- Las Positas College
- Degrees
- environmentalstudies-aa
Degrees & Certificates

Environmental Studies AA
Effective Fall 2020
The Associate of Arts in Environmental Studies is a multi-disciplinary program which provides students the academic foundation for understanding the scientific and technological basis of energy technology, as well as the political, social, and economic factors that underlie energy policy choices. This transferable program features a diverse array of classes in the degree pattern from the natural and physical sciences in such associated disciplines as geology, geography, ecology, chemistry, statistics, philosophy, and economics. Students can further expand this foundation by selecting electives from other disciplines such as anthropology and political science.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities include Environmental Planner, Environmental Consultants, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Permitting Consultants. Graduates will also have the potential to specialize in related areas such as water, air and forestry resources management, finance, energy and transportation analysis, waste management, low impact construction, and environmental remediation.
Course | Units |
---|---|
BIO 30 (Introduction to College Biology) | 4 |
BIO 40 (Humans and the Environment) | 3 |
CHEM 31 (Intro to College Chemistry) | 4 |
ECON 1 (Principles of Microeconomics) | 3 |
EVST 5 (Energy and Sustainability) | 3 |
GEOL 1 (Physical Geology) | 3 |
GEOG 1 (Introduction to Physical Geography) | 3 |
MATH 40 (Statistics and Probability) | 4 |
PHIL 2 (Ethics) | 3 |
Course | Units |
---|---|
ANTR 1 (Biological Anthropology) | 3 |
ANTR 2 (Introduction to Archeology) | 3 |
ANTR 3 (Cultural Anthropology) | 3 |
BIO 60 (Marine Biology) | 4 |
BIO 70 (Field Biology) | 3 |
GEOG 15 (Introduction to GIS) | 3 |
GEOL 3 (Historical Geology) | 3 |
GEOL 5 (Environmental Geology: Hazards & Disasters) | 3 |
GEOL 7 (Environmental Geology: Resources, Use Impact & Pollution) | 3 |
GEOL 12 (Introduction to Oceanography) | 3 |
HUMN 6 (Nature and Culture) | 3 |
POLI 7 (Introduction to American Government) | 4 |
POLI 12 (Introduction to California State and Local Government) | 3 |
SOC 5 (Introduction to Global Studies) | 3 |
Units Category | Units |
---|---|
Total Units in the Major | 36-38 |
Units Category | Units |
---|---|
General Education Pattern | Total Units Required |
AA | 60 |
CSU GE-B | 60 |
IGETC (CSU) | 60 |
The Associate Degree is conferred upon those students who complete the required 60
or more semester units of the degree pattern with a grade-point average of 2.0 or
better, of which 12 units must be earned at Las Positas College. In addition, students
must complete a General Education pattern in order to earn a degree: see the Las Positas
College General Education Pattern for Associate of Arts (AA) Degree, California State
University General Education-Breadth, or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer
Curriculum (for CSU) patterns for listing of areas and courses. Double counting courses
in GE and the major is permissible. The number of units that may be double counted
will depend on the entry point to the degree program, the optional course(s) taken,
and the GE pattern selected. Elective units are degree applicable. Consult with an
adviser or a counselor to plan the courses necessary to achieve your academic goal.