Environmental Science - Associate of Science Degree

The Associate of Science degree in Environmental Science provides students with the basic content required for students majoring in Environmental Sciences, with emphasis in the fields of biology and the geosciences. The study of the environment provides the general knowledge necessary to understand our role on our planet.

Major/Program Requirements

Career and Academic Pathways

Required Courses

One of the following:

BIOL 100	General Biology	4.00
BIOL 130 or BIOL 130H	Cell and Molecular Biology	4.00

One of the following:

CHEM 101	Introduction to Chemistry	4.00
CHEM 150	General Chemistry I	5.00

One of the following sequences:

GEOL 100 or GEOL 100H	Physical Geology	4.00
	OR
GEOL 101 or GEOL 101H	Introduction to Geology	3.00
	AND
GEOL 160	Geology Laboratory	1.00

In addition to the required coursework, each student must choose an emphasis and take at least (12) twelve units from one of the following areas:

Emphasis in Biological Sciences

BIOL 123	Ecology and Environment	3.00
BIOL 131 or BIOL 131H	Populations and Organisms	4.00
CHEM 102	Introduction to Organic Chemistry	4.00
	OR
CHEM 212	Organic Chemistry I	5.00
CHEM 151	General Chemistry II	5.00
CHEM 213	Organic Chemistry II	5.00

Emphasis in Geoscience Studies

GEOG 110 or GEOG 110H	Physical Geography	3.00
GEOG 111 or GEOG 111H	Physical Geography Laboratory	1.00
GEOG 126	Geography of California	3.00
GEOL 150 or GEOL 150H	Contemporary Geology: Hazards, Resources and Environmental Concerns	3.00
GEOL 170	Geologic History of the Great Basin	1.00
GEOL 175	Geology of the Eastern Mojave Desert	1.00
GEOL 177	Geology of the High Desert and Western Mojave Desert Region	1.00
GEOL 180	Geology of Joshua Tree National Park	1.00
GEOL 181	Geology of the Anza Borrego Region	1.00
GEOL 190	Geology of the Eastern Sierra Nevada, Northern Section	1.00
GEOL 250	Geology of California	3.00
GEOL 270	Geology of the Eastern Sierra Nevada	1.00
ANTHRO 106 or ANTHRO 106H	Biological Anthropology	3.00
CHEM 151	General Chemistry II	5.00
PHYSIC 100	Introduction to Physics	4.00
	OR
PHYSIC 110	General Physics I	4.00
	OR
PHYSIC 250	College Physics I	4.00

Total Credit Hours: 24.00-25.00

Students planning to transfer to a four-year university are cautioned that this degree may not meet all of the lower division requirements for transfer into a particular major; however, through careful educational planning with a counselor, this degree would offer a solid foundation in the transfer process. Students should consult with a counselor for specific information regarding their intended major at the university of their choice.

A student receiving a degree in this field will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method by developing a hypothesis and establishing a research protocol for testing and evaluating the hypothesis.
• Understand their role and impact on the environment and identify changes in behaviors that reduce negative impacts on the environments.
• Collect, analyze and interpret information and synthesize the information in order to clearly articulate the results through their writing, speech or other acceptable style of presentation.
• Utilize critical thinking skills to interpret, apply and/or evaluate the concept of scale (spatial and time) as it pertains to the environmental sciences.