Tohono O'Odham Community College

Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) is a two-year college for individuals from all walks of life who want to further their education. TOCC primarily serves the residents of the Tohono O’odham Nation, but anyone pursuing a higher education is welcome to attend. Classes are accredited by the NCA.

Despite its short history, TOCC has grown into a vibrant educational center, offering numerous degrees, certificates, and other credentials. The curriculum is designed to help individuals fulfill their educational dreams and to create a stronger, better-trained work force for the Tohono O’odham Nation. Courses are arranged to complement classes at both Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.

In 2001, the former Tohono O’odham Career Center merged with TOCC. Building and construction trades and other vocational programs are now offered through TOCC’s Department of Occupational Programs, which includes apprenticeships as well as certificate and degree programs. TOCC primarily offers associate degrees for transfer to four-year universities; degrees, certificates, and apprenticeships for direct employment; and developmental education (Adult Basic Education and GED classes).

In addition to becoming the Tohono O’odham Nation’s center for higher education and research, TOCC strives to facilitate the preservation of Tohono O’odham culture and tradition. TOCC is preserving the culture by requiring all students in degree programs to study Tohono O’odham language and culture; by starting a program in agriculture and natural resource management; and by reaching out to people across the Tohono O’odham Nation via distance education and through coursework on topics of special interest such as Tohono O’odham Food Systems and diabetes prevention. This range of activities illustrates the College’s dedication to meeting the educational needs of its community.

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