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4902.00This area of emphasis is a local program that serves as transfer preparation. As such, the Natural Sciences AS offers a broad and interdisciplinary foundation in the sciences; readying students for continued training at the upper division (or advanced) level for many bachelor’s degree programs in the natural sciences; including biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, mathematics, plant science, physics, and many others. It is a starting point for students who are preparing for careers in health sciences, medicine, business (e.g., resource management, consulting), agriculture, research, and education; where scientific and technical skills are in great demand in both the public (e.g., government and academic) and private (commercial) sectors.
An Associate in Science Degree (AS) in Natural Sciences is accessible to all interested students, regardless of background (academic preparedness or otherwise). This degree is welcoming to all students interested in developing a better understanding of our natural world and possibly pursuing a career in the natural sciences.
PLEASE NOTE: The courses that universities and colleges require for transfer vary. When selecting courses for transfer purposes, students should consult with Counseling Services to determine the particular transfer requirements of specific transfer institutions. Further, we encourage students to seek discipline-specific guidance from the dean, department chairs, faculty, and STEM Centers of the Natural Sciences Division.
For students intending to transfer, courses identified for the area of emphasis fulfill major preparation requirements as demonstrated through ASSIST.org articulation. Select courses are based on ASSIST.org data for major preparation articulation with selected transfer institutions. Consult with a Counselor for specific information regarding the intended major at the college the student is choosing. Courses used to complete a student's area of emphasis can double count for general education just as they may for any other major. Although the associate degree recognizes the completion of lower division general education requirements, it does not guarantee admission to a specific campus in the CSU or UC system, nor does it guarantee admission to a specific major or a specific community college program. Some majors and schools require a higher GPA than is necessary for the associate degree. Students should meet with a Counselor to determine the lower division major preparation coursework in addition to which general education pattern is required for transfer or for community college programs.
Program Outcomes
- Examine and explain major fundamental concepts of the natural sciences.
- Collect and analyze data related to the natural world from various sources such as field sites, databases, collections, and laboratories.
- Apply the scientific method to solve problems.
Requirements for the Area of Emphasis
Courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. All courses must be numbered 001–099. Students must complete 18 units with at least 3 units in three of the areas listed below.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | ||
| ANTH 001 | BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | 3 |
| or ANTH 001H | HONORS BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| ANTH 001L | LABORATORY IN BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY | 1 |
| ANAT 025 | HUMAN ANATOMY | 4 |
| BIOL 003 | HUMAN BIOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 004 | BOTANY/PLANT DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 010A | CELLULAR BIOLOGY, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION | 5 |
| BIOL 010B | THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND ECOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 010C | GENETICS | 3 |
| BIOL 011 | GENERAL BIOLOGY | 4 |
| or BIOL 011H | HONORS GENERAL BIOLOGY | |
| BIOL 016 | MARINE BIOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 039 | MODERN HUMAN GENETICS | 4 |
| MICR 002 | MICROBIOLOGY | 4 |
| PYSO 001 | HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| PSYC 002 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 001A | GENERAL CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS I | 5 |
| CHEM 001B | GENERAL CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS II | 5 |
| CHEM 008A | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I | 5 |
| CHEM 008B | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II | 5 |
| CHEM 022 | INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| Environmental Sciences | ||
| ENVS 001 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| ENVS 002 | HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT | 3 |
| ENVS 003 | CHEMISTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| AGPS 004 | PLANT SCIENCE | 3 |
| AGPS 006 | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE | 3 |
| or ENVS 010 | ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE | |
| AGPS 008 | PLANT MATERIALS AND USAGE I | 3 |
| or ENVS 012 | PLANT MATERIALS AND USAGE I | |
| AGPS 012 | SOIL SCIENCE | 3 |
| or ENVS 011 | SOIL SCIENCE | |
| Geosciences | ||
| GEOG 001 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 001L | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY LABORATORY | 1 |
| GEOG 004 | WEATHER AND CLIMATE | 3 |
| GEOG 006 | CALIFORNIA GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 011 | INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS | 3 |
| GEOG 012 | MAP INTERPRETATION AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS | 3 |
| GEOL 001 | PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| GEOL 001F | PHYSICAL GEOLOGY FIELD STUDIES | 1 |
| GEOL 002 | HISTORICAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| GEOL 002F | HISTORICAL GEOLOGY FIELD STUDIES | 1 |
| GEOL 003 | EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE | 4 |
| GEOL 003F | EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE FIELD LABORATORY | 1 |
| GEOL 004 | GEOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA | 3 |
| GEOL 006 | MINERALOGY | 4 |
| GEOL 012 | PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOL 012L | PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY LABORATORY | 1 |
| GEOL 022 | THE AGE OF DINOSAURS | 3 |
| GEOL 023 | ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND NATURAL DISASTERS | 3 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | ||
| MATH 003 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA FOR STEM | 5 |
| MATH 005A | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I | 5 |
| or MATH 005AH | HONORS SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 005B | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | 5 |
| or MATH 005BH | HONORS SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | |
| MATH 005C | MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | 5 |
| or MATH 005CH | HONORS MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | |
| MATH 006A | CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I | 3 |
| MATH 008 | PRECALCULUS TRIGONOMETRY | 4 |
| MATH 009 | PRECALCULUS MATHEMATICS | 6 |
| MATH 010 | LINEAR ALGEBRA AND APPLICATIONS | 4 |
| or MATH 010H | HONORS LINEAR ALGEBRA AND APPLICATIONS | |
| MATH 022 | DISCRETE MATHEMATICS | 4 |
| MATH 055 | DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 4 |
| or MATH 055H | HONORS DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | |
| STAT 050 | ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | 4 |
| or STAT 050H | HONORS ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | |
| Physics & Physical Sciences | ||
| ASTR 001 | ELEMENTARY ASTRONOMY | 4 |
| ASTR 012 | DESCRIPTIVE INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY | 3 |
| PHSC 003 | PHYSICAL SCIENCES | 3 |
| PHSC 003L | LABORATORY FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE | 1 |
| PHYS 002A | GENERAL PHYSICS I: MECHANICS AND THERMAL PHYSICS | 4 |
| PHYS 002B | GENERAL PHYSICS II: ELECTROMAGNETISM, OPTICS, AND MODERN PHYSICS | 4 |
| PHYS 008A | PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS I: MECHANICS | 5 |
| PHYS 008B | PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS II: WAVES, ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM | 5 |
| PHYS 008C | PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS III: THERMODYNAMICS, OPTICS, AND MODERN PHYSICS | 5 |
| PHYS 010 | DESCRIPTIVE INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS | 3 |
| PHYS 010L | DESCRIPTIVE PHYSICS IN THE LABORATORY | 1 |
| PHYS 031A | CALCULUS-BASED COLLEGE PHYSICS I | 5 |
| PHYS 031B | CALCULUS-BASED COLLEGE PHYSICS II | 5 |
General Education Requirements for the Associate in Science Degree
Visit the Program Mapper for a suggested sequence of courses.