Physical Sciences

Discover the forces that shape our world with Butte College's Physical Sciences programs. Whether you're studying physics, chemistry, or environmental science, our hands-on approach and expert faculty will prepare you for careers in science, engineering, and beyond.

Programs

Goal
Length
Flexibility
AS

Goal

Career or Transfer

Length

2-2.5 years

Flexibility

  • Main Campus
AS

Associate Degree in Physical Science

The Associate of Science in Physical Science degree prepares students to be able to investigate and describe the evidence used to develop core scientific principles and use those principles to explain fundamental biological and physical phenomena. They will apply scientific methodologies to solve problems and analyze the relationships among the different areas of physical science, recognizing both their connections and distinctions. In addition, students will demonstrate an understanding of how the physical sciences differ from the biological and social sciences in scope, method, and focus.

AS

Associate Degree in Environmental Science

This Environmental Science program promotes an understanding of the basic operational principles of the biosphere and ecosystems through a transdisciplinary approach that examines interactions among the biological world, the physical environment, and human institutions. Students gain an understanding of essential biological and physical processes, analyze human–environment interactions, and explore different cultural perspectives on the environment. The program emphasizes critical thinking, sound decision-making, and value-based judgment while also developing specialized analytical skills in at least one area of environmental science. Students build teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution skills, along with effective written and oral communication abilities.

Flexibility

Both programs in this cluster are built around Main Campus, where all required major coursework is reliably offered. The Chico Center, Glenn Center, and Online only cover portions of the required courses, so they can supplement but not replace a Main Campus schedule for the major itself. General education requirements can be completed at any center or online, but students should plan their major coursework around Main Campus and check in with a counselor each term.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it. 
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Physical and Environmental Science
  Programs in cluster: 2

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Physical Science (AS Degree):
      Plan on being at Main Campus for this degree — it's the only location where all of your required Physical Science coursework is reliably offered. Chico Center, Glenn Center, and Online each cover only a portion of the required courses, so relying on them alone will leave gaps you'd need to fill elsewhere. You can knock out general education requirements at any center or online, but for the major itself, build your schedule around Main Campus and check in with a counselor as you plan each term.
  • Environmental Science (AS Degree):
      For your Environmental Science AS, plan on being at Main Campus for the bulk of your required coursework — everything you need is reliably offered there. The Chico Center, Glenn Center, and Online each cover only a few of your required courses, so they can supplement but not replace Main Campus for the major itself. You can knock out GE breadth at any center or online, but check with a counselor before building a schedule around multiple locations.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AS

Goal

Transfer or Career

Length

2-2.5 years

Flexibility

  • Main Campus
AS

Associate Degree in Chemistry

This Chemistry program centers on the study of the properties, composition, and transformations of all material substances, supporting and drawing from biology, earth science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and physics. Chemistry is a rewarding and fascinating field that helps students understand these disciplines and “how things work” in general. Chemistry majors find opportunities in agronomy, biotechnology, energy production, environmental science, material science, medicine, patent law, teaching, and more; however, most careers in chemistry require education beyond the associate degree.

Flexibility

You can complete general education courses at any center or online, but the required chemistry coursework runs reliably only at Main Campus. The Chico Center offers just a limited portion of major coursework and can't support the full sequence on its own, so plan on Main Campus for your core classes and meet with a counselor to map out the sequence.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it. 
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Chemistry
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Chemistry (AS Degree):
      For this Chemistry AS, you'll need to plan on being at Main Campus — that's where all the required coursework reliably runs. The Chico Center offers only a small piece of the major coursework, so it can't stand alone; Glenn Center and Online currently cover general education only, not the chemistry requirements themselves. You can knock out GE breadth at any center or online, but meet with a counselor to map out the required course sequence at Main Campus.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AS-T AS

Goal

Career or Transfer

Length

2-3 years

Flexibility

  • Main Campus
AS-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Physics 2.0

Students completing Associate Degrees for Transfer are guaranteed admission to the CSU system. Please see the beginning of the "Academic Programs" section for details.

AS

Associate Degree in General Physics

The Associate in Science in General Physics is designed for students planning to transfer to a university and major in Physics or a related discipline. Students who complete this program may transfer into the General Physics program at CSU, Chico or into related fields aligned with their degree breadth. Physics is the study of the relationships among time, space, motion, matter, and energy, representing both a record of humanity’s evolving understanding of the universe and a set of strategies for mathematically modeling and analyzing physical systems. Preparation in Physics provides a strong foundation for multidisciplinary studies and success in other scientific fields. Physics is a mathematically demanding field; to begin this degree, students must have the prerequisites for college-level calculus, though many students start below calculus and progress successfully to advanced degrees.

Flexibility

This program requires most of its coursework to be completed at Main Campus, where the full sequence comes together reliably. The Chico Center, Glenn Center, and Online offer some required courses and general education options, but they supplement rather than replace Main Campus attendance. Meet with a counselor to plan the right combination of locations for your schedule.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it. 
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Physics
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • General Physics (AS Degree):
      For General Physics, plan on being at Main Campus for the bulk of your required coursework — that's the only location where all of it reliably comes together. The Chico Center, Glenn Center, and Online can help you pick up a few required courses or your general education requirements, but they won't cover the major on their own, so you'll need to combine them with time at Main Campus. Meet with a counselor to map out the right mix for your schedule.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AS-T

Goal

Transfer

Length

2 years

Flexibility

  • Main Campus
AS-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Geology

The Associate in Science in Geology for Transfer degree (AS-T in Geology) is designed for students planning to complete a bachelor’s degree in Geology at a CSU campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, though not to a specific campus or major, and will be required to complete no more than 60 additional units after transfer. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a university outside the CSU system.

Flexibility

Plan on being at Main Campus for this program, since it's the only location that reliably covers all required coursework. The Chico Center offers some courses but won't cover everything, so you'd need to fill in gaps elsewhere. Glenn Center and Online are solid for general education classes but not for the core coursework itself — check with a counselor as you plan your schedule, since offerings can shift term to term.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it. 
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Geology
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Geology (AS-T Degree):
      For your Geology required coursework, plan on being at Main Campus — it's the only location that reliably covers all of it. The Chico Center offers some of your required courses, but you'd still need to fill in gaps at Main Campus or elsewhere. Glenn Center and Online work well for your general education classes, but not for the geology courses themselves. Check in with a counselor as you build your schedule, since course offerings can shift term to term.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AA-T

Goal

Transfer

Length

2 years

Flexibility

AA-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Geography

The Associate in Arts in Geography for Transfer (AA-T in Geography) creates a transfer pathway for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Geography at a California State University. This program provides students with a strong foundation in both Physical and Cultural Geography, along with additional coursework in the discipline, including opportunities to earn a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Geography explores spatial relationships that make places unique, including physical characteristics, cultural traditions, and economic and governmental structures, while examining the dynamic connections between humans and their environment.

Flexibility

Main Campus and Online each offer a solid share of the required Geography courses, while the Chico Center offers a smaller portion — so plan on combining at least two of these to complete the program. Glenn Center and Dual Enrollment options are much thinner and best used for general education, since dual enrollment depends on your high school. Meet with a counselor to map out a combination that fits your schedule.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it. 
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Geography
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Geography (AA-T Degree):
      No single location covers all of your required Geography courses reliably, so plan on splitting your coursework. Main Campus and Online each carry a solid chunk of the required classes, while Chico Center offers a smaller slice — you'll likely need to combine at least two of these to cover everything. Glenn Center and Dual Enrollment options are much thinner for this major (and dual enrollment availability depends entirely on your high school), so use those mainly for GE if at all. Meet with a counselor to map out the exact combination that works for your schedule.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
Department Physical Sciences
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Full Time Faculty

Brittany Harding's Photo

Brittany Harding

Chemistry Instructor - Unit
Carlos Vasquez's Photo

Carlos Vasquez

Chemistry Instructor
Thea Wilson's Photo

Thea Wilson

Chemistry Instructor
Lisa Nichols's Photo

Lisa Nichols

Chemistry Instructor
Penny Lillie's Photo

Penny Lillie

Chemistry Instructor
Elizabeth Wannenmacher's Photo

Elizabeth Wannenmacher

Chemistry Instructor
's Photo

's Photo

Danielle Gray's Photo

Danielle Gray

Chemistry Instructor
's Photo

Marty Wallace's Photo

Marty Wallace

Chemistry Instructor
Colin Ferguson's Photo

Colin Ferguson

Geology Instructor
Patrick McDougall's Photo

Patrick McDougall

Physics Instructor
Yaghmorassene Hebib's Photo

Yaghmorassene Hebib

Physics Instructor
Alessandro Baldi's Photo

Alessandro Baldi

Physical Science Instructor
Michael Panunto's Photo

Michael Panunto

Physics Instructor
Jason Trento's Photo

Jason Trento

Physical Science Instructor
Brian Reinbold's Photo

Brian Reinbold

Physical Science Instructor
Thomas Cox's Photo

Thomas Cox

Chemistry Instructor

Associate Faculty

Tiffani Anderson's Photo

Tiffani Anderson

Chemistry Instructor
Sisarie Sherry's Photo

Sisarie Sherry

Chemistry Instructor
Jess Vickery's Photo

Jess Vickery

Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Planning
Rebecca Schmidt's Photo

Rebecca Schmidt

Geography Instructor
Belinda Stevens's Photo

Belinda Stevens

Geography Instructor
Bob Pierce's Photo

Bob Pierce

Geography Instructor
Sarah Baum's Photo

Sarah Baum

Geology Instructor
Stephen Coates's Photo

Stephen Coates

Geology Instructor
David Haasl's Photo

David Haasl

Physical Science Instructor

Department Contacts

Office: SCI 120
Department phone: (530) 879-6106
Contact phone: (530) 895-2229

Email Department Chair

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Department Physical Sciences
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