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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.

Spokane Community College believes that you should graduate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that further your educational goals, increasing your value in the workforce and contributing to a vibrant community.
 
Our AA-DTA degree program learning outcomes align to our five College-Wide Key Literacies.

Applied Content Literacy
Students will develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in all transfer distribution areas or program elements/areas. Students will build a foundation of information relevant to their program or focus of study while increasing knowledge and competency in their chosen field.

Communication Literacy
Students will develop the ability to create meaning and make connections between themselves and their audience, incorporating awareness of the social nature of communication, including, but not limited to, the impact of ethnicity, age, culture, gender, sexual orientation, and ability on communication styles and results. Students will learn to listen, read, speak, and write effectively using a variety of mediums and modalities.

Information Literacy
Students will develop knowledge and abilities allowing them to identify, locate, and evaluate information pertaining to the problem under consideration. Students will learn how to responsibly research, use, share, and produce accurate, relevant information gleaned through skilled research methods.

Intercultural Literacy
Students will develop an intersectional understanding of modern social realities, which will help enable effective participation and communication in cross-cultural professional, academic, and social settings. This may include, but is not limited to, biological sex, gender identity, socio-economic status, race, sexual orientation, religion, country and culture of origin, and political stance.

Quantitative Literacy
Students will develop and expand the ability to understand numeric information through the gathering, examination, modeling, manipulation, analysis, interpretation, and representation of quantitative and/or scientific data.

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

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

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Total Program Credits: 103


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
GEOL&101
Introduction to Physical Geology  
5
GUID 102
Strategies for Success  
3
MATH 71
Essentials of Algebra 1  
5
Total Credits
 
18

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&102
Composition II  
5
GEOL 116
Environmental Geology  
5
MATH 72
Essentials of Algebra 2  
5
PE 188
Basic Fitness I  
2
Total Credits
 
17

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
GEOL 201
The Earth Through Time  
5
MATH&141
Precalculus I  
5
PHIL&101
Introduction to Philosophy  
5
Total Credits
 
15

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
MATH&142
Precalculus II  
5
MUSC&105
Music Appreciation  
5
Total Credits
 
10

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
PSYC&100
General Psychology  
5
 
Humanities Group A Electives  
5
 
Science Core I   1
5
Total Credits
 
15
Humanities Group A Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Group A Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 226
Gender Communication  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
MUSC 109
World Music  
5
Science Core I: Choose 5 credits Science Core I: Choose 5 credits  
BIOL&222
Majors Cell/Molecular: w/Lab  
5
CHEM&161
General Chem: w/Lab I  
5
PHYS 101
General Physics  
5

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIST&136
US History 1  
5
 
Health Electives  
3
 
Science Core II   2
5
Total Credits
 
13
Health Electives: Choose 3 credits Health Electives: Choose 3 credits  
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
HLTH 104
Stress Management  
3
HLTH 174
First Aid  
3
HLTH 270
Nutrition for Fitness  
3
Science Core II: Choose 5 credits Science Core II: Choose 5 credits  
BIOL&221
Majors Ecology/Evolution: w/Lab  
5
CHEM&162
General Chem w/ Lab II  
5
PHYS 102
General Physics  
5

Seventh Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&221
Majors Ecology and Evolution: with Lab  
5
GEOL 210
Pacific Northwest Geology  
5
POLS 125
Introduction to Global Issues  
5
Total Credits
 
15

Health Electives  

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
HLTH 104
Stress Management  
3
HLTH 174
First Aid  
3
HLTH 270
Nutrition for Fitness  
3

Humanities Group A Electives  

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CMST 226
Gender Communication  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
MUSC 109
World Music  
5

Science Core I  

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&222
Majors Cell/Molecular: w/Lab  
5
CHEM&161
General Chem: w/Lab I  
5
PHYS 101
General Physics  
5

Science Core II  

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BIOL&221
Majors Ecology/Evolution: w/Lab  
5
CHEM&162
General Chem w/ Lab II  
5
PHYS 102
General Physics  
5
1 Choose a science concentration: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
2 Continue your science concentration: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 11,009
$ 13,409
$ 25,317
Books
$ 1,107
$ 1,107
$ 1,107
Course Fees
$ 80
$ 80
$ 80
Institutional Fees
$ 784
$ 784
$ 3,727
Total Costs
$ 12,980
$ 15,380
$ 30,231

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

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