Geology/Earth science courses offered at SCC are taken for a variety of reasons, to meet general education requirements, as electives, or just for interest and fun. Check the current SCC schedule of classes for this semester’s offerings. For more information about any of these courses, please consult the SCC Catalog or either of the geology professors.
(When trying to decide which course to take for transfer, check the college catalog of the four-year college or university you plan to transfer to before making your decision. Some colleges and universities always require labs in physical science classes, some only require labs for certain majors, and some do not require labs. When in doubt, take the lab.)
Courses (or course combinations) with no prerequisites that meet the general education requirements for a physical science class with lab:
(All are 4-units or 4-units when combined.)
Geology 101: Introduction to Geology + Geology 101L: Introduction to Geology Laboratory
Geology 201: Introduction to Historical Geology
Earth Science 115: Earth Science for Educators
Courses with no prerequisites that meet the general education requirements for a physical science class without lab:
(All are 3-units.)
Geology 101: Introduction to Geology
Geology 142: Natural Disasters
Geology 150: Introduction to Oceanography (same as Earth Science 150)
Earth Science 110: Introduction to Earth Science
Earth Science 150: Introduction to Oceanography (same as Geology 150)
Elective courses with no prerequisites:
(Many are field trip courses that allow you to actually go out and see geology as you learn. All are 1-unit unless otherwise indicated.)
Geology 111: Dinosaurs and the Geology of the Mesozoic Era
Geology 112: Earthquakes
Geology 113: Volcanoes
Geology 162: Geologic Field Studies of the Mojave Desert
Geology 164: Geologic Field Studies of the Eastern Sierra Nevada (2-units)
Geology 166: Geology of the Sierra Nevada (2-units)
Geology 168: Geologic Field Studies of the Owens Valley
Geology 173: Geologic Field Studies of Death Valley
Geology 174: Geologic Field Studies of Joshua Tree National Park
Geology 176: Geologic Field Studies of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains
Geology 178: Geologic Field Studies of Orange County
Geology 180: Geologic Field Studies of the San Andreas Fault
Geology 198: Special Topics
Geology 199: Independent Study
Course designed for geology majors who want to transfer to geology programs at a four-year college or university:
Geology 260: Introduction to Mineralogy and Crystallography (5-units)
(prerequisites - Geology 101, Geology 101L, and Chemistry 219)