- Community of interest
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Award
- AS Degree
- Program code
- 15151.00AS
- Department
- Physical/Environment Sci
- CIP code
- 03.0104: Environmental Science.
- TOP code
- 0301.00 - Environmental Science
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP
Program Snapshot
- Community of interest
- STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Award
- AS Degree
- Program code
- 15151.00AS
- Department
- Physical/Environment Sci
- CIP code
- 03.0104: Environmental Science.
- TOP code
- 0301.00 - Environmental Science
Next Steps
AS Degree — expand to learn about this award
The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.
About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.
Semester-by-Semester Map
Term 1
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5A/5C.
course details
Introduction to environmental issues from a scientific perspective, focusing on physical, chemical, and biological processes within the Earth system, the interaction between humans and these processes, and the role of science in finding sustainable solutions. Topics include ecological principles, biodiversity, climate change, sustainability, renewable and non-renewable energy, water resources, air and water pollution, and solid waste management. The concepts will be reinforced with an integrated laboratory program. (C-ID ENVS 100).
course details
This course is an introduction to the conservation and management of natural resources. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The major natural resources including water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils will be covered and students will learn about the environmental policy and laws that govern use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation.
General Education: Area 1A
about Area 1A
English Composition
Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.
General Education: Area 6
about Area 6
Ethnic Studies
The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.
Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)
Term 2
Class Schedules
General Education: Area 2
Only necessary if not already met.
about Area 2
Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.
General Education: Area 3
about Area 3
Arts and Humanities
How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.
General Education: Area 4
about Area 4
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.
Select one option:
Ecological Restoration emphasis: Meets Area 5A/5C
Energy and Climate emphasis:
Environmental Policy emphasis (Select one): Meets Area 2
Environmental Policy emphasis (Select one): Meets Area 5B/5C
Term 3
Class Schedules
General Education: Area 1B
about Area 1B
Oral Communication and Critical Thinking
Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.
Select one option:
Ecological Restoration emphasis: Meets Area 5B/5C
Energy and Climate emphasis:
Energy and Climate emphasis (Select one): Meets Area 5B/5C
Environmental Policy emphasis:
Environmental Policy emphasis (Select one): Meets Area 2
Term 4
Class Schedules
Select one emphasis:
Ecological Restoration emphasis electives (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)
Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options
Energy and Climate emphasis (Group 1)
Energy and Climate emphasis (or Group 2)
Energy and Climate emphasis Electives (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)
Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.
Environmental Policy emphasis electives (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)
Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.
Career Connections
2-Year Degree Paths
Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.
4-Year Degree Paths
Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the 4-year pathway for this program.
Graduate School Paths
Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.
Source Notes
Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.
No NCES/IPEDS CIP-to-SOC mapping was found for this program's CIP code.
Last generated 2026-06-12T23:20+00:00