Environmental Science A.S. Degree

Program Description

The goals of the Environmental Science program are to: 1) meet the needs of students who are majoring in one of the diverse fields encompassed by environmental science, and 2) provide options for students fulfilling general education science requirements.

Awareness of the issues of environmental quality, environmental racism, and environmental justice are increasingly important in business, industry, and government.  The growing human population and increasing consumption of resources are creating unprecedented pressures on our planetary life support systems.  Within the human population, socioeconomically and politically disenfranchised communities oftentimes suffer the consequences of polluted environments when compared with more advantaged communities.  This is one of the many aspects of structural racism. This degree helps students to understand how environmental racism, environmental justice, and multiculturalism are vital components of the environmental landscape.

Environmental Science Majors need to complete an interdisciplinary set of core requirements that provide a basic understanding of the physical, biological, and social sciences and the relevance of these sciences to environmental processes and issues.  In addition, the coursework will prepare students for related baccalaureate majors, including biology, chemistry, engineering, geography, geographic information systems (GIS), geology, mathematics, oceanography, and physics.  For non-majors, the program’s goal is to educate students to make better-informed choices about key environmental, health, and justice issues.

Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution and major in Environmental Science should consult with a counselor regarding the transfer process and institution-specific lower-division requirements.  In upper division and graduate studies, students majoring in environmental science usually specialize in areas such as environmental toxicology, public health, environmental law, education, environmental economics, soil and water science, restoration ecology, environmental landscaping, environmental management, urban planning, and related careers.

To graduate with a specialization in Environmental Science, students must complete the following required courses plus the general breadth requirements for the Associate Degree (total = 60 units).

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program.  Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway.  It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Division

Science

Department

Environmental Science

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Science, Engineering, Math

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze the interaction between natural and social systems and subsequent impacts on sustainable development, environmental policies, environmental justice, and racial justice.

  2. Synthesize the fundamentals of sociology, biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, mathematics, physics, and other social and natural sciences within a framework of human-environment interactions with an emphasis on racial equity and social justice.

  3. Critically interpret and assess environmental news and trends, including green technologies and career opportunities, national and international environmental policies, resource exploitation and conservation, global climate change, sustainable development, and human health within the context of racial equity and social justice.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

1st Semester

17 units

2nd Semester

14-17 units

3rd Semester

15-17 units

4th Semester

15 units

5th Semester

15-17 units

6th Semester

7 units