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.
Geologists study the origin, history, composition, and structure of the earth, both for scientific knowledge and for practical purposes such as locating oil, minerals, and other raw materials; and for compiling architectural safety reports, maps, and diagrams. They use knowledge of chemistry, physics, math, and biology, to analyze the data and specimens. Some possible career choices are found in the environmental consulting industry, pollution remediation, public policy and environmental law. Career titles include meteorologist, oceanographer, seismologist, soil scientist, structural geologist and teacher.
This program is intended to prepare students for UC transfer into the study of Geology.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Lower division major preparation for transfer into Geology
- Upon completion of Geology courses students will be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of the physical structure and morphology of the Earth and operation of Earth systems through a plate tectonic paradigm. Identify and classify Earth materials and demonstrate an understanding of their formational histories.
General Education
Available Online
