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.
Geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Digital Cartography, are used to capture, store, manage, analyze and visualize geospatial information related to locations on Earth's surface. These technologies are used to combine various types of geospatial information in a digital environment and are widely used in our daily life, government agencies, in almost every industry. Through this program students will develop an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of geospatial technologies and gain the skills needed to construct high-quality applications.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate proficiency in spatial data collection and manipulation, spatial data management, spatial analysis and spatial modeling using geospatial technologies.
- Upon completion of the program, students will apply cartographic principles of scale, resolution, projection, and data management to solve a geographic problem using geospatial technologies.
- Upon completion of the program, students will execute an original GIS project under the supervision of a faculty or professional mentor and demonstrate the ability to communicate project outcomes orally, in writing and graphically.
Icon Key
-
Gateway Course
-
Program Requirement
-
General Education -
Appropriate for
Intersession
-
Available Online -
Global Citizenship
Semester 1
6-7 Units
GIS are computer-based systems used to collect, store and analyze geographic information. This course will present the concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) science and its applications to spatial data management. Topics include: Identification and acquisition of GIS data; Assessment of vector and raster data, scale, resolution, map projection, coordinate systems, georeferencing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Spatial analysis and modeling with GIS will also be presented.
Semester 2
6 Units
This course provides a general introduction to Cartography, broadly defined as the art, science, and ethics of map making and map use. The emphases include map scale, map projection, reference and thematic map reading, symbolization and map design. A variety of modern geospatial technologies and tools are covered, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Remote Sensing, and web mapping. The course includes both lecture and hands-on application.
This course emphasizes GIS principles and methodology used in both the private and public sectors. Hands-on applications using both raster and vector data and technology will expose students to more advanced understanding of GIS. Students will learn various methods of data acquisition, including Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as well as the World Wide Web. The add-on modules extend the analytical capabilities of ArcMap and allow input of map features and conversion of feature themes from raster to vector. This course will also provide an introduction to several of ArcMap's extension including Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst. Students will complete a "Model Builder" to be used in siting new solar sites. Spatial Analysis will include slope and aspect maps, neighborhood and zone analysis. The course will present single and multi-layer statistical operations including classification, coordination, and modeling analysis.
- Prerequisite: GEOG 20 or
- Prerequisite: GIS 20
Semester 3
6 Units
This course focuses on utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in real world applications such as disaster management, crime analysis, environmental sustainability analysis, and marketing. Students will use ArcGIS and other open source GIS software to process, analyze and map geospatial data, extract geospatial information, and develop geospatial wisdom. Emphases are placed on developing geospatial thinking and utilizing GIS to answer geospatial questions.
- Skills Advisory: GIS 20 or
- Skills Advisory: GEOG 20
This course introduces students to the basic concepts of remote sensing, characteristics of remote sensors, and remote sensing applications in academic disciplines and professional industries. Emphases are placed on remote sensing data acquisition; digital image processing and interpretation. The course is designed for students interested in the Earth Observing System, environmental monitoring techniques, and image analysis.
Application Courses
3-4 Units
Independent study is intended for advanced students interested in doing independent research on special study topics in independent studies discipline. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.
This course surveys the distribution and relationships of environmental elements in our atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, including weather, climate, water resources, landforms, soils, natural vegetation, and wildlife. Focus is on the systems and cycles of our natural world, including the effects of the sun and moon on environmental processes, and the roles played by humans.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 5A: Physical Science
- B1 - Physical Science
- Area I: Natural Science
This course is a study of humanity and its planetary home of distinctive places, spaces, landscapes, and environments. The course systematically considers geographic patterns, processes, and issues, beginning with the basic questions of Where? and Why There? Specific topics examined include human population change and migration; agriculture and food systems; urban-economic development; cultural and environmental change in an age of globalization, with specific attention paid to language, religion, ethnic identity, and biodiversity; and international geopolitics.
- Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1
- 4E: Geography
- D5 - Geography
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This course is a survey of earth’s atmosphere, with special reference to the causes and regional distribution of weather and climate. The nature and causes of winds, clouds, precipitation, severe storms, and global climate change is studied. Students will learn techniques of local weather observation and prediction.
- 5A: Physical Science
- B1 - Physical Science
- Area I: Natural Science
This course surveys the distribution and relationships of environmental elements in our atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, including weather, climate, water resources, landforms, soils, natural vegetation, and wildlife. Focus is on the systems and cycles of our natural world, including the effects of the sun and moon on environmental processes, and the roles played by humans. Laboratory work emphasizes the practical application of concepts presented in lecture, introduces the student to some of the tools and methods used in Physical Geography, and may include field study opportunities. NOTE: Students may receive credit for either Geography 1 or 5, but not both.
- 5A: Physical Science
- 5C: Physical or Biological Science LABORATORY
- B1 - Physical Science
- B3 - Laboratory Sciences
- Area I: Natural Science
This introductory course will use an interdisciplinary approach to provide students with a broad perspective on environmental problems and solutions. Students will be introduced to the strategies used by scientists, economists, political analysts and other writers and researchers to investigate and analyze environmental and urban issues, human/nature relationships, natural and built environments, and environmental citizenship.
- 4E: Geography
- D7 - Interdisciplinary Social and Behavioral Science
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course introduces students to the multi-disciplinary study of urban society and space. Cities are examined both as complex social-economic groupings of people, and as material landscapes of buildings, pathways, and public and private spaces. Attention is paid to what cities are and have been (the evolving urban experience of the past and present) as well as to ever-changing ideas about what cities should be (urban planning and design for the future). While the overall perspective of the course is global, its primary focus is on the cities of North America and, in particular, the Los Angeles metropolitan area. This emphasis is evident both in the classroom and in field trips or other assignments that ask students to apply classroom ideas to our local urban setting.
- 4E: Geography
- D5 - Geography
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
This course is a study of hazards and their effect on humans and the natural environment. It includes an analysis of volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, catastrophic mass wasting, fires, and the effects of terrorism. This course focuses on appropriate responses from law enforcement personnel, fire technicians, and public sector managers.
This course introduces Global Studies through a survey of the world’s major geographic regions. Students will encounter core concepts related to processes of global connection and change, while also developing basic geographic literacy in the distribution of human and natural features on Earth. Students will examine and discuss significant issues–cultural, social, political-economic, and environmental–impacting humanity today as both problem and possibility. In particular, this course considers the diverse localized impacts of globalization as a continuing story of peoples and places isolated and connected by imperial, colonial, and international systems of the past and present.
- 4E: Geography
- D5 - Geography
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This course surveys the physical and human geography of California and the processes shaping its landscapes. Topics include natural features and resources, such as geology, climate, plants and animals, and hydrology. Historical and current trends in human population, migration, and settlement patterns are considered, including a review of the state's major cultural groups. Primary and advanced economic activities are examined within modern rural and urban settings. Emphasis is on the profound connections between these topics, on California's unequaled diversity and the rapid change that is transforming our people and its landscapes.
- 4E: Geography
- D5 - Geography
- Area II-B: Social Science (Group B)
- Area V: Global Citizenship
This introductory course focuses on understanding and utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions in business. It is not a substitute for the basic GIS course. Students will apply the use of ArcGIS to identify and display retail markets, evaluate the suitability of sites for establishing or relocating a business or to expand sales territories.
This introductory course will focus on understanding and utilizing GIS for law enforcement. Students will utilize ArcMap GIS software in a hands-on computer setting to identify and display crime data, evaluate Part I and II crime activity, gang activity, etc., on maps. Emphasis will be on GPS locations of crime incidents, clustering of thefts, burglaries, rapes, bank robberies, and plot victim locational and demographic characteristics. Students will track and evaluate patrol assignments and fleet unit routing to create more effective utilization patterns. US Census, DOJ CRS and local governmental data shall be utilized in creating crime maps.
This course focuses on understanding and utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Disaster Management. Students will use ArcMap and other mapping information systems to mitigate, plan and respond to weather storm related conditions such as earthquakes, toxic and chemical air releases, and other hazards. This course is designed to enable students to identify areas that might be affected by natural and human-induced disasters.