Natural Sciences – Associate in Science Degree

Top Code:

4902.00

This 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

Take at least 3 courses from 3 areas (18 units total):

Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Environmental Sciences
Geosciences
Mathematics and Statistics
Physics and Physical Sciences

Complete selected GE pattern: CSU GE-Breadth or IGETC or PCC Local GE.
If transferring to a CSU or UC, students are strongly recommended to complete the CSU GE Breadth or IGETC Patterns. Students looking to transfer to an out of state or private college should consult with a counselor for the appropriate GE pattern selection.
Complete with a “C” or better each course as specified by the major.
Maintain an overall GPA of a 2.0 or better in all degree applicable coursework.

Biological Sciences
AGPS 004PLANT SCIENCE3
AGPS 008PLANT MATERIALS AND USAGE I3
or ENVS 012 PLANT MATERIALS AND USAGE I
ANTH 001BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY3
or ANTH 001H HONORS BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 001LLABORATORY IN BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY1
ANAT 025HUMAN ANATOMY4
BIOL 003HUMAN BIOLOGY4
BIOL 004BOTANY/PLANT DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY4
BIOL 010ACELLULAR BIOLOGY, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION5
BIOL 010BTHE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND ECOLOGY4
BIOL 010CGENETICS3
BIOL 011GENERAL BIOLOGY4
or BIOL 011H HONORS GENERAL BIOLOGY
BIOL 016MARINE BIOLOGY4
BIOL 039MODERN HUMAN GENETICS4
ENVS 010ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE3
ENVS 011SOIL SCIENCE3
MICR 002MICROBIOLOGY4
PYSO 001HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY4
PSYC 002INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY3
Chemistry
CHEM 001AGENERAL CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS I5
CHEM 001BGENERAL CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS5
CHEM 002ACHEMISTRY - GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY I4
CHEM 002BCHEMISTRY–GENERAL, ORGANIC AND BIOCHEMISTRY II4
CHEM 008AORGANIC CHEMISTRY I5
CHEM 008BORGANIC CHEMISTRY II5
CHEM 022INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTRY4
Environmental Sciences
ENVS 001INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE4
ENVS 002HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT3
ENVS 003CHEMISTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT4
Geosciences
GEOG 001PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY3
GEOG 001LPHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY LABORATORY1
GEOG 004WEATHER AND CLIMATE3
GEOG 011INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS3
GEOG 012MAP INTERPRETATION AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS3
GEOL 001PHYSICAL GEOLOGY4
GEOL 001FPHYSICAL GEOLOGY FIELD STUDIES1
GEOL 002HISTORICAL GEOLOGY4
GEOL 002FHISTORICAL GEOLOGY FIELD STUDIES1
GEOL 003EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE4
GEOL 003FEARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE FIELD LABORATORY1
GEOL 004GEOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA3
GEOL 006MINERALOGY4
GEOL 012PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY3
GEOL 012LPHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY LABORATORY1
GEOL 022THE AGE OF DINOSAURS3
GEOL 023NATURAL DISASTERS3
Mathematics & Statistics
MATH 003COLLEGE ALGEBRA FOR STEM5
MATH 005ASINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I5
or MATH 005AH HONORS SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I
MATH 005BSINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II5
or MATH 005BH HONORS SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II
MATH 005CMULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS5
or MATH 005CH HONORS MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS
MATH 006ACALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I3
MATH 008PRECALCULUS TRIGONOMETRY4
MATH 009PRECALCULUS MATHEMATICS6
MATH 010LINEAR ALGEBRA AND APPLICATIONS4
or MATH 010H HONORS LINEAR ALGEBRA AND APPLICATIONS
MATH 055DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS4
or MATH 055H HONORS DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
STAT 050ELEMENTARY STATISTICS4
or STAT 050H HONORS ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
Physics & Physical Sciences
ASTR 001ELEMENTARY ASTRONOMY4
ASTR 012DESCRIPTIVE INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY3
PHSC 003PHYSICAL SCIENCES3
PHSC 003LLABORATORY FOR PHYSICAL SCIENCE1
PHYS 001APHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS I: MECHANICS5
PHYS 001BGENERAL PHYSICS5
PHYS 001CGENERAL PHYSICS5
PHYS 001DGENERAL PHYSICS5
PHYS 002AGENERAL PHYSICS4
PHYS 002BGENERAL PHYSICS4
PHYS 008APHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS I: MECHANICS5
PHYS 008BPHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS II: WAVES, ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM5
PHYS 008CPHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS III: THERMODYNAMICS, OPTICS, AND MODERN PHYSICS5
PHYS 010DESCRIPTIVE INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS3
PHYS 010LDESCRIPTIVE PHYSICS IN THE LABORATORY1
PHYS 031ACALCULUS-BASED COLLEGE PHYSICS I5
PHYS 031BCALCULUS-BASED COLLEGE PHYSICS II5

General Education Requirements for the Associate in Science Degree

Visit the Program Mapper for a suggested sequence of courses.