- Community of interest
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Award
- AS-T Degree
- Program code
- 32721.30AS-T
- Department
- Geology
- CIP code
- 40.0601: Geology/Earth Science, General.
- TOP code
- 1914.00 - Geology
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP
Program Snapshot
- Community of interest
- STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Award
- AS-T Degree
- Program code
- 32721.30AS-T
- Department
- Geology
- CIP code
- 40.0601: Geology/Earth Science, General.
- TOP code
- 1914.00 - Geology
Next Steps
AS-T Degree — expand to learn about this award
The AS-T is designed for transfer preparation to a specific California State University major. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum and an academic program of specialization.
About Associate Degrees for Transfer. AA-T and AS-T degrees are aligned with transfer model curricula developed jointly by the Academic Senates and discipline faculty in the California Community College and California State University systems. Completing one with a qualifying GPA guarantees CSU admission with junior standing in a related major (campus assignment depends on space and competitive criteria).
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
This course introduces students to the basic principles of chemistry with a quantitative emphasis. Topics include atomic theory, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, gases, thermochemistry, intermolecular forces and solutions. This is the first semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine), mathematics, and engineering. The two-semester sequence of CHEM 1 and CHEM 2 provides the basic chemical background needed for further investigations into our physical environment. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 110/CHEM 120S).
Prerequisite: CHEM 11 or CHEM 51 or one year of high school Chemistry; and Intermediate Algebra or equivalent
Meets Area 5A/5C.
course details
This course introduces students to the internal and external processes that are at work changing the earth today. Within the context of modern plate tectonics theory, students will explore the origins of rocks and minerals and dynamic earth processes such as volcanism, seismicity and mountain building that are driven by the release of Earth's internal heat. It also examines how wind, running water, and glaciers move in response to gravity and energy from the sun and the sculpting of Earth's surface by erosion. These concepts as well as the interpretation of topographic and geologic maps will be reinforced with an integrated laboratory program. (C-ID GEOL 101).
Select one: Meets Area 2
Term 2
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5A/5C.
course details
This course is a continuation of CHEM 1, General Chemistry I. Topics include chemical kinetics and equilibrium, acid-base and solubility equilibria, thermodynamics, oxidation-reduction, electrochemistry, coordination compounds, nuclear chemistry, introduction to organic chemistry and qualitative analysis. This is the second semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine), mathematics, and engineering. The two-semester sequence of CHEM 1 and CHEM 2 provides the basic chemical background needed for further investigations into our physical environment. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 120S) (C-ID CHEM 120S = CHEM 1 and CHEM 2).
Prerequisite: CHEM 1
Meets Area 2.
course details
A second course in differential and integral calculus of a single variable. Topics include applications of integration, techniques of integration, infinite sequences and series, and the calculus of parametric and polar equations. This course is primarily intended for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors. (C-ID MATH 220).
Prerequisite: Calculus I: Early Transcendentals (MATH C2210), or equivalent, or placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process.
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 4
Taking POLS C1000 is recommended to meet the US-2/US-3 graduation requirements for CSU.
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.
Term 3
Class Schedules
Meets Area 5A/5C.
course details
Historical geology with lab introduces students to Earth’s geologic history and the history of life on Earth. Drawing on concepts from plate tectonics theory, evolution, geologic dating methods and stratigraphy, students explore the planet’s origin and the processes that have repeatedly re-shaped the global environment during the past 4.6 billion years. It also covers the history of life on this planet and investigates the complementary roles played by natural selection and environmental change in shaping both modern and ancient ecosystems. These concepts as well as fossil identification, study of sedimentary rocks, and interpretation of geologic maps will be reinforced with an integrated laboratory program. (C-ID GEOL 111).
General Education: Area 1B
about Area 1B
Critical Thinking and Composition
Reading and writing about complex texts — analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions, building your own case with evidence.
General Education: Area 3A
about Area 3A
Arts
Engaging with creative work — painting, music, theatre, design — through making, viewing, and interpreting.
General Education: Area 3B
Taking HIST 18, HIST 26 or HIST C1001 is recommended to meet the US-1 graduation requirement for CSU.
about Area 3B
Humanities
History, literature, philosophy, language — how people across time and cultures have made sense of the world.
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.
Term 4
Class Schedules
General Education: Area 1C
about Area 1C
Oral Communication
Public speaking and group discussion — organizing ideas for a live audience, listening actively, responding under pressure.
General Education: Area 5B
about Area 5B
Biological Science
Life and living systems — from cells to ecosystems.
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.
Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C2999)
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.
Example roles: 4
- Natural Sciences Managers
- Hydrologists
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Graduate School Paths
Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.
Example roles: 1
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
Local Job Market
Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-91212 nearby openings
Top employers in sample
- Consolidated Municipality of Carson City 1
- State of Nevada 1
Where the postings are
- Mound House, Carson City 2
Sample current postings
HydrologistsSOC 19-20435 nearby openings
Top employers in sample
- Arcadis 1
- ENGEOorporated 1
- Larry Walker Associates Incorporated 1
- Montgomery & Associates 1
- Nichols Consulting Engineers 1
Where the postings are
- El Macero, Yolo County 1
- Reno, Washoe County 1
- Sacramento, Sacramento County 1
- Suisun, Solano County 1
- Virginia Foothills, Washoe County 1
Sample current postings
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSOC 19-2042no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: geoscientists except hydrologists and geographer, except hydrologist. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic TechniciansSOC 19-4043no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: geological technicians except hydrologic technician, geological technician, except hydrologic technician. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1051no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences instructor, Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences teacher, atmospheric earth marine and space sciences teachers postsecondary, space sciences teacher. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 90 days within up to 100 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.
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.
Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.
Last generated 2026-07-05T16:59+00:00