Geography A.S. Degree

Program Description

The Associate of Science Degree in Geography provides a transfer path to four-year baccalaureate degrees, and it serves the diverse needs of students who wish to obtain a broad and an in-depth understanding of the field.  Additionally, this degree allows students to examine the environmental and spatial science of geography, including physical and cultural landscapes across the Earth.  Courses in Geography prepare students interested in careers in environmental studies, environmental and social justice, education, engineering, urban planning, politics, law, and architecture.

The environmental and spatial science of geography examines physical and human landscapes across the Earth.  As a spatial science, physical and human location and patterns on Earth's surface are central to the study of geography.  It includes the study of all forces of nature and the consequences of those forces, with an emphasis on human-environment interactions.

Geography integrates multiple physical and social sciences and includes: the nature and interactions of the atmosphere and the land, plants and animals, the Earth's waters, weather, climate, the Earth's dynamic surface, landforms and soil, and the way people have inhabited and altered the Earth by creating various forms of agriculture, language, religion, and cities.

Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution as a geography major should consult with a counselor regarding the transfer process and lower division requirements.

To graduate with a specialization in Geography, 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

Geography

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Science, Engineering, Math

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate expertise in modern cartographic principles, including map interpretation and web applications.

  2. Integrate fundamentals of sociology, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and other social and natural sciences within a spatial network of human-environment interactions.

  3. As knowledgeable consumers of information, apply geographic tools, frameworks, and methods to address human and environmental issues at a variety of geographic scales.

  4. As citizen scientists, evaluate issues of economic, environmental, racial, and social justice in a variety of geographic settings and scales.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

Term 1

14 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 2

13-14 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 3

12-14 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas:

Term 4

6-8 units
Complete one course in each of the following areas: