What can I do with this?
The General Sciences AA Degree
- Prepares students for upper-division course work after transfer to a four-year science degree program.
- Has several emphases in order to meet the needs of students interested in biology, chemistry and physical sciences.
You can use this to:
- Earn a two-year Associates Degree
- Transfer to a 4-year science degree program
What will I learn?
- To demonstrate proficient preparation for upper division science courses at the appropriate transfer institution in the chosen emphasis: biology, chemistry, or physical science.
- To perform hands-on laboratory and/or field experiments of all science classes safely.
- To demonstrate mastery of the Scientific Method, including the experimental and empirical methodologies characteristic of science and the modern methods and tools used in scientific inquiry.
- To demonstrate an ability to communicate scientific results, including as appropriate graphically, verbally and in writing.
Program Learning Outcome Assessments
What courses do I take?
Note: Some courses within the major may have a required prerequisite. If you feel you have equivalent knowledge and skills to those included in the prerequisite course through professional experience, licensure, or certification, you have the opportunity to submit a Prerequisite Challenge to be reviewed by the faculty chair. For the Prerequisite Challenge to be considered, you must submit documentation/verification to substantiate the basis for the challenge. Please consult a counselor for more information regarding Prerequisite Challenge.
BIOLOGY EMPHASIS: The biology emphasis provides students with the core science courses needed for transfer to a four-year institution. Graduates with a biology emphasis are prepared for further studies which allow work in a variety of fields including: biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, ecology, entomology, genetics, health, immunology, medicine, molecular biology, oceanography, pharmacy, teaching, wildlife management, zoology and related clinical fields. Physics requirements for biology majors can vary among institutions. Students should check with a counselor concerning requirements for specific transfer institutions.
Complete all of the following courses:
Prerequisite: MATH C055 Advisory: CHEM C101, ENGL C070
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This is an introductory course for students majoring in biological sciences and related subjects. The course covers principles of cell biology, metabolism, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and physiology. Approved for IGETC Area 5B & 5C, CSU GE Area B2 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Prerequisite: ENGL C101, MATH C055
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course is for students majoring in biological sciences and related subjects. It covers organism diversity and examines the basic principles governing evolution of organisms and their interactions with the environment. The course sequence includes evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, anatomy and physiology of plants, ecology, and the major taxa of protists, fungi, plants, and animals. BIOL C111 is not a prerequisite of BIOL C112. Approved for IGETC Area 5B & 5C, CSU GE Area B2 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Prerequisite: ENGL C101, MATH C055. Limitation on Enrollment: Enrollment in this honors course is limited to students enrolled in the associated course. Students will be required to read and comprehend challenging materials and analyze in depth a chosen topic appropriate for intensified study and be able to maintain a minimum standard of coursework at the honors level.
90 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course is for students majoring in biological sciences and related subjects. It covers organism diversity and examines the basic principles governing evolution of organisms and their interactions with the environment. The course sequence includes evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, anatomy and physiology of plants, ecology, and the major taxa of protists, fungi, plants, and animals. The honors class provides more content and requires greater intensity and depth of study than the non-honors class. BIOL C111 is not a prerequisite for this course. Approved for IGETC Area 5B & 5C, CSU GE Area B2 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: CHEM 110 General Chemistry for Science Majors I, with Lab
Prerequisite: MATH C055
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course covers matter and measurement, atoms, molecules, ions, calculations with chemical formulas and equations, aqueous reactions and solution stoichiometry, thermochemistry, the electronic structure of atoms, periodic properties of the elements, concepts of chemical bonding, molecular geometry and bonding theories, the gaseous state, intermolecular forces in solids and liquids, modern materials, and properties of solutions. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Prerequisite: CHEM C111
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course covers modern materials, properties of solutions, kinetics, chemical and aqueous equilibrium, acids and bases, environmental chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry, nuclear chemistry, metallurgy, chemical trends in the periodic chart, coordination compounds, and organic chemistry. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Prerequisite: CHEM C111. Limitation on Enrollment: Acceptance to the Honors Program or eligibility for this honors course as determined by the instructor.
72 hours lecture/108 hours laboratory. In this course students learn about modern materials, properties of solutions, kinetics, chemical and aqueous equilibrium, acids and bases, environmental chemistry, thermodynamics, electro-chemistry, nuclear chemistry, metallurgy, chemical trends in the periodic chart, coordination compounds, and bioorganic chemistry. The honors course provides more content in the form of advanced topics in chemistry and requires greater intensity and depth of study above and beyond that of the non-honors class. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
CHEMISTRY EMPHASIS: This emphasis provides students who are planning on majoring in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering at a four-year university with the first two years of their core chemistry classes. Students should check with a counselor concerning requirements for specific transfer institutions.
Complete all of the following courses:
Prerequisite: MATH C055
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course covers matter and measurement, atoms, molecules, ions, calculations with chemical formulas and equations, aqueous reactions and solution stoichiometry, thermochemistry, the electronic structure of atoms, periodic properties of the elements, concepts of chemical bonding, molecular geometry and bonding theories, the gaseous state, intermolecular forces in solids and liquids, modern materials, and properties of solutions. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Prerequisite: CHEM C111
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course covers modern materials, properties of solutions, kinetics, chemical and aqueous equilibrium, acids and bases, environmental chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry, nuclear chemistry, metallurgy, chemical trends in the periodic chart, coordination compounds, and organic chemistry. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
Prerequisite: CHEM C111. Limitation on Enrollment: Acceptance to the Honors Program or eligibility for this honors course as determined by the instructor.
72 hours lecture/108 hours laboratory. In this course students learn about modern materials, properties of solutions, kinetics, chemical and aqueous equilibrium, acids and bases, environmental chemistry, thermodynamics, electro-chemistry, nuclear chemistry, metallurgy, chemical trends in the periodic chart, coordination compounds, and bioorganic chemistry. The honors course provides more content in the form of advanced topics in chemistry and requires greater intensity and depth of study above and beyond that of the non-honors class. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: CHEM 150 Organic Chemistry for Science Majors I, with Lab
C:ID: CHEM 160 S Organic Chemistry for Science Majors Sequence A
Prerequisite: CHEM C111
72 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. This course covers structure and bonding, polar bonds, alkanes, cycloalkanes, stereochemistry, synthesis, structure and reactivity of alkenes, synthesis, structure and reactivity of alkynes, handedness in chemistry, synthesis, structure and reactivity of alkyl halides, carbocations, the concept of resonance, nucleophilic substitutions and eliminations, basic biochemistry, mass spectrometry, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet spectroscopy and aromaticity. This Organic Chemistry I course is taught according to standards developed by the American Chemical Society. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: CHEM C160 S Organic Chemistry for Science Majors Sequence A
Prerequisite: CHEM C221.
72 hours lecture/108 hours laboratory. This course covers the chemistry of aromatic compounds, alcohols, thiols, ethers, epoxides and sulfides, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid derivatives, amino acids, proteins, amines, phenols, carbohydrates, lipids, heterocycles, polymers, and biological systems. Pericyclic carbonyl condensation, alpha substitution, and other reaction mechanisms are also covered. This Organic Chemistry II course is taught according to the standards developed by the American Chemical Society. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C and CSU GE Area B1 & B3.
C-ID: CHEM C160 S Organic Chemistry for Science Majors Sequence A
Prerequisite: CHEM C221. Limitation on Enrollment: Enrollment in this honors course is limited to students enrolled in the associated course. Students will be required to read and comprehend challenging materials and analyze in depth a chosen topic appropriate for intensified study and be able to maintain a minimum standard of coursework at the honors level.
72 hours lecture/108 hours laboratory. In this course, students learn about the chemistry of aromatic compounds, alcohols, thiols, ethers, epoxides and sulfides, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid derivatives, amino acids, proteins, amines, phenols, carbohydrates, lipids, heterocycles, polymers, and biological systems. Pericyclic carbonyl condensation, alpha substitution, and other reaction mechanisms are also covered. This Organic Chemistry II course is taught according to the standards developed by the American Chemical Society. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES EMPHASIS: Provides students who are planning on majoring in physics, geology, astronomy or other physical sciences with the necessary lower division courses in mathematics and physics. The Math, Chemistry and Physics requirements for transfer vary among institutions and students should check with a counselor for the specific requirements.
Complete all of the following courses:
Prerequisite: MATH C141, MATH C142
72 hours lecture. This course provides students with a foundation in differential and integral calculus with emphasis on both skills and applications. Topics include functions, limits, derivatives of polynomial, trigonometric, parametric, and implicit functions, applications of differentiation, the indefinite integral, the definite integral, and applications of the definite integral. Approved for IGETC Area 2, CSU GE Area B4, Local GE Area 4.
Prerequisite: MATH C151
72 hours lecture. This course is a continuation of Analytic Geometry and Calculus I, extending the skills of differentiation and integration by learning new techniques and working with the transcendental functions. Other major topics include sequences, series, polar coordinates and parameterization of plane curves. Approved for IGETC Area 2, CSU GE Area B4, Local GE Area 4.
C-ID: PHYS 205 Calculus-Based Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A
Prerequisite/Co-requisite: MATH C151
63 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This course covers the fundamental laws of nature governing the motion of bodies and their relation to external forces. Motion in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions is covered as well as energy, linear momentum, angular momentum, gravitation, fluids, oscillations, and simple harmonic motion. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: PHYS 210 Calculus-Based Physics for Scientists and Engineers: B
Prerequisite: PHYS C111, MATH C152 or concurrent enrollment
63 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This course covers electromagnetic principles such as charge and matter, electric and magnetic fields, potential, capacitors, dielectric materials, resistance, current, AC and DC circuits, induction, Maxwell's equations, and electromagnetic waves. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
C-ID: PHYS 215 Calculus-Based Physics for Scientists and Engineers: C
Prerequisite: PHYS C113
63 hours lecture/81 hours laboratory. This course covers the laws governing wave motion, thermodynamics, optics, atomic physics, quantum physics, and other aspects of modern physics. Approved for IGETC Area 5A & 5C, CSU GE Area B1 & B3, Local GE Area 1.
General Ed Requirements
Complete one of the following general education patterns:
Program Pathways
All classes needed for this degree are available at the following campuses: Ridgecrest / IWV
Additionally, some of the general education courses needed to complete this major are available at all our locations.
See Counseling for specific help with enrolling and completing this major.
How can I afford it?
This degree requires 60.0 units and will likely take 4 semesters.
Approximate Total Costs
CA Residents
60.0 units
at $46 per unit
Equals $2,760 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $3,600* for books and supplies
Total cost $6,360 for 4 semesters
Non-residents
60.0 units
at $388 per unit
Equals $23,280 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $3,600* for books and supplies
Total cost $26,880 for 4 semesters
*This is an estimate. Actual costs will vary.
Need help? Financial Aid can help with fee waivers and scholarships and other aid. Make sure to fill out your FAFSA every January.
