Geography Associate of Science Degree
The environmental and spatial science of geography examines both physical and cultural landscapes across the Earth. As a spatial science, physical and cultural location and patterns on Earth's surface are central to the study of geography. It includes the study of all forces of nature and the consequences of those forces, with an emphasis on human-environment interactions.
Specifically, geography integrates multiple natural and social sciences and includes: the nature and interactions of the atmosphere and the land, plants and animals, the Earth's waters, weather, climate, the Earth's dynamic surface, landforms and soil, and the way people have inhabited and altered the Earth by creating various forms of agriculture, language, religion, and cities.
Courses in geography fulfill the science and social sciences requirement for the associate degree, prepare the students for majoring in geography at a four-year institution, and supplement other studies for students interested in careers in environmental studies, education, engineering, urban planning, and architecture. Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution as a geography major should consult with a counselor regarding the transfer process and lower division requirements.
To graduate with a specialization in Geography, students must complete the following required courses plus the general breadth requirements for the Associate Degree (total = 60 units).
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| GEOG 102 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 110 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 111 | Physical Geography Laboratory | 1 |
| or GEOG 111H | Physical Geography Laboratory - Honors | |
| Twelve units from the following: | 12 | |
| GEOG 100 | Map Interpretation and Geospatial Analysis | 3 |
| or GIS 100 | Map Interpretation and Geospatial Analysis | |
| GEOG 106 | Geographic Perspectives on the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 114 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| GEOG 118 | California Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 120 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| GIS 130 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 3 |
| or GEOG 130 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | |
| GIS 133 | GIS Cartography and Base Map Development | 3 |
| ECON 208 | Business and Economic Statistics | 4 |
| or MATH 108 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | |
| Total Units | 19 | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Courses: | ||
| ECON 100 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| POLIT 100 | American Politics | 3 |
| POLIT 141 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC 100H | Introduction to Sociology - Honors | |
To earn an SBVC Associate Degree students must complete one of the following general education patterns:
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate expertise in basic cartographic principles, including map location, scale, and distortion.
- Integrate fundamentals of sociology, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and other social and natural sciences within a spatial network of human-environment interactions.
- Interpret spatial patterns, as indicated on maps, and utilize tabular and textual information as a means to produce basic maps.