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.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in the order in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in a semester, you should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below. Some courses have been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” . Should you need (or want) to take classes in the summer and/or winter intersessions, the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed schedule of the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate Degree”. If you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only required to take the courses marked “Program Requirement” .
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer) require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” , be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
The Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer (AA-T) involves the study of how society can best use scarce resources such as land, raw materials, capital, and labor. The course of study analyzes the relationships between the supply of goods and services and the demand for them, as well as how these goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed. Some economists work on public issues such as the control of inflation, business cycles, unemployment, wage, tax, and tariff policies. Economics is widely recognized as a solid background for a career in business, government, law, teaching and research.
Upon completion of the Associate in Arts in Economics for Transfer (AA-T), students will have a strong academic foundation in the field and be prepared for upper division baccalaureate study. Completion of the degree indicates that the student will have satisfied the lower division requirements for transfer into economics or similar majors for many campuses in the California State University system.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate, through written and oral academic work, an understanding of how the market economy fundamentally operates. Specifically, students will develop the quantitative reasoning and critical analytic / graphical skills necessary to comprehend and explain basic microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts and functions, including, but not limited to, supply & demand, pricing decision, firm's production decisions and profit maximization decision under various market structures, contending perspectives of economic thought, and the impacts of government policies (fiscal and monetary policies) on gross domestic product, unemployment, inflation, budget deficits, national debt, foreign currency, and the international economy.
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Gateway Course
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Program Requirement
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General Education
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Appropriate for Intersession
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Available Online
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Global Citizenship
Semester 1
14 Units
This course introduces students to the supply and demand model, the concept of elasticity, productivity and cost structures. Within the Supply and Demand framework, the class studies the impact of government intervention on markets. The class evaluates alternative market structures in terms of prices, efficiency, and the role of the government.
- Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- Advisory: MATH 31 or
- Advisory: MATH 49 and
- 4B: Economics
- D2 - Economics
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This course introduces students to measurement of economic aggregates, economic models, and economic policy. Measures of economic aggregates include: GDP, the unemployment rate, the GDP Deflator, and the Consumer Price Index. The Great Depression is used as an introduction to macroeconomic policy. The course covers the tools of fiscal and monetary policy and their impact on aggregate demand, prices, income and interest rates. Additionally, the course introduces students to following models: Classical, Keynesian, Monetarist, and Supply Side with their corresponding policy implications and recommendations.
- Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- Advisory: MATH 31 or
- Advisory: MATH 49
- 4B: Economics
- D2 - Economics
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
An intensive preparation for calculus. This course is intended for computer science, engineering, mathematics and natural science majors. Topics include algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their inverses and identities, conic sections, sequences, series, the binomial theorem and mathematical induction.
- Prerequisite: MATH 20 and
- Prerequisite: MATH 32
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This introductory course in rhetoric emphasizes clear, effective written communication and preparation of the research paper.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 21B or
- Prerequisite: ENGL 22
- Prerequisite: ESL 19B or
- Prerequisite: Group A on the Placement Test
- 1A: English Composition
- A2 - Written Communication
- Area IV-A: Language and Rationality (Group A)
This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.
- E - Lifelong Understanding and Self-Development
Semester 2
14 Units
This course introduces students to the supply and demand model, the concept of elasticity, productivity and cost structures. Within the Supply and Demand framework, the class studies the impact of government intervention on markets. The class evaluates alternative market structures in terms of prices, efficiency, and the role of the government.
- Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- Advisory: MATH 31 or
- Advisory: MATH 49 and
- 4B: Economics
- D2 - Economics
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This course introduces students to measurement of economic aggregates, economic models, and economic policy. Measures of economic aggregates include: GDP, the unemployment rate, the GDP Deflator, and the Consumer Price Index. The Great Depression is used as an introduction to macroeconomic policy. The course covers the tools of fiscal and monetary policy and their impact on aggregate demand, prices, income and interest rates. Additionally, the course introduces students to following models: Classical, Keynesian, Monetarist, and Supply Side with their corresponding policy implications and recommendations.
- Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- Advisory: MATH 31 or
- Advisory: MATH 49
- 4B: Economics
- D2 - Economics
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This first course in calculus is intended primarily for science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors. Topics include limits, continuity, and derivatives and integrals of algebraic and trigonometric functions, with mathematical and physical applications.
- Prerequisite: MATH 2 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 3 and
- Prerequisite: MATH 4
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This course is intended for students majoring in business or social sciences. It is a survey of differential and integral calculus with business and social science applications. Topics include limits, differential calculus of one variable, including exponential and logarithmic functions, introduction to integral calculus, and mathematics of finance.
- Prerequisite: MATH 26
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
ENGL 2 recommended for transfer
See the full list: CSU GE Area A3 Course
CSU GE Area A1 Course 3 units
Semester 3
16-18 Units
This course covers concepts and procedures of descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory and inferential statistics. Course content includes: summarizing data; computation and interpretation of descriptive statistics;; classical probability theory; probability distributions; binomial, normal, T, Chi-square and F distributions; making inferences; decisions and predictions. This course develops, analyzes, and interprets confidence intervals for population parameters, hypothesis testing for both one and two populations, correlation and regression, ANOVA, and test for independence. This course develops statistical thinking through the study of applications in variety of disciplines. The use of a statistical/graphing calculator and/or statistical analysis software is integrated into the course.
- Prerequisite: MATH 20 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 18 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 49 or
- Prerequisite: MATH 50
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
CSU GE Area F Course 3 units
POL SC 1 or ECON 4, 5, 6, 8 recommended
Semester 4
16-18 Units
ECON 5 or 6 recommended
See the full list: Required Elective Course from "List B" below
ECON 15 recommended
See the full list: CSU GE Area C2 Course
CSU GE Area C1 Course 3 units
CSU GE Area B3 Course 4 units
List A
3 Units
This course introduces the student to the sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporate forms of ownership. This course also familiarizes the student with recording, classifying and interpreting financial data for service and merchandising businesses. It includes a study of the journals, ledgers and financial statements used by these entities. Also covered are computerized accounting systems, internal control, ethics, cash, accounts and notes receivable, merchandise inventory, plant assets and intangible assets, liabilities, and equity accounts. Basic managerial accounting topics are also introduced.
- Skills Advisory: MATH 18 or
- Skills Advisory: MATH 20
This course continues the study of introductory financial accounting principles begun in Accounting 1 and also covers introductory managerial accounting. The financial accounting portion of the course (2 units) covers the corporate form of business organization, bond financing, installment notes and other long-term liabilities, investments in debt and equity securities, international operations and the Statement of Cash Flows, corporate financial statement preparation and analysis and other GAAP and IFRS considerations. The managerial portion of the course (3 units) covers accounting concepts relevant to internal users rather than third party users of financial statements. Managerial accounting study includes full absorption and variable costing, cost accounting for job order and for mass produced goods (process costing), just-in-time, activity-based and total quality management approaches to costing manufacturing operations. Also studied are segment reporting, performance measurement, cost-volume-profit analysis, flexible budgeting, capital expenditure budgeting, standard costing, responsibility accounting, and decision making processes. Ethical issues surrounding these topics are also addressed.
- Prerequisite: ACCTG 1
This course provides students with an overview of the fundamental legal principles pertaining to business transactions and related topics. It also encompasses introductory subjects concerning the U.S. legal system such as the court structure, sources of law, legal reasoning and case analysis. To give students a broad perspective on the various laws and areas impacting business, the following topics are also explored: criminal law, torts, civil procedure, administrative processes, contract law, ethics, constitutional law, agency and the legal principles pertaining to business entities.
This course covers advanced topics in agency, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, torts, legal procedures, and other advanced topics.
- Prerequisite: BUS 5
This course surveys the principles and techniques of current and evolving business communication as a process in a variety of business situations. The course emphasizes planning, organizing, composing, and revising business documents using appropriate utilization of a variety of technological platforms, business related internet writing contexts, and web resources. Also, this course will incorporate a variety of internet-based communication tools relevant to doing business in today's world. This course is designed for students who already have college-level writing skills.
- Prerequisite: BUS 31 or
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
- A3 - Critical Thinking
This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
- 1B: Critical Thinking-English Composition
- 3B: Humanities
- A3 - Critical Thinking
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of technical communication, which is the process of creating, designing, and transmitting technical information to help use it effectively. The course examines the essential rhetorical structure of scientific and professional texts. It emphasizes the development of analytical skills and synthesis of multiple sources in order to construct coherent arguments. Students will develop skills necessary for research in various disciplines of the sciences and technology. Using some of the latest technology, students will read and prepare specific types of documents commonly used in the academic and professional worlds, especially in the sciences, high technology, engineering, and environmental studies.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
This course presents an overview of historians’ methods of research, critical analysis, and written argumentation and introduces historiography and historical theory. Students will apply these methods through a variety of written assignments, including a properly-documented academic research paper. This course’s research component will further students’ information competency skills.
- Prerequisite: ENGL 1
- 1B: Critical Thinking-English Composition
- 4F: History
- A3 - Critical Thinking
- D6 - History
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area III: Humanities
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
An intensive preparation for calculus. This course is intended for computer science, engineering, mathematics and natural science majors. Topics include algebraic, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their inverses and identities, conic sections, sequences, series, the binomial theorem and mathematical induction.
- Prerequisite: MATH 20 and
- Prerequisite: MATH 32
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This second course in calculus is intended primarily for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors. Topics include derivatives and integrals of transcendental functions with mathematical and physical applications, indeterminate forms and improper integrals, infinite sequences and series, and curves, including conic sections, described by parametric equations and polar coordinates.
- Prerequisite: MATH 7
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
Topics include techniques and applications of integration, improper integrals, functions of several variables, partial derivatives, method of least squares, maxima and minima of functions of several variables with and without constraints, method of LaGrange Multipliers, double integrals and their application, elementary differential equations with applications, probability and calculus.
- Prerequisite: MATH 28
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This course introduces basic vocabulary and the fundamentals of Modern Standard Arabic grammar, structure, pronunciation as well as reading, writing, and speaking. This course prepares students to understand spoken Arabic, to hold simple conversations, read, and write short descriptive compositions in Arabic. Aspects of contemporary Arabic culture and Arabic history are covered as well.
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course teaches pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar fundamentals as essential elements in reading, writing, and understanding elementary Chinese. The course also covers necessary culture, customs, philosophy, and history which serve as keys to studying the Chinese language.
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course is a continuation of Chinese 1, which covers elementary grammar. It provides students with further basic oral and writing skills while acquainting them with the language. It also includes the reading of simplified texts with emphasis on oral expression and further study of Chinese history and culture. This course is taught in Chinese except in cases of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.
- Skills Advisory: CHNESE 1
- 3B: Humanities
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course introduces the students to basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence structure in the present and preterit tenses. Basic aural and reading comprehension is developed and students hold simple conversations and write short compositions about present and past actions. This course is taught in Spanish, except in the case of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course is a continuation of Spanish 1. This course stresses basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence structure in the past and future indicative tenses and the subjunctive mood. The course develops basic aural and reading comprehension. Students hold simple conversations and write short compositions in the past and future. They read simple texts and further study Spanish and Latin American culture.
- Skills Advisory: SPAN 1
- 3B: Humanities
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course is taught through thematic units in Spanish on a variety of current and cultural topics. In addition, this course reviews Spanish grammar, emphasizing idiomatic constructions and expressions. Emphasis is also placed on the use of learned structures in compositions. Reading skills and basic literary analysis are developed using selected readings from Spanish and Spanish-American literature.
- Skills Advisory: SPAN 2
- 3B: Humanities
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course is taught through thematic units in Spanish on a variety of current and cultural topics. This course provides an in-depth review of Spanish grammar, idioms, and vocabulary. Developing a more sophisticated and structurally advanced writing style is also emphasized. Reading comprehension and literary analysis are developed using selected readings from Spanish and Spanish-American literature. This course is taught in Spanish except in cases of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.
- Skills Advisory: SPAN 3
- 3B: Humanities
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course is designed for students who speak Spanish at home and who need to improve their vocabulary and knowledge of the grammar as well as their spelling, writing skills, and reading comprehension. Formal aspects of the language will be stressed including: spelling, punctuation, and accentuation. In addition, there is a focus on formal writing and the writing process. Reading, reading strategies and comprehension as well as basic literary analysis are stressed. This course is taught in Spanish except in cases of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This is the second semester of an accelerated sequence of two designed for students whose native language is Spanish but have had little academic training in the language. In addition to a review of tenses from Spanish 11 and continued study of accent rules and orthography, the second semester will focus on advanced grammar concepts including subjunctive tenses (simple and compound) and the sequence of tenses. Composition skills taught in Spanish 11 will be strengthened in Spanish 12. There will also be a focus on reading strategies and vocabulary building. This course is taught in Spanish except in cases of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.
- Skills Advisory: SPAN 11
- 3B: Humanities
- 6A: Languages other than English (UC Requirement Only)
- C2 - Humanities
- Area III: Humanities
- Area V: Global Citizenship
Other SMC Modern Language courses may be substituted.
List B
3 Units
Any course not used in List A
This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the fields of Global Studies and International Political Economy. Students will analyze critically the role of national governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations, in regard to phenomena such as, international markets and production regimes, monetary and trade policy, international and global conflict, and environmental degradation. Contending theoretical and ideological perspectives regarding international systems, processes, and trends will be applied and evaluated.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 4B: Economics
- 4H: Political Science, Government & Legal Institutions
- D2 - Economics
- D8 - Political Science, Government, and Legal Institutions
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course stresses the application of economic theory to important current problems with special emphasis on the role of government and public policy in their resolution. Problems emphasized may include resource management, the environment, government expenditures, public programs, issues of growth and development, and various market irrationalities. This problem-oriented course allows for a detailed examination of significant 21st century domestic and global economic problems and provides students with the opportunity for extensive supervised research.
- 4B: Economics
- D2 - Economics
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This course is a chronological study of American economic history by major areas, including agriculture, industrial development, money, banking and transportation. The role of business, labor and government are given a particular emphasis.
- Skills Advisory: ENGL 1
- 3B: Humanities
- 4B: Economics
- C2 - Humanities
- D6 - History
- US1
- Area II-A: Social Science (Group A)
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area III: Humanities
This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the fields of Global Studies and International Political Economy. Students will analyze critically the role of national governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations, in regard to phenomena such as, international markets and production regimes, monetary and trade policy, international and global conflict, and environmental degradation. Contending theoretical and ideological perspectives regarding international systems, processes, and trends will be applied and evaluated.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 4B: Economics
- 4H: Political Science, Government & Legal Institutions
- D2 - Economics
- D8 - Political Science, Government, and Legal Institutions
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course is a chronological study of American economic history by major areas, including agriculture, industrial development, money, banking and transportation. The role of business, labor and government are given a particular emphasis.
- Skills Advisory: ENGL 1
- 3B: Humanities
- 4B: Economics
- C2 - Humanities
- D6 - History
- US1
- Area II-A: Social Science (Group A)
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area III: Humanities
Topics include vectors and analytic geometry in two and three dimensions, vector functions with applications, partial derivatives, extrema, Lagrange Multipliers, multiple integrals with applications, vector fields. Green's Theorem, the Divergence Theorem, and Stokes' Theorem.
- Prerequisite: MATH 8
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
Topics include matrices and linear transformations, abstract vector spaces and subspaces, linear independence and bases, determinants, systems of linear equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
- Prerequisite: MATH 8
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 2A: Mathematic
- B4 - Mathematics/Quantitative Thinking
- Area IV-B: Language and Rationality (Group B) Option 1
This course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to the fields of Global Studies and International Political Economy. Students will analyze critically the role of national governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations, in regard to phenomena such as, international markets and production regimes, monetary and trade policy, international and global conflict, and environmental degradation. Contending theoretical and ideological perspectives regarding international systems, processes, and trends will be applied and evaluated.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 4B: Economics
- 4H: Political Science, Government & Legal Institutions
- D2 - Economics
- D8 - Political Science, Government, and Legal Institutions
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship