Degree Requirements and Courses
Learn more about certificate and degree requirements, course content, recommended sequence, and schedule.
Earth Sciences (AA)
The Earth Sciences degree includes many specialized disciplines such as Earth (Geologic), Atmospheric, Biologic, or Environmental Science.
Associate in arts | SC Program aa.1515
Earth History focuses on the geologic, biologic, oceanographic, and atmospheric history of Earth while relying on chemistry and physics to form a better understanding of our planet through time. Atmospheric Sciences focuses on interactions of the atmosphere with Earth’s surface (especially the influence of the oceans on weather and climate). Emphasis in this degree includes conservation sciences, environmental law and policy, systems ecology and marine ecology, watershed studies, archeology, and much more.
Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
13 Units TotalENGL C1000
GE
4
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1000
Note: For students who would benefit from further instruction and individual support while taking their first college-transfer level English course, ENGL C1000E is a recommended alternative to ENGL C1000.
In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research. An argumentative research essay is required for the successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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In this course, students receive instruction in academic reading and writing, including writing processes, effective use of language, analytical thinking, and the foundations of academic research. An argumentative research essay is required for the successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ESCI 17
M
Lab
3
Earth System Science
ESCI 17
Note: Required day field trips.
Earth is a dynamic planet, changing in response to natural processes within the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Modern science is now viewing the Earth system in its entirety, the sum of its parts, in an effort to understand how processes in one sphere impact those in another. This course stresses the inter-relationships of these systems and reviews natural cycles and positive and negative feedback pathways that operate over various time scales to affect global environmental change. The impact of civilization on the Earth system is also analyzed as the course considers pollution, over population, global warming, deforestation, desertification, resource depletion, and biologic extinctions along with solutions developed within sustainable concepts and practices. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Earth is a dynamic planet, changing in response to natural processes within the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Modern science is now viewing the Earth system in its entirety, the sum of its parts, in an effort to understand how processes in one sphere impact those in another. This course stresses the inter-relationships of these systems and reviews natural cycles and positive and negative feedback pathways that operate over various time scales to affect global environmental change. The impact of civilization on the Earth system is also analyzed as the course considers pollution, over population, global warming, deforestation, desertification, resource depletion, and biologic extinctions along with solutions developed within sustainable concepts and practices. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, First Year
15 Units TotalCOMM C1000
GE
3
Introduction to Public Speaking
COMM C1000
In this course, students learn and apply foundational rhetorical theories and techniques of public speaking in a multicultural democratic society. Students discover, develop, and critically analyze ideas in public discourse through research, reasoning, organization, composition, delivery to a live audience and evaluation of various types of speeches, including informative and persuasive speeches. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
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BOT 1
GE
M
Lab
4
General Botany
BOT 1
Advisory: BIOL 1 or BIOL 10 with a grade of C or higher
Note: This course includes required field trips that may extend past normal class times.
This Botany course is intended for science majors and covers comparative diversity, structure, and function of major plant and plant-like groups. Topics include plant development, morphology and physiology, taxonomy and systematics, ecology, and ethnobotany. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
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Note: This course includes required field trips that may extend past normal class times.
This Botany course is intended for science majors and covers comparative diversity, structure, and function of major plant and plant-like groups. Topics include plant development, morphology and physiology, taxonomy and systematics, ecology, and ethnobotany. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
ESCI 15
M
Lab
4
Oceanography
ESCI 15
Note: Required overnight field trip when not offered fully online.
Global ocean dynamics are part of an intricate system that influences world climate and both terrestrial and oceanic life. Basic principles and concepts are presented including ocean origins, ocean basin formation, seawater composition and characteristics, oceanic circulation, and the marine habitat providing a holistic view of the study of the oceans. Coastal processes such as waves and tides, erosion and deposition, and landforms are also considered. Laboratory activities will survey marine geology including plate tectonics and ocean basin topography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography such as circulation, waves and tides, and biological oceanography including marine organisms, marine ecosystems, and nutrient flow. The lecture and laboratory will consider marine-produced and influenced natural resources, their exploitation, and concepts centered on sustainable uses. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Global ocean dynamics are part of an intricate system that influences world climate and both terrestrial and oceanic life. Basic principles and concepts are presented including ocean origins, ocean basin formation, seawater composition and characteristics, oceanic circulation, and the marine habitat providing a holistic view of the study of the oceans. Coastal processes such as waves and tides, erosion and deposition, and landforms are also considered. Laboratory activities will survey marine geology including plate tectonics and ocean basin topography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography such as circulation, waves and tides, and biological oceanography including marine organisms, marine ecosystems, and nutrient flow. The lecture and laboratory will consider marine-produced and influenced natural resources, their exploitation, and concepts centered on sustainable uses. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Fall Semester, Second Year
17 Units TotalESCI 14
M
3
Meteorology
ESCI 14
Note: Students may take ESCI 14 without enrollment in ESCI 14L. However, students taking ESCI 14L, a laboratory science, must take ESCI 14 concurrently.
Dynamic aspects of the atmosphere responsible for climate and weather represent the main focus of this course. Topics include atmospheric composition, solar radiation, global heat transfer, atmospheric moisture, pressure and atmospheric circulation, air masses, weather patterns and forecasting, storms including hurricanes and tornadoes, air pollution and ozone, and global climate changes. Applicable fundamental science concepts such as state changes, heat transfer mechanisms, and the physical and chemical aspects of the media involved in weather are also introduced. Further the course will consider influences on the atmosphere that disrupt sustainable, stable climate conditions. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Dynamic aspects of the atmosphere responsible for climate and weather represent the main focus of this course. Topics include atmospheric composition, solar radiation, global heat transfer, atmospheric moisture, pressure and atmospheric circulation, air masses, weather patterns and forecasting, storms including hurricanes and tornadoes, air pollution and ozone, and global climate changes. Applicable fundamental science concepts such as state changes, heat transfer mechanisms, and the physical and chemical aspects of the media involved in weather are also introduced. Further the course will consider influences on the atmosphere that disrupt sustainable, stable climate conditions. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ESCI 14L
M
Lab
1
Meteorology Laboratory
ESCI 14L
Note: Concurrent Enrollment in ESCI 14 is preferred.
This course provides practical application to concepts presented in the Meteorology lecture course. Laboratory exercises will include analyses of incoming solar radiation, heat transfer in the atmosphere, humidity measurements, atmospheric motion, weather maps, storm characteristics, and climate controls and climate change. The lecture and laboratory will consider influences on the atmosphere that disrupt sustainable, stable climate conditions. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course provides practical application to concepts presented in the Meteorology lecture course. Laboratory exercises will include analyses of incoming solar radiation, heat transfer in the atmosphere, humidity measurements, atmospheric motion, weather maps, storm characteristics, and climate controls and climate change. The lecture and laboratory will consider influences on the atmosphere that disrupt sustainable, stable climate conditions. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
GEOG 5
M
3
Digital Geographies and Society
GEOG 5
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course or English Placement Level 6 or higher.
This course explores how society is increasingly influenced by digital spatial technologies. These include our perceptions of space and interactions with place. Theories and research methods in geography provide a foundation from which students generate geographic knowledge, produce visualizations, and investigate how technologies are shaping social equity, economies, cultural practices, geopolitical relations and environmental sustainability. Attention is given to location-based services, web applications, spatial data, and geographic information systems (GIS). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course explores how society is increasingly influenced by digital spatial technologies. These include our perceptions of space and interactions with place. Theories and research methods in geography provide a foundation from which students generate geographic knowledge, produce visualizations, and investigate how technologies are shaping social equity, economies, cultural practices, geopolitical relations and environmental sustainability. Attention is given to location-based services, web applications, spatial data, and geographic information systems (GIS). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, Second Year
15 Units TotalESCI 18
M
3
Global Climate: Past/Present/Future
ESCI 18
Note: Required day field trips
Atmospheric processes, on a global and local scale, are considered as they determine weather and climate through time. Natural influences on the atmosphere include the global ocean, the sun, and volcanism on planet Earth, each directing atmospheric responses in a different manner. Past climate conditions on Earth, and the science used to determine those conditions through rock, sediment and ice cores, will be explored. Human influences on the atmosphere will be considered as well as a review of the observations that have lead to scientific consensus on global climate change. Current trends in climate change will be extrapolated into the future as directed by climate modeling and their consequences considered. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Atmospheric processes, on a global and local scale, are considered as they determine weather and climate through time. Natural influences on the atmosphere include the global ocean, the sun, and volcanism on planet Earth, each directing atmospheric responses in a different manner. Past climate conditions on Earth, and the science used to determine those conditions through rock, sediment and ice cores, will be explored. Human influences on the atmosphere will be considered as well as a review of the observations that have lead to scientific consensus on global climate change. Current trends in climate change will be extrapolated into the future as directed by climate modeling and their consequences considered. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
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Science, Language Arts & Mathematics (SLAM)
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