Degree Requirements and Courses
Learn more about certificate and degree requirements, course content, recommended sequence, and schedule.
University Studies: Science Teacher - Earth AA Degree
University Studies – 20 Unit Emphasis | SC Program: AA.1505
This degree plan prepares the student to transfer as they prepare for a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science, Earth Science Concentration. Courses in this plan are designed to develop breadth and to demonstrate multidisciplinary aspects across the Earth Sciences.
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
14 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.
MATH 13
GE
3
College Algebra for Liberal Arts
MATH 13
This is a college level course that introduces functions and function algebra for majors in the Liberal Arts. The main focus is on linear, polynomial, rational, radical, absolute value, logarithmic and exponential functions and equations. Students will learn algebraic techniques, modeling techniques and technology-based techniques for solving equations and inequalities involving these functions and for investigating the graphs of these functions. This course also covers systems of equations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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GEOG 7
GE
3
California Geography
GEOG 7
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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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.
ESCI 1
GE
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.
Spring Semester, First Year
16 Units TotalENGL 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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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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ESCI 12
GE
M
Lab
4
General Earth Science
ESCI 12
Note: Required field trips when offered face to face.
This is a survey course designed for non-science majors. It spans the Earth-related sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. In general, the course focuses on physical processes and materials as related to each discipline. Topics include the geologic evolution of the Earth, economic resources derived from the Earth, Earth materials, evolution and character of the oceans, ocean-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric processes including weather and climate, the solar system and Earth as part of the universe. Using an Earth systems approach, lecture and laboratory will consider concepts centered on the sustainable use of natural resources. The laboratory portion of this course provides hands-on activities that support and demonstrate lecture concepts. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This is a survey course designed for non-science majors. It spans the Earth-related sciences, including geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. In general, the course focuses on physical processes and materials as related to each discipline. Topics include the geologic evolution of the Earth, economic resources derived from the Earth, Earth materials, evolution and character of the oceans, ocean-atmosphere interactions, atmospheric processes including weather and climate, the solar system and Earth as part of the universe. Using an Earth systems approach, lecture and laboratory will consider concepts centered on the sustainable use of natural resources. The laboratory portion of this course provides hands-on activities that support and demonstrate lecture concepts. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
NHIS 15
GE
M
3
Natural History of California
NHIS 15
Note: Required day field trips
This course is designed to give the student a unified view of the natural history of California with an emphasis on Northern California. The geology, weather, ecology, life zones, plant and animal species, and aquatic and mountain environments are emphasized. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is designed to give the student a unified view of the natural history of California with an emphasis on Northern California. The geology, weather, ecology, life zones, plant and animal species, and aquatic and mountain environments are emphasized. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
GEOG 9
M
3
Map and Geospatial Principles
GEOG 9
This course is an introduction to maps, imagery, and geospatial technologies. Students will learn geographic techniques for data collection, interpretation, and presentation. Map principles along with types of maps and their applications are covered. Methodologies include map reading, use of imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and map creation. Recent trends such as crowd-mapping, drone image capture and Lidar are also investigated. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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Fall Semester, Second Year
14 Units TotalESCI 6
GE
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.
AGNR 60
GE
M
3
Environmental Science
AGNR 60
Advisory: Students who wish to add a lab component to this class should co-enroll in AGNR 61.
This course is an introduction to the conservation or wise use of natural resources and incorporates discussions about the complex relationships of man to the environment. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The course will cover each of the major natural resources - such as water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils - as well as environmental policy and laws that govern the use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course is an introduction to the conservation or wise use of natural resources and incorporates discussions about the complex relationships of man to the environment. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The course will cover each of the major natural resources - such as water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils - as well as environmental policy and laws that govern the use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
AGNR 61
Lab
1
Environmental Science Laboratory
AGNR 61
This is a laboratory course designed to complement AGNR 60 and to acquaint the students with some of the more common laboratory and field tests and procedures utilized in environmental science. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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HUM 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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EDUC 1
3
Introduction to Education
EDUC 1
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher
This course introduces students to the American public education system, kindergarten through twelfth grade. Topics include professional ethics, governance and financing of public education, historical and philosophical foundations, and contemporary issues. The course introduces California's content standards, curriculum frameworks, and teaching performance expectations. Students complete a minimum of 45 hours of structured observations in public school classrooms in cooperation with at least one instructor-approved certificated classroom teacher. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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This course introduces students to the American public education system, kindergarten through twelfth grade. Topics include professional ethics, governance and financing of public education, historical and philosophical foundations, and contemporary issues. The course introduces California's content standards, curriculum frameworks, and teaching performance expectations. Students complete a minimum of 45 hours of structured observations in public school classrooms in cooperation with at least one instructor-approved certificated classroom teacher. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Spring Semester, Second Year
16 Units TotalPHSC 1
GE
M
Lab
4
Physical Science Survey
PHSC 1
This course covers active learning, lecture, discussion, demonstration, and lab activities in selected theories of physics and chemistry, emphasizing the conceptual basis of these theories. The course is designed for non-science majors as part of their general education requirement in science. This course is not appropriate for students who have taken college-level physics or chemistry. This course may be offered 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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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.
ECE 9
GE
3
Child Growth and Development
ECE 9
This course provides an in-depth examination of the major physical, psychosocial, and cognitive/language developmental milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through adolescence. There will be an emphasis on interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors. While studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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HIST 17A
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.
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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Fax
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