Environmental Science

Associate in Arts Degree Environmental Science and Ecology · Orange Coast College · 2026-2027 Catalog

Upon completion of the requirements for the Associate in Applied Arts Degree in Environmental Science, students will be prepared to transfer to CSU/UC and obtain a baccalaureate degree (or higher degree) in Environmental Science. This degree is also a pathway toward internships and/or entry-level opportunities within the field, e.g., environmental policy/law and environmental health monitoring). The Environmental Science major requires completion of a minimum of 26 major units, 26-31 of which are required core units. The additional 9-13 units must be taken from a list of restricted related electives from a variety of departments. The ESEC department strongly recommends that all declared Environmental Science majors get counseling to select electives that will best prepare them for their intended transfer institution as there is high variation in requirements among institutions and some of the courses listed, including core courses, have pre-requisites that will increase the number of units required to complete this degree. For students interested in an ecology, geology, and hydrology emphasis in Environmental Science, they should consider an Associated in Science Degree in Environmental Science.

The department strongly recommends that all declared Environmental Science majors complete the following courses prior to transfer: STAT C1000 Introduction to Statistics or PSYC A160 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences and PHYS A280 Calculus-Based Physics: Electricity/Magnetism with Lab and PHYS A285 Calculus-Based Physics: Modern with Lab. Check the requirements of the transferring institution.

Program Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Describe the major biological, chemical, and physical components and processes within organisms and the environment
  2. Describe historical and current human activities that negatively impact the environment (energy resources, urbanization, agricultural methods, etc) and how economics, social interactions, policies, and laws affect human activity within the environment.
  3. Students who complete the degree will be prepared for admission to California State University/University of California schools in environmental science.

Requirements

Review Graduation Requirements and General Education.

CourseTitleUnits
Required Courses
ESEC A100Introduction to Environmental Science3
orESEC A100HIntroduction to Environmental Science Honors
ECON C2001Principles of Microeconomics3
orECON C2001HPrinciples of Microeconomics - Honors
ECON C2002Principles of Macroeconomics3
orECON C2002HPrinciples of Macroeconomics - Honors
A Geology course with lab:4
GEOL A110Physical Geology
Or
GEOL A105General Geology 1
orGEOL A105HGeneral Geology Honors
And
GEOL A105LGeneral Geology Laboratory
orGEOL A105MGeneral Geology Laboratory Honors
A Biology Selection:4-8
BIOL A100Principles of Biology
orBIOL A100HPrinciples of Biology Honors
orBIOL A180Introduction to Biology for Majors 1: Cell and Molecular Biology
or the following group:
BIOL A182Zoology
orBIOL A182HZoology Honors
BIOL A182LZoology Lab
BIOL A183Botany
BIOL A183LBotany Lab
CHEM A110Introduction to Chemistry5
orCHEM A180General Chemistry A
Select one course from the following:4-5
MATH A140Business Calculus
MATH A180Calculus 1
orMATH A180HCalculus 1 Honors
MATH A185Calculus 2
orMATH A185HCalculus 2 Honors
STAT C1000Introduction to Statistics
PSYC A160Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
Restricted Electives9-13
ESEC A110Island Ecology
ESEC A121Marine Intertidal Ecology
orMRSC A121Marine Intertidal Ecology
ESEC A124Ecology of the Gray Whale
orMRSC A124Ecology of the Gray Whale
ESEC A140Mediterranean Biome Ecology
ESEC A141Desert Ecology
GEOL A131Weather and Climate
GEOL A160Environmental Geology
GEOL A250Water Resources and Society
MRSC A187Marine Mammals
MRSC A188Marine Mammal Field Studies
MRSC A195Marine Policy and Conservation
ARCH A142Environmental Advocacy
BIOL A172Nature of Birds
BUS A118Introduction to International Business
orBUS A118HIntroduction to International Business Honors
GEOG A190Digital Mapping: Introduction to GIS
Program Major Units35 - 44
OCC AA General Education and Multicultural RequirementsUp to 27
Degree-applicable electives to satisfy unit requirementVaries
Total Minimum Degree Units - OCC AA GE60 - 62
  1. Lecture and applicable lab course must both be taken to fulfill area credit.
  2. Some program major units may also meet GE requirements.
  3. Cal-GETC pattern (up to 34 units) may be substituted.
  4. Multicultural Requirement may be met with a General Education or Major course.

Program Sequence

Program Sequence

These sequences at Orange Coast College are general course curriculum maps for students to finish all major and general education requirements for two-year completion of degrees, and/or fulfillment of transfer requirements. The course sequence may include course prerequisites and other placement requirements. Students are advised to meet with an Orange Coast College Counselor to review course selections and sequences to ensure that completion of this program will meet a student's transfer and career goals.

Year 1

Semester 1 Units
ESEC A100or ESEC A100H Introduction to Environmental Scienceor Introduction to Environmental Science Honors
ECON C2001or ECON C2001H Principles of Microeconomicsor Principles of Microeconomics - Honors
MATH A140or STAT C1000or PSYC A160or MATH A180or MATH A180Hor MATH A185or MATH A185H Business Calculusor Introduction to Statisticsor Statistics for the Behavioral Sciencesor Calculus 1or Calculus 1 Honorsor Calculus 2or Calculus 2 Honors
OCC AA GE AREA 3- CHOOSE ONE 3
Units
Semester 2
ECON C2002or ECON C2002H
Select Geology Lecture/Lab Combination:
GEOL A110
GEOL A105& A105L
GEOL A105H& GEOL A105M
OCC AA GE AREA 1A - CHOOSE ONE
OCC AA GE AREA 6 - CHOOSE ONE
ELECTIVE (DEGREE APPLICABLE) 1, 2
Summer
OCC AA GE AREA 1B - CHOOSE ONE

Year 2

Semester 1
CHEM A110or CHEM A180
Select BIOL A100, BIOL A100H, BIOL A180 or Zoology/Botany set:
BIOL A100or BIOL A100Hor BIOL A180
OR
BIOL A182or BIOL A182H and BIOL A182L
BIOL A183& A183L
ELECTIVE (DEGREE APPLICABLE) 2
Semester 2
AA RESTRICTED ELECTIVES (See Requirements)
OCC AA GE AREA 7E ACTIVITY - CHOOSE ONE 3
OCC AA GE AREA 7E THEORY - CHOOSE ONE 3
AA Global/Multicultural Requirement - CHOOSE ONE 4
ELECTIVE (DEGREE APPLICABLE) 2
  1. CHEM A130 can be taken for prerequisite of BIOL A180 and CHEM A180 as elective units
  2. VARIES TO REACH MINIMUM 60 DEGREE APPLICABLE UNITS
  3. OCC AA GE AREA 7E requires a minimum of 3 units to include one course from 7E- Theory/non-activty and one course from 7E- Activity
  4. OCC AA Global/ Multicultural required if not already taken in other GE areas, refer to AA Graduation Requirement webpage; if requirement is fulfilled, take degree applicable elective units

View in the original catalog

Machine-readable: Markdown · JSON