Occupational and Life Skills
9 courses · Butte College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
OLS 323 Occupational and Academic Assessment
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 80 hours lab
The focus of this course is to assess individual abilities, identify vocational, social, and academic goals, and establish a student vocational contract. Topics include vocational aptitude, learning styles, decision-making, and personal values. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 324 Workplace Communication
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 85 hours lab
This course provides training for students in the areas of workplace culture and environment. Topics include interpersonal skills development, professional conduct, workplace communication, safety, and problem-solving job readiness skills. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 325 Literacy for Career Building
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 85 hours lab
This course focuses on developing vocational and academic language skills for students seeking employment. Strategies for pre-writing, organization of text, and comprehension skills are emphasized to prepare students to complete job applications; write cover letters, and resumes; and read business-specific literature. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 326 Mathematics Within Industry
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 85 hours lab
This course prepares students for mathematical concepts encountered in various trades. These concepts include, but are not limited to, money skills, measurements, temperatures, computing taxes, decimals, and estimating dollar amounts. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 327 Career Exploration
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 51 hours lab
In this course, students develop career exploration skills that will help them select an occupational training experience in OLS 329. Emphasis is placed on one of the occupational certifications in carpentry, customer service, food service, hospitality, retail sales, small engine repair, and warehousing. Activities include career planning, accessing computerized information systems for job searches, career decision-making, and goal setting. Career and labor market resources and job information are presented. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 328 Strategies for Employment
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 51 hours lab
This course introduces students to a variety of strategies to help them be more successful in the workplace. Topics include preparation for interviews and follow-up, time management, task organization, job search, development of job leads, and memorization. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 329 Occupational Certification Workshop
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 51 hours lab
This course provides certification in exploring employment opportunities in one of the following topic areas: customer service, food service, greenhouse and nursery operations, hospitality, irrigation, retail sales, small engine repair, and warehousing. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 340 Analyzing Communication for Vocational Advantage
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 51 hours lecture
This course provides training in recognizing and understanding communication and the impact it has in the workforce. Students will assess their styles of communication in the areas of presentation, reading, writing, and verbal expression. Topics include problem-solving, barriers in communication, and communication in the work environment through reading, writing, dressing, and speaking. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.
OLS 341 Analyzing Behavior for Vocational Advantage
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 51 hours lecture
This course provides training in recognizing and understanding behaviors that impact the workforce. Topics included: assessing one’s working style, personality style, professionalism, and accepting personal responsibility in order to recognize how these behaviors impact a work environment. Unlimited repeats. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Open Entry/Open Exit.