Quick Facts
Degree University Studies Degree
Areas of Study Physical Sciences
University Studies – 22 Unit Emphasis | SC Program: AA.1510

The Physical Sciences emphasis is designed to provide students with the lower division major courses to transfer to a university and pursue baccalaureate degrees in chemistry, geology, physics, and related areas. See a counselor for the complete list for your choice of transfer university and major.

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 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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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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MATH 3A
GE 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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CHEM 1A
Pre. GE 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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Spring Semester, First Year

14 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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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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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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CHEM 1B
Pre. 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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Fall Semester, Second Year

15 Units Total
HIST 17A
GE 3
United States History
HIST 17A
Units 3
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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HUM 2
GE 3
Exploring the Humanities
HUM 2
Units 3
This course is designed to explore the humanities by examining expression of human values, ideas, concerns, and experience through the arts, literature, media and the social sciences. The reading of important works in the humanities, written analysis, and attendance at selected performances are major requirements of this course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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PHYS 2A
M Lab 4
General College Physics
PHYS 2A
Units 4
This course provides an introduction to the principles and applications of mechanics, using the mathematical tools of algebra and right triangle trigonometry. Topics include vectors, kinematics, Newton's laws, gravity, energy and momentum, mechanics of rigid bodies, heat, fluids, and simple harmonic motion. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CHEM 70
Pre. 4
Organic Chemistry
CHEM 70
Units 4
Note: CHEM 70A should be taken concurrently with CHEM 70 for science majors for transfer.

This course covers structure, bonding, alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes, alkynes, stereochemistry, nomenclature, and physical properties of organic compounds. This course includes an overview of organic reactions: reactions and mechanisms of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, nucleophilic substitution, elimination, rearrangement, and addition. Science majors should take a second-semester organic course, CHEM 71, which completes the required two-semester sequence. CHEM 70A, a laboratory course, should be taken concurrently for science majors. Students are advised to check the school of transfer for their requirements. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CHEM 70A
Lab 1
Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 70A
Units 1
Note: Chemistry majors are required to take CHEM 70A concurrently with CHEM 70. 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 covers the theory and application of organic chemistry laboratory techniques.
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Spring Semester, Second Year

15 Units Total
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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BIOL 10
GE 3
General Biology
BIOL 10
Units 3
Note: BIOL 10 will meet the general education requirement for a laboratory science if taken with BIOL 10L.

This course is an introduction to the major concepts of modern biology. Topics covered include biochemistry, cell biology, heredity, and nature of genes, evolution, diversity of life, and principles of ecology. Emphasis will be placed on those aspects of biology that are rapidly reshaping our culture. This course may be offered in a distance education format. This course will meet the general education requirement for a laboratory science if taken with BIOL 10L.
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PHYS 2B
M Lab 4
General College Physics
PHYS 2B
Units 4
This course is a continuation of PHYS 2A, covering mechanical waves (including sound), electricity, magnetism, geometric optics, interference and diffraction, and selected topics from relativity and quantum mechanics (at the discretion of the instructor). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CHEM 71
Pre. 3
Organic Chemistry
CHEM 71
Units 3
Note: CHEM 71A should be taken concurrently with CHEM 71 for science majors for transfer.

This course is a continuation of CHEM 70 and covers topics such as: infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, conjugated dienes and ultraviolet spectroscopy, benzene and aromaticity, the chemistry of benzene, electrophilic aromatic substitution alcohols and phenols, ethers and epoxides, thiols and sulfides, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid derivatives and nucleophilic acyl substitution, carbonyl alpha-substitution reactions, carbonyl condensation, amines, and carbohydrates. This course completes a two-semester sequence for science majors. CHEM 71A, a laboratory course, should be taken concurrently for science majors. Students are advised to check the school of transfer for their requirements. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
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CHEM 71A
Lab 2
Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 71A
Units 2
Note: Chemistry majors are required to take CHEM 71A concurrently with CHEM 71. 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 a continuation of CHEM 70A and covers the theory and application of organic chemistry laboratory techniques.
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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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