This recommended pathway meets the requirements of the AS-T degree and prepares you for a university major in geology. But you can customize your plan even more. Talk with your advisor about adapting it for your individual goals.
Scroll to the end for course suggestions.
Quarter 1 (15 credits)
GEOL 211 Physical geology (5 credits)
MATH& 141 (Precalculus I) (5 credits)
If you're not ready for MATH& 141, start the math sequence leading to it.
If your math placement is higher than MATH& 141, take that course instead.
Talk with your advisor about adjusting the pathway for your starting place in math.
Social science (5 credits): a course with "SS" at the end of the course description
Career exploration:
- Find your people! Attend area-of-study activities and connect with clubs that relate to your career goals. Find out where students in your pathway go to study.
- Talk with geology faculty about career goals and possibilities.
Action items:
- Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan in Starfish.
- Have your transfer-in credits officially evaluated.
- Visit the Intercultural Center, the Learning Center and the library.
Quarter 2 (15 credits)
ENGL& 101 English composition I (5 credits)
MATH& 142 Precalculus II (5 credits)
Humanities (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
Career exploration:
- Compare the different geology majors at universities you're interested in.
- Start keeping a portfolio of your best work.
Quarter 3 (15 credits)
GEOL 212 Historical geology (5 credits)
This course is offered every two years in the spring. If it isn't available in your Quarter 3, adjust your plan to include it later.
MATH& 151 Calculus I (5 credits)
Humanities (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
or Social science (5 credits): a course with "SS" at the end of the course description
Career exploration:
- Participate in undergraduate research in GEOL 212.
- Ask your instructors about nearby conferences you might attend next year.
- Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
Action items:
Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major. Are you on track?
Quarter 4 (15 credits)
MATH& 152 Calculus II (5 credits)
CHEM& 161 General chemistry with lab I (5 credits)
BIOL& 221 Majors biology - ecology/evolution (5 credits)
or PHYS& 221 Engineering physics I (5 credits)
This is the start of a three-course sequence in either biology or physics. Complete one whole sequence.
Career exploration:
- Listen to podcasts about geology or the kind of geology career you're aiming for.
Action items:
- Meet with your advisor about applying to universities. Start your transfer applications.
- Apply for next year's financial aid.
Quarter 5 (15 credits)
MATH& 163 Calculus III (5 credits)
or MATH& 146 Intro to statistics (5 credits)
Choose MATH& 163 if you're completing the physics sequence.
CHEM& 162 General chemistry with lab II (5 credits)
BIOL& 222 Majors biology - cell/molecular (5 credits)
or PHYS& 222 Engineering physics II (5 credits)
Action items:
Quarter 6 (15-20 credits)
CHEM& 163 General chemistry with lab III (5 credits)
BIOL& 223 Majors biology - organismal physiology (5 credits)
or PHYS& 223 Engineering physics III (5 credits)
CS& 141 Computer science I - Java (5 credits)
or Elective (3-5 credits): any class you want
Optional:
Learning contract (2-5 credits): an independent study with a faculty mentor
Action items:
- Attend the spring job fair.
Course suggestions
You are encouraged to choose classes that complement your interests. Don't be afraid to reach out and try something new!
Humanities or electives
- Philosophy courses can help you develop the critical thinking important in the sciences:
- PHIL 115 Critical thinking
- PHIL 130 Intro to ethics
- PHIL 132 Environmental ethics
- Since geology is a global discipline, another language may be helpful:
- ASL& 121, CHIN& 121, FREN& 121, GERM& 121, JAPN& 121 or SPAN& 121
You can use 5 credits of 100-level language as a humanities course. If you take a second course to become more proficient, that course will be an elective.
- Geology involves a lot of sketching and drawing the world around you:
- Geology culture intersects with other worlds and ways of knowing in many ways. Consider these options (by no means the only ones) for expanding your worldview:
- ENGL 124 Environmental literature
- ENGL 136 Science fiction and fantasy
- ENGL 238 Gender and literature
- ENGL 286 Mythology
- ENGL 267 Native American literature
- FILM 240 Documentary film
- FILM 265 American LGBTQ+ cinema
- HUM& 101 Intro to the humanities
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender
- IDS 180 Visual media and culture
Social Sciences or electives
- If you're interested in exploring human history and geology's role in some of these interactions:
- ANTH& 204 Archaeology
Archeology is similar to geology in its way of using the evidence left behind to make inferences about what happened.
- Anthropology (any course)
- SALI 201 Intro to the Salish Sea (spring only)
This class weaves together sciences and social sciences in its focus on the Salish Sea.
- Geography overlaps with physical geology, but goes further into surface processes and human constructs of spaces:
- GEOG& 100 Intro to geography
- GEOG& 102 World regional geography
- GEOG 243 Urban geography
- Geology and geologic processes have a big influence on raw materials and supply chain processes. If that side of geology interests you:
- ECON 100 Intro to economics
- BUS&101 Intro to business
- If you're interested in an education focus:
- EDUC 202 Intro to education
- If you're thinking about a park ranger path:
- CJ& 101 Intro to criminal justice
- Consider these interdisciplinary options for expanding your understanding of the ways we explain the world and the ways our practices impact / are impacted by that world:
- IDS 112 Ethnomathematics
- IDS 113 Quantitative methods in the social sciences
- IDS 161 Literature, science and gender
- IDS 170 Intro to sustainability
- IDS 180 Visual media and culture
- IDS 210 Science, economics and politics of sustainable resources
Electives
- Communicate your science to others:
- CMST& 101 Intro to communication
- CMST& 210 Interpersonal communication
- CMST& 230 Small group communication
- If you're interested in K-12 teaching:
- GEOL 104 Finding things out: Earth
This course is designed for students who will be teaching sciences.
- Prepare yourself for the much needed skills of GIS and other computer software with a solid overview of programming:
- CS& 141 Computer science I - Java