Environmental Studies, Associate of Arts (AA)
The Environmental Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program designed to develop an understanding of living and non-living earth processes and how they affect and are affected by the human population. Courses in biology, earth sciences and history provide a foundation in the functioning of living systems including population growth, ecology, and toxicology; geologic processes including energy resources, geologic hazards, and pollution; and human attitudes towards nature including historical perspective and context for our current situation.
Through these courses students will gain a better understanding of how humans are intimately connected with the environment and how human activities impact and are impacted by the environment.
An understanding of environmental matters is essential in today’s world. Careers in natural resources, land use planning, business, energy, waste management, pollution control, law and environmental administration all require knowledge of environmental issues and the functioning of ecosystems. Career opportunities may require more discipline-specific studies in biology, geology or political science.
Associate Degree Graduation Requirements
Complete all of the following:
- All Department Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the department requirements must be completed through SBCC).
- One of the following three General Education options:
- OPTION 1: A minimum of 18 units of SBCC General Education Requirements (Areas A-D) and Institutional Requirements (Area E) and Information Competency Requirement (Area F) OR
- OPTION 2: IGETC Pattern OR
- OPTION 3: CSU GE Breadth Pattern
- A total of 60 degree-applicable units (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all units attempted at SBCC.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all college units attempted.
- A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Department Requirements | ||
| ENVS 110 | Humans And The Biological Environment | 3 |
| ENVS 111 | Environmental Field Studies | 1 |
| ENVS/ERTH 115 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| ENVS/ERTH 115L | Environmental Geology Laboratory | 1 |
| ENVS/ERTH 116 | Energy and Natural Resources | 3 |
| HIST/ENVS 112 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| ENVS 200 | Projects In Sustainability | 2 |
| BIOL 100 | Concepts Of Biology | 4-5 |
| or BIOL 101 | Plant Biology | |
| or BIOL 102 | Animal Biology | |
| or BIOL 103 | Cell and Molecular Biology | |
| CHEM 155 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| ECON 101 | Microeconomics | 3-4 |
| or ECON 101H | Microeconomics, Honors | |
| or ECON 102 | Macroeconomics | |
| or ECON 102H | Macroeconomics, Honors | |
| ENG 110 | Composition and Reading | 4 |
| or ENG 110H | Composition and Reading, Honors | |
| ENG 111 | Critical Thinking and Composition Through Literature | 3 |
| or ENG 111H | Critical Thinking and Composition Through Literature, Honors | |
| MATH 117 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| PHIL 101 | Introduction to Ethics | 3-4 |
| or PHIL 101H | Introduction To Ethics, Honors | |
| or PHIL 205 | Introduction to Logic | |
| or POLS 132 | Political Thinking | |
| Complete one combination from the following: | 3-5 | |
| Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology and Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology Laboratory | ||
| Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology, Honors and Dynamic Earth - Physical Geology Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Physical Oceanography and Introductory Physical Oceanography Laboratory | ||
| Physical Geography and Physical Geography Laboratory 1 | ||
| Physical Geography and Physical Geography Laboratory 1 | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Complete two courses from the following: | 6-8 | |
| Introduction To Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Comparative World Cultures | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| Introduction to Global Studies | ||
| Global Problems | ||
| American Government And Politics | ||
| International Politics | ||
or POLS 121H | International Politics, Honors | |
| Comparative Politics | ||
| General Psychology | ||
or PSY 100H | General Psychology, Honors | |
| Introduction To Sociology | ||
or SOC 101H | Introduction to Sociology, Honors | |
| Complete one course from Area 3A of IGETC 2 | 3-4 | |
| Total Units | 54.00-62.00 | |
- 1
ERTH 141/141L are the same as GEOG 101/101L.
- 2
- Explain how human activities impact the environment and how the environment impacts human society over time.
- Explain the interconnections among the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
- Apply critical thinking to establish connections and evaluate the extent to which human activities degrade, protect, or rehabilitate environmental health.