Skip to main content

Geology

Are you curious about how the Earth works? Do you want a career that takes you out in nature? A degree in geology could be for you.

In this program, you will study the science of our planet, including its history, landforms, resources and natural systems. You’ll explore the role of geology and minerals in your everyday lives and learn how to interpret maps and identify minerals and rocks. This pre-major program is designed to prepare you to transfer at the junior level into a geology or related degree program at a four-year college or university.

Whether want to research volcanoes or earthquakes, work in the environmental field, or pursue a career in private industry, government or as a teacher, this program will lay the groundwork for a variety of geology-related career options.

Employment opportunities in the earth sciences are considerably varied. A four-year or graduate-level degree in the earth sciences can lead to careers as science educators at the K/12 and collegiate levels as well as researchers in a variety of subdisciplines such as volcanology, marine geology, paleontology, seismology, tectonics, mineralogy, hydrology, soils, engineering geology, and geologic hazards. Earth science careers within industry include natural resource exploration and development (minerals and energy), and numerous options in the field of environmental assessment and remediation. Public agency positions for earth scientists range from local, city and county to the state and federal levels.

AA-DTA Program Learning Outcomes

Communication Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Create, organize, present, and adapt effective verbal and nonverbal messages to diverse audiences in diverse contexts
2. Explain the active listening process and the skills necessary  to understand verbal and nonverbal information
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically think: summarize, interpret, and evaluate written discourse 
4. Write clear, well-focused and well-organized papers using documentation
5. Select and integrate textual evidence within academic essays
6. Create expository essays using traditional academic forms and standards
7. Appropriately use college-level language skills, i.e., grammar and punctuation

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Recognize a problem and identify the information required to solve it
2. Develop and apply appropriate algebraic models (e.g. numerical, graphical and symbolic) to obtain a solution to the problem
3. Explain the process of reasoning used to arrive at the solution

Humanities Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate, in writing or verbally, awareness that different contexts and/or world views produce different human creations
2. Identify and explain diverse cultural customs, beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles
3. Identify ideologies, practices and contributions that persons of diverse backgrounds bring to our multicultural world
4. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position

Social Sciences Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Describe the methods used for conducting research within the various disciplines of the social sciences
2. Evaluate the credibility of information regarding topics within the social sciences and differentiate between information derived from empirical sources and information derived from opinion, folklore, and/or emotions
3. Identify the impact of social, cultural, historical, political, geographical, and/or religious factors on behavior
4. Express increased engagement and confidence in the ability to apply course material for the purpose of improving self,  relationships,  community, society, and/or the world

Math and Science Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Select, use, or develop an appropriate model including numerical, graphical, or symbolic representations
2. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position or draw conclusions using appropriate terminology and symbolism
3. Demonstrate laboratory skills including making qualitative and quantitative observations about natural systems
4. Ascertain and critically evaluate the interrelationships within complex systems

Health Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Our students will be able to develop an appreciation of  physical activity as a lifelong pursuit and means to better health.
2. Our students will be able to recognize the physical and mental benefits of increased activity.
3. Our students will be able to examine the effects of nutrition, rest and other lifestyle factors that contribute to better health.
4. Our students will be able to demonstrate motor skill performance of various physical activities.
5. Our students will be able to define the various health components of fitness and determine the lifestyle factors for development of physical fitness and training strategies.
6. Our students will be able to identify common health and fitness myths and trends involved with the evolving nature of physical education. 
7. Our students will be able to utilize physical activity as a tool to manage stress.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH& 151, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → AE 68 → MATH 71 → MATH 72 → MATH& 141 → MATH& 142 → MATH&151 → MATH& 152 → MATH& 153

Placement

English placement is not required for this program.

Associate in Arts (AA) is the community college degree designed to transfer to most bachelor's of arts degrees at all public and many private Washington four-year institutions. A candidate for the AA-DTA degree must complete 90 quarter credits in academic courses numbered 100 and above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet specific distribution requirements.

Program Map for

Print/Download

Choose program map:

Total Program Credits: 113


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
GEOL&101
Introduction to Physical Geology  
5
GUID 102
Strategies for Success  
3
MATH&141
Precalculus I  
5
Total Credits
 
18

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
MATH&142
Precalculus II  
5
PE 187
Cross Training  
2
 
Social Sciences Group A/B Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
17
Social Sciences Group A/B Electives: Choose 5 credits Social Sciences Group A/B Electives: Choose 5 credits  
HIST&116
Western Civilization I  
5
POLS&101
Intro to Political Science  
5
PSYC&100
General Psychology  
5
SOC& 101
Intro to Sociology  
5

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
GEOL 201
The Earth Through Time  
5
 
Communications Elective  
5
 
Health/PE Group A Electives  
3
 
Humanities Group C Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
18
Communications Elective: Choose 5 credits Communications Elective: Choose 5 credits  
CMST&101
Introduction to Communication  
5
ENGL&102
Composition II  
5
Health/PE Group A Electives: Choose 3 credits Health/PE Group A Electives: Choose 3 credits  
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
HLTH 104
Stress Management  
3
HLTH 174
First Aid  
3
Humanities Group C Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Group C Electives: Choose 5 credits  
HUM& 101
Intro to Humanities  
5
HUM 107
Introduction to Cultural Studies  
5
HUM 201
Humanities, Past, Present, and Future  
5
PHIL&101
Intro to Philosophy  
5

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&161
General Chemistry with Lab I  
5
GEOG&100
Introduction to Geography  
5
MATH&151
Calculus I  
5
 
Science Series I   1
5
Total Credits
 
20
Science Series I: Choose 5 credits Science Series I: Choose 5 credits  
BIOL&221
Majors Ecology/Evolution: w/Lab  
5
PHYS 201
Engineering Physics I  
5

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&162
General Chemistry with Lab II  
5
MATH&152
Calculus II  
5
 
Science Series II   2
5
 
Social Sciences Group B Electives   2
5
Total Credits
 
20
Science Series II: Choose 5 credits Science Series II: Choose 5 credits  
BIOL&222
Majors Cell/Molecular: w/Lab  
5
PHYS 202
Engineering Physics II  
5
Social Sciences Group B Electives: Choose 5 credits Social Sciences Group B Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ECON 100
Fundamentals of Economics  
5
HIST 105
Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues  
5
POLS&101
Intro to Political Science  
5

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CHEM&163
General Chemistry with Lab III  
5
MATH&153
Calculus III  
5
 
Humanities Group B Electives  
5
 
Science Series III   1
5
Total Credits
 
20
ART& 100
Art Appreciation  
5
ART 108
Ancient/Medieval Art  
5
ART 109
Renaissance/Baroque Art  
5
ART 112
Non-Western Art  
5
DRMA&101
Intro to Theatre  
5
FILM 141
Introduction to Film  
5
MUSC&105
Music Appreciation  
5
MUSC 109
World Music  
5
Science Series III: Choose 5 credits Science Series III: Choose 5 credits  
BIOL&223
Majors Organismal Phys: w/Lab  
5
PHYS 203
Engineering Physics III  
5

1 If possible, select a subject (Biology or Physics) and take that series throughout.
2 Choose a subject not already taken.

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 11,301
$ 12,952
$ 24,922
Books
$ 1,273
$ 1,273
$ 1,273
Course Fees
$ 91
$ 91
$ 91
Institutional Fees
$ 672
$ 672
$ 3,195
Total Costs
$ 13,337
$ 14,988
$ 29,480

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

Have a question? Let's hear it.