I did the course last year, based in Pasadena. It was excellent. Met for 3 hours once a week for talks, and book instruction, covering orienteering (fantastic), clothing, equipment, snow travel, snow camping. The practical stuff included a 14 mile conditioning hike , up almost 4,000 feet, a camping weekend in Joshua Tree to learn orienteering and class 3 climbing (not technical, but peak bagging without needing to be technical), a snow travel day with snowshoes - but they are not covered to teach crampons or use of an ice axe or self arrest, and then a snow camp in the eastern Sierra, such as South Lake, which is a 3 day weekend. To graduate one must participate in all these, pass a (easy) final written test, and then do two trips over the summer, one with a Sierra Club leader and one independent trip. I didn't do all of this since I wasn't interested in being a "graduate" so much as gaining the skills I wanted, which is also fine with them. And you can attend the following year for makeups too. The leaders (2 for each group_ and assistant leaders (about 6-8) are all WTC graduates and extremely knowledgeable; one of my leaders even has a route up Whitney named after him. On the trips, the ratio is about 1:4 leader to students.
I did think that one needs at least some, basic camping and backpacking experience to best benefit from the course, but it isn't require. Steep learning curve if you're a total newbie. Also essential to be in reasonable physical shape too - and they do stress this - or else the first "conditioning" hike will be hell. And you do need to finish this hike, or otherwise show you're in good shape for them to let you continue with the course too. They give refunds if you drop out up to a certain point.
There basic text is the Mountaineer's book - Freedom of the Hills.
Hope this helps - B