The Hewlett Foundation defines Open Educational Resources (OER) as teaching, learning and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others. Open educational resources include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge. These textbooks are free online! Most are also available in the bookstore in print for the cost of production and under $40.00.


Student Savings

Bay College has saved its students over $3 million on textbooks since Fall 2015 semester. Bay College has over 40 courses that use OER, with more being added all the time!


OER Textbooks

Course ID Course Name OER Textbook
ARTS 1630 Theater Appreciation Theatrical Worlds 
ARTS 2040 Art History to 1300 SmArt History
ARTS 2070 Art History 1300 to Present SmArt History
BIOL 1030 Essential Biology Concepts of Biology
BIOL 2130 Anatomy and Physiology I Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 2140 Anatomy and Physiology II Anatomy & Physiology
BIOL 2250 Medical Microbiology Microbiology
BUSN 1600 Introduction to Business Introduction to Business****
BUSN 2420 Principles of Management Principles of Management ****
CHEM 1100 General Chemistry I OpenStax Chemistry
CHEM 1120 General Chemistry II OpenStax Chemistry
 CHLD 1030 Child Development TBD
COMM 1030 Interpersonal Communications Interpersonal Communications
COMM 1040 Public Speaking Principles of Public Speaking
COMM 2010 Mass Communications Understanding Media and Culture
COMM 2250 Introduction to Film No Book Required
ECON 1310 Macroeconomics Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 1320 Microeconomics Principles of Microeconomics
ENGL 098C0 Rhetoric & Composition Support Rhetoric & Composition Support
ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition Rhetoric & Composition
ENGL 1020 Research Writing The Process of Research Writing
ENGL 1450 Technical & Report Writing Technical & Report Writing
ENGL 1500 Intro to Literature Intro to Literature
ENGL 2000 American Literature No Book Required
ENGL 2080 Writing Poetry and Short Fiction No Book Required
FYE 1010 College Success Strategies College Success Strategies
FYE 1030 Career Exploration No Book Required
HIST 2110 US History to 1865 The American Yawp
HIST 2120 US History 1865 to Present The American Yawp
MATH 1070 Liberal Arts Math Liberal Arts Mathematics
MATH 1100 College Algebra College Algebra
MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus Pre-Calculus*
MATH 1410 Analytical Geometry and Calculus I Calculus Volume I
MATH 1420 Analytical Geometry and Calculus II Calculus Volume II
MATH 2100 Introduction to Statistics Introduction to Statistics*
MATH 2430 Analytical Geometry and Calculus III Calculus Volume III
MUSC 1530 Music Appreciation No Book Required
POLI 1110 American Government (Online Sections) American Government
PSYC 2010    
SOCY 1510 Sociology Introduction to Sociology
SOCY 2070 Social Problems Social Problems: Continuity & Change
SPAN 1010 Spanish I No Book Required

Zero Cost Textbooks

Course ID Course Name Textbook
CNSS 105 Digital Logic Principles No Book Required
ELEC 130 Circuit Fundamentals I No Book Required
ELEC 240 Real Time Robotics Systems No Book Required
ELEC 245 Robotic Vision Systems No Book Required
ELEC 285 Fluid Power No Book Required
ELEC 290 Intro Programmable Logic Controller*** No Book Required
ELEC 295 Mechatronics No Book Required
  • *Online section requires a homework code
  • ** Check section description - varies by instructor
  • *** Simulator CD Required
  • **** Waymaker access code required

Textbook subject to change. Please verify textbook requirements with your instructor.