El Camino College

1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA

El Camino Community College (ECC) District is a two-year community college located in Torrance, California - in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. ECC offers affordable associate's degree programs, as well as transfer study programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor's degree.  ECC is ranked among the top ten community colleges in California for its number of students who successfully transfer into the UC or CSU systems, and other four-year colleges.

ECC also offers technical and vocational career training programs.  Community education and high school programs are available, along with study abroad opportunities.  The college offers a total of 850 academic and career programs, many of which are offered online or through flexible scheduling.

History

El Camino Community College was founded in 1947. The words "El Camino" are Spanish for "the road," and refer to the State of California's first road - El Camino Real.

ECC was established with a winning vote among the governing boards of the South Bay, Inglewood and El Segundo Districts.  It was decided the campus would be centrally located in Torrance, CA. The El Camino Community College District is comprised of five unified high school districts and twelve elementary school districts in nine cities: El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Lawndale, Hawthorne, Lennox and Inglewood.

The first classrooms for ECC were portable WWII army barracks that were transported to the Torrance campus from Santa Ana Army Air Base in Orange County, CA.  The first permanent building for classroom instruction was constructed in 1949. More permanent classrooms were planned and constructed over the years, as funding became available.

Academics

The academic calendar for El Camino Community College follows the semester format, with fall and spring semesters, and two shorter summer sessions.

Colleges and Schools

Because ECC is a two-year community college, it is not divided into colleges or schools, but into Academic Divisions and Programs.  There are hundreds of Academic Divisions and Programs at ECC, ranging from Accounting and Anthropology, to Fashion and Film, or History to Horticulture, and Nursing to Political Science or Women's Studies. There is something for everyone at ECC.

Student Life

There are many activities and events to enjoy on the ECC campus, as well as student clubs and organizations. Many students enjoy performances at the Campus Theatre or Robert Haag Recital Hall. The El Camino College Center for the Arts is a top draw for entertainment in Southern California, attracting many headline performers and groups. El Camino College Art Gallery has six art exhibitions annually, including work by faculty, students and local artists.

The campus Planetarium is open to students and the general public, and is the meeting place for the South Bay Astronomical Society. The Anthropology Museum on campus holds annual exhibits with a regional focus, which are installed by students from ECC's Anthropology Department.

ECC's student-run newspaper, The Union, is released bi-monthly, and offers another opportunity for student involvement on campus.

Athletics

The El Camino College "Warriors" athletic teams compete in 21 intercollegiate sports, including:

Men's Sports:

• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Pep Squad
• Soccer
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball
• Water Polo 

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Pep Squad
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Satellite Campuses

In addition to its main campus in Torrance, California, El Camino Community College also offers distance learning programs through online courses, and vocational or workforce training at the following sites in Southern California:

• El Camino College Business Training Center (Hawthorne, CA)
• El Camino College Compton Center (Compton, CA)
• El Camino Fire Academy (Drill Centers throughout the South Bay area)
• El Camino College Inglewood Center (Hawthorne, CA)

Community Life

The El Camino Community College campus is open to the community, and many visit to enjoy the entertainment and culture offered by many venues and attractions on campus, such as the Center for the Arts, the Planetarium, or the Anthropology Museum.  Community members may tour career and technical training classes, allied health careers programs, and more. The campus library is also open to the public as a resource.