Environmental Studies Emphasis (AA Degree A0411)

Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Degree A0411
An emphasis in Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary course of study that provides students with an integrated and critical understanding of the natural environment and human interactions with it. The coursework is designed to examine the interplay between natural and social systems and the ideological foundations of humanity’s attitudes and behaviors in relation to its ever-changing environment. This program is designed to prepare students to research, analyze, and propose solutions to the myriad environmental challenges facing the world today through a well-rounded curriculum combining classroom, laboratory, and field study instruction. Students who are interested in an Environmental Science major are advised to follow the AA in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in natural sciences and to work with a counselor to select major courses appropriate to their intended transfer institution.

This degree requires the completion of General Education coursework plus the following:

 Required Courses

Course Prefix Course Name Units
Choose a combination of any 3 courses 9-11
Humans and the Environment
Humans and the Environment Laboratory
Principles of Economics - Macroeconomics
Principles of Economics - Macroeconomics - Honors
Environmental Geology
Environmental Politics
Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning
Choose a minimum of three units from the following:3-5
General Biology
Ecology and Field Biology
Biology for Majors
Biology for Majors - Honors
Marine Biology
Marine Biology Laboratory
Conservation Biology
Plant Structures, Functions, and Diversity
Chemistry for Allied Health Majors
Introduction to General Chemistry
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry I - Honors
Physical Geography
Physical Geography - Honors
Physical Geography Laboratory
Physical Geography Laboratory - Honors
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Physical Geology
Earth Science
Earth Science - Honors
Earth Science Laboratory
Elementary Statistics
Elementary Statistics - Honors
Calculus for Business
Precalculus Mathematics
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
Weather and the Atmospheric Environment
Weather and Atmospheric Environment Laboratory
Introduction to Oceanography
Introduction to Oceanography - Honors
Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory
The Coastal Ocean
Physics
General Physics
Engineering Physics
Physical Science
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
Social Science
Choose two courses from the following:6
Cultural Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology - Honors
Principles of Economics - Microeconomics
Principles of Economics - Microeconomics - Honors
Human Geography
Human Geography - Honors
World Regional Geography
Geography of California
Introduction to Ethics
Introduction to Ethics - Honors
Introduction to American Government and Politics
Introduction to American Government and Politics - Honors
Contemporary Social Problems
Contemporary Social Problems - Honors
Total Units18-22

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills in relation to environmental issues
  • Demonstrate an ability to integrate the many disciplines and fields that intersect with environmental concerns
  • Demonstrate an awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of ecological processes and their relationship they have with human communities
  • Demonstrate an ability to integrate environmental issues within the concept of sustainability

Review Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for this program.

Looking for guidance? A counselor can help.This Guided Pathways for Success (GPS) is a suggested sequence of coursework needed for program completion. It is not an official educational plan. Schedule an appointment with a counselor or advisor as soon as possible to create an individualized Mountie Academic Plan (MAP) specific to your goals and needs.

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
ENGL 1A Freshman Composition 4
AA/S MATH Meet AA/AS Math Comptcy Req 3
AA/S ARTS Area C-1 Arts Course 3
BIOL 6 OR BIOL 6L OR BUSC 1A OR GEOL 9 OR POLI 10 3  
 Units10
Winter Term 1
SPCH 1A Public Speaking 4
 Units4
Spring Term 1
AA/S HUM Area C-2 Humanities Course 3
3-5 UNITS Scientific Inquiry Quantitative Reason 5  
BTNY 3 OR CHEM 10 OR CHEM 40 OR CHEM 50 OR GEOG 1 OR GEOG 1L 0  
GEOG 10 OR GEOL 1 OR GEOL 8 OR GEOL 8L OR MATH 110 OR MATH 140 0  
BIOL 1 OR BIOL 20 OR BIOL 21 OR BIOL 25 OR BIOL 3 OR BIOL 4 3  
MATH 160 OR MATH 180 OR METO 3 OR METO 3L OR OCEA 10 OR OCEA 10L OR OCEA 20 0  
PHSC 9 OR PHYS 1 OR PHYS 2AG OR PHYS 4A OR PSYC 10 0  
BIOL 6 OR BIOL 6L OR BUSC 1A OR GEOL 9 OR POLI 10 6  
 Units3
Summer Term 1
AA/S KINES Phys Ed (KIN) Activity Course .5
AA/S LIFE Area E Lifelong Undrstg Course 3
 Units3.5
Fall Term 2
AA/S USHIS Area D-1 Hist/Pol Sc Course 3
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
2 courses: Social Sciences 2  
ANTH 5 OR BUSC 1B OR GEOG 2 OR GEOG 30 OR GEOG 5 OR PHIL 12 OR POLI 1 OR SOC 2 6  
 Units6
Winter Term 2
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
 Units6
Spring Term 2
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
AA/S ELECT Degree Appl Course (Elective) 3
3 units Social Science area 3  
Electives to meet 60 Degree Applicable Units 0  
Environmental Studies Emphasis, AA A0411 1  
Submit petition to Admissions Records Submit petition to Admissions Records  
 Units12
 Total Units44.5
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