Develop the academic background needed for undergraduate and graduate degrees in the physical and life sciences with our associate degree in Physical Sciences. In our 61-credit program you can focus your studies on physics or chemistry while still taking classes in math, computer science and biology.
Our Physical Sciences curriculum prepares you to transfer to a four-year institution and major in such fields as chemistry or physics. It also provides a solid foundation for future studies in health sciences, medicine and chemical engineering.
Program outcomes
- Prepare for and conduct scientific experiments;
- Use and understand basic instrumentation;
- Analyze and interpret scientific data;
- Demonstrate an extensive problem-solving capability.
Explore Careers
Program Curriculum
General Education Requirements
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 101 | English Composition IW | 3 |
ENG 102 | English Composition IIW | 3 |
Elective | Technological Fluency | 3 |
Elective | Ethical Perspectives | 3 |
Elective | Aesthetic Sensibility | 3 |
Elective | Oral Communication | 3 |
Elective | Cultural Awareness and Diversity | 3 |
Major Requirements
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHE 151 | Principles of Chemistry IS | 4 |
CHE 152 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
CHE 261 or Science Elective | Organic Chemistry II or AST, BIO, CHE, GLG, MAT, or PHY Course | 4 |
CHE 262 or Science Elective | Organic Chemistry II or Science Elective | 4 |
MAT 190 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | 4 |
MAT 201 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry IIQ | 4 |
PHY 151 | Principles of Physics IS | 4 |
PHY 152 | Principles of Physics III | 4 |
Electives
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Electives | Electives | 8 |
Full-time sample course schedule
Semester 1
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
MAT 190 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I1 | 4 |
CHE 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
Elective2 | Technological Fluency | 3 |
Semester 2
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
MAT 201 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry II3 | 4 |
CHE 152 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
Elective4 | Ethical Perspectives | 3 |
Semester 3
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 151 | Principles of Physics I | 4 |
CHE 261 or Science Elective | Organic Chemistry I or AST, BIO, CHE, GLG, MAT, PHY Elective | 4 |
Elective | Aesthetic Sensibility | 3 |
Elective | Elective4 | 4 |
Elective | Oral Communication | 3 |
Semester 4
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 152 | Principles of Physics II | 4 |
CHE 262 or Science Elective | Organic Chemistry II or Science Elective | 4 |
Elective | Cultural Awareness and Diversity | 3 |
Elective | Elective5 | 4 |
Part-time sample course schedule
Semester 1
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 151 | Principles of Physics I | 4 |
MAT 190 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I1 | 4 |
Semester 2
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 152 | Principles of Physics II | 4 |
MAT 201 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry II3 | 4 |
Semester 3
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
Elective2 | Technological Fluency | 3 |
Semester 4
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
CHE 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
Semester 5
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHE 152 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
Elective | Elective4 | 4 |
Semester 6
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Elective | Oral Communication | 3 |
Elective | Aesthetic Sensibility | 3 |
Semester 7
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHE 261 or Science Elective | Organic Chemistry I or AST, BIO, CHE, GLG, MAT, PHY Elective | 4 |
Elective | Ethical Perspectives | 3 |
Semester 8
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHE 262 or Science Elective | Organic Chemistry II or Science Elective | 4 |
Elective | Cultural Awareness and Diversity | 3 |
Semester 9
Course ID | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Elective | Elective5 | 4 |
- A Satisfies Aesthetic Sensibility
- C Satisfies Cultural Awareness & Diversity
- E Satisfies Ethical Perspectives
- I Information Literacy is Reinforced
- O Satisfies Oral Communication
- Q Satisfies Quantitative Reasoning
- S Satisfies Scientific Reasoning
- T Satisfies Technological Fluency
- W Satisfies Written Communication
1 MAT 190 is a co-requisite for PHY 151
2 A programming course is recommended; check with your advisor or transfer institution.
3 MAT 201 is a co-requisite for PHY 152.
4 Chemistry majors should take CHE 151, CHE 152, CHE 261, CHE 262, PHY 151 and PHY 152. Physics majors should take PHY 151, PHY 152, CHE 151 and CHE 152.
5 For Chemistry and Physics majors, MAT 202 Calculus III is recommended, but students should confer with their advisor to determine the math requirement at the transfer institution.
6 MAT 220 Linear Algebra or MAT 223 Differential Equations are recommended; students should work with their advisor to determine the math requirements at the transfer institution. Other suggested electives include BIO and GLG.