Foothill College

What is the history of Foothill College?

Foothill College is a public community college that opened in 1958 as part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. It began in temporary facilities in Mountain View before moving to its Los Altos Hills campus in 1961.

The college was established to expand access to lower-division education and career training in a growing part of the Bay Area. Its role has since broadened: alongside associate degrees and transfer preparation, Foothill offers career-focused certificates and a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. Those options make it important to check the credential attached to a particular program rather than assume every field follows the same two-year path.

What are the faculties and departments at Foothill College?

Foothill College organizes instruction through academic divisions and departments, not the undergraduate colleges typical of a large university. Its programs span transfer-oriented subjects, career and technical education, health sciences, and the arts.

Students can pursue subjects such as biology, business, computer science, English, mathematics, and psychology, as well as occupational fields including dental hygiene and other health-related disciplines. Available credentials include associate degrees, certificates, and the dental hygiene bachelor's degree. For transfer-minded students, an associate degree for transfer is a distinct option designed around California State University transfer requirements; its course pattern should not be confused with every ordinary associate degree.

Program choice affects more than the credential name. Some health programs have separate applications, prerequisite courses, clinical requirements, or limited seats even though admission to the college itself is open. Students should use the current catalog to compare required courses, campus or online availability, and whether a program is intended for employment, transfer, or both.

What is the location of Foothill College?

Foothill College's main campus is in Los Altos Hills, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The setting is suburban rather than downtown, so transportation is a practical consideration for students who expect to attend in person.

The college also offers instruction through other locations and online formats; a course's meeting location should be checked when registering. Students commuting from elsewhere in the region should account for travel time, parking rules, and the schedule of any transit connection they plan to use. San José Mineta International Airport serves the region, but everyday access to class is likely to matter more than airport proximity.

What is the mission and vision of Foothill College?

Foothill College's stated educational purpose centers on access, learning, equity, and helping students reach transfer, degree, certificate, and career goals. It is a public, nonsectarian college within the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

That mission has practical implications for applicants: the college serves recent high school graduates, adults returning to school, students changing careers, and people preparing to transfer. Mission statements describe institutional priorities, however, not a promise that a particular course will be available every term or that every student will complete a program on the same schedule.