Degree Requirements and Courses
Learn more about certificate and degree requirements, course content, recommended sequence, and schedule.
University Studies: Oceanography AA Degree
University Studies – 23 Unit Emphasis | SC Program: AA.1498
This degree plan identifies courses needed for a student to transfer into any of the marine sciences. The associate degree emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach as a foundation that can then be applied to an Oceanography bachelor’s degree or a more specialized bachelor’s degree such as Marine Biology or Marine Fisheries.
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
16 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.
CHEM 1A
M
Lab
5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1A
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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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.
GEOG 8
GE
3
World Regional Geography
GEOG 8
This course will introduce students to the world's major geographic regions. This course will increase student awareness of geographic concepts by examining the physical, cultural, economic and political characteristics of the major realms of the world through the unifying concept of the geographic region. This course will illustrate the importance of the world's geographic regions and how they interrelate. The location of important geographic features such as mountain ranges, rivers, countries, and major cities will be an important part of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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ESCI 15
M
Lab
4
Oceanography
ESCI 15
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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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.
Spring Semester, First Year
15 Units TotalHUM 4
GE
3
Humanities Through the Film
HUM 4
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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ENGL C1001
GE
3
Critical Thinking and Writing
ENGL C1001
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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BIOL 1
Pre.
M
Lab
4
Principles of Biology
BIOL 1
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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CHEM 1B
Pre.
Lab
5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1B
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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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.
Fall Semester, Second Year
16 Units TotalMATH 2
GE
6
Precalculus
MATH 2
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher
Note: Students may take either MATH 2A and MATH 2B, OR MATH 2 in order to meet transfer requirements. Successful completion of both MATH 2A and MATH 2B is the equivalent of MATH 2.
This course prepares students for MATH 3A (Calculus) utilizing function graphing technology. The content includes linear, absolute value, radical, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions; conic sections, polar coordinates, matrices, parametric equations, and their applications. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Note: Students may take either MATH 2A and MATH 2B, OR MATH 2 in order to meet transfer requirements. Successful completion of both MATH 2A and MATH 2B is the equivalent of MATH 2.
This course prepares students for MATH 3A (Calculus) utilizing function graphing technology. The content includes linear, absolute value, radical, polynomial, rational, logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions; conic sections, polar coordinates, matrices, parametric equations, and their applications. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
COMM 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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ART 4
GE
3
World Art
ART 4
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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ESCI 6
M
Lab
4
Ancient Life
ESCI 6
Note: Required day field trips.
This course is a survey of past life presented through geologic and biologic investigation. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and provides geologic background and evidence for the origination and evolution of life. Associated methodologies and concepts presented include geologic time and its measure, chemical and organic evolution, controls on evolution, cladistic analysis, ancient ecologic reconstruction, mass extinction and adaptive radiation, fossilization, and ancient geographic distributions of flora and fauna. Anatomical innovations that define major classes of organisms are traced through ancestor-descendant relationships. Laboratory exercises include processes of fossilization, fossil recognition, cladistic analysis, genetics, stratigraphy, reconstruction of ancient biologic communities, ancient geographic reconstruction through fossil information, functional morphology, mass extinction and adaptive radiation in the fossil record. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is a survey of past life presented through geologic and biologic investigation. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and provides geologic background and evidence for the origination and evolution of life. Associated methodologies and concepts presented include geologic time and its measure, chemical and organic evolution, controls on evolution, cladistic analysis, ancient ecologic reconstruction, mass extinction and adaptive radiation, fossilization, and ancient geographic distributions of flora and fauna. Anatomical innovations that define major classes of organisms are traced through ancestor-descendant relationships. Laboratory exercises include processes of fossilization, fossil recognition, cladistic analysis, genetics, stratigraphy, reconstruction of ancient biologic communities, ancient geographic reconstruction through fossil information, functional morphology, mass extinction and adaptive radiation in the fossil record. The lecture portion of this course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, Second Year
14 Units TotalHIST 17A
GE
3
United States History
HIST 17A
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher
This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ETHS 1
GE
3
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHS 1
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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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.
ESCI 1
M
Lab
4
The Active Earth
ESCI 1
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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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.
ESCI 16L
M
Lab
1
Coastal Marine Sciences Laboratory
ESCI 16L
Note: Concurrent enrollment in ESCI 16 is preferred.
This course relies on concepts presented in ESCI 16 Coastal Marine Sciences as it provides practical application to concepts presented in that course. Laboratory work will include field explorations along coasts, including shore and near shore systems, representing the primary resources for lab work. Other activities will include charting and navigation, species identification, and habitat monitoring; this involves data collection techniques, analysis, and synthesis from coastal and near-shore sites. As with the Coastal marine Sciences lecture section, marine produced and influenced natural resources, their exploitation, and sustainable uses will be studied.
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This course relies on concepts presented in ESCI 16 Coastal Marine Sciences as it provides practical application to concepts presented in that course. Laboratory work will include field explorations along coasts, including shore and near shore systems, representing the primary resources for lab work. Other activities will include charting and navigation, species identification, and habitat monitoring; this involves data collection techniques, analysis, and synthesis from coastal and near-shore sites. As with the Coastal marine Sciences lecture section, marine produced and influenced natural resources, their exploitation, and sustainable uses will be studied.
ESCI 16
M
3
Coastal Marine Sciences
ESCI 16
Note: Required field outings if 16L taken concurrently. Students may take ESCI 16 without enrollment in ESCI 16L, the matching laboratory science. However, to enroll in ESCI 16L, one must have completed ESCI 16 or be taking this course concurrently.
This course is an introduction to coastal oceanography, including coastal habitat evaluation of shore and near-shore ecosystems. Basic concepts in oceanography including chemical, physical, geologic, and biological realms, as related to coasts, with an emphasis on the inter-related nature of these topics, will serve as the main thread across the topics of the course. The course will develop oceanographic concepts associated with estuaries, tidal flats, sandy shores, rocky shores, and the shallow continental shelf. It will cover shore and near-shore island ecosystems and their evolution, inclusive of island reefs and lagoons, outer-shelf reef formation and ecology, and coastal management. Marine-produced and -influenced natural resources, their exploitation, sustainable uses, and conservation will round out the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is an introduction to coastal oceanography, including coastal habitat evaluation of shore and near-shore ecosystems. Basic concepts in oceanography including chemical, physical, geologic, and biological realms, as related to coasts, with an emphasis on the inter-related nature of these topics, will serve as the main thread across the topics of the course. The course will develop oceanographic concepts associated with estuaries, tidal flats, sandy shores, rocky shores, and the shallow continental shelf. It will cover shore and near-shore island ecosystems and their evolution, inclusive of island reefs and lagoons, outer-shelf reef formation and ecology, and coastal management. Marine-produced and -influenced natural resources, their exploitation, sustainable uses, and conservation will round out the course. 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:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
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