Associate in Science for Transfer | SC Program: AS-T.1005

A geology major gains a deep understanding of the physical composition of the Earth and the forces acting on it. The Shasta College Geology Department provides the foundation for students interested in the student of the earth and provides breadth in both geologic processes and earth history.

The Associate in Science in Geology for Transfer degree provides the foundation for students interested in the study of the earth and provides breadth in both geologic processes and earth history. Field-based experiences and investigations are critical to geology and, within this degree, core courses and recommended transferable electives prepare the transfer student for university studies that expound upon such experiences.

The Associate in Science in Geology for Transfer degree is designed to provide students with a common core of lower division courses required to transfer and pursue a baccalaureate (4-year) degree in geology in the CSU system.

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 Total
ENGL C1000
GE 4
Academic Reading and Writing
ENGL C1000
Units 4
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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CHEM 1A
M Lab 5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1A
Units 5
Note: Students must provide those materials which are of continuing value outside of the classroom setting. This cost will be explained at the first class meeting.

This course is for science and engineering majors which covers the nature of atoms, molecules, and ions; chemical reactions; precipitation, oxidation-reduction, and acid/base chemistry; stoichiometry; electronic structure; periodicity; chemical bonding and molecular structure; properties of solids, liquids, and gases; and an introduction to thermodynamics and solutions. The lecture and discussion portions of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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MATH 3A
M 4
Calculus 3A
MATH 3A
Units 4
Advisory: English Placement Level 6 or higher.

This course is the first semester of a four-semester sequence covering differentiation of single variable functions, applications of the derivative, an introduction to integration, and an introduction to differential equations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, First Year

17 Units Total
ENGL C1001
GE 3
Critical Thinking and Writing
ENGL C1001
Units 3
In this course, students receive instruction in critical thinking for purposes of constructing, evaluating, and composing arguments in a variety of rhetorical forms, using primarily non-fiction texts, refining writing skills and research strategies developed in ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing (or C-ID ENGL 100) or similar first-year college writing course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CHEM 1B
M Lab 5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1B
Units 5
Note: Students must provide those materials which are of continuing value outside of the classroom setting. This cost will be explained at the first class meeting.

An introduction to chemical kinetics, nuclear chemistry, transition metals, and organic chemistry; along with continued, in-depth study of equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, acid-base and solution chemistry. The lecture and discussion portions of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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MATH 3B
M 5
Calculus 3B
MATH 3B
Units 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 covers techniques of integration including substitution, integration by parts, and partial fractions; improper integrals; applications of integration to geometry and physics, such as finding areas, volumes and arc length, work, center of mass, and fluid force; sequences and series; absolute convergence and convergence tests; power series, Taylor series, and MacLaurin series; first-order ordinary differential equations and linear second-order differential equations; and parametric and polar curve differentiation and integration. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ESCI 1
M Lab 4
The Active Earth
ESCI 1
Units 4
Note: Required field trips.

This course is an introduction to the physical processes that drive Earth as a dynamic planet. Both internal and external processes are considered as well as their inter-relationships. Discussion in the course will include Earth's internal structure, plate tectonics, minerals and rocks and their origins, surface processes, geologic structures such as faulting and folding, metamorphism, sedimentation, soil formation, geologic time including radiometric methods, geologic hazards such as earthquakes, volcanism, mass wasting, flooding, and the vital nature of Earth materials to society. Laboratory activities will focus on the application of classroom concepts and will include mineral and rock identification, geologic structures, topographic and geologic map use, use of remote imagery, recognition of landforms, geologic time, seismology, and volcanism. Lecture and laboratory will consider geologically produced and influenced natural resources, their exploitation, and concepts centered on sustainable uses. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year

14 Units Total
COMM C1000
GE 3
Introduction to Public Speaking
COMM C1000
Units 3
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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GEOG 7
GE 3
California Geography
GEOG 7
Units 3
Note: Field trip may be required.

This course provides an introduction to California's diversified geography including climate, landforms, natural vegetation, and mineral and water resources. The cultural landscapes of ethnic diversity, our Native American past, urban and agricultural regions, and the economic challenges of the future are also examined. California Geography examines these topics, their spatial distributions, and their impact on the environment. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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BIOL 1
GE Lab 4
Principles of Biology
BIOL 1
Units 4
This is a biological science course emphasizing molecular and cellular organization, energetics of respiration and photosynthesis, and cell integration and development. Topics covered include general principles of heredity, evolution, speciation and ecology. This course is intended for majors in science.
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ESCI 15
Lab 4
Oceanography
ESCI 15
Units 4
Note: Required overnight field trip.

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 to 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 tectonic 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. Lecture and laboratory will consider marine produced and influenced natural resources, their exploitation, and concepts centered about sustainable uses. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Spring Semester, Second Year

16 Units Total
ART 4
GE 3
World Art
ART 4
Units 3
This is a survey of the visual arts of diverse ethnic and indigenous cultures with an emphasis on both historic and contemporary art. Explored are the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Lectures are focused on the styles, motifs, symbols, rituals and traditions of the cultures by examining their crafts, drawings, sculpture, printmaking and paintings. This course is designed as a Humanities elective, recommended for Art Core Programs, and required for the Art History Concentration. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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POLS C1000
GE 3
American Government and Politics
POLS C1000
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL C1000 or English Placement Level 7 or higher.

This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ETHS 1
GE 3
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHS 1
Units 3
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course

This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines social justice movements in relation to ethnic and racial groups in the United States to provide a basis for a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political conditions among key social groups including, but not limited to, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o Americans. This course examines the systemic nature of racial/ethnic oppression through an examination of key concepts including racialization and ethnocentrism, with a specific focus on the persistence of white supremacy. Using an anti-racist framework, the course will examine historical and contemporary social movements dedicated to the decolonization of social institutions, resistance, and social justice. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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HUM 4
GE 3
Humanities Through the Film
HUM 4
Units 3
This course is an examination of the motion picture as an art form. This course offers a concise introduction to the history of film against the broader changes in popular culture since the late nineteenth century. Students will see how elements of film can provide valuable insights into how movies communicate and convey meaning to their audiences using a unique network of techniques. Students will see how film, film genres, and developments within the film industry offer a first-hand look at how specific films illuminate important aspects of philosophical, historical, aesthetic, and social life and analyze how film connects with the larger world. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ESCI 2
M Lab 4
Earth: the History of Our Planet
ESCI 2
Units 4
Advisory: GEOG 1A and GEOG 1AL, GEOG 7, NHIS 5, or NHIS 15 with a grade of C or higher

Notes:
1. Completion of any ESCI course, except ESCI 14/14L, OR any one of the listed advisory courses with a minimum grade of C is recommended.
2. Required day and overnight field trips.

Natural processes on Earth develop results specific to those processes. For example, the results of volcanism are unique to eruptions while rivers and flowing water form their own deposits, as do crashing waves along a shore. These signature results can be preserved in rocks, often with fossils included. The study of Earth's history is then revealed in rock successions as they collect through time. This course will define the origin of minerals, rocks and fossils in successions, described as stratigraphy and often formed in relation to mountain building episodes, in an effort to understand Earth through time. Supporting concepts include biologic evolution, geologic time, and paleogeographic relationships. Plate tectonics and crustal evolution will provide a base framework though with a North American focus and an emphasis on the west coast. Laboratory exercises will include the description and classification of minerals and rocks, the recognition of ancient metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary environments, the recognition, occurrence, and geologic use of fossil organisms, introduction to and application of stratigraphic principles, recognition of geologic structures, and the development and use of different types of geologic maps and cross sections.
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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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Academic/Instructional Division Office

Location Room 935/905
Office Hours Monday - Friday | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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