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 Associates of Science Transfer degree in Geology provides the foundation needed for students to transfer to a CSU with the lower division courses required to complete a bachelor's degree in a Geoscience major. Students will have the foundational math, chemistry, and geology courses along with their IGETC requirements completed allowing the student to seamlessly transition to a CSU and complete their upper division courses.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate an understanding of the history of the Earth including the timing and impact of the major epochs and how they impacted life on Earth. Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate the ability to identify and classify Earth's materials and identify their chemical make up. Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate an understanding of the geologic, biologic, and chemical processes that shape the Earth including the formation, weathering, and movement of rocks.
General Education
Available Online
