce Development

Registration (Coos Campus): 541-888-7352
Registration (Curry Campus): 541-813-1667
Other General Inquiries: 541-888-7214
Email

Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm
(Closed on Fridays during summer)

Coos Campus  In-Person

The Arts

Art Workshops with Tristan Perrotti

SWOCC Guest Artist In Residence

All classes are for beginning and intermediate painters.

ART 0808 65  STILL LIFE AS A STORY: Observational Painting in the Studio

Students learn how to create emotionally resonant paintings using restricted color palettes, exploring complementary, split-primary, and monochrome-plus palettes. Instruction emphasizes color psychology, mood construction, and intentional simplification, with hands-on studio time for both small studies and a final project.

Instructor: Tristian Perotti

Location: Eden 3

Cost: $30 for materials

Day: Fri 5/15/26

Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm

ART 0809 65  PALETTE KNIFE AND IMPASTO PAINTING

Students explore the bold, emotionally charged color strategies of the Fauvist movement, creating paintings that reject naturalistic color in favor of expressive, high-contrast palettes and strong contour line. Workshops include historical context, guided technique demonstrations, and a final studio project in the Fauvist style.

Instructor: Tristian Perotti

Location: Eden 3

Cost: $30 for materials

Day: Fri 5/29/26

Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm

 

ART 0257 65  WHEEL THROWING II

For beginning and intermediate potters. Beginning potters create works of art through demonstrated and supervised basic wheel throwing techniques that support exploration in a studio setting covering the process of working with clay – ­designing, curing, finishing and firing.

Instructor: Annie Pollard

Location: Eden 5

Cost: $129

Day: Tue          

Time: 6:00pm-8:50pm

 

ART 0259 65  ADVANCED CERAMICS

An independent study course for pottery and clay artists, who have a good understanding of basic techniques, to gather to learn from each other, share ideas, and create new pieces. You will define your own learning goals and work towards them in a supportive environment. Because there is a wide range of skill level and technique focus among students, emphasis is placed on individual development and one-on-one attention. Course cost does not include clay. Clay is purchased as needed in class through the ceramics department.

Instructor: Ruben & Sandy Kretzschmar

Location: Eden 5

Cost: $209

Day: Mon, Wed

Time: 12:30pm-3:20pm

 

ART 0146 65  SCRIBBLE ART & SKETCHBOOKS

This seven-week course blends expressive scribble art with guided sketchbook adventures. Students will explore famous artists, experiment with mark-making and composition and build a personal sketchbook practice rooted in intuition, curiosity, and play.

Instructor: Shinan Barclay

Location: Eden 7

Cost: $70

Day: Thur: 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14

Time: 6:00pm-7:50pm

Culinary

CRT 0105 65  BLISSFUL BRUNCH

In this hands-on class you will learn essential steps to creating a delicious brunch menu. Recipes vary and are chosen by the chef. Some of the recipes that may be covered include items such as proteins, a wide array of egg dishes, batters for the perfect pancakes and waffles, pastries, syrups/sauces, accompanying fruits/vegetables and other seasonal items, etc. You can look forward to honing your skills to make the perfectly blissful homemade brunch.

Instructor: Chef Alison Murphy

Location: OCCI Bakery

Cost: $89

Day: Sat 5/9/26

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Fitness & Recreation

PE 0503 65  PILATES® EXERCISE

Pilates® is a body-conditioning routine that helps build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core, as well as improving coordination and balance.

Instructor: Melissa Loudenbeck

Location: Rec Center 121

Cost: $105

Days: Tue, Thur

Time: 12:00pm-12:50pm

 

PE 0505 01  TURBO KICK

Turbo Kick is a combination of intense kickboxing moves, as well as a unique blend of intense interval strength and endurance training all perfectly choreographed to high-energy and motivating music. Turbo Kick requires no previous kickboxing experience or equipment.

Instructor: Melissa Loudenbeck

Location: Rec Center 121

Cost: $105

Days: Mon, Wed

Time: 5:30pm-6:20pm

 

PE 0525 65  POUND® FITNESS

Rock-Out while you Work-Out!! POUND® is a full-body cardio session, combining light resistance strength training with constant simulated drumming. Through continual upper body motion using lightly weighted drumsticks, you’ll turn into a calorie-torching drummer! Rock, rap, dubstep, pop and old school music fuse to create the POUND® track series. The POUND® workout fuses cardio, isometric movements, plyometrics and isometric poses with pulse-racing, sweat-inducing drumming. Drum your way to a leaner, stronger physique – all while rocking out to your favorite music!

Instructor: Melissa Loudenbeck

Location: Rec Center 121

Cost: $85

Day: Tue

Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

 

PE 0507 65  YOGA BEGINNING

For skeletal alignment, flexibility, strength, balance. Safe, gentle class, keeping awareness on breath, while releasing stress and tension. Please bring your own personal yoga mat.

Instructor: Linda Laverty

Location: Rec Center 125

Cost: $75

Day: Mon

Time: 1:00pm-2:15pm

 

PE 0507 66  YOGA ADVANCED

A more challenging Yoga practice with restorative and thera­peutic benefits. Yoga mats, yoga blocks, yoga straps, and foam rollers will not be provided. Patrons may bring their own for use.

Instructor: Linda Laverty

Location: Rec Center 125

Cost: $75

Day: Wed

Time: 1:00pm-2:15pm

 

PE 0244 65  LEARN TO PLAY DISC GOLF

This four-session course will teach participants basic skills for playing disc golf. Participants will be provided with three discs to practice with and keep (included in the fee), while learning how to achieve the lowest scores possible for their ability. The course will be led by Derek Tonn, a SWOCC employee and Ambassador with DGA Disc Golf in California (www.discgolf.com) since 2018.

Location: Rec Center Court, Grassy Area in between Newmark Buildings

Cost: $125, Includes $50 fee for discs

Days: Sat 3/7, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4

Times: 10:00am-12:00pm

Special Interest

G 025CA 65  REGIONAL GEOLOGY – CAPE ARAGO FIELD TRIP

A lecture in the field to highlight the significant geologic features along the southern Oregon Coast with stops focused between Cape Arago and Bandon. The course consists of a field trip arranged to illustrate the geologic setting, stratigraphy and structure, topography, age and origin, significant events through geologic time, and special features unique to the region.  Also offered as G145CA for credit.

Instructor: Ron Metzger (rmetzger@socc.edu for inquiries about the trip)

Location: Itinerary and details in Canvas and sent via email

Cost: $60 (including transportation; participants need to bring lunch)

Date: Sat 4/18/26

Time: 7:00am-6:30pm

 

WR 0100 65  WRITING YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

Elements of autobiography/memoir are presented, discussed, and practiced in writing short stories from your life. Reading short excerpts from published works expands understanding of these elements. The class is a supportive and positive writing group, helping each other develop stories while learning and laughing.

Instructor: Sally Harrold

Location: Zoom

Cost: $105

Day: Tue

Time: 11:30am-1:50pm

 

PHL 0844 65  PLAYING AROUND WITH PHILOSOPHY

In this playful course we will play around with common idioms that include the word “play” to introduce philosophical concepts. Then we will apply those concepts to the phenomenon of play itself and discuss what the philosophy of play might mean, while we play games, play films, play music, and may even read a play. The entire field of play, beyond physical reality alone, will be the stage where we play the hunches of our emerging understanding that child’s play, like Arron Schwartz’s “sharing,” is a moral imperative that requires us to play it safe by playing fair, teaches us that turnabout is fair play, and is potentially evident when playing the devil’s advocate. It’s a community education class in horse play from which no one will want to play hooky.

Instructor: Pete Hodges 

Location: Tioga 105

Cost: $100

Days: Thur

Time: 10:00am-11:50am

 

MUP 0105 65  COMMUNITY CHOIR

The SWOCC Community Choir provides an opportunity for singers of all levels to participate in a musically and socially engaging choral ensemble. The Community Choir will focus on providing a safe and stimulating environment for people of all backgrounds to learn, practice, and perform quality choral literature in a large group setting. Focus will be placed on healthy vocal production, musically inspiring performance, strong social connections, and effectively working with others. A wide variety of musical styles will be explored, and participants will present a concert performance at the end of each term. This is a non-auditioned ensemble, but the ability to match pitch is requested.

Instructor: Ken Graber

Location: Hales Center for Performing Arts

Cost: $30

Day: Mon

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Curry Campus  In-Person

Instructions on how to register for an in-person Curry Campus community class are found at the top of this page (simply scroll up). Contact us at the Curry Campus directly with any questions at 541-813-1667 or Email.

Interested in teaching a class? These classes are taught by the community, for the community. We welcome new course ideas and enthusiastic instructors! Complete this form and we’ll be in touch.

The Arts

Art Workshops with Tristan Perrotti

SWOCC Guest Artist In Residence

All classes are for beginning and intermediate painters.

ART 0805 65  BEGINNING IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING

Students learn the core methods of Impressionist painting through guided demonstrations and supervised studio practice, focusing on light, color theory, and rapid brushwork. Instruction covers the Impressionist approach to observation, color theory, and building a finished painting from loose studies. Space is limited.

Location: Curry Campus 138A/B

Cost: $30 for materials

Day: Saturday 4/18/26

Time: 1:00pm-3:50pm

 

ART 0806 65  EXPRESSIVE PAINTING WITH LIMITED PALETTES

Students learn how to create emotionally resonant paintings using restricted color palettes, exploring complementary, split-primary, and monochrome-plus palettes. Instruction emphasizes color psychology, mood construction, and intentional simplification, with hands-on studio time for both small studies and a final project. Space is limited.

Location: Curry Campus 138A/B

Cost: $30 for materials

Day: Saturday 5/2/26

Time: 1:00pm – 3:50pm

Fitness

PE 0502 99  BETTER BONES AND BALANCE®

Better Bones and Balance® is an exercise program that was developed and tested by researchers at Oregon State University. This program targets strength and balance through key exercises shown to reduce the risk of falls and fractures and is suitable for ambulatory individuals who are at beginner and intermediate exercise levels.

Instructor: Lisa Reed

Location: Langlois Lions Club

Cost: $89

Day: Mon, Fri

Time: 9:00am-10:20am

 

PE 0502 98  BETTER BONES AND BALANCE®

This section is for students that are new to the Better Bones and Balance® exercise program.

Instructor: Lisa Reed

Location: Langlois Lions Club

Cost: $45

Day: Mon

Time: 11:00am-12:00pm

 

PE 0570 99  LOW-IMPACT DANCE AEROBICS

This class uses easy-to-follow dance steps and rhythmic movements that are choreographed to upbeat music. It’s a fun way to get moving while improving your cardiovascular system, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and boosting your overall fitness level. This is a great class for active seniors no matter your level of fitness.

Instructor: Mary Whitaker

Location: Curry Campus 138A/B

Cost: $45

Days: Tue, Thur 3/31/26-5/14/26

Time: 8:30am-9:45am

 

PE 0504 99  TAI CHI

This course in Tai Chi is a gentle, relaxed, non-sweat, personal exercise (translated as the “Grand Ultimate”) for any age. The ‘Yang Form’ will be taught along with ‘Chi Gwa’ (circulating breath) and ‘Silk Cocoon Chen’ (fine intertwining energy). This course is noncompetitive and will start with the basics, and then individuals will progress at their own rate.

Instructor: Deane McConnell

Location: Curry Campus 137A/B

Cost: $63

Day: Tue

Time: 10:00am-11:20am

 

PE 0504 98  TAI CHI

Instructor: Deane McConnell

Location: Curry Campus 137A/B

Cost: $63

Day: Tue

Time: 5:30pm-6:50pm

Special Interest

ASL 0501 99  AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

Introduces the natural, signed language of American deaf people. Includes instruction in proper sign formation, American Sign Language (ASL) grammar and vocabulary, expressive and receptive skills. Emphasis on the history of ASL, the deaf community in North America, and deaf education.

Instructor: Bj Farris

Location: Curry Campus 206

Cost: $115

Days: Tue, Thur

Time: 3:30pm-4:50pm

 

BA 0134 99  RETIREMENT INTELLIGENCE

This is a virtual class held via Zoom designed to help individuals plan for retirement. What’s your retirement dream? Learn how to put together a plan that will help you reach your goals. Class includes a workbook to help individuals create their own plan and a private coaching call. Pre-register by March 31.

Instructor: Jesse Coffee

Location: Virtual Zoom

Cost: $39

Days: Tue 4/7/26 & 4/14/26

Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm

 

HE 0591 99  MEDICARE 101

In this class students will learn about the four parts of Medicare: Medicare part A, B, C, and D. They will learn about the timelines surrounding Medicare enrollment and the policies. An in-depth presentation on Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplements will be provided. Students will leave the class with the tools to make informed decisions on what type of plan best fits their own, or a family member’s needs.

Instructor: Becky Holm

Location: Curry Campus 137A/B

Cost: Free

Day: Mon 4/20/26

Time: 2:00pm-3:20pm

 

HE 0201 99  MEDITATION

Quantum Reiki Meditation is an evolved holistic wellness technique developed by Aranka Fisher and open to all students. In class we will cover the etheric & physical body systems, breath, the soul, mind, consciousness, universal source, energy chakras, crystals and more. In class we will do a deep guided Quantum Reiki Meditation to help activate one’s pineal gland (third eye), connect to source, the soul, earth etc. to receive infinite source light energy and get deeply detoxed & enlightened while in a higher state of consciousness and awareness. Meditation techniques have been practiced for thousands of years globally and can help to release stress, fear, pain, improve sleep, relax the mind and whole body, evolve in consciousness and more. Bring your crystals to class. Dress comfy. We stand to do the meditation but you can sit if needed. Come and have a magnificent experience.

Instructor: Aranka Fisher

Location: Curry Campus 138A/B

Cost: $75

Day: Thur

Time: 6:00pm-6:50pm

 

SBDC 0590 99  LEARN BY DOING: BUSINESS PLANS AND BASIC FARM FINANCIALS

Join us to discuss how farm business analysis tools such as business plans and farm financial statements can help with decision making and achieving your farm’s goals. This will be great material for smaller or younger operators, producers who want to brush up on some of the financial conversations and/or farms that might be thinking about making some changes that a business plan might help discuss. No charge for the event.

Presented by Oregon Agricultural Trust

Location: Curry Campus 137A/B

Cost: Free 

Day: Tue 3/17/26

Time:  2:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Writing

WR 0115 99  INTRODUCTION TO GRANT WRITING

This Introduction to Grant Writing course provides a basic understanding of grant writing and the foundations of project development. We will cover how to prepare your organization to apply for grants and identify local sponsors and small grants to consider. The course is open to all but geared toward smaller non-profits.

Instructor: Alisa Green

Location: Curry Campus 109

Cost: $75

Days: Sat 4/11/26 & 4/25/26

Time: 10:00am-12:50pm

 

WR 0768 99  W.E.D. WRITE. EDIT. DISTRIBUTE

Class presents an overview of the variety of formats available in media that include, reporting, interviewing, written, visual and vocal forms, print broadcast, visual and digital media with an emphasis on understanding the unique requirements for each. Students will learn to recognize opportunities for content, hone writing skills, and practice creative presentation to heighten interest. Emphasis on amassing factually accurate information, creating logically developed stories that respect deadlines, space, universally accepted journalistic standards, and ethical practices are building blocks of this course.

Instructor: Stephanie Abrams

Location: Curry Campus 118

Cost: $75

Days: Thur 4/09/26 – 5/07/26

Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm

 

WR 0768 98  W.E.D. WRITE. EDIT. DISTRIBUTE: FROM INTERVIEW TO PUBLICATION

Learn the basic process of journalistic reporting and writing used in all forms of news media. Emphasis is placed on organizing facts, observations, research, and background, in an effective narrative built on ethical, responsible journalistic practices. Students will develop a news judgment and distinguish between news, analysis, and opinion.

Instructor: Stephanie Abrams

Location: Curry Campus 118

Cost: $75

Days: Thur 5/14/26 – 6/11/26

Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Teach A Class

Our vision at Southwestern is to lead and inspire lifelong learning. Do you have a skill, hobby or interest that you would like to share with others? Do you want to offer a course that is going to harness inspiration and give others an opportunity to learn? Does it support personal enrichment, enhance a life skill, or meet a need in our local workforce? Community Classes are taught by people in our community, for our community.

We are always looking for enthusiastic people who want to combine an interest in serving the community with the benefit of supplementing their income. Depending on the class, certification and/or formal education may not be required. The first step is filling out the Adjunct Faculty Community Education/Workforce Development Instructor application.

Athletics

Student Housing

Recreation Center

Curry Campus

Parents & Families

Visit

Campus Store

Graduation

Pathways & Degrees

Culinary

GED & Pre-College Education

Job & Workforce Training

Maritime Classes

Community Classes

Small Business Dev. Center

CARE Connections

Admissions

International Students

Veterans

High School Partnerships

Pay For College

Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid

Scholarships

Campus Safety

Library
Tutoring

Advising/Counseling/Testing

Accessible Education Services
SNAP/STEP
TRIO Programs
Career Coach