Geography AA-T Degree
Geography is concerned with the spatial variations and interrelationships between the natural and cultural features of the earth. The Geography major is designed to develop and deepen a student’s ability to interpret and explain the occurrence, distribution, and interrelationships of the earth’s physical and social elements. Geographers examine where are things located; why are they located in that manner; and how their location affects them? The geographer’s challenge is to provide continuing interpretation of the constantly changing physical and human landscapes of the world.
Geography is often paired with an environmental component intended to develop and deepen an understanding of environmental issues. It emphasizes a systems approach to understanding the major environmental problems facing our society and the world at large. Students gain an understanding of geographical perspectives of human impacts on natural systems, and on the implications of environmental change on local, regional and global human systems. This is an especially attractive major for liberal arts students as well as those who want to specialize in areas such as international issues, development, the environment and remote-sensing GIS. Geography’s body of theory and its methodologies provide ideas and techniques applicable to a wide range of questions about our environment; it also provides both the regional and world perspectives required of responsible citizens.The Associate in Arts in Geography for Transfer, also called the Geography AA-T Degree, requires students to complete 60 CSU transferable units including completion of CSU GE or IGETC and 19-23 units in the major with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Title 5 requires that students earn a grade of “C” or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. There are no additional graduation requirements. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.
Learning Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of this program students will be able to:
- Students will develop a solid understanding and will be able to define and describe the concepts of “space," “place” and “region” and their importance in explaining world affairs.
- Students will be able to locate on a map major physical features, cultural regions, and individual states and urban centers.
- Students will be able to describe and explain general demographic principles and their patterns at regional and global scales.
- Students will describe and explain global and regional patterns of cultural, political and economic institutions, and their effects on the preservation, use and exploitation of natural resources and landscapes.
Program Requirements
| Course Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | Units | |
| GEOG 001 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 001L | Physical Geography Lab | 1 |
| GEOG 002 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| List A | ||
| Select 2 to 3 courses from the following (6-9 units): | 6-9 | |
| GEOG 007 | Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 010 | Geography of California | 3 |
| NR 021 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| PH 017 | Introduction to Meteorology | 3 |
| List B | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6-7 | |
Any course from List A not already used | ||
| ANTH 002 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| G 001 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| PS 004 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Required Subtotal | 19-23 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 37-39 | |
| Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 transferable units) 2 | ||
| DEGREE TOTAL | 60 | |
- 1
Units for the major may be double counted for CSU GE or IGETC, confer with Counselor.
- 2
Elective units to reach 60 unit total must be CSU transferable, confer with Counselor.
