College Profile
Howard Community College (HCC) offers a wide range of academic pursuits and extracurricular activities for students of all ages and walks of life.
More than 14,000 credit students enroll annually in a variety of academic programs leading to transfer to four-year colleges or immediate employment upon graduation. Over 15,000 additional students take courses for personal or professional development.
HCC is the leading choice for Howard County residents. More than 44 percent of all undergraduates from Howard County are enrolled at HCC. HCC has a reputation as one of Maryland’s most technologically advanced campuses for online classes taught via the Internet, and state-of-the-art multimedia computer labs for mathematics, English, world language, and computer training.
Conveniently located in the heart of Howard County, the HCC campus features the Health Sciences Building with modern classrooms and laboratories to train nursing and allied health students. The Dwight A. Burrill Galleria is a spacious two-story windowed atrium for quiet study, informal gatherings, or special events.
The Mary Ellen Duncan Hall for English, Languages, and Business houses classrooms and labs for reading, writing, ESL, world languages, multimedia computer technology, and IT courses including certification, computer science, business, and office technology.
The Athletics & Fitness Center features a 25-yard, multi-lane indoor pool; cardio and weight room; gymnasium; and five soccer-length regulation fields, including a 400-meter track. HCC is home to the Dragons student/athlete teams, including basketball, cross-country, lacrosse, soccer, track, and volleyball.
Arts programs take center stage at HCC with the Peter & Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, Alfred J. Smith, Jr. Theatre, Studio Theatre, and the outdoor Dreier Stage. The Horowitz Center features a recital hall, theatre, piano and multimedia labs, art galleries, a photography center, studios for music, sculpture, painting, ceramics, and much more.
The Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall (RCF) is a central source for admissions, registration, advising, testing, financial aid services, and other student services. The RCF Hall also houses the bookstore and Cafe on the Quad.
Other facilities include the James Clark Jr. Library Hall with more than 40,000 volumes of reference materials and online databases, and the Patrick and Jill McCuan Hall which contains offices, classrooms, and the HCC-TV studio.
A Student Activities Center serves as the hub for student government, newspaper, and other student activities.
The Children’s Learning Center offers full-year child care for infants through preschool.
Founded by the Board of Education of Howard County, HCC was formally authorized by the Howard County Commissioners and approved by the State of Maryland in 1966. The first classes were held in October 1970.